01. Essential
Essential Detail
from£70
Studio & mobile
- Full safe wash & decontamination
- Sealant protection
- Wheels, arches, glass & trim
- A car in good condition that needs bringing back
Best for · regular upkeep
Wash · Decontaminate · Enhance · Protect
Exterior car detailing in Stoke-on-Trent
Exterior detailing is the part of the job most people picture when they think of a detailed car — the deep gloss, the water beading, the wheels that look new again. It's also where most of the damage happens. Automatic washes, dirty sponges and drive-through brushes leave swirl marks and dull haze that build up over years. At our Hanley studio we do the whole exterior by hand, under proper lighting, so we can see exactly what we're working on.
What An Exterior Detail Includes
The order is what protects the paint
Every exterior detail at the studio follows the same sequence, because doing it in the wrong order is how swirls get put in rather than taken out.
01
Safe wash
Pre-wash foam to lift loose grit, then a two-bucket contact wash with clean microfibre mitts and grit guards. Wheels, arches and door shuts get their own brushes and buckets so brake dust never touches the bodywork. Nothing is scrubbed.
02
Decontamination
A clean-looking car still carries bonded contamination you can feel as roughness on the bonnet. Tar remover dissolves road tar and adhesive along the sills, iron remover reacts with embedded brake dust and fallout (the purple run-off), and a clay bar lifts whatever is left. Only then is the paint genuinely smooth.
03
Machine enhancement
With the surface bare we can see the true condition of the paint. A single-stage machine polish removes light swirls and restores clarity and depth. Deeper scratches and heavy haze need our full paint correction — we'll tell you honestly which it is.
04
Protection
Corrected paint needs sealing or the gloss starts fading on the first motorway run. Every detail is finished with a durable paint sealant. For years rather than months, we're an authorised NASIOL Pro Club applicator and can finish with a ceramic coating, quoted once we've seen the car.
Wheels, Arches, Glass & Trim
The details people actually notice
Wheels are cleaned face and barrel, decontaminated and sealed. Arches and tyres are cleaned and dressed with a satin finish, not a glossy sling. Glass is cleaned inside and out and can be sealed so rain beads off at speed. Exterior plastics and rubber trim are restored with a dressing that lasts, and sensitive trim is taped off before any machine goes near it.
Essential, Signature or Restoration
Which exterior detail your car needs
We'll always tell you which one your car actually needs when we see it — we don't sell a correction to a car that doesn't need one.
02. SignatureMost popular
Signature Detail
from£250
Studio & mobile
- Everything in Essential
- Single-stage machine enhancement
- Light swirl & haze removal
- Paint that's lost its gloss
Best for · that new-car feel
03. Restoration
Restoration Detail
from£400
Studio only
- Everything in Signature
- Multi-stage paint correction
- Deeper defects levelled before protection
- Usually two days in the studio
Best for · total transformation
Prices are a starting point — the final figure depends on the size and condition of the car. Pair any of them with an interior detail for the full car.
Why The Studio
An exterior detail is only as good as the light you check it under
Our Hanley studio has overhead hex lighting that shows swirls, holograms and missed spots that daylight hides. Weather never cuts the job short, and products cure properly before the car goes back out. If you can't get to Hanley, our mobile car detailing covers wash and decontamination work at your home or workplace across Stoke-on-Trent.
Exterior Detailing Across Stoke-on-Trent
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
The studio is at Unit 14, Trent Trading Park, Botteslow Street, Hanley ST1 3LY, in the centre of Stoke-on-Trent, minutes from the A50 and A500. We detail cars from Burslem, Tunstall, Fenton, Longton, Stoke, Trentham, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove and the surrounding Staffordshire villages. Drop the car in the morning and collect in the afternoon for an Essential, or leave it with us for a day or two for Signature and Restoration work.
Exterior Detailing FAQs
Straight answers
What is the difference between an exterior detail and a valet?
A valet cleans the car. An exterior detail cleans it, decontaminates the paint with tar, iron and clay treatment, improves it with machine polishing where needed, and protects it with a sealant or coating. The difference shows in how the paint feels and how long it stays clean.
How long does an exterior detail take?
An Essential Detail is usually half a day. A Signature Detail with machine enhancement is a full day. Restoration work is typically two days. We'll confirm when you book.
Will an exterior detail remove scratches?
Decontamination and a single-stage enhancement remove light swirls and haze. Deeper scratches need our paint correction service, and anything that has gone through the clear coat needs paint, not polishing. We'll show you under the lights which is which.
Do I need a ceramic coating after an exterior detail?
No. Every detail is finished with a sealant as standard. A ceramic coating is an upgrade for people who want years of protection and easier washing. It's quoted after we've seen the car.
How do I keep the car looking detailed afterwards?
Avoid automatic brush washes, use a two-bucket method or a touchless wash, and book a maintenance detail every few weeks if you'd like us to do it for you. We give simple aftercare guidance when you collect.
Ready to book an exterior detail?
By appointment only — tell us the car and what's bothering you about it, and we'll find your slot.