Don’t Skip the Shine: Why Detailing Counts in Collision Repair
By |
Every collision repair technician understands the significance of making a vehicle repair look like new. But what about the rest of the vehicle? If detailing isn’t the final step after a repair in your auto body shop, you’re missing a golden opportunity. Customers expect collision repairs to be in pre-accident condition, but they may not expect their vehicle to have a showroom finish.
When your collision shop details a customer’s car before they pick it up, you provide a complete repair experience that is sure to impress. Professional auto body detailing may add a little more time and effort to the repair process, but the benefits are well worth it. Here’s why.
Why a Showroom Finish is Good for Business
Detailing after collision repair brings back the shine for the entire vehicle. It also lets customers know your body shop goes above and beyond to ensure their satisfaction. When customers feel they are the priority, your body shop gets more repeat business, word-of-mouth advertising, and a healthier bottom line. Here are a few reasons auto body detailing can set your repair facility apart.
- Improves a vehicle’s overall appearance
- Protects the paint and coatings
- Ensures potential issues with the finish are identified
- Creates better air quality in a vehicle’s cabin
- Eliminates odors and replaces them with that freshly cleaned aroma
Ensuring customer satisfaction is one of the most essential best practices for successful collision repair facilities. So remember, sparkling clean vehicles create happy customers, and happy customers create more business and more revenue.
Auto Detailing for Post-Repair Perfection
As with collision repairs, detailing a vehicle for post-repair perfection should align with OEM specifications for efficiency and quality. The detail work should also follow industry best practices and a comprehensive detailing checklist like this one from Body Shop Mall. Here are a few key detailing tasks to create a showroom finish customers love.
- Wash and dry the exterior
- Polish the vehicle to remove imperfections like swirl marks
- Apply a protective coating to the paint
- Vacuum the interior and clean upholstery
- Clean and polish headlights and taillights
- Clean the wheels, tires and undercarriage
Once the vehicle is detailed, it’s essential to perform a final check before the customer takes delivery. A final inspection ensures repairs are the best they can be and the car body detailing is up to par.
Detailing Tips and Tricks for a Professional Finish
Your body shop’s repair technicians are experts in collision repair because they have the training, tools and experience needed. Becoming an expert in detailing cars follows the same approach. OEM guidelines for body materials and auto detailing tips and tricks like these help create a flawless finish with efficiency and skill. Here are a few pro tips from experienced detailers to help your body shop get started.
Washing
The two-bucket method for washing vehicles is a staple in the detailing industry. One bucket is filled with soapy water and the other is filled with water only to rinse the washing sponge.
Removing Impurities
Expert detailers rely on a clay bar to remove tar, tree sap and other impurities to create the ideal foundation for polishing.
Polishing
The pros typically use a dual-action polisher and high-quality polish to remove swirl marks and other minor imperfections.
Sealing
Many car detailers wax or seal the paint for a deep shine and long-lasting durability. Your body shop could also offer a high-level finish with ceramic coatings.
Cleaning Wheels and Tires
Detailing pros use proven wheel cleaners to remove buildup and brake dust and apply tire dressing for a deep shine.
In the vehicle detailing business, the details make all the difference—especially regarding quality products and tools of the trade. To achieve consistent and efficient car body detailing, it’s critical to use microfiber washing cloths, soft-bristled brushes and other proven equipment for a brilliant finish.
How SUN Collision Supports Superior Detailing
SUN® Collision Repair Information is the most comprehensive resource for material handling, paint care in collision repairs and every other facet of collision work. When your technicians have OEM repair data at their fingertips and follow best practices, car body detailing can be efficient and profitable. SUN Collision provides the latest OEM data for composites, plastic and other modern vehicle materials with the click of a button.
If you want to transform your body shop with the most up-to-date repair software, you can try SUN Collision today. When you invest in advanced technology from SUN, you save time and money while ensuring safe and accurate repairs. To learn more about how SUN Collision helps streamline everything from detailed diagnostics to auto body detailing, get your free demo or call 877-840-1973.