Frequently Asked Questions

While washing your car is essential for maintaining its appearance, it’s not as thorough as detailing. Washing typically removes surface dirt, but it can leave behind grime in harder-to-reach areas. Detailing, on the other hand, is a more in-depth process that focuses on cleaning these often-neglected spots, such as the interior crevices, undercarriage, and wheel wells. I like to compare it to the difference between brushing your teeth and getting a professional cleaning at the dentist—washing is like brushing, while detailing is like the deep clean that ensures every area is thoroughly addressed.

A thorough detail depending on the condition can take a few hours or sometimes even days. However a basic detail normally is done in 4-6 hours.

A clay bar is a tool used to decontaminate paint. In time, Cars paint can become contaminated with baked on bugs sap and other contaminates. By clay barring the surface these contaminates are removed leaving a clean slick surface ready for a sealant or wax. Although clay bar sounds like it might include clay it is actually synthetic and specifically designed for the car industry.

In recent years the word ceramic in the carwash and detail world has taken on a variety of meanings. Drive through car washes often offer some sort of “ceramic” option. Often times these products are Teflon based and offer protection that lasts a few weeks at best. Other products labeled as ceramic are silicon sprays. In recent years some of these sprays have become very good and can last several months. Finally what I call a true ceramic coating is often Silicone based with solvents that when applied is hydrophobic, can be up to 10 times the thickness of a paints clear coat and can last many years! Because a true ceramic coating is semi-permanent, it is a very involved process to apply. Because ceramic can have so many meanings and have so different results it is often sold in a deceiving manner. Armadillo Auto Spa offers many different options for paint protection and I am always happy to discuss the differences and what is best for you!

Paint correction is a process where a vehicles paint is meticulously polished in order to removes scratches and swirl marks. Over time paint will get small scratches from environmental factors and improper washing. Drive through car washes are one of the main culprits of damaged paint. Paint correction can remove up to 90% of scratches and swirls in a paint job. even minute scratches may not be visible but they reflect the light in a manner that makes paint look dull. A paint enhancement is a light polish of the vehicle that is not as in depth as a paint correction but still gives great results. A paint correction is usually necessary before a ceramic coating is applied.

Armadillo Auto Spa is 100% self-sufficient. Everything I need to detail your vehicle is brought on location in my custom van, built specifically for detailing! I bring my own deionized, spot-free water to every job, and my super-quiet generator allows me to detail in any environment.