For those who detail mid to full size SUVs...

[sw20_og]

...do you treat the roof the same way as you do the rest of the car? I'm just curious because I find it a little useless to put the same emphasis on the roof as far as claying/polishing is concerned since the view of the roof is pretty much hidden from normal view unless you were up high.



Any thoughts?

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

I like to use the same exact process and products on the roof as I would with all other painted surfaces of the vehicle. That's what I do with my own vehicles and that's what I do with my customer's vehicles too.



Remember, it's the horizontal surfaces, such as the hood, roof and trunk that take the most abuse from environmental contamination.

 

[sw20_og]

ya I admit it, I've been non-autopian to the SUVs I've been detailing lately. I don't neglect the roof though...I've just shorten my detailing time by restricting the roof to just light polishing and LSP.

 

[ALAN81]

You treat the ROOF the same way as the rest of the SUV.

 

[LaroiB]

I treat my the same, but I usually will work the roof on its own.



What I mean is after a detail session on the rest of the truck, I may QD the roof, but the next regular wash I will knock out the roof. At most, 1 week between the roof and all other surfaces getting the SAME level of attention.



I only detail my own car, so I don't have to do it all at once. Having such a large number of painted square feet, I have to break it up.

 

[6']['9]

yup i sure do, i always throw more than 1 coat of sealant on the roof, for added protection.

 

[kfexplore]

I drive an SUV and treat the roof the same with the exception of when I'm just waxing to be autopian about things.



My neighbours and husband are seriously thinking about having me committed!

 

[Accumulator]

If I were having a vehicle professionally detailed, I'd sure expect the roof to get proper attention. If for not other reason than, as Mirrorfinishman pointed out, it's a horizontal surface. Now if you offered a price break for the people who think "outta sight outta mind" that might be different, but you'd be encouraging irresponsible behavior...

 

[wallcrawlr]

My engine doesnt get looked at to often either but I spend alot of time in there detailing it.

 

[imported_jaobrien6]

You can check this thread out from the beginnnig of the year: http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31292&highlight=roof



The discussion got a little heated last time this came up.



John

 

[4runnerGuy]

With my roof, it's is very difficult to get to the back section. I found myself leaning waaay over while standing on the back tire. For someone who enjoys waxing as much as I do, I was grunting and groaning. I recently ordered a bunch of products, and plan a "roof assault" where I will be sealing with AIO and applying 2 coats of #16. This should protect it for a WHILE! I feel I'm generally waxing my vehicle to improve gloss and sheen; basically alot more often than needed. I hope those products will allow me to skip the roof and only do it every 2-3 months or so.

 

[jfelbab]

Whether my own SUV or my client's I give the same treatment to the roof as any other body panel.

 

[imported_ajbarnes]

You can check this thread out from the beginnnig of the year: http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31292&highlight=roof



The discussion got a little heated last time this came up.



John

Boy do I remember that thread!!



As most said, I treat the roof the same as the rest of the vehicle...even more so during the winter months and rainy seasons.

 

[Scottwax]

Every bit of painted sheet metal gets the exact attention it needs. Sometimes the roof won't need as much polishing as the hood, for example, because no one sets anything on the roof so it isn't scuffed up but whatever claying/polishing steps it requires should always be performed prior to your lsp.

 

[6']['9]

You can check this thread out from the beginnnig of the year: http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31292&highlight=roof



The discussion got a little heated last time this came up.



John

I was going to mention that thread as well but didnt :nixweiss . Man it was good

 

[ptownTSI]

I dont polish the roof, you cannot see it no matter what. I just put a thick coat of wax on a couple times so it wont get damaged. but if i was going in for a professional detail and paying full price, i.e. not a "friend" helping me out on the job or pricing then i would expect them to do a good job on that too.

 

[wifehatescar]

I will disagree a little bit, I will clay, lightly polish and wax the roof, but I will not do heavy swirl removal on it UNLESS I KNOW THE CUSTOMER MIGHT WANT THAT DONE (i.e. someone other than your average soccer mom, etc).



As far as protection goes, swirls do not factor into that equation. For the money I get paid and the time I spend, I feel the average person would get more out of me spending extra time on the panels you can see. Say for example I take 4 hours to detail the outside of an SUV. I would argue that to most average people, adding an extra coat of wax, polishing the wheels, making sure everything else is perfect, doing another polishing step, etc, is more important than de-swirling the roof.



Keeping more paint on the roof is not necessarily bad anyway. Why remove paint when you are 99% sure the customer does not care either way? Most of my customers-they do not care about swirls on the panel you CAN see.



:nixweiss

just my 2 cents.



I try to fit my service to match what the customer wants. Some might enjoy knowing the middle of their Excursion roof is de-swirled, most don't care. In that case, I'd rather keep the paint on there.