Clay Treatment in Portland, OR
A clay bar pass that pulls bonded contaminants and iron deposits out of the clear coat, leaving a smooth surface underneath.
A regular wash removes dirt sitting on top of the paint, but it does not touch what has actually bonded into the clear coat, rail dust, industrial fallout, tree sap, overspray, iron particles from brake dust that lands on the body panels. Run a bare hand over paint like that after a wash and it feels gritty or rough instead of smooth, and that texture is contamination sitting in the clear coat, not on it.
Clay treatment pulls that out. The paint gets lubricated so the clay glides instead of dragging, then worked panel by panel, folding the clay as it picks up contamination so it is not just dragging grit back across the finish. Portland's tree cover and proximity to rail lines mean a lot of cars in this city pick up sap and iron fallout faster than people expect.
This step is not optional before any coating goes on. Contamination trapped under a ceramic coating shows up as texture and bumps in the finish, and it prevents the coating from bonding evenly to the clear coat in the first place.
Clay Treatment in the studio
How a clay treatment job runs
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Wash and dry
The car is washed and dried first so the clay is not dragging loose dirt across the paint.
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Lubricate the surface
A clay lubricant is sprayed on each panel so the clay glides instead of marring the paint.
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Clay panel by panel
The clay bar is worked across each section, folded regularly to keep a clean surface picking up contamination.
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Wipe and inspect
The paint is wiped down and checked by hand for smoothness before moving on to polishing or coating.
Questions we get asked
How do I know if my paint actually needs a clay treatment?
Run a clean hand lightly over the paint after a wash. If it feels gritty or rough instead of glass smooth, there is bonded contamination in the clear coat that a wash alone will not remove.
Does clay bar treatment scratch the paint?
Done properly with enough lubricant and a clean clay surface, it does not mar the paint. Problems happen when the clay is used dry or gets dropped and picks up grit before going back on the panel.
Can I do this myself at home?
It is possible, but it is easy to introduce fine scratches if the paint is not kept wet enough or if the clay is not folded to a clean side often enough during the process.
How long does a ceramic coating last?
We offer a 5 year and a 9 year ceramic coating package. How long yours actually lasts comes down to how the car is washed and looked after once the coating is on.
What does a ceramic coating do?
It bonds to your clear coat and adds a hard, water repelling layer. It protects against UV, dirt, road grime and water spots, it deepens the gloss, and it makes the car much easier to wash.