Question 1

What's the difference between a wash and a detail?

Accepted Answer

A wash gets dirt off the outside. A detail also decontaminates the paint, dresses trim and tires, cleans the interior top to bottom, and can include polish, sealant, or a ceramic coating. Tidy details start at our Express tier and go up to a multi-day Premium Show Detail.

Question 2

How much does mobile detailing cost in Portland?

Accepted Answer

Express details start in the low hundreds, Full details run mid-hundreds, and our Premium Show Detail with paint correction can run $1,000+. Ceramic coatings range from a few hundred for 1-year up to several thousand for the 9-year flagship. We'll send a real quote based on your vehicle and condition.

Question 3

What is a ceramic coating, exactly?

Accepted Answer

It's a real, semi-permanent layer of liquid glass (SiO₂) that bonds to your clear coat, hardens in 12–24 hours, and protects the paint for 1–9 years depending on the tier. It makes washing easier, water bead like crazy, and the paint look glossier. It is not a wax.

Question 4

Do I need to be home for service?

Accepted Answer

Not for exterior-only work - we just need access to the vehicle, water (if available), and a 110V outlet (if available). We carry our own water and power if needed. For interiors, we just need the vehicle unlocked.

Question 5

Can you actually work in the rain?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with the right setup. We bring pop-up canopies for ceramic and correction work that needs a controlled environment. Express and Full details run rain or shine - we live in Portland, after all.

Question 6

Will polishing damage my paint?

Accepted Answer

Not in trained hands. We measure paint thickness before correction, use the right pad and compound combo, and finish with a polish to refine. We've corrected hundreds of vehicles without burning a single panel.

Question 7

How long does a ceramic coating take?

Accepted Answer

Decon, polish, and coating prep is the bulk of the time. A 1-year coating on a clean vehicle can be a single-day install. A 5- or 9-year coating with paint correction is typically 2–3 days. Your vehicle stays with us or in your garage during cure.

Question 8

Are you insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes - full general liability and workers comp. We can send a COI on request before any appointment, especially for office-lot or apartment-garage installs.

Question 9

Can you remove pet hair?

Accepted Answer

Yes - that's our specialty add-on. Specialty extraction tools plus the right rubber blades pull pet hair out of upholstery and carpet that vacuums alone can't touch.

Question 10

Do you do headlight restoration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multi-stage sand and polish, then a UV-stable seal so they don't haze back over in six months. About a one-hour add-on.

Question 11

Do you offer maintenance plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Monthly visits keep the gloss between full details - perfect for ceramic-coated vehicles. We discount the per-visit rate for plan members.

Question 12

Do you do RVs, boats, or fleet vehicles?

Accepted Answer

All of the above. RVs and boats need oxidation removal and marine-grade protection. Fleet vehicles get scheduled programs with consolidated billing.

Question 13

What payment do you take?

Accepted Answer

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, ACH, and Zelle for fleet/commercial. Payment is due on completion.

Question 14

What if I'm not happy with the result?

Accepted Answer

We come back and make it right. Job's not done until you're happy with it.

Frequently asked questions.

Ready to book your detail?