Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do you have?

At Attention 2 Details our main focus is providing quality service and customer satisfaction. Thus our technicians are Certified by the State of California and Rightlook.com as Auto Reconditioning Specialists. We are also licensed by the county of San Diego.

Are your chemicals safe for the environment?

Most all of the chemicals used are bio-degradable, but the more important question is: "Is our process safe for the environment?" And the answer is "Yes!". Attention 2 Details is completely compliant with all California water reclamation laws. This means that all chemicals, run-off water and dirt deposits are reclaimed and stored for proper disposal. Not an ounce of soiled water or chemicals used in the detailing process enters into lakes and streams. 

A Car Dealership offered me a “Paint Protection Package”, that will supposedly protect my paint for five years. Is that a good deal?

Be Cautious:
Dealerships have been selling these packages for years. The customer's interest in protecting their new vehicle is the driving force for selling these packages.

We understand the desire to protect the longevity of your vehicle’s painted finish.  Our company strives not only to provide our customers with the best solutions, but also with the knowledge to make an informed decision on what solution is most beneficial.

Consider this:
Any consumable chemical that is applied to the painted surface of a vehicle lasts no longer than 12 months in perfect conditions. There are no aftermarket sealants that can be applied that will last five years on the surface of the paint. Many of our customers have been surprised to read the fine print of their guarantees only to find a stipulation disproving it.

Many dealerships play the odds. The factory painted finish of a vehicle on average is guaranteed to last five years without need of washing, waxing, or sealing the painted surface. So a dealer will give you a “Paint Protection Package” by applying a regular sealant on you car and expecting you to wash or wax your car at least once in five years! Dealerships make upwards of $600-$1500 on deals like this while the consumer's protection may not be what they thought.

Some "Paint Protection Packages" offered by dealers are in actuality an application of the same high quality paint sealant Attention 2 Details uses in our "Paint Protection Plan", however, ours are done at a fraction of the cost.

Isn’t it a waste to get my car detailed during rainy weather since it will be dirty before I even get home?

We all enjoy the beauty of a freshly detailed vehicle, but the fact is that nature does not care what a car looks like; it will continue to inflict harmful damage to a painted surface--- rain or shine. The purpose of a detail is not only to keep your vehicle looking the best that it can look, but also to protect your finish and extended the life of your paint. Getting your car detailed during rainy weather is just as important as getting it detailed any other time of the year simply because it protects your paint from the elements. And, although it may be irritating to drive home and see water spots on your windows and mud on your tires, you can rest assured that your paint is being protected from the elements.

How often should I detail my car?

The answer to this question depends largely upon how often you use your car and how well you maintain it. Interior detailing can be done as often as necessary to protect the interior surfaces of your vehicle. As for exterior detailing, waxes should be reapplied every 1-2 months, and sealants should be reapplied every 3-4 months under everyday driving conditions.

What Is Detailing Clay?

Detailing clay is a synthetic substance specially formulated for automotive detailing. It is usually purchased in bars and then broken up into smaller parts that a detailer then flattens for use on a vehicle's surface. Detailing clay is “rubbed” (with clay lubricant to prevent scratching) on the surface of a vehicle to remove all particulates that over time have adhered to the painted surface. Particulates such as paint overspray, dust, and ferrous oxide deposits take away from the smoothness and shine of the paint and can be potentially harmful. Clay removes these particles completely so that a painted surface can be polished and then protected.

What Does “true cut” mean?

Most detail chemicals have fillers and mask additives that are added to hide the appearance of scratches. The problems with such chemicals is that simply hiding the scratches does not remove the scratches in the painted surface, which could lead to further paint damage and, over time, could lead to paint failure. “true cut” chemicals are chemicals that have none of the aforementioned so that scratches can be removed rather than masked so that measures can be taken to protect the finish of a vehicle. 

What is the difference between paint rejuvenation and paint preservation?

Paint rejuvenation requires buffing a painted surface, which, in effect, is removing a very minute quantity of paint in order to remove scratches. However, in some cases, removing this tiny fraction of clear coat can compromise the integrity of the paint finish, in which case all efforts must be made to preserve the condition of the paint so as not to cause any further damage. Walking the fine line between paint preservation and paint rejuvenation can be a challenge for every detailer. Each vehicle has different levels of paint damage and thus needs to be assessed as to whether it is safe to rejuvenate the paint or to preserve its condition the best way possible.

What are environmental fallout and ferrous oxide deposits?

Environmental fallout is a type of paint damage that is caused by nature. Such damage includes tree sap, bird droppings, dust particles, beeswax, insect droppings, and even stone pebbles. In some cases, environmental fallout may require a more aggressive medium duty detailing clay for removal. Ferrous oxide particles, sometimes called industrial fallout, are particles of iron that are dislodged (by various sources such as the friction caused by a train grinding against a railroad track and a metal saws used by industrial warehouses) and become airborne as fallout on vehicle surfaces which start to rust on the surface of the paint. This type of fallout almost requires heavy claying of a vehicles surface.