How long should each aspect of detailing take?

Calendyr

Calendyr

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Hey guys, I have started timing myself doing detailing but I would like some kind of baseline to compare myself with. Can you tell me how long it takes you to do the following?

1. Washing the car (standard rinse, foam, rinse, 2 buckets, rinse and of course clean wheels)
2. Clean interior (basic vaccuuming, 1 step cleaning, windows)
3. Apply wax (polisher)
4. Apply clearcoat
5. Complete interior clean (vaccuum, shampoo carpet and seats, clean surfaces, apply dressing)
6. Polish windows
7. Polish paint (I know it depends but just an average is good)
8. Compound paint (same as 7)
9. Apply glaze

I know I am asking a lot but it would really help me to see where I should improve and establish a price list based on normal working time instead of my current slow poke pace ;)
 
The thing is that knowing my times will not help you. You are at your own experience level and it will completely vary depending on your tools, equipment, experience, and the condition of the vehicle

You would be better off timing yourself, seeing what your median is, and going from there.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
Calendyr said:
Hey guys, I have started timing myself doing detailing but I would like some kind of baseline to compare myself with. Can you tell me how long it takes you to do the following?

1. Washing the car (standard rinse, foam, rinse, 2 buckets, rinse and of course clean wheels)
2. Clean interior (basic vaccuuming, 1 step cleaning, windows)
3. Apply wax (polisher)
4. Apply clearcoat
5. Complete interior clean (vaccuum, shampoo carpet and seats, clean surfaces, apply dressing)
6. Polish windows
7. Polish paint (I know it depends but just an average is good)
8. Compound paint (same as 7)
9. Apply glaze

I know I am asking a lot but it would really help me to see where I should improve and establish a price list based on normal working time instead of my current slow poke pace ;)
Click to expand...

To do all that it takes me 2 good days. That includes a 2 step paint correction. Except #4, as I don't "apply clearcoat". If I was doing this for money I would loose my ass. I hate rushing, I take my time, and make sure everything is surgically clean - and put away that way.

If I have to rush, its no fun. A lot of people have asked me to detail (polish / correct) their car. Until they find out I would charge by the hour and how long it takes. :)
 
I used to do a two day detail for years, and then realized for my daily driver it did not look or wear that much better than if I just clayed while I washed, polish with a DA and applied a WOWA sealant every 2-3 months. So that's what I do now, in about 3-4 hours, and use rinseless for washes in between.
 
This is something that you are going to have to figure for yourself. Everyone has their own way of doing things and using products to their advantage. Some are doing this because they love detailing and some do this because they want to make money and enjoy detailing, and some just want to make money.
With that said you need to figure where you fall at. For example, myself I love detailing 1st, then I enjoy the money that comes from it. Truth be told if I didn't need money I would detail for free.My philosophy is every package should get you to think you got a higher package. I'll give you an example of my 1st two packages which are washes. My 1st wash is a $25 wash which I don't like doing but too many customers like my $25 wash! All I do is take care of the paint, rims, and tires. I do the rims and tires as you normally do as AGO standard. Next wash the vehicle( and you can foam or not it's up to you but if I'm visible where I think the foam will get me another job I'm foaming). Next dry the vehicle, dress the tires and do the outside windows, and call it good. Most of the time i go over it with a quick detailer to add a little pop to it. You should be done in under 30 min. The key to this is discipline; don't do any more than that for that package. If they need more work like they want their interior cleaned up they need the next package. Do this and they will pay you more than $25 trust me. Next is what I call a maintenance wash which starts at $45, the same as the 1st wash but you wipe down the interior and add protectant, vacuum, do the jams, renew the rubber trim in the jams. On the exterior do as normal but add trim dressing, polish any chrome rims included (even if they are not chrome polish the rims I use Pro Honda High Performance Spray Cleaner & Polish. It is a quick spray on wipe off polish and just for quick or maintenance washes this thing is a MUST HAVE), dress fenderwells, do inside/outside glass, and go over with a quick detailer at the end for 2 reasons. 1 this is your safety check, as you wipe down the paint look for areas you missed or meant to go back and fix( smear on a window, something didn't get dressed). 2 this is your 2 week express wax. A lot of people don't talk about it but quick detailers are that. So you are not lying to your customers and it gives the vehicle a little more pop to help it shine. Done correctly this should look like a wax job and they will tip you very good. Now your $45 wash has turned into a $60 wash. This can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on the vehicle. Wait you say this is not alot of money for your time............ and you are right. But this is one of the best forms of advertising you can get and you got paid for it, and like I said, if you love detailing this is how it starts. Lastly you need to learn what to charge for different sizes so I will tell you mine on the washes. 1st wash starts at $25 for small/regular $30 for mid/large $35 for large/super large. The 2nd wash starts at $45 small/regular $55 mid/large $65 for large $75 for a super large (dually or something like that). That's how I do my washes and it has worked pretty good for me. Even using it as an advertisement it works. For example I have a neighbor that the neighborhood calls granny and pop. Well pops health has been taken a turn for the worse and hes not able to maintain his vehicle like he wants to. So I went over and got his keys (it is a gold S-10 by the way) and I did 1-step polish package deal on it. Brought it back to him and I can tell it just made his year! I can look out the window from my house and watch him show it off to his family members that always visit, the other neighbors are looking at it. Well now his son wants me to do a maintenance wash on his Sierra. Remember what's that charge again? oh yeah $65. I have a dually to do for his other son on Wednesday which he wants a wax job which is $140 for because it is in the super large class. And finally the neighbor down the street said she just cant help see how his truck is shining everyday and she wants a full 1-step on her van. The charge for her van is $360 because it starts at $300 and then the large vehicle fee is $60. This package also comes with a full interior job. God I love detailing. All that off 1 advertisement. Here's the recap make your wash look like a maintenance wash, make your maintenance wash look like a wax job, make your wax job look like a 1-step, make your 1-step look like a full paint correction, and make your paint correction look like you just painted the car and you cant go wrong. I hope this helps and good luck in your detailing adventures.
 
Ok I did not explain myself well, here goes again.

I need to know how long you take for each step. I don't want to base my prices on my current speed. So what I need to know is how long it should take and base my time on that. My speed will improve with experience and repetition, so it doesn't matter how long it takes me now, I will just have a lower salary/hour when I start and it will improve with time.

So what I need if for you guys to tell me (for exemple):

1. Washing the car (standard rinse, foam, rinse, 2 buckets, rinse and of course clean wheels) 15 minutes
2. Clean interior (basic vaccuuming, 1 step cleaning, windows) 1 hour
3. Apply wax (polisher) 15 minutes
4. Apply clearcoat 2 hours
5. Complete interior clean (vaccuum, shampoo carpet and seats, clean surfaces, apply dressing) 2 hours
6. Polish windows 1 hour
7. Polish paint (I know it depends but just an average is good) 5 hours
8. Compound paint (same as 7) 5 hours
9. Apply glaze 30 minutes

Those of course are just exemple, but that is what I need.

Thanks for those who have already answered it in detail. I will be looking forward to reading your average times guys.

Cheers,

Daniel
 
Phathooddetail said:
This is something that you are going to have to figure for yourself.
Click to expand...

Didn't want to quote your entire reply lol. That was very good advice. Plus the story about pops was great, i could see the happy old man showing off his truck. Stuff like this is why detailing is awesome.
 
I think I see what your saying and your last post about hits it right to me in general sense of the tasks you described. To me its hard to think like that you start to have that dealership mentality. They like to hurry up and get it out. If you start thinking you are behind because you should be past a certain point, if you are not careful you will not give it your best effort due to time. Something every detailer has been victim of then when you look back you wish you didnt do it. I think of mine as a process do step 1 then step 2 then step 3 until i reach step 46 (or whatever it is). I've just always looked at the big picture 30 min for a wash, 1-3 hours for a maintenance wash, and so on. Just to many variables for me to lock that down. Maybe some other guys can chime in that have a system like that.
 
Applied to a hatchback like Honda Fit, Kia Rio, VW Golf, etc.

1. Washing the car (standard rinse, foam, rinse, 2 buckets, rinse and of course clean wheels) 1 hour
2. Clean interior (basic vaccuuming, 1 step cleaning, windows) 1,5 hour
3. Apply wax (polisher) 20 minutes
4. Apply clearcoat (i dont apply clearcoat)
5. Complete interior clean (vaccuum, shampoo carpet and seats, clean surfaces, apply dressing) 3 hours
6. Polish windows 1 hour
7. Polish paint (I know it depends but just an average is good) 4 hours
8. Compound paint (same as 7) 4 hours
9. Apply glaze 30 minutes

I usually find a perfect combo for polishing. polish and wax.
 
Phathooddetail said:
I think I see what your saying and your last post about hits it right to me in general sense of the tasks you described. To me its hard to think like that you start to have that dealership mentality. They like to hurry up and get it out. If you start thinking you are behind because you should be past a certain point, if you are not careful you will not give it your best effort due to time. Something every detailer has been victim of then when you look back you wish you didnt do it. I think of mine as a process do step 1 then step 2 then step 3 until i reach step 46 (or whatever it is). I've just always looked at the big picture 30 min for a wash, 1-3 hours for a maintenance wash, and so on. Just to many variables for me to lock that down. Maybe some other guys can chime in that have a system like that.
Click to expand...

Hum actually that is not it at all. It's not about cutting corners and hurring it up. Well, working efficiently, not wasting time is really important but that is not the issue.

I am a business person and think as one. For me, prices are based on cost and margins of profits. In order to set the price list, I need to know how much products to do the job will cost, how long it will take and what are the variable expenses.

I am not interested in making 20$ per hour, my current job is already more than that. So I am not just gonna throw a price list together without knowing how much I will make at the end of the day.

That's all there is to it. Just a need I have to have the math work out. It has nothing to do with the quality of work.
 
AutoHeed said:
Applied to a hatchback like Honda Fit, Kia Rio, VW Golf, etc.

1. Washing the car (standard rinse, foam, rinse, 2 buckets, rinse and of course clean wheels) 1 hour
2. Clean interior (basic vaccuuming, 1 step cleaning, windows) 1,5 hour
3. Apply wax (polisher) 20 minutes
4. Apply clearcoat (i dont apply clearcoat)
5. Complete interior clean (vaccuum, shampoo carpet and seats, clean surfaces, apply dressing) 3 hours
6. Polish windows 1 hour
7. Polish paint (I know it depends but just an average is good) 4 hours
8. Compound paint (same as 7) 4 hours
9. Apply glaze 30 minutes

I usually find a perfect combo for polishing. polish and wax.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much!

I just noticed that I said clearcoat at #4 when what I meant was sealant... the joy of making posts when you need sleep ;)
 
When you work on establishing a price list you might want to consider the size of the car. For example, I have a Mazda Miata with brand new chrome wheels so it only takes me about 10 minutes to wash and dry it. However, my wife has an SUV (Kia Sorento) and it takes at least 30 to 45 minutes to wash and dry it. The same ratio of time,3 or 4 to 1,applies to each of the 5 step process for the exterior of the cars. The same applies to the interior detailing as well. Just something to think about.
 
Yes I already had some extra charges for size but I might be way off if it takes 4 times longer to do a truck... How can it take that long?

I timed myself for washing. I seems to be pretty consistant at 30 minutes with my current method. That is on a mid-size car (Toyota Yaris Sedan 2007-2009). I don't see how it could take me 90 minutes to do a truck... will have to try to understand it I think.

Once my menu is completed I will post it and see what you guys think. I have not done my competition comparisson yet, although I am not gonna play the price game. If they charge peanuts to do the work too bad for them, I don't intend to work for 10-20$ an hour just to have the same prices.
 
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