What's the difference between polishing, buffing, and waxing?

Waxing - This process thoroughly cleans, shines and protects a car's finish. When a car is already in good shape, (i.e. new or recently polished, 1-6 months), a good coat of wax is usually sufficient to make and keep the car looking great.

Polishing - This process thoroughly cleans your car and then restores the paint to its original colour. It removes many blemishes and minor scratches, as well as oxidation. The results are dramatic and we highly recommend regular polishing of your vehicle. This should be done 2 - 12 times a year, depending on your vehicle and lifestyle, (i.e. parked outside or inside, weekend skier or cottager, black car, etc.).

Both waxing and polishing are good for your vehicle and can be done as often as you like with no adverse effects to your cars finish.

Compounding / Buffing - This process repairs damage to your cars finish. Damage being deeper scratches, staining, acid rain, industrial fallout, rail filings, heavy oxidation, and the like. The results are rather amazing. Most people aren't aware of the things that can be fixed by this method and end up repainting their vehicle unnecessarily. A cars finish can withstand being buffed several times over its life. This is a repair step to a damaged finish, which is followed up with polish and wax. Sometimes to repair minor defects in shipping or handling by the dealer new cars are buffed without your knowledge.

Water Sanding/Wet Sanding/Colour Sanding - This is a very delicate process that most detail shops don't offer. When you have a scratch too deep for buffing to get out, the last hope to save your original paint job is wet sanding. If this doesn't do it you need touch up paint or to repaint part or the entire vehicle.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE PROCESSES IN GENERAL, OR ABOUT YOUR CAR SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL US. (416) 622-1943 or sales@autogroom.com.