Exterior Detail
Deep-cleaned, decontaminated, and protected against coastal abuse.
This is for people who care what their vehicle looks like in direct sunlight.
Exterior Detail goes way beyond a tunnel wash – we’re talking proper wash, decon, and protection
so the paint actually looks glossy and stays that way longer.
Built for Oregon coast weather
Perfect prep before coatings
How to Know You Need Exterior Work
If you’ve been letting the car wash brushes beat on your paint, this is the course correction.
Coastal vehicles
Pre-sale refresh
Pre-coating prep
- You see a film on the paint that doesn’t come off with basic washing.
- The paint feels rough when you glide your hand or a bag across it.
- Your vehicle looks flat, chalky, or “tired” in direct sun.
- Automatic car washes have left swirls and light marring.
- You want coatings eventually, but the paint isn’t ready yet.
I’m not running a volume wash tunnel. It’s one vehicle at a time, with a process built around
coastal reality: salt, sand, rain, and wind constantly attacking your paint.
The goal is simple: when you see your vehicle outside in real daylight, you should think,
“Okay, that actually looks nice again,” not “clean-ish.”
Exterior Detail Levels & Pricing
Three levels, depending on how far you want to go – from maintenance gloss to full coating prep.
Level 1 — Exterior Detail
Maintenance Gloss Service · No Machine Polishing
This is your bread-and-butter exterior service. If you price it lower, you just attract people who never upgrade.
- Small: $199
- Midsize: $229
- Large / SUV / Truck: $259
- Premium foam bath
- Hand wash
- Wheel & tire deep clean
- Iron decon (light)
- Clay bar (light)
- Glass cleaned
- Tires dressed
- Spray sealant (about 3-month protection)
Level 2 — Exterior Enhancement Detail
Gloss Boost · Includes Machine Polishing
It has to be priced high enough that coatings start to look tempting.
- Small: $299
- Midsize: $349
- Large / SUV: $399
- Everything in Level 1
- Single-stage enhancement polish (around 20–30% correction)
- 3–6 month sealant or spray ceramic topper
Level 3 — Full Exterior Correction Prep
Coating Prep Service
- Small: $399
- Midsize: $449
- Large / SUV: $499
- Deep wash
- Full chemical + mechanical decon
- Tape & prep for machine work
- Machine enhancement polish
- High-gloss finishing
- Base layer sealant (ideal foundation before coatings)
What’s Included With Exterior Work
The wash isn’t the whole story. The prep makes it clean, the protection makes it last.
- Thorough Wash: Foam pre-wash, hand wash, wheels, tires, jambs.
- Chemical Decon: Iron remover / fallout remover where needed.
- Mechanical Decon: Clay or mitt to remove bonded contaminants.
- Panel Inspection: Look for defects, staining, and realistic goals.
- Enhancement Polish (Levels 2 & 3): Single-stage machine work to boost gloss.
- Protection Layer: Sealant or spray ceramic depending on level.
- Finishing Touches: Tires dressed, glass cleaned, trim addressed.
Popular Add-Ons
Stack exterior work with the upgrades that make the biggest difference for coastal driving.
- 5-year ceramic coating
- 10-year ceramic coating
- Wheel & caliper protection
- Glass coating for better wet-weather visibility
- Headlight restoration
- Engine bay cleaning
If you’re already investing in higher-level exterior work, it usually makes sense to protect the new finish properly.
I’ll walk you through options based on your budget and how you actually use the vehicle.
What an Exterior Appointment Looks Like
No mystery. Here’s what actually happens when you drop the car off.
STEP 1 — Walk-Through & Game Plan
We walk the vehicle together, talk about your goals, and look at problem areas in real light.
I’ll point out what’s realistic for each level and confirm final pricing before I touch anything.
STEP 2 — Wash, Decon & Exterior Work
The car gets fully cleaned and decontaminated, then receives the level of polishing and protection you chose.
High-traffic areas and coastal abuse zones get extra attention so the result holds up in real life.
STEP 3 — Protection & Aftercare
Once we lock in the gloss and protection, I’ll walk you through how to wash and maintain it –
or we set up a maintenance schedule so you don’t have to think about it.
Exterior Detail FAQ
How long does an Exterior Detail take?
Plan on 2–3 hours for Level 1, and longer for Levels 2–3 depending on size and condition.
I’ll give you a realistic window when you book.
Will this remove all my swirls and scratches?
Level 1 won’t. Level 2 and Level 3 include enhancement polishing, which improves things a lot but doesn’t chase every defect.
Full multi-stage correction lives on the paint correction side of the menu.
Does this include the interior?
No – this is exterior-only. If you want a full reset inside and out, check the
Full Detail.
Can you remove tree sap, tar, or overspray?
Often yes, but those fall under heavier contamination and may need extra time and cost.
I’ll point it out and quote it before doing anything aggressive.
What kind of protection do you use?
Typically a high-quality sealant or spray ceramic topper that gives months of real-world protection.
If you want multi-year protection, we talk ceramic coatings.
How often should I get an Exterior Detail?
For coastal daily drivers, every 3–6 months is a solid rhythm, especially if the vehicle lives outside
or does a lot of highway miles.
Book Your Exterior Detail
Use the form below to lock in your Exterior Detail. Choose the level that feels right, and if I think you need
more (or less), I’ll tell you straight at drop-off before anything starts.
[ameliaservice id=”EXTERIOR_DETAIL_SERVICE_ID”]
If you’re sick of the paint looking dull, gritty, and “clean-ish” after every wash,
pick the exterior level that fits and let me handle the rest.