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Advice from the Professionals

Maintaining a Black Paint Job

Making sure that a black car looks showroom quality can be time consuming and a real hassle if you are not prepared. Thankfully, there are plenty of options and solutions. Here we have a paint correction being done on a 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI that has seen better days.

Some of the most iconic cars in automotive history have sported a black finish. For instance, take the Buick Grand National which was one of the most powerful cars to be produced at it’s time in 1986 or even the Ford Model T that was as Henry Ford himself stated, “You can have any color, as long as it’s black”. People love this color since it can make a vehicle look sleek and aggressive. However, there is a catch that comes with black paint. Let’s say you decide to treat yourself and purchase a 2020 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye decked out with the pugnacious wide body setup, all placed together under a nice shade of pitch black paint. After a week of civilized driving and respecting county laws, you notice a distinct layer of dirt over your new Mopar and decide to take it to your local car wash. Days later, at the weekly cruise night in your town, one of your friends points out numerous swirl marks, a scratch, and what appears to be a rock chip. Baffling thoughts stream through your brain, “how did this happen? “I paid top dollar for my car to be clean so how could this have possibly happened?” The answer is simple, the giant motorized brushes and even the towels used to clean vehicles at car washes are arguably not safe for paint. The best methods to keep your dark colored ride clear of scratches and scuffs are listed below.

“More time equals a more rewarding result”, Alex

  1. Make sure to use a clean rag or sponge when cleaning. Rocks and road debris can be picked up and thrown back onto the paint if the applicator is not cleaned properly. We recommend using two buckets, one for soap, and the other for ringing out your rag or sponge.

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Believe it or not, there are actually shampoos designed specifically for black paint. A perfect example is Chemical Guy’s exclusive “Black light” product which is intended to restore the reflective shine that is synonymous with metallic black cars.

3. A good clay bar session will for sure make a difference, however, it is worth noting that this may take up to 2 hours depending on your vehicle.

All of these tips will help you in making your black car a mirror on wheels!

Featured

Customer care

Enthusiast level care and expertise just for you

Being a car enthusiast in today’s time can pose as a challenge sometime’s whether it is paying a hefty repair bill or simply biting the bullet when it comes to paying for a full tank of premium gas at the pumps. We have been there too. When it comes to our prized possessions we tend to search for the best products that are safe for each platform. You wouldn’t use the cheap flimsy performance products that can be found on the dark reaches of the internet would you? Neither would we. So why should it be different with your paint? Keeping your vehicle clean is one challenge to have it done professionally is another. With our help you won’t have to fear swirl marks or even…paint chips. You are in good hands with us.

What we offer:

  • Care, we throw out the “have this car done and get it out of here” mentality. Every vehicle that is left with us get’s the best treatment, we strive to give it the showroom freshness that you crave.
  • Efficiency and Communication, this is not our car’s it is yours, we will follow whatever method you want with the materials that you prefer so long that is not harmful for the paint of course.

Sure there are plenty of other groups to choose from, however many of these larger firms may treat you like a number, you are not recognized as “Ray with the Corvette” you are seen as “that guy with the red car”. Here at V-N-A we enjoy bonding with others over cars, we want our customers to understand that they are not just clients, they are family and shall be treated as such.

Customer care:

  • Want to watch as we clean? Sure can!
  • Any suggestions and preferences are welcomed!
  • Need it done at a certain pace? Not a problem!
  • Prefer a specific brand (Chemical guys, Adam’s Polishes, Turtle Wax) we’ll use it!

With every client, we strive to stand out from the rest of the pack by ensuring that you will get the best of the best in our field. We offer everything from regular washes all the way to full ceramic coating.

We love the automotive community which is why we plan “Cruise nights” for our clients, giving everyone a chance to meet new people and form new relationships while enjoying this fantastic hobby.

Feel free to browse our exciting page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Paint Film Protection

As ironic as it may sound, one of the most harmful environments for cars today is being on the roads. Many streets and highways are not ideal since they are polluted with potholes, gravel, and rocks. Many vehicles have faced unfortunate scenarios where road debris was kicked up on the hood of the car from dusty mud flaps from another vehicle or broken roadway particles. Before you know it, there are tiny holes scattered across your car. A simple paint correction kit will not solve this problem since most of these chips are deep and have penetrated the clear coat. Typically, the only real solution is a trip to a local body shop which is never cheap and can take time depending on which section of the car is damaged. However, there is a successful way to prevent this from happening and it’s called “paint protection film”.

To understand how this tool works, you need to understand what it is made from. Paint protection film is comprised of thermoplastic urethane which can be used as a self healing applicant for paint. Think of it as a screen protector you would put on your cell phone. These protection films act as a transparent shield by deflecting tiny chips. You will no longer have to worry about bug splatters or even tree sap which is a nightmare to remove. So what are you waiting for? Save yourself a headache and book an appointment with us today!

Ceramic Coating

Imagine this: It’s a bright afternoon, the weather is approximately 66 degrees and the sun’s rays are beaming down on your car. To your dismay you discover dust, dirt, that one stain that doesn’t come off if you try buffing it out with your finger, and water marks splattered all over the roof. “Alright, I better get to work” you think to yourself as you unwind the hose. After nearly three hours of washing, everything is back to normal. You head back inside to take a long nap after a hard days work. However four days later, you see all the stains and muck that you spent all that time removing just a few days ago. How could this be? Well for starters, it’s from driving, keep in mind that our roads are not exactly clean since they were never meant to be. Every car can accumulate a few centimeters of dirt in less than 10 minutes of driving. Can’t forget rain as well, just a few hours of drizzle can make any vehicle look musty. Thankfully there is an innovative new way to protect the paint of your car from the elements.

Perks of Ceramic: An astounding shine

“Wait what on Earth is Ceramic Coating?” you mutter as you scroll down this page, this ‘shield” as some may call it is formed from Silica and Titanium Dioxide. Please bear in mind that before we dive into the nitty gritty (no pun intended) of this product we must note that this is not the same as Paint Protection Film. One of the most popular reasons why Ceramic Coats are applied is UV protection. On a Hot Summer Day, any car’s clear coat could be seriously damaged by the Sun. A damaged Clear coat is not a “1-2-3 job” and can set someone back as far as $1,200.00 which costs more than applying a Ceramic Coat. Most people tend to think “oh wow, I can Ceramic my car and I will never have to wash my car again” this is not entirely true. A coat of Ceramic has the ability to repel water with ease. This can be shown in the picture provided below.

A closer look at a Ceramic Coat in action. Pay attention to the large puddle that is forming, this means that the water is not bonding with the paint.

Don’t hesitate on this outstanding new product. Get that long lasting shine that most wax products cannot accomplish while refreshing the paint of your car at the same time. Book an appointment with us today!

Cleaning Wheels

Nothing makes a car “pop” more than a handsome set of wheels. Modern car culture today focuses heavily on Rims and Tires. Think of the many sub groups that exist in our community. For example, “street machine” fanatics that give their rides an excellent “flush” look with 16 inch wheels and big meaty tires and who can forget the guys who like to stretch their tires to make a statement. A few hours of spirited driving or even simple joy rides to the Supermarket can lead to tons of grit and grime that can be a real drag to take off. Spraying it with the hose doesn’t help and no one would even dare hit them with a pressure washer since that could potentially ruin the finish. There is a solution to get that gunk off your wheels and we use plenty of it. There are plenty of products that are tried and true and always get the job done effectively.

Adam’s Polishes Wheel Cleaner

Perhaps one of the more “safer” cleaners to use on aftermarket wheels is Adam’s Polishes Wheel Cleaner. This product does an excellent job when it comes to dissolving road grit and even brake dust. Squeeze a few sprays and presto! After 30 seconds, the blue liquid will magically morph into a dark red ooze while getting all the dirt off your rims. This is safe for all types including those with bronze finishes. Our only complaint would probably be the smell, it is extremely strong and we encourage to use this product in an outdoor environment, otherwise you will have to leave a few windows open for an hour.

Chemical Guys "Sticky Citrus" Wheel Cleaner

Chemical Guys is one of the most popular wash brands on the market right now. Every one of their products is known to be safe for all applications that won’t erode finishes or leave stains. The “Sticky Citrus” wheel cleaner earns it’s attractive nickname from the pleasant “orange” aroma it leaves behind, much better than the “gunk” smell that rises from others on the market. You will need a few more sprays for heavy grime, however, once it starts working it automatically erases dirt with ease.

Meguiars Aluminum Wheel Cleaner

Arguably one of the best “bang for the buck” spray’s available. This efficient product can be found almost anywhere unlike Chemical Guys and Adam’s Polishes. We prefer using this when it comes to factory wheels rather than aftermarket. Just one spray is enough to make a difference. No need to worry about any odor since there are none, yet another plus.

Well that’s one way to do it…

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