Why swirl marks show up in winter sun
Low sun works like an inspection lamp: it shows every wash mark in the clear coat (sample tip).
Car detailing that starts with a test spot
Before any polishing we tape off one panel and correct one half. You see both under the lamp, with the readings, and choose how far to go.
Fenwick Detail Works (sample), Canal Yard, Springfield. Valets, interiors, paint correction and ceramic coatings.
Untouched side
58 GU gloss
118 µm paint depth
After two-stage correction
87 GU gloss
113 µm paint depth
Bonnet, dark grey metallic, under a 5,000 K lamp. Readings (sample): gloss at 60 degrees, paint depth from the gauge.
Detailing and valeting services
Every car is booked in for a fixed slot, so it is not waiting in a queue. Prices start at a small car and depend on its condition.
Maintenance valet
Snow foam, a two-bucket hand wash, wheels and arches, glass inside and out, a vacuum, and a top-up of your wax or coating.
2–3 hours
from $65
Interior detail
Seats and carpets extracted, plastics steamed and dressed, leather cleaned and fed, odours treated with ozone.
5–6 hours
from $160
Enhancement polish
A one-step machine polish that lifts haze and light swirls and brings the gloss back. Sealant included.
1 day
from $380
Paint correction
Two or three polishing stages to remove most swirls and light scratches, measured panel by panel.
2–4 days
from $600
Ceramic coating
A hard, glossy layer that sheds water and road dirt for two to five years with the right washing.
1–2 days
from $460
Example prices for a small car; see the price table for medium and large cars.
Paint correction in three stages
Clear coat is thin: about the thickness of a sheet of paper. Each stage removes more swirls and uses a little more of it, so we measure every panel first and stop where your paint allows.
Enhancement polish
One polishing step with a fine pad. Lifts the haze and light wash marring, and brings the gloss back.
Swirls removed
about 50–60%
Clear coat used
1–2 µm
In the studio
1 day
From
$440
Two-stage correction
A cutting step to level swirls and light scratches, then a finishing polish to bring back clarity.
Swirls removed
about 80–85%
Clear coat used
3–5 µm
In the studio
2 days
From
$690
Three-stage correction
Heavy cut, refine and finish, panel by panel, with the gauge on every pass. For neglected or show paint.
Swirls removed
about 90–95%
Clear coat used
5–8 µm
In the studio
3–4 days
From
$1,050
The swatches show how much of the swirling is left after each stage. Shares and microns are typical figures (sample); your own test spot decides. Example prices for a medium car.
What happens to your car
A correction day follows the same order every time. Nothing touches the paint until it is clean and measured.
1
Drop-off and walk-round
We look over the car with you under the lamp and note chips, scratches and anything you want us to watch.
2
Wash and decontaminate
Snow foam, a two-bucket wash, iron fallout remover and a clay bar, so the paint is clean before anything touches it.
3
Measure and test
The gauge reads every panel. Then the 50/50 test spot shows which stage your paint needs.
4
Correct
Machine polishing panel by panel with the lamp on, wiping back with panel prep to check the true finish.
5
Protect
Wax, sealant or ceramic coating, cured under infrared lamps; glass, trim and tyres finished.
6
Hand-over
A last walk-round under the lamp, with an aftercare card and the date for your first maintenance wash.
Wax, sealant or ceramic coating
All three keep water and dirt off the paint. They differ in how long they last and how much care they ask from you.
Protection
Lasts
Water on the paint
Washing
From
Carnauba wax
6–8 weeks
Tight, round beads and a warm glow
Any pH-neutral shampoo
$45
Polymer sealant
4–6 months
Sharp beads, slick to the touch
pH-neutral shampoo, no waxes on top
$90
Ceramic coating
2–5 years
Water sheets off and dirt lets go
A maintenance wash every 2–4 weeks
$520
Example prices; wax and sealant are added to a valet, a coating to a polish. How long each lasts depends on mileage, weather and washing (sample).
Prices by car size
A bigger car has more paint, more glass and more seats. Find your size, then add protection if you want it.
Service
Small
hatchback, coupe
Medium
saloon, estate
Large
SUV, MPV, van
Maintenance valet
$65
$75
$90
Interior detail
$160
$185
$220
Enhancement polish
$380
$440
$520
Two-stage correction
$600
$690
$820
Three-stage correction
$920
$1,050
$1,240
Ceramic coating, after a polish
$460
$520
$600
Example prices. Heavy soiling, pet hair or sap is quoted after the walk-round.
Questions before you book
How long will you need my car?
A valet takes two to three hours while you wait or work nearby. Polishing and coatings take one to four days, because each panel is corrected and a coating has to cure indoors.
Will polishing remove every scratch?
No. Polishing levels the clear coat around a scratch. If your nail catches in it, it is probably through the clear coat and needs paint. The test spot shows what is possible before you pay.
Can you come to me?
Maintenance valets, yes, within ten miles of the studio (sample). Polishing and coatings are done in the studio, where the light, the temperature and the dust are under control.
Do I need a coating after a polish?
No, but bare paint loses its finish quickly. A sealant is included with every polish; a coating is the long-lasting option.
What should I do before drop-off?
Take out child seats, valuables and anything you need for the next days. Leave the locking wheel nut in the glovebox.
Detailing tips
Getting road salt out of car carpets
White tide marks on the footwell carpet are salt. Water and patience lift them (sample tip).
Dashboards: what to use and what to leave alone
A damp microfibre does most of the work. Shiny dressings do more harm than good (sample tip).
Find the studio
Fenwick Detail Works
Unit 4, Canal Yard, Wharf Road, Springfield (sample)
Monday to Friday
8:00–18:00
Saturday
9:00–14:00
Sunday
Closed
- Drop-off from 8:00, collection until 17:30
- A lift to Springfield station on request, within three miles
- Parking for customers in the yard
