When it comes to detailing your car, you can go with two common options. You could get your car waxed, or you can use ceramic coating. Each serves a similar purpose in protecting your vehicle from the harm that can come to its exterior, but there are some important details you should know about both methods. To help you decide what’s the better option for you and your vehicle, here’s a look at the differences between ceramic coating and car wax.

​There are various ways we can protect our vehicles. Many will rightfully put the priority on safety features, but there are also some methods you can try that can also protect a car’s exterior from outside elements. When you detail your car, there are two common types of protection you can get: ceramic coating and clear bra. Instead of choosing one over the other, learn about the benefits of using both. So, why apply a ceramic coating over a clear bra? Learn about some of the benefits below. 

Cquartz Finest Ceramic Coating, Ceramic Pro, G-techniq and Opti-Coat.
Xpel, Suntek, Stek, Flexishield and 3M.

So many brands - so much confusion!

The internet can be such a blessing when it comes to gathering information - but on the other hand it can be a curse when you become flooded with so many different reviews and videos and posts!

With so many different options, it can be near impossible to decide which coating or clear bra brand to choose!

With that in mind, here are a few questions we've found to be worth asking when choosing either a Ceramic Coating
​or a Clear Bra.

 1. Are you paying for the Coating or Film Brand - or the quality of the Installer?

When I'm shopping for a service - or for anything for that matter, I'm much more concerned with the people doing the work, than I am the name of the products they use.

Think about it - if you're having a home built, are you concerned about what brand of tools they use to build it or what brand concrete they're using for your homes foundation OR, are you trusting more so in the reputation and capabilities of the people using those tools and products - and thus, trust their selection in tools and products?

For us, we don't offer any product (be it ceramic coating, clear bra / film or tint) that we have not used on one of our personal vehicles and were satisfied with the results it provided.

We've tried MANY different coatings, films, polishes, machines and so on over the years. Most didn't make the cut. The ones we've elected to continue to use however, are the ones we've been the most impressed with in both quality, longevity and consistency. 

2. What happens if something goes wrong?

Oh no, NOBODY wants to ever talk about this! While we would all love to believe that everyone we ever hire does a 100% perfect job 100% of the time, sometimes the whole "human factor" gets in the way! 

Is the business or individual you hired insured? You'd be surprised how many "fly by night" detailers, fly under the radar and do not have insurance .... or even a business license!

Anyone who's viewed our reviews (and if you haven't, we surely encourage you to do so), can tell that our reputation and the quality of the work we put out means the world to us.

Now while I'd love to lie and say every job thats ever left our shop was 100% perfect....every once in a while, something gets missed! This is something almost no business ever wants to admit to, let alone publicly post! At Windows and Wheels Auto Detailinghowever, we like to keep things 100% transparent and let you know if by chance you are dissatisfied - we're here to make sure things are made right.

Because of this, we offer free follow up washes after any ceramic coating job so that we can inspect our work. We also have a long history of standing behind our work if any issue arrises. We've heard way too many horror stories over the years of someone hiring a company that promises the moon and the stars - but instead takes the money and runs.  Not with us, not ever - and our history across any platform backs this up!

3. How do I maintain the work after it's done?

To us, this is absolutely key with any of our services. 

We want to make sure that you know how to get the most out of any service we provide to you. While we wish ceramic coatings and clear bra were "maintenance free" or will last a lifetime without care, this unfortunately isn't realistic. If the paint on your $40k, $60k, $100k+ car isn't bulletproof (if it were, you wouldn't be looking for protection services like ceramic coatings and clear bra!), they too need maintenance!

Whether providing you with the maintenance services ourselves, providing you with the materials needed or simply directing you to some of our free "How To" videos we've done, we will make sure you're armed with whatever it is you need to get the most out of your Ceramic Coating or Clear Bra. Speaking of which, feel free to check out our "How to Wash Your Car - The Best Way!" Video below.

At the end of the day, Daniela and myself started down this path with the same ground level ethics that was driven into us our entire lives by those who raised us: "Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."

We don't want to ever be a "one hit wonder" with any of our clients. We truly work to build a lifetime relationship with anyone who walks through our door. We are the cosmetic keepers of your cars, we are Windows & Wheels - and it's been very nice to meet you :)

As always - questions and comments are welcome! Feel free to reach out and we will be sure to get back to you ASAP!

A car detail comes with many benefits, but some people need a bit more convincing. While a car wash can do a lot, a detail can take care of the little things you may overlook. So, it’s worth getting a few times in a year; plus, someone else can take care of it for you. Discover the reasons to get your car detailed below.

A major reason why you need to keep up with regular car maintenance is for the sheer fact of keeping its value. Depreciation affects every car—it's inevitable. However, you can get a good price for your vehicle when you choose to sell it by doing things such as getting your car regularly detailed. This is because it can prevent unsightly issues that may happen over time, such as rust.

​Another reason to get your car regularly detailed is so you can avoid any odors in your vehicle. Nobody wants to get in a vehicle full of bad odors, but a detail can keep the smells at bay. Car detailing performed by a trained professional will ensure this won’t be a problem for you.

Believe it or not, a car detail can do more than just make your car smell fresh or look good on the road. You should also invest in car details, so you can improve your safety while on the road. For example, if you don’t keep up with detailing, glass coatings tend to wear down over time, which can worsen your visibility on the road.

One of the most important and expensive parts of your car is the wheels and tires. Regular details are an excellent way to get rid of any brake dust that might be on your rims, which can cause them to wear down. A detail is also a great way to keep your wheels nice and polished. Windows and Wheels Auto Detailing LLC can provide you with quality car detailing in Gilbert, AZ.

Everybody knows that you need to wash your vehicle regularly to keep it looking fresh and to avoid damage, such as rusting. What people don’t consider are alternatives like paint correction and ceramic coating that can make a vehicle look even better. To learn about all the benefits, here’s what you need to know about ceramic coating. 

A major reason why car owners will get ceramic coating is because this can protect the paint from various elements that it’s exposed to regularly. Specifically, ceramic coating can keep your vehicle paint safe from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and oxidation. Your vehicle also runs the risk of getting chemically stained or etched from natural acidic contaminants, but ceramic coating can protect it from that as well. 

Ceramic coating for your vehicle is also longer lasting than waxes or sealants, which wear off over time. Ceramic coating lasts longer because it’s blended with a vehicle’s surface, so it can handle vibrations and it won’t come off as easily. 

Another benefit of getting ceramic coating is that it’s more affordable than getting a car wax. This is because a ceramic coating will last much longer than a car wax. People get car waxes every three months, but that money can go towards ceramic coating instead, which can last you years and eliminates the need for regular car waxes. 

The final thing you need to know about ceramic coating is how much better it will make your car look. Ceramic coating will give your vehicle a clean look that will truly pop on the road or on a showroom floor.  
​
Now that you have an idea of ceramic coating’s various benefits, browse Windows and Wheels Auto Detaining’s list of services. They can make your vehicle look better than it ever has before.  

​With 800+ horse power, a Viper V-10 motor, fully caged interior, below seat exhaust cut off and fat racing slicks...it was clear that this was not your daddy's Challenger!

Having to be trailered to our Gilbert location (due to it not being street legal) - it had a rather unassuming presence about it. From 10 feet back, if you didn't take note of the racing slicks and battery switch on the rear bumper, you wouldn't know this was a 1 of 50 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

If you did happen to walk up a bit closer to take a look at the inside, the fully caged interior may pique your interest. However, once you looked  and saw what was under the hood...your intrigue would likely be confirmed.

​Now while we all love cool / rare cars, this story focuses around the appearance (specifically the paint) of this Drag Pak and how we took this:

​Now then, if you've recovered from the initial shock of how bad this paint was before, we will continue our journey...
 
You see, the paint on this Challenger was not totally factory. It had been re-sprayed and received a full wet sand (evident by all the sanding marks LEFT in the paint!) to remove orange peel and achieve a higher level of clarity. However, that whole clarity and gloss thing doesn't quite come together without the proper finishing work. While in the shade the reflections were decent and not as "wavy" as you typically see on today’s factory paint jobs. However, under direct lighting the paint's finish was fairly frightening.
 
Lets take a closer look at the car in its entirety:

What you're seeing above is a combination of different types of defects in the paint. We have lots of swirl marks and Random Deep scratches. Also you will see lots of "buffer marks" which are also called holograms due to their 3D appearance when seen in person. Lastly, the dull grey looking spots are actually sanding marks (which can also be described as uniform deep scratches). The graph below will help to put a more precise visual to what you see above.

As you can see, this was not an "isolated" section of damaged paint. No no, it had taken over! Top to bottom, this whole car was covered with buffer trails from the previous detailer, sanding marking, RIDS (Random Isolated Deep Scratches) and even some things we are not able to fix (fish eyes and solvent pops). We had, undoubtedly, quite the battle in front of us.

Once washed - we needed to remove any bonded contaminates on the paint (such as overspray, body shop dust, brake dust, fall out and so on). 

Once the bonded topical contaminates had been removed - it was then time to put together a paint correction process that would work well with this particular car. Every paint job is different and requires a different approach depending on multiple factors (hardness/softness of the paint, paint age, paint thickness etc) so we treat each car on a case by case basis. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to paint correction.

As  you can see above - our test section came out quite well. The right side being "before" and the left side being "after". While performing a test spot and getting it to turn out well is not usually super difficult - repeating that exact process over the entire vehicle is - and takes many hours to perform correctly. 

​For the upper part of the trunk our Rupes 75 pneumatic was a dream as always. We combine it with a Carpro Gloss Pad for finishing work. It fit right into that slight curve just perfectly and left an insane amount of gloss in its wake.

Below you can see the middle is completely undone, the right side has been "cut" Meguiars M205 and a Meguiars Foam Cutting Disc and the left side has been "Final Polished" with a Meguiars Finishing Disc and Carpro's Essence. We used the Rupes MKII 21 for our larger areas and let me tell you, these little Italian machines are true work horses! 
Now that we knew the combo for our first line of attack, it was off to the races. A very slow, tedious, time consuming race!

​Another interesting note on these cars...the owner informed us the side windows are plexi-glass. Thus much easier to scratch than standard glass. We took a little extra precaution by applying plastic over them and of course taped off ALL 1,832 miles of plastic trim as well to insure that while polishing the paint we did not stain the trim.

​Here's a quick little detailers tip - for full correction work like this, especially with many hours and many hands on the car, its often easy to miss something small. It happens. However, that’s why after our final polishing step we will meticulously circle the car to see if we did in fact miss something. If we find anything, we'll then use a grease marker to mark off the area to let whoever is doing the spot polishing/correcting know "Hey, this needs attention".

It was very small, but we saw it, so we wanted it gone!
 
For especially deep sanding marks like what we had circled, Meguiars M100 was what we reached for to be able to give us the extra cut we needed in order to remove deeper scratches such as those.
 
Our little Rupes iBrid Nano also comes in extremely handy for jobs like this. Put into rotary mode, it was a great tool to trace around the badges to get as close as possible without damaging the badge itself:

​Finally, after multiple days and multiple hours - the correction was complete and it was time to get to the good stuff. A super rare car deserves a super rare coating - and the new CQuartz Finest Reserve was up to bat. With a 3 year warranty, extreme protection and a wet look that literally lasts for years, this is the​ product to top off a full paint correction job.

Before applying a nano-ceramic paint coating (and really any paint protection for that matter), it's very important to make sure the paint is squeaky clean and free of any polishing oils, finger prints or anything else that may interfere with the product bonding properly to the paint. This is where CarPro's Eraser comes into play, to remove those polishing oils and leave the surface perfectly prepped.

​After two coats, with an hour of wait time between coats - the gloss on this unique Challenger was coming to life:

​You can see our yellow infrared lamps in the reflection of the fender here. I.R lamp curing is a must when installing a high-grade nano ceramic paint coating. It allows the coating to actually swell up and cure a bit thicker, harder and glossier.  It also catalyzes the bonding of the product to the paint, which is most definitely what we want.

​The finished product was truly something to behold:

​It was a long and hard fought battle - but in the end we were able to win. Considering this was the 3rd vehicle the same owner has brought to us - I think its safe to say he's been satisfied with our work (the others were also both black, both swirled and both awesome muscle cars - GT350 and an all original 1981 Z28 Camaro w/5,000 original miles).
 
I hope you all enjoyed the eye candy, the process and more of the eye candy! I will be back soon with more fun paint correction and details we've been working on.
 
Thanks all!

It’s March 2017 - the weather is getting hot and so are the cars in the W&W shop. Last week we had a lot of gloss and a lot of horse power sitting in the shop. Two C7 Corvettes – one a black convertible and the other a Shark Grey z06.

I don’t care who you are – getting to come to work and see that sitting in your garage never gets old!

On the menu for the black C7 convertible was full frontal Suntek Ultra clear bra, full paint correction, CQuartz Finest nano-ceramic paint coating, wheels pulled and coated and CQuartz Fabric applied to the cloth top.

For the Z06 – more straight forward with full paint correction and CQuartz Finest applied to the wheel faces (it already had Xpel applied to the full front).


First up was the z06 since it was on a bit of a tighter time schedule than the black C7. While usually we have some insane before and after photos of how beat up the paint was prior to us getting our hands on it, this was not one of those cases!
The owner was very savvy when it came to maintaining his cars finish – and it really showed when we began work on it.

So, that being said, many of these will be more eye-candy photos than insane before and after’s, but when does Z06 eye candy ever get old !
​

Here she is getting pampered with a foam bath by big Noah with Iron-X Snow Foam prior to us pulling her in and claying her.

In the background you can see the z06 in the beginning stages of correction. Meguiars M100 and a microfiber finishing pad on the Rupes MK 21 and ES 21 were seriously slaying the swirls. Followed up with CarPro’s Essence on a green Buff n’ Shine pad…it was beginning to glow.

Up front however, you see the starting stages of the Vert’ C7 having Suntek Ultra applied to it. Oh it looks messy now, but it’ll be a gem soon enough.

A little Photo Grid action here with the C7 getting protected with Suntek Ultra:
​
Vents pulled – you know it. Badges pulled as well….of course!

Eventually the rolls were reversed and the z06 was brought back out into the main garage to receive its CQuartz Finest treatment, while the black C7 was pulled into the polishing bay for it’s turn under the Rupes…you may notice something else kinda cool in the back though as well:

Easy enough to see the wheels are pulled, but whats holding the C7 up is our newest addition to the shop!

While we’ve had a mid-rise lift for quite some time – it was not ideal for all the different types of cars we’d have in and need to put up. Sometimes the arms were to short to reach the proper lift points and we found ourselves spending as much time setting the car up as we did actually working on the wheels!

Fast forward to now…our new friend, the Quick Jack!
It has two locking lift points – the lowest of which is seen above and the highest of which maxing out at 21.5” (about 1’ higher than seen). With a 7,000 lbs lifting capacity but super easy functionality (I can easily carry both of these lift rails – they weigh maybe 50 lbs each?) this baby was love at first sight.

At one point, even with 2,500 sqft…things were a bit snug in the shop.

The C7 was behind me in this photo and in front, the z06, a Dodge Hellcat (also wearing CQ Finest), an 81’ Z28 Camaro with 5,000 original miles and all matching parts as well as original paint (so sweet!), a Tesla Model S and a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. Quite the bit of eye candy yes, but it did make things pretty cramped up for a while!

Our Hellcat friend was getting some vinyl installed while the Tesla was finishing up getting a full PPF wrap (that’s a LOT of film)

Now this C7, being black, did not quite cooperate as nicely as the Shark Grey. It was swirled, but not the worst that we’d seen. However, we wanted to make sure we cut out everything possible so we used the same M100 / Megs Microfiber Finishing Pad combo. It DID cut out the swirls, but also left a nice amount of haze that took a little doing to fully remove. Under most any other lighting, it would have looked flawless, but in the light room, VERY faint marring (which I could not even capture in a photo) was evident and required another final polishing step to fully remove.

FINALLY – we got to the point where we could eraser the paint and start applying CQuartz Finest.

That’s some pretty black paint…just sayin’.

The fun part about these Vettes…is the fender wells are carpeted. A traditional scrubbing and power washing doesn’t really 100% clean them. Often times a brush and vacuum is what’s needed to really get these babies clean (as seen here with Mr. Henry working away to get them looking right).

Both Vettes were I.R cured after the coating was applied – which always looks cool:

After being pulled and CQuartz coatings applied to the faces, barrels and calipers…the C7 wheels were looking stellar. We’ve been spraying on CQuartz Finest for more intricate wheels as of late and it really does look amazing when finished:

Once we kicked the lights back on…the last thing to do as the coating cured, was apply CQuartz Fabric to the top:

The next morning when the owner came to pick up – he was quite blown away (which never…ever…gets old).

Now our “house policy” is – if you have CQuartz Finest applied to your car – we do the first follow up wash. While we consider ourselves very good at what we do – when you rack up lots of hours into a job – it’s usually a good idea to lay a fresh set of eyes on the work you did. We also like to inspect to make sure the coating bonded correctly to everything and lastly, we give our customers a 1 on 1 lesson on how to best care for their newly protected finish.