Question 1

What if it rains the day of my appointment?

Accepted Answer

We watch the radar the night before and call you if we need to reschedule. Light rain doesn't stop most of the work — interior detailing, headlight restoration, and engine bay cleaning all happen under cover. Heavy rain or storms do, especially for Jet Seal where the surface needs to be dust-free and dry.

If we reschedule, we usually slot you for the next dry day on our calendar. You don't lose your spot — we just shift the date.

Customers in the Richmond area know the weather can flip quickly in spring and summer. We'd rather come back than rush the job.

Question 2

How long does Jet Seal actually last?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 6–12 months of strong protection in typical Richmond conditions, depending on parking and wash cadence. Cars garaged overnight and hand-washed every 2–4 weeks land toward the 12-month end; cars parked outdoors year-round through pollen and salt season trend closer to 6 months.

What shortens it: automated drive-through car washes with abrasive brushes, household detergents (instead of pH-neutral shampoo), and parking under sap-dropping trees without rinsing the sap off promptly.

Jet Seal is paint protection, not bulletproof. Rock chips, deep scratches, and bird droppings left for days will still etch through. The sealant buys reaction time and gloss — not invincibility.

Question 3

Jet Seal vs. wax — which do I actually need?

Accepted Answer

Wax is short-term shine (2-3 months), inexpensive, and easy to refresh — perfect for routine maintenance or a car you'll trade in within a year. Jet Seal is a polymer paint sealant that typically protects for 6-12 months, improves water beading, and helps daily drivers stay easier to clean.

If your car is a daily driver you plan to keep, Jet Seal gives more durable protection than wax. If it's a lease or you're planning to sell soon, wax is the right call.

Maximum's Silver and Gold packages include wax. Platinum includes Jet Seal as the final protection layer after paint correction.

Question 4

How do I maintain Jet Seal between details?

Accepted Answer

Hand-wash with pH-neutral shampoo every 2-4 weeks; never use household dish soap or detergent because it can strip the sealant. Skip automated drive-through washes because the brushes can mark the finish.

Plan to refresh Jet Seal once or twice a year. When water stops beading after a fresh hand wash, that is the easiest trigger to book the next application.

For tree sap, bird droppings, or insect residue, rinse and remove within 24 hours. The sealant buys reaction time, but contaminants left for days can still etch the clear coat underneath.

Question 5

How do I prep my car for Richmond's pollen season?

Accepted Answer

Richmond's pollen peaks late March through May, and it's acidic — left on paint for weeks, it etches into clear coat permanently. Two prep moves: (1) get a wax or Jet Seal refresh in early March BEFORE peak pollen, so the surface sheds rather than absorbs. (2) Rinse the car weekly during peak weeks even without a full wash; a 10-minute hose-off removes most pollen before it bonds.

For Jet Seal-protected cars, the topper-spray after a rinse extends hydrophobic beading and helps shed the next pollen wave. For waxed cars, the wax does most of the work.

Post-pollen (mid-May), schedule a Silver or Gold detail to reset the paint. Pollen residue tends to live in trim seams and the cowl below the windshield where rinsing alone doesn't reach.

Question 6

Should I detail my car before or after winter?

Accepted Answer

Both, in different ways. A pre-winter detail (October/November) seals the paint and undercarriage with wax or Jet Seal protection — that's what stands between road salt and your clear coat for the next 3 months. A post-winter detail (March/April) removes the salt residue and any micro-pitting before it gets worse.

If you can only do one, choose pre-winter. Salt damage compounds — every winter it locks in deeper if not addressed. The pre-winter wax or Jet Seal refresh is preventive, which is always cheaper than corrective work.

Customers who park in heated garages year-round can skip the pre-winter detail; customers who park outdoors need it.

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