Paint decontamination is a deep cleaning process, removing bonded contaminants from your vehicle's paint that regular washing can't remove. These include iron particles, brake dust, tar, tree sap, film from the road, and industrial fallout that, over time, embeds itself into the clear coat. The process makes your paint smooth once again and helps prepare the surface to be polished, paint corrected, or ceramic coated.
Even new cars get washed and still have contaminants in the paint.
If left in place, these particles can cause:
Decontamination provides a clean paint surface at the microscopic level to allow proper adhesion of protection products and extend their useful life.
We perform two stages:
Together, they completely remove all bonded contamination of the paint surface.
We recommend doing it 1-2 times per year, depending on how and where you do your driving. Cars that are exposed to highways or to rail dust or salt on the winter roads might need to be treated more frequently. It's also an essential step before using wax, sealant, ceramic coating, or PPF.
Yes, if it is performed professionally. We utilize pH-balanced, non-acidic decontamination products and fine-grade clay bars made to help protect the clear coat. Our trained technicians make sure the process is without scratches and marring.
Paint decontamination is used to clean contaminants on top of the paint, and paint correction is used to clean defects in the paint (such as swirls and scratches). Decontamination is always done as a first step before correction or coating - it prepares a clean base for a perfect performance of polishing and protection.
A full decontamination service will typically take 1.5-3 hours, depending on the size and condition of your vehicle. If done in conjunction with paint correction or ceramic coating, it's part of the prep process.
Absolutely. Your paint will be pleasant to the touch and have a much higher shine. Many customers are astounded at the difference in how much smoother and cleaner their vehicle is, even before polishing or coating.
Yes, even brand new cars tend to arrive with the fallout of rail dust, shipping, or storage contamination. A proper decontamination makes sure that the paint is immaculate in order to have long-term bonding and shine before starting to apply any protection.
Definitely, it is one of the most essential detailing services to keep your paint in good condition and ready for any further protection. Skipping this step can result in contaminated contaminants being trapped under wax or coatings, thereby decreasing gloss, durability, and long-term safety.