Traditional car washes repeatedly use the same cleaning equipment for all vehicles, regardless of the condition of each vehicle. Equipment such as old sponges, squeegees for drying and the repeated use of the same drying towels for several cars deteriorate the condition of the vehicle’s paintwork. This is considered bad practice and will cause swirls, marring and scratches to the car’s paintwork and glass surfaces. The reason that traditional car washes opt for this strategy is that their business is built around the premise of washing as many cars as possible within the shortest period of time.

Alternatively, a detailer will do their utmost to ensure the vehicle is washed in a safe manner. Detailers employ a range of techniques and use multiple pieces of equipment to help reduce the risk of rubbing contaminants around the vehicle’s paintwork. A detailer will also spend much longer on a single vehicle to ensure the vehicle is being cleaned properly from top to bottom whilst being as careful as they can be to not damage the paintwork. Ultimately a detailer will focus on the quality of the service offered to the customer and their vehicle rather than the speed of service.

We strive to provide tailored services. We offer a Car Care package, where we aim to give you peace of mind that your vehicle will be well looked after into the future. We’re also happy to deviate from the norm in our established wash process, where we always use high quality products and equipment. We actively adjust this wash process depending on the vehicle’s condition so that the overall quality of the service received is the best it can be.

Additionally, we avoid using harsh chemicals which may get the job done quicker but can cause damage to the vehicle and its surroundings. We have instead opted to use pH neutral and biodegradable products, which are overall better for your vehicle’s longevity and, more importantly, the environment.

Regardless of products used however, most detailers will let the waste water run into the local drains, which can be harmful to the surrounding environment. As we have made a conscious decision at Dusk to protect our surroundings with our product choice & usage, we have also chosen to go the extra mile and use a water containment system. This system is to ensure that we minimise the amount of waste that can pollute the local drains & surroundings and protect against any potential long term damage.

The wax/sealant is usually referred to as a Last Step Product (LSP). This is used to create a thin, protective and slick layer on top of cars painted surfaces.

Modern day vehicles paint surfaces are usually made up of 3 main layers; the primer, the base colour and the clear coat. The clear coat is a clear lacquer which acts as a protectant against things like UV rays and other chemicals/elements from damaging the base colour layer.

A LSP helps to improve the gloss and reflectivity of the vehicle’s paintwork. It helps to protect coated surfaces from harmful UV rays and chemical stains whilst providing a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic nature of the LSP is key in helping the vehicle look cleaner for longer as all water-based dirt and grime bead on the surface and eventually slide off.

A wax is usually made up of natural components such as Carnauba Wax or Beeswax but can also contain synthetic components to increase durability. They have been around for many years and are usually found in a hard paste form. Waxes provide a desirable natural, warm glow to the painted surfaces and generally provide the best finish out of the various LSP types. They are often applied in subsequent layers or coats to improve durability and further enhance gloss. A high quality wax can last anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months.

Ceramic coatings are a relatively new concept. They are very different from waxes and are created at a molecular level. A true ceramic coating is applied in a liquid form which cures to form a hard layer on top of the paint. They are much harder to apply than waxes, requiring the paint to be perfectly clean with no oil or residues at all and have a much longer curing time. A true ceramic coating can last anywhere from 12 to 36 months.

Ceramic Lite’s have a lower solid content compared to a full ceramic coating making it less durable, lasting up to 9 months, but also only requiring around 4 hours of cure time. These properties therefore make it a great deal easier to apply and more convenient for the vehicle owner.

Modern day vehicles paint surfaces are usually made up of 3 main layers; the primer, the base colour and the clear coat. The clear coat, which is usually the thickest layer, is a clear lacquer which acts as a protectant against things like UV rays and other chemicals/elements from damaging the base colour layer. Over time, mostly due to improper washing techniques, this layer gets damaged unevenly which creates swirl marks and light scratches. As the clear coat layer is no longer uniform across the panel, it reflects back as a swirl or scratch when light shines into the uneven layer’s crevices.

The aim of any paint correction service is to flatten the clear coat such that these imperfections are less visible or completely removed from the clear coat where possible. This is so light is able to be properly reflected throughout the surface of the clear coat, adding to the gloss and shine.

The vehicle must first be thoroughly prepped, which is to say that the car should be as contaminant free as possible. This is achieved through the use of chemicals (fallout remover) and/or clay-barring the car to remove contaminants, which can become embedded into the clear coat itself. A detailer will then use a paint depth gauge to analyse the level of clear coat that is available on the vehicle. Once the vehicle has been decontaminated and undergone inspection, a dual-action polisher is used with a combination of foam/wool/microfibre pads and an abrasive compound product to flatten the clear coat. Finally, the vehicle’s paintwork is refined with a polishing compound product to restore gloss and clarity. Due to modern advances in this field, the same compound can be used to correct and finish the surface in one step.