After the bay.
Protection lasts as long as the washing allows. This is the care sheet every car leaves with, plus straight answers.
01 / Aftercare
The first week decides the next five years.
00–24 H
Hands off.
- Park under cover if you can
- Wipe bird droppings with a damp microfibre, no pressure
- No water on fresh ceramic
- No covers on fresh film edges
DAY 1–7
Let it cure.
- Rinse-only if it must be cleaned
- Expect a little haze under film; it clears as moisture escapes
- No soap, no automatic washes
- No pressure washer near film edges
EVERY 2 WK
Wash it right.
- Two buckets, grit guards, pH-neutral shampoo
- Dry with a clean towel or filtered air
- No brushes, no tunnel washes
- No “wash and wax” products on ceramic
EVERY 6–12 MO
Get it checked.
- Inspection + decon, booked as Maintenance
- Topper on ceramic, film edges checked
- No polishing compounds on film
- No DIY clay on coated paint
02 / Wash protocol
Six steps. Every two weeks.
This is the Maintenance programme, written down. Do it yourself or book it.
- 01Rinse
Cold water, top down. Get loose grit off before anything touches the paint.
- 02Pre-wash
Snow foam or a pH-neutral pre-wash. Let it dwell 3–5 minutes; don’t let it dry.
- 03Wheels first
Separate bucket, separate brushes. Wheel grit never meets paint tools.
- 04Contact wash
Two buckets. One panel at a time, straight lines, top down. Rinse the mitt every panel.
- 05Rinse + dry
Sheet the water off, then blot with a plush towel or blow dry. No dragging.
- 06Inspect
Look under a torch. Spots now are easier than spots after a week of sun.
03 / FAQ
Straight answers.
01How long does the car stay with you?
Maintenance: same day, 2.5 hours. Signature: same day. Correction: one to three days depending on stage. Ceramic: two to three days including the cure. Full front film: two days. Full body film: five to six.
02Do you do mobile for correction or ceramic?
No. Correction needs controlled light and dust. Ceramic needs a stable 21 °C cure. Film needs a clean bay. Mobile covers Maintenance and Signature only, across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, with a $45 call-out.
03Is ceramic coating worth it on a new car?
Usually yes, because the paint is at its best. New cars still arrive with dealer wash marring, so every ceramic tier includes at least a single-stage enhancement first.
04Can you remove every scratch?
No one honestly can. If a scratch catches a fingernail it is likely through the clear coat. We measure paint depth first and stop where the readings say stop. You get the readings.
05Film or ceramic?
Film stops rock chips; ceramic doesn’t. Ceramic makes washing easy and adds gloss; film alone doesn’t bead as hard. Most South Florida highway cars get full front film plus ceramic on the rest.
06Will film yellow in the Florida sun?
Modern urethane films are UV-stabilised and rated for ten years. Keep them clean and away from solvent-based products and they stay clear.
07What do you need from me on the day?
Keys, the car empty of personal items, and ten minutes for the intake walk-around. We photograph and log the paint with you.
08How does payment work?
Nothing is charged online. You pay at handover, after you have seen the car under the inspection lights.
09Do you work on matte or satin paint?
Yes, with a matte-specific process: no polishing, matte-safe coatings and satin film. Book Signature and note it; we will call to confirm.
04 / Sample reviews — concept content
Read back to us.
Sample reviews written for this concept site. Apex Auto Studio is fictional.
“Readings before and after, panel by panel. Never had a detailer show me numbers before.”
“Mobile wash showed up at 07:30 on the dot, done by 10. Ceramic still beading after a summer.”
“They told me Stage 3 wasn’t safe on my hood and did Stage 2. Appreciated that more than the gloss.”