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The Ultimate Vehicle Protection: Why Ceramic Coating is Essential for Every Vehicle
Drake Strong
In the world of automotive care, innovation has been causing a buzz and garnering glowing reviews: ceramic coating. But here's the twist – it's not just for brand-new cars fresh off the showroom floor. Ceramic coating is a game-changer you should consider whether you're driving a "New-to-You," a beloved vintage classic, or even managing a fleet of company cars in Sioux City, Iowa. At our highly reputable auto detailing and ceramic coating establishment, we take pride in offering Owners Pride Ceramic coatings, based out of Omaha, complete with a unique third-party nationally backed warranty, delivering unparalleled peace of mind.
The word "Ceramic" used for many detailing products lately. What's the difference? All products have some base of SI02 or Silicon dioxide. The difference is that most sprays or other products have lower amounts. True coatings have higher amounts and come in 1-2oz. glass bottles. If left, it would crystalize when open, while the other products can still be used months later. Coatings have a higher concentration, which gives...
moreWhy should you Detail your car,Regually?
Drake Strong
Getting your vehicle detailed is an excellent part of routine maintenance. It may not seem as crucial as other car maintenance parts, like changing your oil. But getting it done regularly, whether by a professional or DIY, is another easy way to maintain a great vehicle.
1. Preserve Your Car's Value
One of the primary reasons to invest in regular auto detailing is to preserve your car's value. When you keep your vehicle in pristine condition, it maintains a higher resale value. From AutoTrader.com - "Used-car sellers can expect upwards of a 200% return on investment by cleaning their car before trading or selling their ride." This can take a car from "Fair" condition to "Excellent" on Kelly Blue Books. Also, finding a professional detailer whose services report to Carfax is a great way to prove that the car was cared for.
2. Enhance the Aesthetic Appeal
Regular detailing...
moreOur New Owners Pride Select 9-Year Self-Healing Coating!
Drake Strong
We are proud to announce we at Strong Auto Detail have been selected to be 1 out of only 40 ceramic coating installers nationwide to be allowed to install this Brand New Top Teir dual layer coating!! This will be our new Premium coating that we will have exusally access to!
Dual Layer
This is a dual-layer coating, meaning it is a two-part system that needs to be layered in a certain way to get complete protection. This allows the coating to last longer and provides better protection properties.
Self Healing
This is a one-of-a-kind in the paint protection field. Now, What does “self-healing” mean?
It is a heat-activated healing for minor wash marring. Most paint defects are what we call marring. Which is like a regular scratch but on a minor level. And most of these come from improper washing & drying. If this coating gets some minor marring into the coating that did not go into the clear coat, it can be left in the sun on a warm day, and the heat will flatten out the marring. So this is perfect...
morePaint Protection Flim vs Ceramic Coatings
Drake Strong
Paint protection is very important to keep your vehicle's finish's value and overall look. Why is that? It's important because, in some cases, it can cost more to repaint a car than get a whole new engine. Also, the amount of clear coat is getting thinner and thinner over the years on brand-new vehicles fresh out of the factory. So getting the best protection you can ahead of time makes one's car look even better and gives the best protection and chance of longevity. There are also different forms of protection on the market to achieve it. Two of the best of the best one can get are PPF or a ceramic coating.
Paint protection film (PPF) and ceramic coatings are aftermarket products that can be applied to a vehicle's paint to protect it from various forms of damage.
PPF, also known as clear bra, is a transparent, thin film applied to a vehicle's painted surface. It is typically made from thermoplastic urethane and is designed to protect the paint from scratches, chips, and other types of damage caused by road debris and other environmental factors. PPF can be applied to...
moreWhat is Paint Decontamination/Clay Baring
Drake Strong
Paint decontamination is the process of removing contaminants from the surface of a vehicle's paint. These contaminants include tar, tree sap, bird droppings, and industrial fallout. Decontamination can be done using various methods, such as washing the car with special detergents, using clay bars, or applying chemical cleaners.
Clay bar treatment is one method of paint decontamination. It involves using a clay bar, a malleable bar made of a clay-like material, to remove contaminants from the paint's surface gently. Synthetic clay towels or mitts can also be used and can be used more times before replacing, unlike clay bars. The clay bar is lubricated with a special spray or solution (such as quick detailer, spray wax, rinseless wash like Eco Wash, and more) and is worked over the paint's surface using a back-and-forth motion. As the clay bar moves over the paint, it picks up contaminants, leaving the surface smooth and clean. It's important not to add too much pressure during this as it can easily add marring to the paint's surface.
Claying a car is generally...
moreWhy you should detail your car during winter
Drake Strong
Winter time for many is when they will push off cleaning their vehicle. But this may not be what is best for maintaining its condition. Detailing your car during the winter months can provide several benefits.
First, regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent damage caused by road salt and other de-icing chemicals. These substances can eat away at the paint and metal of your car, causing rust and other forms of corrosion. By washing your car regularly during the winter, you can remove these harmful substances and help protect your vehicle from damage. During summer, the busy season for auto detailing, there are generally fewer elements attacking car paint and other surfaces.
Second, detailing your car during the winter can help improve visibility. Snow and ice can accumulate on your vehicle's windows, mirrors, and lights, making it difficult to see while driving. A thorough detailing will remove these obstructions and help ensure a clear view of the road. Also, they can apply some glass protection to make rain, snow, and ice easier to clean and clear off...
moreShould you detail your Brand New Car?
Drake Strong
Having a brand new car, most people would think it would be silly to detail it. And to some degree, you are right, but there are reasons one should consider it. There are several reasons why you might want to detail a new car:
Protect your investment: A new car is a significant investment, and detailing it can help to protect that investment. Detailing can help to remove any contaminants that may have accumulated during the manufacturing, transportation process, and waiting on the car lot. It can also help to protect your car's finish from the elements. Stuff like Coatings or PPF (paint protection film) are great options for long-term protection.
Improve appearance: Even though a new car is, well, new, it may not be as clean and shiny as you'd like. There is a reason after getting one's own vehicle detail, they will sometimes say it "Looks Better Than New!" A detailing service can help to remove any blemishes and make your new car look its best. Some dealerships may only do "quick washes," which may include methods that could induce...
moreWhat is Paint Correction/Polishing/Buffing
Drake Strong
Paint correction and polishing are techniques to restore the shine and gloss of a vehicle's paint. The process involves using specialized tools and products to remove imperfections such as scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation. This process can also go by many different names. Buff, buffing, paint enhancement, paint correction, and polishing are some of the most common words people call this process. Buffing may be more of an old-school term for enhancing the paint's shine, but it is also used more when waxes have to be rubbed on and off by hand.
The process begins with a thorough wash and drying of the vehicle. Next, a clay bar treatment removes any contaminants embedded in the paint. After that, progressively finer grit polishes remove imperfections and restore the paint's shine.
Paint correction can be done by hand or machine, such as a dual-action(Also called a D.A. polisher), rotary polisher, or orbital polisher. It requires a certain level of skill and experience to get the best results, as using the wrong technique or too much pressure can cause damage to the...
moreAuto Detailing, Mobile vs Shop
Drake Strong
Auto detailing is an excellent service to have as part of regularly maintaining one's car. Some may be surprised to think getting your car professionally detailed is something you must drop your vehicle off at to get done. But the good news is in many cities and areas; some can come to you! Here we will discuss the pros and cons of each if you have the option and concerting which one to go with.
Mobile Auto Detailing
The biggest pro is the convenience of having someone come to you to detail your vehicle. This way, you don't have to worry about dropping off or picking it up during business hours and catching a ride from someone else. So if you work from home, have to watch kids, and can't physically drive for one reason or another. We have been mobile for over four years as of this writing, and people love it at their home or their place of work. Another pro is it is still a professional service in most cases. Interior detailing and most of our exterior can still be done mobile. We even offer ceramic coatings, although this is limited. If mobile...
moreAre Ceramic Coatings Worth It?
Drake Strong
For a good reason, ceramic coatings have taken over the auto detailing industry in the last decade. They have become an excellent method of protecting our vehicle's paint, but does that mean they are right for you?
There are many forms of paint protection on the market, from wax to paint sealant, ceramic coatings, graphene coating, PPF(paint Protection Film), Teflon coatings, and more. They each have their own set of Pros & Cons; here, we will discuss some of the cons to think about before buying a ceramic coating.
Expensive
The most significant pain in getting a ceramic coating for most people is the price. Although some do have an entry-level offer, and we do as well, most places getting a ceramic coating can easily be well over 1k, depending on how much paint correction and which coating you go with. Regarding overall vehicle protection and maintenance, this can be a small price when you look at the overall cost of the vehicle and repairs down the line. Protecting the paint is essential, just like caring for the engine. Depending...
moreHow Much Should a Detail Really Cost?
Drake Strong
The world and scope of auto detailing has a wide range of services, offerings, and price options to go with them. Knowing how much a detail should cost can be quite hard when every place you call may have different price ranges. In this article, I will go over the average price ranges, the different reasons that may affect cost, and some things to look for before booking your next appointment.
What is and Goes Into a Detail?
One thing we've noticed is what peoples expect or think goes into a detail is a wide range. Some will think a simple 5 minute wash at your local automictic tunnel with a quick vacuum that takes quarters, is a detail, while others except a machine polisher and industrial carpet extractor is a such. Neither is wrong, as long as it fits their needs and gives them their desired results. This is what we call Level of Service. We can do a detail and be done in 2 hours, or may need the vehicle for 2 days or more to finish. (Sometimes longer) Most will take 3-6 hours on average. Understanding what needs done and how long it would...
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