Undercoating & Rust Proofing

 What is the difference between Undercoating and Rust Proofing?

Simply put, undercoating protects the frame of your vehicle and rust proofing protects the body of your vehicle. Below we are going to walk you through each of the procedures so you can get a clear idea of what the purpose of each service is. Many people ask us which is the best protection for the potential corrosion due to winter road salt application, and we always recommend undercoating for this type of protection. It gives a solid protective barrier against any salt deposits and will greatly increase the life of your vehicle’s frame.

 Undercoating: WHY and HOW we do it.

Why: To have your car or truck undercoated means having a layer of protection sprayed onto the undercarriage of your vehicle, including the floorboards, wheel wells, and frame. Since the underside of your vehicle is not washed during regular maintenance and is not even rinsed by regular rainwater, it is important to protect the exposed parts from rust and corrosion.

How: Applying an undercoating the very first thing that we're going to do is clean the whole underside of your vehicle - remove all the road grime, road salt, mud, grease - anything that contributes corrosion. Then we'll put the vehicle on our four post drive on lift, put it up in the air and dry the underside of the vehicle with our high-pressure air system. Then we'll apply a thick coating of our abrasion-resistant undercoating to the underside of the vehicle, the floor pans, frame rails, rocker panels - everything on the underside of your vehicle that doesn't move or get hot (like your exhaust system, drive train or shocks).

 Rust Proofing: WHY and HOW we do it.

Why: Rust is a sneaky beast to deal with. We have all seen cars completely rusted out on the side of the road or abandoned in a ditch, and we can picture doors with huge holes rusted out with only a hint of original paint showing. The interesting thing is that rust actually starts to accumulate on a car very early in ownership, it is just hidden away inside the floor panels, inside the doors, and underneath the wheel wells so it is impossible to see. Once you start to see the first signs of rust, it has already been growing from the inside all along. When you realize where the rust starts, the solution is a no brainer.

How: To bake up a delicious batch of rust, you only three ingredients: Iron, water, and oxygen. Since we drive out in the elements all day in vehicles made of steel, we are creating the perfect environment for rust to form, grown, and eventually devour everything in its path.

Once you know how rust forms the solution is simple. The rust proofer we use is a type of extremely thick wax that can be sprayed onto surfaces or into tight spaces using a hose. By laying a thick durable wax coating inside the doors, the hood, and between the pinch welds of the frame we remove all three of the ingredients needed for rust to form. Oxygen can’t get to the iron ore in the steel and water and condensation are repelled away on contact.

We do not spray rust proofing on the underside of the vehicle. Since it is a waxy finish it makes an awful mess, dirt sticks to it, and your mechanic will be cursing your name if they need to get in there to repair something. Since the exposed areas of the vehicle are able to dry, unlike the inside of the panels, it is much less of a risk for rust.

If you'd like to protect your vehicle against corrosion - Undercoating and Rust Proofing are great options - reach out to Automotive Protection Services in Fairfax Virginia (703) 591 0900 

Winter Time Paint Finish Protection

winter is often a time of year that we hear folks saying the same thing - "I think I'll wait until the spring before I get my car detailed "- and sure we get that... But there is more to consider. The harsh conditions of the winter weather, combined with the strong chemicals that the road crews put down can cause some serious impacts to your vehicle, it's actually the time of year when the most vigilance must be employed to protect your cars finish. Here are a few strategies that will help you protect your pride and joy until the weather turns warm again.

Get a Quality Paint Sealant Designed to Withstand Winter Weather

Superior paint protection can withstand exposure to road salt and cold temperatures. Dirt, snow, salt, and grime are easier to clean off your car’s exterior when there is a synthetic paint sealant. The polymers in modern paint sealants create an effective shield from water, road salts, and chemicals. Paint sealant will also seal paint chips and scratches, thus reducing further damage caused by oxidation.

Talk to your auto detailer about the best paint sealant options for the winter condition

ions in your area.

Protect Your Vehicle’s Tires & Wheel Wells

Freezing temperatures can damage your tires. The rubber needs to stay hydrated to prevent cracking. Get your tires treated with a quality tire dressing that not only keeps them looking good but also acts as a barrier from the harsh elements of winter and the ozone that causes rubber to deteriorate. A protective wax for your wheels will repel snow and ice. It requires regular reapplications to provide maximum protection.

Treat your wheel wells with a silicone based dressings to prevent the buildup of snow, ice and road salt. Undercoating in your wheel well is the best way to protect your vehicle against the formation of rust.

While you are at your professional auto wash, make sure your tires are properly inflated. Colder temperatures make tires under-inflated, thus making it difficult to maneuver on icy roads.

Treat the Interior of Your Car

Winter can be troublesome to leather and cloth upholstery. Cold air removes moisture from leather. In order to restore moisture to the leather, treat it with a special conditioner before the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The leather is poorly receptive to conditioner if the temperature is below 50 degrees.

Cloth upholstery can easily get water stained from even the smallest amount of snow or freezing rain on your coat and gloves when you sit in your vehicle. Professional auto detailing services wash your car seats and treat it with special products that make cloth upholstery more stain resistant. Alternatively, you can have your detailer spot clean stains as well.

Detailing Tips: Winter Protection

Detailing Tips:  Winter Protection 
During the winter season, our vehicles are the most susceptible to harsh conditions. The dirt and road salt that comes during this season can wreak havoc on the car’s exterior. A damaged paint finish is not only unattractive, but it can reduce the car’s value when you want to sell it or trade it in. As experts, we recommend that vehicle owners implement strategies that can prevent tire damage, rim damage, exterior paint, and body damage and undercarriage decay.

1) Regular vehicle washing

It is important that we regularly wash our vehicles during the winter season more so than any other time of the year. This is because the snow, slush, and grit combined with road salt make vehicles rust. Salt will prematurely degrade and damage sealants applied to the exterior. Hand wash and rinse the car, use a high-pressure sprayer to ensure all the grit and snow is removed. Clean the undercarriage, bumpers, wheel wells and other hard-to-reach areas that are likely to rust.

2) Seal the Paint

It is important to provide the exterior of your car with a protective coating to withstand the extreme winter conditions. A paint sealant is equipped with polymers that can shield your car against water and road salts. Salt, dirt, grime, and snow are easier to clean when your car is coated with a paint sealant. Additionally, the sealant will protect your vehicle from scratches and chips and reduces the damage caused by oxidation.

3) Remove Salt Stain from the Car Carpets

Always care for the carpets, seats, and floor mats during winter. Use a solution of half-distilled vinegar and half water to remove salt stains on floor mats, carpets, and seats. Use stiff brushes to loosen the dirt from the carpets and upholstery. It can take several scrubbing sessions to remove some salt stains completely. Salt stains on leather seats can be eliminated by the use of a conditioner that contains aloe.

4) Care for the Wheels

Just like there are protective sealants for car paint, there are specialized sealants for vehicle wheels as well. Protective tire sealants prevent brake dust adhesion and repel ice and snow from adhering to the treads. There are also nano-based ceramic glass coatings that can keep wheels safe from salt buildup, which comes with long-term consequences. Also, use specially mixed acid solutions to remove dirt, brake dust, and residue from wheels. Alternatively, we can use a nonacid product instead of acid-based cleaners since they cause oxidation on bare alloy wheels and can damage wheels with clear coatings.

Final Thoughts

While many car owners prefer to stay warm by the fireplace during the winter season, it is also nice to care for the car. Winter detailing will help avoid costly repairs while maintaining a car that is in good condition.

YOUR CAR NEEDS A PROFESSIONALLY DETAIL AFTER THE WINTER SEASON

During the winter, pre-treatment brine, salt, and other chemicals that are used to keep the roads clear, sand, slush, mud and other grime, all get thrown into the tight crevices under the vehicle. Those same chemicals and dirt also get splashed up onto your vehicle's paint. Not only is the road grime detrimental to the paint, but it will also cause the vehicle's underbody and frame to rust. While you should wash the salt and other chemicals off your vehicle as soon as possible during the winter, it's important to fully detail your vehicle in early spring.

Clean the Underbody and Frame.

Use a good de-greasing solvent that will cut the grime and clean the undercarriage of your vehicle to keep it from rusting the brakes, axles, frame and other steel or cast-iron parts under the vehicle. Once the underbody is clean, you'll be able to work on the rest of the vehicle. While you could clean and detail it yourself, you should have a professional detail the vehicle to ensure that it is free of dirt, grime, and harmful chemicals. See this article for more information about how to protect the undercarriage of your vehicle.

Detail the Exterior

Hand-wash the entire vehicle using a PH balanced soap. Pressure wash and scrub the wheels and wells and tires, use an iron removing product to melt away brake dust and other ferrous metal on the wheels.  Spot free rinse with reverse osmosis water, compressed air to ensure zero water spotting. Clay bar the painted surfaces to remove road tar, bugs, and other contaminants that become embedded into the painted surface paint and over time will break down your vehicles clear coat.

Interior Detailing

Detailing the interior of your vehicle is just as important as detailing the exterior. Dirt, grime, and contaminants get ground into the carpeting, even if you have

floor mats. Over time, dust and other grime get ground into the seats. Our interior detailing will make your vehicle look, feel and smell new again.






Maintaining your vehicles appearance not only improves how it looks, but it also protects it against premature ageing. To continue learning more follow us online. 

Things to Do Before Getting Your Vehicle Window Tinted

Things to Consider Before Getting your vehicles Windows Tinted:

Window tinting is one of the least expensive ways to enhance your vehicle, in terms of both outer appearance and interior comfort. But if you choose the wrong material or the wrong installer, it can turn into a nightmare. Some people try to do it themselves—sometimes with disastrous results—and even choosing the right professional to do the job can be challenging because there are so many window tint installers in the DMV offering what seems like a "deal."

 

Things to Do Before Getting Your Vehicle Window Tinted

This article will cover the three top tasks you should undertake before getting a window film "tint" applied to your vehicle. The goal is to make you an informed consumer and allow you to make an educated decision.

First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of window tinting, as compared to factory tints or no tint at all.

 The most permanent window tint is done at the factory. The tint is embedded in the glass, so there is no chance of peeling. But factory tints offer no protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays, the is also no infrared (IR) or solar heat protection. Even though many factory tints are very dark they allow (UV) and (IR) to pass straight through and thus offer zero actual protection for your vehicles interior or for you against risks like skin cancer.

Window tint films, sometimes called “aftermarket tints,” offer protection against both Ultraviolet light and infrared heat, even with light tints that do not significantly limit visible light. The proper aftermarket films can reduce interior heat by up to 70 percent, which makes your summer drive time more pleasant; such films can also protect your skin from UV rays—and your car’s interior, which maintains the value of the vehicle.

Do your homework

Window tinting is a skilled craft, and some installation options are better than others, so it’s important to do some research before making a decision.

Get referrals from friends

Talk to friends who have had their windows tinted and find out which shops they have used and how they feel about the quality of the work. Have they had problems with the tint peeling, bubbles, the film changing color over time? Did they have a positive customer service experience? Was the pricing fair, honest and upfront?

Call—then visit—a few window tint shops

There’s no substitute for experience, the master films applicator in our shop has been applying films for over 15 years. Anyone can open a window tinting business with very low startup costs, but that doesn’t mean they can do good work.

Find out how dark window tint can legally be in your state

Many states and cities have laws restricting the maximum darkness of window tints because they are viewed as a safety concern for patrol officers. We’re writing this post from Fairfax Virginia - The max VLT in the front two windows in VA is 50% and in the rear of a passenger car is 35%, the rules are different in Maryland, and the District. For more detailed information about your locality follow link

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Narrow your list to two or three shops with good reputations, then visit them. Here’s what to look for on your visit:

Attention to customer service – Any shop worth their salt will take time to explain what they do, why they use the materials they do, and what kinds of tinting options are available to you.

A neat, clean shop – Window tinting techniques require a clean work environment. Dust and dirt around the shop could mean contaminants in the adhesive as the tint is being applied—a real problem. Tools and workspaces should look neat and well-organized.

Samples of their work – Ask to see a window tint job they have recently completed. They should have no problem with this if their work is good and they are eager to earn your business.

Here’s what to look for on your visit:

  o        Look closely at gaskets and paint around the windows. Are there slices, nicks or scratches in them? This could be a sign of sloppy workmanship during installation.

  o        Check the edges of the tint film. There should be no flaws or lack of adhesion. Side window films should extend inside the chassis.

  o        Make sure the rear window tint is one solid piece of film. Some installers patch this together around defroster lines, but a solid piece of the film provides the best adhesion.

  o        Obviously, bubbles are a no-no. But you may see some streaking in the film, and this is normal. The adhesive will dry in a week or so, and this discoloration will go away.

Ask about their warranty – Any reputable shop will provide a warranty and stand behind it - we offer a lifetime warranty on most films, no bubbling, warping, peeling, or changing color. 

Find out how long they have been in business – Look for a shop that has been around for several years. If they have been successful for a while, they are more likely to be around later, should you run into problems with the work. Established shops are also more likely to have skilled, experienced employees.

Get a cost quote – Now it’s time to compare pricing. The lowest price tag is not always the best, but sometimes you can get excellent, cheap window tinting when a shop has its operation humming along.

Good luck!

If you have any additional questions or would like to discuss anything posted here please feel free to post a question in our comments section. 

What is Paint Protection Film - is it a good option for me

Paint Protection Film, or PPF (sometimes referred to as Clear Bra), is a thermoplastic urethane film which is most often applied to the forward or leading painted surfaces of a vehicle. Originally, this type of protective film was designed for military use on helicopter rotors to protect them from sand particles, and over the years it has expanded to general aviation, racing, and finally consumer vehicles and even electronic devices such as mobile phones. Paint Protection Film has been in use on privately owned vehicles for several years now, and with good reason.

From a maintenance standpoint, PPF is an excellent investment for any vehicle. The clear coated urethane film helps preserve the paint finish while protecting surfaces vulnerable to stone chips, bug damage, abrasion, and weathering. Not only will your vehicle’s paint be preserved from these types of damages, but the film will also allow your paint to age naturally, and will not yellow from prolonged sun exposure. Additionally, you can clean and maintain your vehicle the same as before. The nearly invisible film can be washed and waxed just like the rest of the painted surfaces to retain that high gloss shine you expect.

These protective films are typically applied to the impact zones on vehicles parts, or otherwise vulnerable areas such as hoods, fenders, side mirrors, bumpers, grills, rocker panels, headlights covers, floodlights, car door protection, luggage areas, rear bumper decks, roof, and A-pillars. Most vendors guarantee their product not to haze, yellow or peel and offer a warranty of anywhere from two to five years when properly installed. The film contains ultra-violet stabilizers to prevent discoloration or degradation of the product itself while still allowing the sun’s rays to pass through to the paint so if you do decide to remove the film your vehicle will not be two-toned, or “sunburned”. Unlike leather car bras or plastic shields, these clear protective films are practically invisible and do not substantially affect the overall appearance of your vehicle.

Our goal at Automotive Protection Services (APS) in Fairfax, Virginia, as always, is to provide you with superior products and first class installation service. If you are interested in taking advantage of the protection offered by automotive protective film, we would be happy to meet your needs. Call us or stop by our local store to learn more about our protective films and installation options. 

Paint Protection Film

The first cut is the deepest. On your car, that is...

Our Master Films Applicator doing a tricky install 

Dents from rocks. scratches from debris, and bug acid from, well, bugs, all contribute to diminishing your car’s overall value and appearance. The sun’s UV rays, along with road rash, including rocks, pebbles, road debris, winter salt, and sand, can greatly damage your vehicle’s integrity and can ultimately lead to lower resale value.

In order to protect your vehicle and it’s exterior from the devastation of road rash and to augment your vehicle’s value, a protective paint film is a necessity. 

Paint Protection Film also referred to as your car’s “Clear Bra”, delivers a shield of protection from damaging agents, preserves your car’s paint job, and increases the longevity and resale value. Useful to everyday drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as owners of exotic cars, race cars, track cars, and collector cars, Paint Protection Film is a thick clear urethane film that can be applied to the entire vehicle. Popular applications of Paint Protective Film are paint, front bumper, front fenders, rear fenders, hood, headlights, mirrors, door cups, and door handles.

CHECK OUT THE TOP FIVE BENEFITS OF HAVING PAINT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

1. Polished Look— Paint Protection Film for your car emphasizes a sleek and polished appearance with its high-gloss durability and shiny end-result look. 

2. Protects Integrity— Paint Protection Film protects your vehicle from damage, road rash debris, bugs, climatic change, and various chemicals.

3. Preserves Paint— Paint Protection Film aids in preserving your vehicle’s coloring and prevents discoloration from the sun’s harmful UV rays. 

4. Cost-Effective— Paint Protection Film lessens damages caused to your vehicle’s exterior, allowing itself to be a contributor in cost-management for your vehicle. 

5. Increases Resale Value— Paint Protection Film ensures the vehicle’s paint stays fresh and looking brand new, no matter what weather, climate, or situations it encounters.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PAINT PROTECTION FILM?

If it sounds like paint protection is something your car needs, check out our website and see which PPF package is the right fit for you, like our Deluxe kit for example. If you would like to learn more about our vehicle paint protection film,  please contact us, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have or provide you with more information.