What are you charging? Convertible Top Waterproofing

allenk4

allenk4

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Convertible top treatments

What are you charging to treat a Fabric Convertible top with something like 303 Fabric Guard?

Are you requiring that the service be part of a Basic Wash since the top has to be thoroughly cleaned?

If I don't wash the car at the same time, it would look terrible.

Current Plan:

- Rinse

- Spray w APC (10:1)

- Agitate

- Rinse

- Towel dry

- Shop Vac to remove additional moisture

- Park in the Sun

- Tape off

- Treat with 303 Fabric Guard

Thanks
 
I'm Charging as an add on starting at $125 as long as the top isn't bad. I'm using Cquartz fabric coating.
 
I use 303 Fabric Guard when treating any soft top vehicle that's receiving a wash and wax or paint correction. I never really thought about charging for it to be honest. I just look at cleaning and protecting the fabric as a substitute to polishing/applying an LSP on a painted roof. If it's a separate service on the other hand, I'd probably charge around 100 for my time/labor.
 
Depends where u live and what people will pay. I would say 125. Not to trying to hijack the thread, what do you guys use for mold removal from a top? Fabric top
 
eaglefan said:
Depends where u live and what people will pay. I would say 125. Not to trying to hijack the thread, what do you guys use for mold removal from a top? Fabric top
Click to expand...

Have not seen any mold in SoCal

The online videos I have watched, just scrape and brush it off using a special rag top cleaner
 
allenk4 said:
Convertible top treatments

What are you charging to treat a Fabric Convertible top with something like 303 Fabric Guard?

Are you requiring that the service be part of a Basic Wash since the top has to be thoroughly cleaned?

If I don't wash the car at the same time, it would look terrible.

Current Plan:

- Rinse

- Spray w APC (10:1)

- Agitate

- Rinse

- Towel dry

- Shop Vac to remove additional moisture

- Park in the Sun

- Tape off

- Treat with 303 Fabric Guard

Thanks
Click to expand...
I just did a convertible top a few weeks ago. I would change your process just a bit.

I used a semi stiff brush and agitated the roof to get what ever debris off the top. I then vacuumed the top. I sprayed some APC cleaner and lightly brushed with a stiff brush. I then blotted the top with a clean terry cloth towel and rinsed with cold water limiting the seay to a light mist. I did not want to inject to much water into the top. I then vacuumed the top with a shop vacuum to get the moisture out and let it sit in the sun to dry.

I then sprayed PoorBoys Natural Beauty and lightly wiped on the top.

The last step was to use 303 fabric guard for protection.

The top came out perfect.

My son who drives the car will vacuum the top on a regular basis to keep it clean.

Ed
 
Eandras said:
I just did a convertible top a few weeks ago. I would change your process just a bit.

I used a semi stiff brush and agitated the roof to get what ever debris off the top. I then vacuumed the top. I sprayed some APC cleaner and lightly brushed with a stiff brush. I then blotted the top with a clean terry cloth towel and rinsed with cold water limiting the seay to a light mist. I did not want to inject to much water into the top. I then vacuumed the top with a shop vacuum to get the moisture out and let it sit in the sun to dry.

I then sprayed PoorBoys Natural Beauty and lightly wiped on the top.

The last step was to use 303 fabric guard for protection.

The top came out perfect.

My son who drives the car will vacuum the top on a regular basis to keep it clean.

Ed
Click to expand...

Are you talking about a Fabric convertible top or vinyl?

It is counterintuitive to apply a dressing like Poor Boys Natural Beauty prior to 303 Fabric Guard

Poorboy's Natural Look Dressing: Natural Look Dressing is a non-toxic, tri-action lotion performing cleaning, protecting and beautifying duties in one


You should not ever use 303 Fabric Guard on vinyl tops
 
It is a fabric top. PB's natural beauty is more of a cleaner to me. The 303 is more for protection.
 
I find doing my own (small) fabric top enough of a PITA, what with the washing, scrubbing, careful rinsing, vacuuming, complete drying and then having to fully mask off the car... I'd charge NO less than two hours of extra labor if a customer asked for a fabric top to be protected. Last time I used three generous coats of 303 and my top still beads after two full years of extreme Canadian weather and road conditions.

My flow: wash roof along with the entire car as normal but skip any paint decontamination steps, then clean the fabric with 303 Fabric Top Cleaner and Iron-X the rest of the car at this point; completely dry the car and blot dry the roof, then extract or vacuum the roof then set up a floor fan on a shelf (I have a ceiling mount for it) and set it on low; start my paint correction making sure to avoid splattering the fabric -- I throw my MF apron over sections of the roof when I'm working an adjacent panel -- then after compounding but before finishing I mask off all trim, glass and body panels in the line of fire and start my 303 Fabric Protectant coats. At this point I leave it for minimum 12 hours, with the fan on once again. Unmask the car and finish the correction and LSP. It seriously adds two hours and plenty of hassle, that's why I overdo the protectant.
 
allenk4 said:
I think it is a bad idea
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Why do you think it is a bad idea. I am curious and always want to improve my processes. Convertibles are new to me. Took the PB Natural Beauty from a very reputable person.

Ed
 
Eandras said:
Why do you think it is a bad idea. I am curious and always want to improve my processes. Convertibles are new to me. Took the PB Natural Beauty from a very reputable person.

Ed
Click to expand...


I am not sure what you are using as I can't find anything called Poorboys Natural Beauty so I can't tell if it is a good idea or not. However, if what you are using is Poorboys Natural Dressing it is designed for vinyl and leather. I can't imagine that it is doing a great job as a fabric cleaner and it might even be leaving some oils and chemicals that are not that great for fabric. I would try to find a fabric cleaner that you like and use it. I happen to like Ragtop Cleaner but there are a bunch of good fabric top cleaners out there.
 
Sorry I named the product wrong. It is PoorBoys natural look. It is a cleaner and protectant per the supplier.

Ed
 
It isn't meant for fabric convertible tops AFAICT, and will definitely hinder the performance of 303.

303 Aerospace makes a great fabric cleaner, it's what I use.
 
Eandras said:
Why do you think it is a bad idea. I am curious and always want to improve my processes. Convertibles are new to me. Took the PB Natural Beauty from a very reputable person.

Ed
Click to expand...

I'm a firm believer that you should only used products made for specific for the task. I'm never willing to take a chance and damaging a customers car ever.
 
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