How do the pros detail, correct and coat a car? Step by step, from our shop.
Step-by-step guides for detailing, paint correction and ceramic coating, written by the crew that does it every day in Colorado Springs. Do it yourself, or book us when you would rather not.
- 3 guidesDetail, correct, coat
- 17+ yrsWritten from shop experience
- FreeNo sign-up, no fluff
What is the right way to care for your paint?
Detail it, correct it, then coat it, in that order. A full detail removes the dirt, iron and tar. Paint correction polishes out the swirls and scratches. A ceramic coating then locks in that finish for years. Skip a step and you seal the problem in. After that, a pH-neutral wash every couple of weeks keeps it looking new, even through Colorado sun and mag chloride.
Which guide do you need?
Every guide lays out the steps in the order we do them in the shop, the mistakes we fix most often, and what changes with Colorado sun, dust and mag chloride.
DetailingHow to detail a car
The full pro process inside and out: wheels first, foam, two-bucket wash, iron and clay, protection, then the interior top-down. Colorado tips for mag chloride, dust and UV.
Read the guide →
Ceramic CoatingHow to ceramic coat a car
Wash, decon, clay, correct, panel wipe, apply, level and cure. How to spot high spots, the DIY mistakes that ruin a coating, and how long it really lasts here.
Read the guide →
Paint CorrectionHow paint correction works
What removes car wash swirls, trail scratches, dull paint and key marks: light cut, abrasive cut and wet sanding, and how to tell which one your paint needs.
Read the guide →
Which Gtechniq products do the pros use?
Every step in these guides has a Gtechniq product made for it. These are the ones our crew reaches for in the shop, in the same order as the guides, so you can do it the way we do.
Detail
Wash, decon and interior- W4Gtechniq Citrus Foam Pre-WashFoam pre-soak that loosens grit before a mitt touches the paint.
- W1Gtechniq GWashpH-neutral shampoo for the two-bucket wash; safe on coatings.
- W6Gtechniq Fallout & Iron RemoverDissolves iron fallout and brake dust; turns purple as it works.
- W7Gtechniq Tar and Glue RemoverLifts road tar and adhesive without scrubbing.
- I2Gtechniq Tri-CleanInterior cleaner for plastics, fabric and leather.
- L1Gtechniq Leather GuardProtects leather seats from dye transfer and UV.
Correct
Prep, inspection and glass- W9Gtechniq Water Spot RemoverTakes off Colorado hard-water spots before polishing.
- PWGtechniq Panel WipeStrips polishing oils so you see the true finish and the coating bonds.
- G4Gtechniq Nanotech Glass PolishPolishes wiper marks and haze out of glass.
- MF1Gtechniq ZeroR MicrofiberEdgeless buffing cloth for removing polish and coating residue.
Coat
Long-term protection- CSUGtechniq Crystal Serum UltraThe 9-year coating, sold only through accredited installers like ST6.
- CSLGtechniq Crystal Serum LightThe 5-year professional-grade coating.
- EXOGtechniq EXO v5Ultra-hydrophobic top coat for water beading and self-cleaning.
- C5Gtechniq Wheel ArmourHeat-resistant coating that keeps brake dust off wheels.
- G1Gtechniq ClearVision Smart GlassGlass coating that sheds rain and snow.
- W3Gtechniq Ceramic GWashMaintenance shampoo that tops up a coating every wash.
Crystal Serum Ultra is only sold through Gtechniq Accredited Installers. Want it on your car? See ST6 ceramic coating packages.
What order should you do it in?
Each job only works on top of the one before it. Skip ahead and you lock the problem in.
- DetailGet it truly clean: wash, iron and tar removal, clay. How to detail a car
- CorrectPolish out swirls and scratches so the paint is flawless. How paint correction works
- CoatSeal the corrected paint with ceramic for years of protection. How to ceramic coat a car
What else do people ask us?
Straight answers from a Gtechniq Accredited Installer. Call (719) 517-7220 if your question isn’t here.
What order should I do these in?
Detail first, correct the paint second, coat last. Each step only works on top of the one before it. A coating over swirled paint seals the swirls in.
Can I do this myself?
A wash-and-protect detail, yes. Ceramic coating, yes on newer paint with good light and patience. Real paint correction takes a machine polisher and practice; that is where most DIY jobs go wrong.
What products do you use?
Gtechniq, start to finish: GWash and W4 for the wash, W6 and W7 for decontamination, Panel Wipe before coating, then Crystal Serum Ultra, Crystal Serum Light or EXO v5. ST6 is a Gtechniq Accredited Installer, which is the only way to get Crystal Serum Ultra applied.
Who wrote these guides?
Dana Starr, owner of ST6 Detailers, with 17+ years of professional detailing. ST6 is a Gtechniq Accredited Installer based at 2725 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs.
What does it cost to have ST6 do it instead?
A Gold Detail is $299, paint correction starts at $399, and Gtechniq ceramic coatings are $899 (3-year), $1,099 (5-year) and $1,599 (9-year) on a car or crossover. No deposit; you pay after the work is done.
Rather have the pros do it?
ST6 crews run these exact processes every day, mobile at your driveway or in the shop at 2725 N Nevada Ave. No deposit; you pay after the work is done.