There are lots of companies that do mobile detailing in Gainesville Florida.  Not only are there a lot of mobile detailing companies in gainesville but there are many that have shops. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?  Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between gainesville florida mobile detailing companies and ones with a shop.

Most mobile detailing companies in Gainesville Florida offer a wide variety of services from a basic car wash to full on paint restoration.  For most jobs a mobile detailing company would be just fine.  If you are looking into getting some serious paint correction done then you may want to see if the mobile company has a shop.  Some mobile detailing outfits have shops with garages while others do not.  The benefits of not having a shop is very low overhead.  The obvious downside is you may loose some really good business in the process. Finding yourself with a detail company that does not have a shop when you need one can be frustrating.  Just ask the mobile detailing company in Gainesville that you choose to see if they have a shop to recommend.  Most places network with a few different companies so they can keep their customers satisfied.

Auto detailing companies that do not have a mobile unit offer the same amount of services as the mobile detailing plus a few others.  Say for instance you need to get your car wet-sanded, and or re-clear coated, would you trust a mobile unit to do the same work?  I don’t think so.  Even with the addition of a mobile tent that can act as shelter it is recommended to take your car to someone who can put it in a garage.  Keep this in mind when you are looking into sourcing a company to do your auto detailing for you.

The similarities from a mobile unit to a shop based unit are all over the place.  Similar types of wash, wax, protectants, rags, and tools will be used no matter where your vehicle gets detailed at.  The services offered should be the same with the few exceptions.  A crucial element in choosing where to go will ultimately come down to price and any type of add-ons.  If shopped correctly a coupon or free service could be found that makes the deal a lot sweeter.  Prices vary widely in the mobile detailing industry just as it does at shop based ones.

Questions to ask yourself are:

• How did I find the Detailing Company?
• Was my source for finding the mobile detailing reputable?
• Do I know anyone who may have used this company before?  Even if you think the answer is no, ask around.
• How much am I willing to spend?  This could vary from $60-$300+ depending on what services are chosen and how much corrective detail work your auto will need.
• Will I continue to maintain the condition of the automobile after having it cleaned up?  If your answer is no, then we suggest setting up a regular maintenance wash of your vehicle
• Do I want my engine cleaned?  Most companies make this an add-on service.  Ask if it is included.  This is a highly recommended service for someone turning over a lease or looking to sell their vehicle.
• How much time can I be without my vehicle?  Let’s face it some people need their car more than others.  If you can be without it for a long time then maybe using one with a shop is your best bet.

Questions to ask your detailer:

• What services are offered and what do you recommend?  Some offer more services than others, so if you want it all done at once, make sure they offer it.
• What is the amount of time I have to wait?  If you choose a mobile detailing company then you should not have to worry because they will perform the service at your location.
• Are you running any specials right now?  A lot of times companies may have some special promotions that would benefit you.
• If you have pets, then make sure that the products used will be safe for your pet.
• Ask them to spell out exactly what each package offers, there may be a ten dollar difference just for wiping down your dash.
• What happens if I am not satisfied?

If you remember this little checklist when calling around to source your detailing company, you will be fine.  Please feel free to leave a comment, give us a call or use our contact form for any questions.

Gainesville Detailing has put together a good guide here on how to properly do a complete exterior detail.  Here are some tips for you to prevent your paint from getting damaged on your vehicle.  First you need to make sure your car’s paint is completely free of blemishes.  This does not mean that every existing scratch and ding needs to be fixed.  While it is great to have no scratches or dings on an automobile its highly unlikely if the car is more than a couple years old.  The first step is to wash the car properly.   You will want to either wash the car in the early morning or late afternoon, and preferably in the shade.  The reason we want to wash at those times is it is the cooler parts of the day.  Washing in direct sunlight or in the middle of the day makes it a lot easier to leave water spots from the water being dried by the sun.  Sometimes in Gainesville it gets so hot that you can actually watch the water evaporate as you are rinsing down the vehicle to be washed.  Now that we have our proper time and spot picked out we can begin the washing process.

To properly wash the car you need to first start with clean wash bucket.  Any existing dirt or debris in the bucket can cause minor surface scratches that we do not want.  Next will the bucket with the proper concentration of wash to water.  You will find out what the proper concentration needs to be by referring to the manufacturers instructions.  One of the most important things is the next step.  You have to use a clean wash mitt or sponge.  Microfiber wash mitts are preferred and they will not harm the paint at all.  You have to be very careful to not let the sponge touch anything but the car.  If the wash mitt hits the ground then put it to the side and start with a fresh one.  It is better to start over than have to spend hours polishing the scratches that you put in your automobiles paint.  Now we are ready to wash the car.

We have our clean mit, and a fresh bucket of car wash solution.  Start by rinsing the car completely.  Do not try to cut corners and just quickly spray it down.  You have to make sure that you thoroughly rinse all of the loose dirt, leaves, and bugs that you can.   Try to soak the heavy bug areas more.  This will make it easier when we get to actually washing the car.  If you have a lot of bugs on your car then you may want to consider using a bug/tar remover.   Apply bug/tar remover to where the bugs are on your car and let it sit for a couple minutes. Now we can begin washing the car.

We will work from top to bottom washing the car in sections.  It is usually best to section it out into fourths on either side of the car.  Now you can start to wash the car in sections so that the wash mitt can be rinsed in a clean bucket of water to prevent dirt and debris from scratching the paint.  Remember that each time you wash and rinse a section you also rinse in the rinse bucket then place the sponge/mitt into the wash solution.   Doing this will greatly reduce the amount of any debris that may be in the wash mitt.  After the car is thoroughly washed we will then begin to dry the vehicle.  We recommend using some form of squeegee that will remove about 80% of the water.  This allows you to use a microfiber drying towel to get any of the leftover water, and wipe down the door jambs.  Wiping down the door jambs is often one of the most overlooked parts but it is also one of those things that when done can really make the car look a lot better.  Now that the car is dry we can begin the first step in really making it look good.

What you will need is a good quality clay bar and some lubricant.  Any of the quick detailing sprays works great with the clay bar.  Some may be asking why would i use a clay bar on my car?  The clay bar which was once a secret used only by professional detailers can now be purchased by consumers as well.  What the clay does is it removes any remaining surface contaminants that may be bonded to you car.   Many of these contaminants cannot even be seen with the naked eye.  As the clay removes the oxidation, and other contaminants it sticks to the clay.  What you will want to do is spray the surface to get the clay bar treatment.  We will be doing the entire car but it is very important to work in small sections to ensure that you don’t miss a spot and that the clay does not get dry.  Now that the surface to be treated has lubricant on it you will begin to rub the clay back and forth.  You will be able to tell once the clay is done doing its work because it will glide across your paint very easily and will be smooth as glass.  You do not want to apply a lot of pressure while doing the back and forth motion.  It is very important that you let the clay do the work.  If it seems that its not working reapply lube and repeat because this means you have hit a really bad patch of contamination and you will want to get that off of the paint.  The key is to work in small sections no bigger than two feet by two feet and make sure you keep the area lubricated and do not consider an area finished unless the clay slides across the automobiles finish like glass.  The contamination that is removed cannot be removed by normal washing waxing and or polishing.  The clay bar is a very important step do not forget to do this.

To remove surface scratches, swirls you will need to polish the car after treating the exterior with the clay bar.  Polishing will remove those pesky little swirl marks and small scratches and will also restore shine to a paint job that may need it in areas.  Using a random orbital buffer is the easiest and fastest way to properly polish your car.  Make sure you use a high quality polishing pad as well as polishing compound.   Cutting any corners in this step could result in damage being done to your vehicle.  Follow the directions for the type of buffer and polishing compound you are using and you should have no problems.  A good rule of thumb is less is more, becuase if you apply too much pressure then you may run the risk of messing up the cars clear coat.  Now that the paint is completely contaminant free and void of most of the scratch and other blemishes it’s time to really bring the shine out of it.

To really protect the paint we want to use a high quality paint sealer that will add a really good layer of protection to prevent damage being done to the paint.  Apply the sealer according to the manufacturers guidelines.  After you are done sealing the paint you will want to apply a high quality caranuba wax.  The wax will really bring the shine out and you should have a deep glossy finish to you vehicle that is smoothe to the touch.

There are lots of other minor things that can be done along the way, but if you stick to this routine you should be fine.  We will be adding additional sections to Gainesville Detailings Blog to make sure that we cover all the areas of detailing.  Check back often as we update our site weekly.