Pros: How did you start out?

mshu7 said:
LOL, I could have told you his name if you wanted Frank. I've had conversations with Shawn through PM about his desire to start a business. I don't think he's hiding anything. :)



Shawn, regarding the length of time it takes to detail. There's really not a set time-frame because each vehicle is different. My Full Detail package seems to take no less than 5 hours on cars and goes up from there depending on the size of the vehicle. I just got done doing a Mini Cooper (not a Full Detail) that included wash, dress trim/tires, clay, poli-seal, OCW, vac, OPP, glass and it took about 4 hours. I'm still probably on the slow side compared to people that have been doing it a while. You'll learn that the more you detail, the more you develop a routine of doing things that will help you become more efficient at what you are doing.
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Exactly. Not only does it depend on the detail, but the actual steps you are doing. I would bet that not one professional on here has a full detail that encompasses the exact same steps. In my case a full detail takes me at least seven hours or so; longer for SUV's. I have done hundreds of details over the years, and I get more efficient all the time. There is a limit though on how fast you can complete a given set of steps; unless of course there is more than one person doing the job.
 
LOL. Yeah, I knew that a black excursion will take longer than a Mini cooper. It's just one of those things that, since I've always detailed my own cars and never seen another pro work on their time frame, I wanted to make sure that I'm not like way below the bar. Based on what I have seen, I really don't think so. I know I could be overthinking this, but I know this is not a small decision and I don't want to get myself in over my head when it could have been avoided.
 
azenthusiast said:
LOL. Yeah, I knew that a black excursion will take longer than a Mini cooper. It's just one of those things that, since I've always detailed my own cars and never seen another pro work on their time frame, I wanted to make sure that I'm not like way below the bar. Based on what I have seen, I really don't think so. I know I could be overthinking this, but I know this is not a small decision and I don't want to get myself in over my head when it could have been avoided. I've been starting to do some research on licenses and that and I think I am going to try to set it in motion. I don't think I will really be operating for at least another 4-6 months, but I sincerely think this is a great opportunity.
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I felt, and still feel the same way. People can tell you how they do things, but I still think it'd be interesting to watch another pro to see their techniques and processes in real time.
 
Mike,



I just saw your Click and Brag on the Mini and was thinking of how long that job would have taken me. Because it was new and should not needed extracting on all the carpets(floor mats only?), and their should not have been deep, ground in skid marks etc on the interior, I would think the interior job would have taken me approx. 1 to 1.5 hours. Then it would take myself about 2 or so hours to clean, clay, wax the newer Mini. In 4 hours or so I think I would be able to Rotary a polish on then Poli Seal the car. I have done a few new Minis and newer small cars last Fall and I was always around 4-4.5 hours for a 1 step polish detail and wax, with full interior detail.

If the car was not new and I had to do more cleaning on the interior, my interiors usually take about 2.5+ hours for a full size sedan and 3hrs+ on the exterior as the paint, wheels etc. always need more work if they are 2+ years old and I am always doing at least 1 step polish then wax.

One of the greatest things about the Mini is that you can tape off all around the trim(which it has tons of!), then you can just motor around the car with your buffers without worrying about staining the trim and you just have to buff the remaining paint. 5 mins to apply tape, but will save you 20 from not worrying about hiting or cleaning up the trim. I feel like I am only doing 3/4 of a car when I polish a Mini or the XC Volvo because it has tons of trim as well!

How long did the interior/exterior take on the Mini? Just curious as I often wonder how fast other people take as well?



ps-Your website is great and one of the best ones out there! I will be redoing mine in the next few weeks(Some pics 3+ years old!) as I am finally going full time as well under a new name etc. so I have to "remodel".



Greg
 
Hey gregk, thanks for the compliments on the site and your input about the Mini. I'm not real good at tracking times for individual tasks. I should probably start paying more attention. I want to say that the interior took me 45-60 minutes . I feel like I spend more time vacuuming when I'm doing a vehicle with a black interior. Every spec of dirt shows up. If I'm right about the interior close to an hour, then the exterior took me about 3 hours or so. I know I spent more time on the wheels than I normally do (thanks to BMW brake dust). Other than that, everything went pretty smooth. I didn't do any taping b/c I wasn't using a rotary and PS doesn't stain the trim. The few times I've used played around with the rotary though, I've taped.



I'll be sure to keep an eye out for ya under your new s/n.
 
Wheel brightner from Meguairs is the greatest time saver ever for wheels!(As long as your not washing a porsche with ceramic brakes). I first pressure wash the car and wheels. Then I spray the front wheels and wheel wells with diluted Wheel Brightner(4 to 1 with water or more water if the rims are not too bad), then the rears and go back to the fronts and use a large dust pan type brush to do the outside of the wheels and lug nut area. I then use a "dish washing brush'-4" tall and about the same diameter to do the spokes along with the dust pan brush. I then use a thin "spoke brush" that is almost flat to do in between thin spokes and and behind the spokes on the rim and even under brake discs. I use an old MF cloth to wipe behind the spokes if the brushes can't reach. I will use cotton swaps on lug nut areas if needed. I then use a large handled brush to clean the wheel wells. I then pressure wash the rims again and I am on to the next rim. It then takes just a few minutes to do a newer car rim-the key is the pre-treat of the tire and having all the right brushes and a bucket of water. BMW and Mercedes brake dust just drips off when you use the Wheel Brightner. I wear protective eye-wear and gloves when using the stuff but boy does it save you time!!!
 
I've got a gallon of WB, but I don't use it in fact I'm wanting to sell it along with a crap load of other products. I'm gearing my business towards all "green" products. That's one of the reasons why I use Optimum. All of their products are eco-friendly. They are coming out with a wheel & tire cleaner soon, so I'm really looking forward to it. Had it not been 20* out, I would have used the PW for sure. Either way, I always try the least aggressive method first (just like when working on paint). Most of the time I can get by with ONR and a MF towel for the wheels. Sometimes, like today, I have to break out the brushes.
 
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