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Exterior Detailing Services

Our Detailing Services will Protect and Prolong Your Vehicle’s Paint Finish

California Detailing has over 40 years of expertise detailing thousands of vehicles, and we know how to keep your car looking its best. Our specialized products and meticulous services not only restore but also maintain the beauty and integrity of your vehicle’s exterior for years to come. Trust us to preserve your investment and enhance your car’s appearance with our professional detailing solutions.

While regular car washing is essential for removing surface dirt and grime, it’s not sufficient to fully protect your vehicle’s paint from the harsh elements it faces daily. The San Francisco Bay Area’s micro climate characterized by intense sun, pollution, and corrosive fog, can quickly degrade your car’s exterior.

Over time, environmental factors such as UV rays, bird droppings, tree sap, and industrial fallout can penetrate the clear coat, leading to oxidation, fading, and permanent damage.

Annual detailing goes beyond what a standard wash can achieve. It involves a meticulous process that includes deep cleaning, paint correction, and the application of protective coatings. During the deep cleaning phase, professionals remove contaminants that have embedded into the paint, such as tar, tree sap, and industrial fallout. This ensures that the surface is thoroughly cleansed and prepared for the next steps.

We know what it’s like to tell a car owner that their paint is too far gone for our services to restore.

Consider making annual detailing as essential as oil changes, tire rotations, and regular mechanical services. Just as you wouldn’t neglect these vital aspects of vehicle maintenance, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of protecting your car’s finish.

Sport Exterior Detail Package

Step 1: Hand Wash
The exterior detail process begins with a meticulous hand wash using our high-quality automotive shampoo. This helps to remove dirt, grime, and contaminants from the paint surface without causing scratches.

Step 2: Clay Bar Treatment
A clay bar is used to remove embedded contaminants from the paint, such as tree sap, tar, or industrial fallout. This step helps to achieve a smooth and glossy surface.

Step 3: Enhancing Shine and Protection
To enhance the shine and protection of your vehicle’s exterior, you have your choice of our AIRCRAFT WAX COATING or SPORT CERAMIC COATING. This step not only adds a layer of protection against environmental elements and UV rays but also brings out the depth and gloss of your vehicle’s paint.

Step 4: Trim Restoration
All exterior plastic and chrome trim pieces are cleaned and conditioned.

Step 5: Wheel and Tire Cleaning
Wheels and tires are thoroughly cleaned and dressed to restore their appearance and protect them from environmental damage. This step usually involves the removal of brake dust, grime, and old tire dressing.

Step 6: Glass Cleaning
The exterior and interior glass surfaces, including the windshield, windows, and mirrors, are cleaned to a streak-free finish.

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Paint Correction/Polishing

Paint correction, also known as polishing, is a meticulous process that involves restoring and enhancing the appearance of a vehicle’s paintwork. By carefully leveling the surface of the paint to remove imperfections such as swirl marks, scratches, stains and oxidation, paint correction can dramatically improve the clarity, gloss, and depth of the paint. Using specialized tools, compounds, and techniques, our skilled technicians work to refine the paint to a mirror-like finish, revealing the true beauty of your vehicle’s paint job. Whether you are looking to restore the showroom shine of your car or enhance its overall appearance, our paint correction services are designed to exceed your expectations and leave your vehicle looking flawless.

Platinum Exterior Detail Package

Step 1: Inspection
The first step in the paint correction process is to thoroughly inspect the vehicle for imperfections such as swirl marks, scratches, oxidation, and other paint defects.

Step 2:
Washing The vehicle is carefully washed and decontaminated to remove any dirt, grime, and contaminants that may interfere with the correction process.

Step 3: Clay Bar Treatment
A clay bar is used to further remove embedded contaminants from the paint surface, ensuring a smooth and clean surface for correction.

Step 4: Test Spot
A small test spot is done to determine the best combination of polishes and pads to achieve optimal results.

Step 5: Compounding
Using a cutting compound and a suitable pad, the paint is corrected to remove defects and imperfections, such as swirl marks, stains, hard water deposits and scratches.

Step 6: Polishing
After compounding, a polish is used with a finishing pad to refine the paint and maximize gloss and clarity.

Step 7: Finishing Touches
Any remaining imperfections are addressed, and a final inspection is conducted to ensure the paint correction process has been completed to the highest standard.

Step 8:  Protection
To preserve the corrected paintwork you can choose from our Aircraft  Wax Coating or Ceramic Pro Coating package to provide long-lasting protection, easy maintenance, and long lasting shine.

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Customer Satisfaction

For over 40 years, California Detailing has a reputation for delivering top-quality work tailored to the specific needs of each vehicle. That is why we do not offer fixed prices for our services.

Instead, we provide a range of costs based on a site unseen estimate until we have the opportunity to assess and evaluate your vehicle in person. By customizing the pricing based on the condition and requirements of your vehicle, we can ensure that you will receive the most cost-effective and personalized detailing package.

Please feel free to contact us directly by phone or email to discuss your auto detailing service request.

In order to provide you with a final cost of services requested, we will perform a quick inspection of your vehicle on the day of your appointment.

If you do not approve of our price quote, that’s OK, we will simply cancel your appointment.

Please feel free to stop by our shop for a quick on site estimate Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 AM and 5:30 PM
Feel free to call 415-622-8237

Happy Customers

Great job. All new cars should be detailed ASAP. The color they were able to make pop on our mini was really impressive. Kind staff, Carlos was great to work with. Highly recommend…

Ernest S. – Verified on Yelp

We brought our Tesla Model S in for detailing for the first time in over a year just yesterday, and my husband and I barely recognized our car when we picked it up….

Josephine H. – Verified on Yelp

I love dealing with Jim and Carlos. They do a fantastic job! It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for- basically a new car…

k. b. – Verified on Yelp