Frequently Asked Questions
Everything on protection, coatings, tint, detailing, and how we work. Still not sure? Give us a call at (425) 233-6068 or fill out our form, and our team will walk you through it.
Paint Protection Film FAQs
What is PPF?
Paint Protection Film is a thermoplastic polyurethane material that offers great protective properties, including rock chip and abrasion resistance. TPU films were originally introduced by the military to protect helicopter blades during takeoff and landing. TPU films have come a long way. If you remember paint protection film from 30 years ago, it was unsightly, with an orange peel texture, and it stained easily and turned yellow after only a short time. Modern TPU films are clear and smooth. DYNOshield is the product we use, and it has HYDROphobe technology, a nano coating infused into the film that provides self healing properties against light wash marks and is also super easy to clean thanks to its hydrophobic properties.
Self healing PPF?
During the manufacturing process of STEK DYNOshield, a liquid topcoat is applied that is self healing. This does not self heal if it is hit by a rock and punctures. It is for light wash marks. Self healing happens most quickly when some level of heat is applied, but sitting outside in the sun provides the same effect.
Why would I have PPF applied on my car?
PPF provides a barrier of protection that can take a lot of abuse. Most importantly, it is designed to protect paint against rock chip damage and debris that can damage the paint or clearcoat. Due to stringent EPA regulations, all new cars are painted with eco friendly water borne paint. Although better for the environment, it is a much more delicate finish than the paint of years past. An added benefit of STEK DYNOshield is that it has a self healing topcoat and is extremely hydrophobic, stain resistant, and non yellowing. There is no better way to protect your vehicle’s paint against damage than PPF. Instead of removing a thin layer of clearcoat every time your paint needs to be polished to remove swirl marks and scratches, we believe it is best to add film to your clearcoat when the car is brand new. The most clearcoat your vehicle will ever have is when it is brand new.
Do people cover their whole vehicles in PPF?
Absolutely. We have completed hundreds of full vehicle wraps, and it is the very best protection available today. A few areas are most susceptible to rock damage, typically the front end, the lower rocker panels, and the rear bumper. Any area in the line of fire from debris kicked up by your tires is a high impact area. If you want coverage beyond those, we recommend a full body wrap. It takes full advantage of the film’s self healing and hydrophobic properties, and you will probably end up wrapping every car you buy afterward, since the maintenance is so much easier than paint.
My car isn't new. Can I still install PPF?
Paint protection film can be installed on pretty much any vehicle at any time. To get the most value out of the product, we recommend installing it when the vehicle is brand new. Rock chips and damage under the film will appear as an air bubble and can look somewhat unsightly. Touch up paint can be done under certain circumstances, but it is no substitute for a professional refinish from a qualified body shop. We will ask to look over your vehicle if it has more than a few thousand miles, to verify it is a good candidate for PPF. If you have a highly sought after or collectible vehicle and you want to preserve the original finish and prevent new chips, this is a situation where PPF may still be a good option even though it will not look like a fresh paint job. We feel this is a case by case basis, so please contact us if you would like us to evaluate your vehicle’s paint for PPF.
Is PPF removable?
Yes, paint protection film can generally be removed without damage, though there are a few exceptions. If you have original paint on your vehicle, the prep work has typically been done properly, and the film can be removed without damage. If your PPF was installed by an unqualified technician with a heavy handed blade, the paint may have been cut through the film, which compromises its integrity and can cause it to peel away during removal. We recommend checking your potential installer’s work and reputation before booking.
Will my car need paint correction before PPF is installed?
The short answer is no. Unless wet sanding, touch up paint, or major defect removal is needed, you can expect that we will not surprise you with any additional prep fees. Our prep work is extremely thorough, so you can expect to get your car back cleaner than when you brought it in.
Why choose Metropolitan Detail for your PPF installation?
We are passionate about the quality of our PPF installation. We go to great lengths to hide seams and edges to make the film appear as invisible as possible. We also stand behind the quality of our work 110%.
Ceramic Coating FAQs
What is a ceramic coating?
A nano ceramic coating is a highly organized layer of ceramic nanoparticles that covalently bond to your clearcoat. That means it shares electrons and becomes part of the surface itself. It provides tremendous gloss, an easy to clean hydrophobic finish, and it performs far longer than a simple wax or paint sealant. Waxes and sealants contain waxes, silicones, or both, and those actually attract dust and dirt, unlike a ceramic coating, which repels them.
Where can ceramic coatings be applied?
You might be surprised how much of a car can be coated, inside and out. Paint is the obvious one, but we can also coat plastic trim to keep it from fading and aging early. We offer a high temp coating made specifically for wheels and brake calipers, so they keep their gloss and clean up much easier. Hydrophobic glass coatings can greatly improve your visibility when driving in the rain. On the interior, a leather guard makes cleaning stains like denim transfer much easier, and a fabric guard for the carpets and seats makes spills easy to deal with.
Is there prep work before a ceramic coating is applied?
Yes, and a lot of it. Ceramic coatings are more or less permanent, so we make sure the paintwork is in the best condition possible before protecting it. After a light polish or a full paint correction, it is vital that any oils or contaminants are removed, since they would deter the bonding process when the coating is applied. Just like painting a house, prep work is key.
Can I apply a ceramic coating myself?
Yes, there are a few consumer products on the market that a non professional can apply, with some risk. Because it bonds to the finish, if high spots are left behind or another application error is made, it may take machine polishing or wet sanding to fix. Professional grade coatings like CQuartz Professional and CQuartz Finest Reserve are not sold to consumers, since the application is far more technical, but the performance benefits over a consumer product are tremendous.
How do I maintain my ceramic coated vehicle?
Ceramic coatings are simple and even enjoyable to maintain. We recommend a two bucket hand wash with a detergent made for ceramic coatings. We like STEK Shampoo or CarPro RESET, since both leave the coating clean with no fillers. A wash and wax type product can actually clog the coating and reduce its water beading until that wax is properly cleaned away. Periodic decontamination helps too. Most people do a chemical decontamination 2 to 4 times a year, which includes an iron remover and a tar remover after a proper wash. If you notice the water beading fading, especially on the sides of the car, this will usually bring it back to life.
Will ceramic coatings protect against rock chips?
No. A ceramic coating is like a repellent. It makes the finish easy to clean, stain resistant, and ultra glossy, but it is not thick enough to provide real world rock chip protection. For that we recommend paint protection film as a barrier against road debris.
If a coating says its hardness is 9H, what does that mean?
Honestly, not much. That number comes from a pencil hardness test that has little to do with how a coating performs on a real car. Judge a coating by its gloss, its durability, and how well it is prepped and applied, not by a 9H rating.
What is CarPro Essence Plus?
Essence Plus is the non-abrasive gloss agent we use in our Ceramic Maintenance Polish. It is an SiO2 product made from a blend of ceramic coating repair agents, high gloss quartz resins, and hydrophobic nanoparticles. It partially repairs fine swirls without abrasive correction, adds a layer of SiO2 quartz protection, and leaves a smooth, glossy, hydrophobic finish. It works on ceramic coatings, bare paint, and PPF, and it is formulated for professional use on previously coated vehicles.
Window Tint FAQs
What is window tint?
Window tint is a polyester material applied to the inside of your glass. It adds privacy and an aesthetic upgrade, and it protects against the sun by blocking UV and infrared wavelengths.
Why would I tint my car?
For several reasons. Tint looks great, and it comes in shades from nearly clear to full limo dark. It also protects you and your interior from UV fading and heat damage. Privacy tint makes it harder for people to see belongings inside your vehicle, which lessens the chance of a break in. Seattle may not be the hottest place, but a high performance film sure feels great on a summer day.
I want the best heat protection. What should I choose?
This can get complicated if you only look at the stats from tint manufacturers. All light is measured in nanometers on a wavelength chart. Infrared light is what we typically feel burning on our skin, but the issue is that infrared meters measure only 1 specific wavelength, when there are thousands. Because of that, a lot of tints are designed to beat a tint meter. The best way to test a film is to put it in a solarium heat tester and physically feel how much heat it blocks. We find that STEK NEX+ series film offers the best heat protection we have found.
Why is there carbon in window tint?
Carbon is a great way to provide heat protection by blocking UV and near infrared, and carbon never fades. Even some high end tints have dye in them, and those fade over time, leaving you with a lighter tint or a purple color. We do not use any dyed films at Metropolitan Detail.
Why does tint cost less at other shops?
A lot of factors play a role in the cost of our window tint. First, we wash every car that comes into our shop, because we cannot cleanly tint a dirty car. Dirt and debris caught in the film’s adhesive during installation looks unsightly. We also use an array of tools, including soak rope and protective coverings, to protect your interior while we work. You can trust you are always getting a great value with any Metropolitan Detail service.
Do some tints block cell phone and other signals?
We do not use any metalized films at Metropolitan Detail. Metalized films are a cheap alternative to ceramics that get decent performance at a low cost. We are not interested in offering lesser quality, low cost services.
Is there any maintenance to window tint?
Not maintenance exactly, but a few precautions. When the tint is fresh, keep your windows rolled up for 5 days so it cures properly and does not begin to peel. If your window drops slightly when you open the door, that is not an issue. Do not use ammonia based cleaners on window tint, as they cause the film and adhesive to fail, which leads to discoloration and bubbling.
My tint is new, but it's not totally clear?
Window tint is a wet application, since we squeegee a soap and water solution out from under the film. A few hours after the install, your tint may form some pockets of moisture. This is completely normal, and within a few days it should evaporate.
My window tint looks hazy?
Cheaper ceramic films can look hazy because of how large ceramic particles disperse in the film. STEK uses the highest quality nano ceramic particles with the best dispersion method, for the best clarity on the market.
Is there a legal limit on how dark I can go?
Washington regulates how dark your front windows can be. We will walk you through shades that look good and stay compliant.
Paint Correction FAQs
What is paint correction?
Paint correction is multiple stages of machine polishing that remove defects, scratches, and stains from your clearcoat. It does not use fillers, which hide defects only until the car is washed. We start by removing heavy defects with a cutting compound, which leaves a swirled, less desirable finish on its own. To get the highest quality and glossiest result, we then fully polish the car two more times, with a medium cut polish and a finishing polish. That process gets the paint to the best condition possible. Afterward it is ready for protection, and we recommend any of our ceramic coating options for the most durable, easy to clean finish.
Does paint correction fix rock chips?
No. Paint correction optimizes the paint already on the car, it does not add paint. Touch up paint can be done at an additional charge.
Do new cars need paint correction?
Not always, but it is quite common. New cars are handled by many people, from the manufacturer to transporters by boat, train, and truck. Once a car reaches the dealership, a technician performs a pre purchase inspection, including a test drive, and it may have been washed by a few lot attendants. After possibly traveling halfway around the world and being washed without any protection, it is very possible for wash swirls and defects to show up in the paint. We also find that the manufacturing process leaves defects that are often fixable with paint correction, since the factory does not have the time to make every car as perfect as we might expect.
My car is expensive. Why does it have paint defects?
This is actually quite typical. Low volume manufacturers tend to have more human involvement in the manufacturing and painting process, which leads to more defects than high volume brands. Not to worry, it is expected that low volume vehicles need some tidying up, and it is very fixable.
You use rotary polishers. Don't they leave swirl marks?
Not in trained hands. Any tool used without proper training and products can give poor results. A rotary polisher can actually produce a deeper shine than a random orbital, though it takes time and skill. It is also more accurate than a dual action polisher, so we can get into all the nooks and crannies. Our paint correction training is thorough for exactly this reason.
Why do you lift cars when polishing?
This is critical to getting the best results. Lifting the vehicle lets us properly clean road tar and grime from the lower sections, and it puts defects at eye level, where they are much easier to see and correct. Bending over a car for hours never produces the same quality on the lower panels as on the upper ones, and we think every part of your car should look its best.
My paint is oxidized. Will paint correction fix it?
Typically, yes. There are rare situations where the paint has faded under the clearcoat and cannot be saved. If your car has lacquer paint, which is single stage paint with no clearcoat, it can almost always be repaired. Oxidized paint needs full correction, since a light polish will just leave a blotchy mess.
How long does paint correction take?
It depends on the size of the car and the condition of the paint. Multi stage correction is usually a multi day job. We give you a timeline once we have seen the car.
Should I correct the paint before a coating or PPF?
Yes, correction first is the right order. A coating or film locks in whatever is underneath it, so any swirls left behind stay there. Correcting first means the protection goes over a clean, corrected finish.
Booking & Loaner Cars FAQs
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. We work by appointment so every car gets the time it needs. Book online or call (425) 233-6068.
Do you offer a loaner car?
Yes. We keep a small fleet of free loaner cars, based on availability. Drop off, take a loaner, and keep your day moving.
How long does an install take?
It depends on the service. Many jobs are one day. Paint correction and ceramic coating usually take longer, and a full body wrap can take several days. We give you a timeline before we start.
How fast will I hear back on a quote?
Usually within one business day.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on the vehicle, its condition, and the coverage you want, so we quote each car individually rather than posting flat prices. Send us your details and we will come back with real numbers. Get a Quote →
Can I keep the loaner for multiple days?
Yes. On full body wraps and longer jobs, the loaner stays with you until your car is ready, based on availability.
Which service do I actually need?
PPF is a physical barrier against chips. A ceramic coating is a chemical layer for gloss and easy cleaning. Paint correction removes existing swirls. Most new cars get correction first, then film and a coating on top. Tell us your goals and we will map it out.
Do I have to bring the car in before booking?
Not to get started. For some work we want to see it in person before finalizing, and we will tell you if that is the case.
Is my work warrantied?
Yes. PPF installations carry a 10 year warranty. We are a STEK Black Label shop and a CarPro CQuartz Reserve installer, and we are licensed and insured.
Location & Service Area FAQs
Where are you located?
8539 152nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Do you service my area?
We are in Redmond and we work with drivers across Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle, and the wider Eastside.
Do you offer a hand wash?
Yes, at our separate location, Metropolitan Detail Express, inside the Redmond Town Center parking garage. Book online and we take care of the wash while you shop.
Where exactly is MD Express?
16501 NE 76th St, Redmond, at the north entrance of the Redmond Town Center parking garage off NE 76th St. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Do you offer pickup and delivery?
Contact us to discuss options for your vehicle.
Are you open weekends?
No. We are closed Saturday and Sunday. Both locations run Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Can I wait while the work is done?
For a full detail or install, no, these take hours or days, which is what the loaner car is for. At MD Express the hand wash is a waiter service, so you can shop at Redmond Town Center while we work.
How long have you been in Redmond?
Since 2006. This year marks our 20th anniversary on the Eastside.
Is there parking at the shop?
Yes. Pull into the shop at 8539 152nd Ave NE and we will take it from there.
Still have a question? We’re happy to help.
