Top-Grade Exterior Vehicle Maintenance

Improve Your Vehicle with Exterior Detailing in Pittsburgh, PA

An Expert Way to Revitalize Your Ride

Driving your vehicle should be a positive experience. Yet driving a vehicle in general exposes it to various environmental contaminants including dirt, dust, and other common surface grime. All of this can adhere to the exterior and ultimately will diminish its appearance. Instead of letting contamination potentially harm its surfaces, Lightning Detail is here to help! We specialize in combating these contaminants through our comprehensive exterior detailing package. This process cleans and helps preserve your vehicle’s aesthetic and structural integrity over time.

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Our Exterior Detailing Package

Our exterior detailing service includes 3 FREE months of SiriusXM and reports to CarFax

Gold Exterior Detail

STARTING AT $275

TURNAROUND: 4-6 HOURS

THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • Two bucket hand wash 
  • Hand wash wheels and tires
  • Decontaminate paint to remove minor bugs/tar/grime
  • Decontaminate remaining impurities with clay-bar
  • Apply no-sling tire dressing 
  • Apply paint sealant
  • One step paint enhancement
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Our Add-On Detailing Services

Headlight Restoration Service

STARTING AT $95 FOR SINGLE HEADLIGHT

STARTING AT $150 FOR HEADLIGHT PAIR

Our premier headlight restoration service at Lightning Detail is the best way to enhance your nighttime driving and the safety of your ride. We wet sand, polish, and then add a ceramic coating to your vehicle’s headlights to really help them stay in shape over the years.

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A close up of the headlight of a black car
A close up of the headlight of a black car

Engine Detailing Service

STARTING AT $75

There is no question about how elaborate we go with engine detailing at Lightning Detail! First we degrease and clean the engine compartment of your vehicle before protecting and dress all components with Koch-Chemie Motorplast. This is a naturally shiny, water-displacing engine conserver. All treated engine parts will regain their like-new appearance and the power units are protected from corrosion and environmental factors.

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What is Included in Our Exterior Detailing Package

Our exterior detailing process is thorough and designed to tackle every aspect of your vehicle's outer condition. We start with a two-bucket hand wash to minimize the risk of paint scratching from happening, followed by a detailed hand cleaning of wheels and tires. Next, we use a clay-bar treatment to remove finer particles and smooth the paint surface. Our exterior detailing work at Lightning Detail also includes a swirl-free single-stage paint polish that amplifies paint shine while specialized glass polishing techniques eliminate water spots. Finally, we apply durable trim dressings, no-sling tire dressing, and a professional-grade paint sealant to protect the results.

Get in Touch for Premium Exterior Detailing

Are you interested in rejuvenating your vehicle’s exterior with pro-grade exterior detailing? Now is the time! Contact Lightning Detail today at (412) 580-7818 to learn more about our exterior detailing service and to schedule a session. You can also click below to get started with a free price estimate as well. Lightning Detail is ready to bring back the beauty of what you drive and help prolong the life of your vehicle with our expert detailing techniques. Let us help you make a lasting impression with a spotless and protected exterior!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Exterior Detailing

  • Why are two buckets used to wash the vehicle?

    The two-bucket hand-washing method we trust at Lightning Detail is a critical technique in professional vehicle care. This process ensures a thorough clean while minimizing the risk of scratching the paint on your vehicle. One bucket contains a soapy detailing solution for washing the vehicle, while the other holds clean water for rinsing the wash mitt. This approach prevents dirt and grit picked up by the wash mitt from contaminating the clean soap solution, thereby protecting the vehicle’s surface from scratches.

  • What is a clay-bar treatment?

    Our exterior detailing service includes a clay-bar treatment. This beneficial step involves using a specialty piece of clay designed specifically for automotive care. Gently gliding this clay bar across a vehicle’s exterior allows it to pick up and remove fine particles, pollutants, and residues that a regular wash cannot. This treatment leaves the vehicle’s surface incredibly smooth and ready for polishing and protection steps. Claying is particularly effective for maintaining a flawless finish.

  • How often should exterior detailing be done?

    There is no real one-size-fits-all suggestion for exterior detailing, though the frequency depends on several factors that we at Lightning Detail can help determine. Ideally, your vehicle’s exposure to contaminants, your driving environment, and how you store your vehicle are all contributing factors to your vehicle’s need for exterior detailing. Generally, it is recommended to have a professional exterior detailing service done by Lightning Detail every couple of months at a minimum to maintain optimal condition. 

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Notable Benefits of Exterior Detailing

A black and white drawing of a car with an umbrella on a white background.

Preventing Paint Damage by Removing Contaminants

Exterior vehicle detailing is crucial in removing contaminants that negatively affect your vehicle’s paint condition. Regular detailing sessions remove these potentially harmful substances before they have a chance to etch or stain the paint, helping to maintain the vehicle's appearance and resale value. Many heavier environmental contaminants collected during drives in the Pittsburgh area are hard to remove without the help of our professional detailing services.

A black and white drawing of a circle on a white background.

Enhancing Wheel and Tire Longevity

Exterior detailing that includes cleaning your vehicle's wheels and tires is not just about the aesthetics of those surfaces. Wheel cleaning also plays a significant role in their longevity and quality, which ultimately impacts their functionality. Our exterior detailing service focuses on removing debris, brake dust, and other corrosive materials during a detailed clean, preventing premature wear and tear and ensuring that your wheels and tires stay in better condition for much longer.

A black and white drawing of a cartoon character on a white background.

Achieving a Deeper Clean

Unlike automated car washes that only do a lackluster job, missing spots or using overly abrasive brushes on your paintwork, professional exterior detailing provides a deeper, more thorough clean. When we perform an exterior detailing service, we reach every area of your vehicle’s exterior without missing anything. This is how we ensure you leave our detailing shop with a vehicle that has had all parts of its exterior immaculately cleaned and enhanced. This service far surpasses the capabilities of standard automated wash systems.