How long to detail a car?

[magnus]

For those of you who are starting, or have been, detailing on the side:

How long does iit take for you to complete an average vehicle, start to finish? Is it a weekend project, or one day, or a few hours?

I'm thinking that this might something I might be interested in, once I get my own vehicles done, and have a little practice at it.

If no one minds me asking, what kind of monetary value do you ask for a vehicle?

Please remember, only respond if this is something you are doing on the side, and don't have a professional business going.

Thanks!

[mis3]

I did the works,
1. Wash NXT wash
2. Clean Deep Crystal Step-1
3. Polish Deep Crystal Step-2
4 Wax NXT wax
5. wheels Wheel Wax

The whole ritual took me about 5 hours. I then applied another coat of NXT wax the next day, this took me another 2 hours.

My car is easier to take care because it is silver and is about 8 months old. Although I will wax the car once a month or so, I will only repeat the works before the winter.

[rusty bumper]

I detail on the side occasionally, and it takes me a good 8 to 10 hours just to finish the outside only...(Course I'm talking about a 5 or 6 step process).

If your work is top notch, then I would think that $75.00 to $100.00 would be a decent asking price.

[IceColdOne]

I've thot about doing the on the side thing too. Current thinking is that WHEN I get going, I'm going to try to set a $/hr goal, then figure out how long on average a vehicle type will take, and charge accordingly.

On my cars, I spend 6-7 hrs for wash, dry, polish, wax * 2, tire dressing (one a Red Pont Grand Prix, the other an Dark Silver Acura MDX).

Im close to putting out the word that my services are available, and plans are to charge $75 for the above process (~ $10 / hr + a little for supplies), and then go up from there if add'l steps needs (i.e. paint cleaner step. clay bar step, interior) etc.

Make sense??? Comments???

[Vandelete]

mostly I detail a car just outside the exteroir in about 8 hours...

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by IceColdOne
I've thot about doing the on the side thing too. Current thinking is that WHEN I get going, I'm going to try to set a $/hr goal, then figure out how long on average a vehicle type will take, and charge accordingly.

On my cars, I spend 6-7 hrs for wash, dry, polish, wax * 2, tire dressing (one a Red Pont Grand Prix, the other an Dark Silver Acura MDX).

Im close to putting out the word that my services are available, and plans are to charge $75 for the above process (~ $10 / hr + a little for supplies), and then go up from there if add'l steps needs (i.e. paint cleaner step. clay bar step, interior) etc.

Make sense??? Comments???

Sounds good to me.

[Chubs]

Thats funny! I asked something similar to this about how long it takes becaue I am thinking about going part time with this. I take about 6 to 10 hours on the outside of a car. Depending on thet size of it and the condition. Thats wash, dry, clay, tar removal, buff w/ rotary, PC, wax. I don't know if you know how to run a rotary, but its a great tool to get the most out of your paint.
Thats my opinion.
Chubs