Specialist Service

Compounding

“Compounding” is the use of abrasive compounds to grind the surface layers of severely damaged or dull paint.
Compounding is going one step further than polishing, since this process requires a more aggressive cleaner to revitalize old dull and worn out paint.
Professionally trained personnel should do it only. This process quickly and effectively levels the paint by smoothing the surface and removing dead oxidized paint. Compounding removes the upper most layer of oxidized material by actually stripping or cutting the first layer of paint. Compounding is a Type C Paint Condition process for used paint that has heavy scratches, spotting, 1200-2000 grit sandpaper marks and/or surface contaminants.
Compounding ALWAYS requires polishing or waxing afterwards to fill the leveled areas in the paint.

Clay Bar

Using a clay bar will remove embedded surface contamination that still remains after a wash. Sometimes the contamination removed is not always visible on the paint to the naked eye.

After using a clay bar on your paint you will be left with a surface that is as smooth as glass and properly prepped. It is now ready for polish or for you to apply layers of protection. Not only can you clay your vehicles paint, but glass, wheels, lights and more. A common misconception about using a clay bar is that it has an impact on removing swirls and scratches, it does not.

In this case we really are back to compounding please see “compounding” above.

Perma Wax

This is the Holy Grail for waxing a car as it has all the properties of the Platinum wax as per “wax” above but also includes a sealant thus sealing your car from the elements and retain a “new car shine” for up to six months. Having a sealant and a wax on your car not only protects your car from Rain, Snow, Grit but also Sun as it has UV protection built in. The only down side to this wax is we here at Crystal Valet wont get to meet you as often!

Soft Top Treatments

There are two main types of convertible tops. The difference is due to the material used, either fabric or vinyl. One type is the classic top constructed with cloth as the covering material. This material looks and feels like canvas, but is actually woven of fibers that are either synthetic, like acrylic, polyester, olefin, or a synthetic and cotton blend. These fabrics are actually breathable but are made water repellent by a chemical treatment process used during manufacturing. The original repellency breaks down with time and exposure to the elements. The other type of convertible top is made of thick vinyl. Vinyl is a plastic product composed mostly of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and made flexible with the addition of plasticizers. The vinyl top may look like a canvas material, but upon close inspection, you can see that the "canvas" is simply an impression stamped into the vinyl when it is manufactured. It is normal for the plasticizers to gradually dry out over time, causing the material to crack and eventually split. With proper care, however, this process can be slowed significantly. Both types of tops are faced with a myriad of potential contamination sources, including acid rain, heat, ultraviolet rays, smog, tree sap, bird droppings, salt, tar, dirt, grease, grit, and mold. The most important thing, as always, is to use the right chemical for the surface of concern. Like earlier on this website you will have read of “the Gardener and the Painter” everyone thinks they can but very few achieve the professional results they require. Never was it so true when speaking about a soft-top treatment, done correctly it can add years to your soft top done incorrectly it can take years off your soft top. Cleaning a soft top is an art form and indeed we generally only have one specialist per site thus booking would be essential.

Leather Care

Some leather car seats wear like iron, others seem more like paper mache over foam. Regardless, most will show their age over time. Proper and regular maintenance of your leather interior will make it last a long time. Leather needs to be kept moisturized or it will dry and crack. Unfortunately, most people simply don’t know this, until your leather interior is showing some serious wear. Thankfully, there is hope. Here at Crystal Valet Centres we provide a simply and relatively inexpensive replenish, moisturize and repair process which if done regularly can keep the interior of your car like new. Wait until you go to sell it that’s when you will really see the benefit. Remember its regular cleaning not one “big valet” because if the leather degrades to much it can’t be revived.

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