photo: modernhippiemag.com

We spoke about the environmental impact of spring elements on your car’s paint finish in last month’s blog.  (Spring Maintenance at Dalton Collision, 3/18/2012)  Well, we’re right in the thick of all of it right now!  You can’t walk outside without finding a thick layer of yellow pollen coating everything, including your car.  Bird droppings, tree sap, exhaust buildup, tar, mud and more build up quickly in warmer months on your car.  Detailing is one of the best options to address all of those issues, while also taking care of the interior of your car.

Dalton Collision has a comprehensive menu of detailing options, and we’re confident that we have a package available to suit your needs and fit your budget!

Detailing Menu

• Quick – Clean Detail, includes hand wash of exterior, vacuum carpets, upholstery and floor mats, clean & protect all vinyl or leather surfaces.  Price:  Small Vehicles – $40 / Medium Vehicles – $45 / Large Vehicles – $40 and up
• Interior Detail, includes combination of Quick – Clean Detail plus adds shampooing of carpets, upholstery & floor mats, clean & protect all vinyl or leather surfaces.  Price:  Small Vehicles – $75 / Medium Vehicles – $90 / Large Vehicles – $115 and up
• Spring Clean Up, includes combination of Quick – Clean Detail and Interior Detail plus adds hand waxing to the interior.  Price:  Small Vehicles – $115 / Medium Vehicles – $135 / Large Vehicles – $165 and up
• Complete Detail, includes combination of Quick – Clean Detail, Interior Detail, Spring Clean Up, plus adds Clay Magic to remove fallout and Machine Polishing to the exterior (The Works).  Price:  Small Vehicles – $175 / Medium Vehicles – $200 / Large Vehicles – $250 and up
• Additional Services – Overspray removal and Paintless Dent Repair.  Call 865- 933-9818 for additional details and pricing for these services.
• IMPORTANT:  All of the above are approximate prices and can vary depending on the condition of your vehicle.  We do NOT use silicone based products.
• ** Larger Vehicles and Vans will have slightly higher prices for the above listed packages.**

Remember, the life of your paint job and your upholstery depends on the care that you give to your car.  Detailing and interior cleaning ensure the longevity of all these materials and improve the resale value of your car.  Have further questions?  Call us at 865-933-9818 and we’ll be happy to help you decide which detailing package best suits your needs.

Make the Right Decision – Choose Dalton Collision

Dalton Collision · Detailing · Interior detailing · Protecting Car Paint Finish

Tire Tread Test - photo courtesy of consumerreports.org

We’ve had an unusually wet, warm winter thus far for 2011-2012.  From a collision repair perspective, one of the common causes of accidents in wet weather is hydroplaning.  What does this mean?

Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between the surface of the road and the tires of your vehicle, leading to loss of traction and preventing the vehicle from responding to control inputs such as steering, braking or accelerating. If it happens to all four wheels simultaneously, the vehicle becomes, in effect, a sled.  This can occur with all forms of precipitation – rain, snow or ice.

An important factor for safe driving in wet conditions is having good tires with sufficient tread depth. Worn tires—especially bald ones—can be deadly on wet roads, where the grooves aren’t deep enough to channel water out from beneath the tread. The result is hydroplaning.  Wet-weather braking and snow traction also decrease as tires wear.  The faster you drive in wet weather with bad tires, the more likely you are to hydroplane and lose control.  An accident is the inevitable result.

Here are some helpful tips for avoiding this driving danger:

• Start by culling out the riskiest rubber. Look for bald tires by checking whether any of the wear bars are flush with the tread’s outer surface. Another way to check whether your vehicle’s tires have reached their wear limit is to insert a penny into each groove, Lincoln’s head down, as shown above. Replace the tire if the top of Abe’s head becomes uncovered by any of the grooves.
• Slow down. And leave added room between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Safety experts recommend a two-to-three-second lag between the time the vehicle ahead passes a sign or other fixed object and the point at which your vehicle reaches it. Double that distance in rain or snow to give yourself more time to brake.
• If your tires hydroplane, back off the gas pedal to regain control.

Accidents happen, despite best intentions.  Dalton Collision is here when you need collision repair services.  Call us at 865-933-9818 to schedule your repair or ask any questions you may have.

Make the Right Decision – Choose Dalton Collision!

Body Shop Business · Dalton Collision · Hydroplaning safety tips · Repair tips

Green symbol courtesy of www.psdgraphics.com

Dalton Collision takes pride in continuing to provide the cleanest, most environmentally friendly services possible.  To that end, we are happy to share the news that we are going green with a new environmentally friendly waterborne paint from PPG called Envirobase® High Performance Paint.  Representing the 3rd generation advancement of the innovative, waterborne technology that PPG first introduced in 1999, Envirobase® High Performance basecoat offers a premium-quality solution for collision centers that can benefit from a simple, easy-to-use system offering maximum throughput with globally-accepted OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approvals. Developed to integrate seamlessly with PPG’s Global Refinish System® of undercoats and clearcoats, Envirobase HP is now available in the Greater Knoxville area at Dalton Collision.

Why is Envirobase® HP so important? VOC (volatile organic compounds) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.  Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.  Envirobase® HP is a waterborne based paint that complies with globally accepted OEM requirements, making the environment safer, and providing a high quality paint finish for your vehicle.

There are some care instructions that go along with your new paint finish that we will be sharing on our Facebook and Twitter pages in the coming weeks.  Similar to any new vehicle paint finish, care is required in the first 30 days to ensure that your Envirobase® HP paint job remains pristine and long-lasting.  Here are a couple of tips to share:

• Do not use a commercial car wash.  Stiff brushes or sponges could mar the finish and damage the surface.  Wash the vehicle by hand with cool water and a very mild car wash solution.  Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge.
• Do not spill oil, gasoline, antifreeze, transmission fluid or windshield solvent on the new finish.  IF YOU DO, immediately rinse of with water and DO NOT WIPE the surface.
• Trees are likely to attract birds.  Bird droppings have a high acidic content and will damage a freshly painted surface.  Droppings should be washed off as soon as possible.

We have handy hang tags with specific care instructions for your new Envirobase® HP paint finish here at our front desk area at Dalton Collision.  If you’re interested in learning more details about this new paint service, give us a call at 865-933-9818.

Make the right decision – choose Dalton Collision!

Body Shop Business · Dalton Collision · Dalton Collision Website · Envirobase HP Paint · Environmentally friendly services · Going Green · Repair tips

Photo - www.gearz.org

If you’ve ever had an automobile accident, you know first hand how traumatic and inconvenient an experience it is.  You’re faced with a whole slew of questions and immediate needs to address so that you can have your car repaired and get your life back to normal.  At Dalton Collision, we employ caring people who respect your situation and the technical expertise to quickly return your vehicle to pre-accident condition.

Take a look at the steps we employ in our Unique Repair Process:

1. Your vehicle is damaged and requires repair.  Call our customer service department or use our estimate page on our website to make an estimate appointment.
2. We have established relationships with primary insurance providers and deal directly with them for you.
3. Our automated estimates, digital imaging and estimate auditing cause less missed items to reduce parts delays.
4. At drop off, your vehicle is checked in, pre-washed, disassembled and an advanced blueprint of the repair is completed.
5. Our ICAR Certified welders use MIG and Resistant spot welding techniques to assure proper weld strength.
6. Our experienced technicians produce “invisible” body and advanced plastic repairs.
7. While in the repair process, you will be notified of the progress with photos of each step posted on our website under the Your Vehicle Status link.
8. Color coordinated primer is used, so if the paint chips, the area is the same color as your vehicle.
9. Vehicle color is computer color matched and world-class polyurethane Sikkens® refinish products are used.
10. Final finish has Sikkens® clearcoat which will give your vehicle the like-new “wet look”.
11. Your finish is final baked in a computer controlled down-draft spray booth.
12. The finish is color sanded and buffed to remove imperfections.
13. Your vehicle is washed, vacuumed, quality checked and ready for pick up.

That’s the whole process that we go through to ensure the highest quality repair job for your vehicle.  Delivering your professionally repaired vehicle to you as soon as possible and reducing the interruption to your life is our Number One Goal.

Life is never static, and accidents do happen.  When a vehicle is damaged, Dalton Collision makes the following our Mission Statement:

Repairing your vehicle right the first time, on time.

When a car accident does occur, keep Dalton Collision in mind for your repair needs.  We offer a tradition of service and expertise that is backed by over 15 years of experience.

Make the right decision – choose Dalton Collision!

Body Shop Business · Dalton Collision · Dalton Collision Website · Insurance tips · Repair tips · Track Your Vehicle Status Online

This spring and early summer of 2011, East Tennessee experienced what felt like an endless series of weather related catastrophes.  We had repeated storms that produced tornadoes and hail, causing all manner of damage to homes, property and cars.  Here at Dalton Collision, we’re staying busy with a steady stream of car damage repairs caused by a lot of the bad weather.  We recognize the fact that a timely repair turnaround is the Number One Priority for all our customers.  With that in mind, we want to share a very handy and useful tool on our website.

On the Dalton Collision homepage, on the left sidebar (see photo image above), you will see a link called Your Vehicle Status.  If you click that link, it takes you to a page where you will be able to track the progress we are making on your specific car repair.  Simply type in your phone number that has been registered in our system (when you dropped off your car at our location), choose your local time zone and click Log In.  This will give you access to all the repairs and status of your vehicle within our dedicated system.  Your privacy is 100% guaranteed. 

Now, instead of taking time out of your day to call and ask questions about the status of your repair, you can simply log onto our website and see at a glance everything we’re accomplishing for you.  This streamlines the process for everyone involved and gives you specific details and photos that are updated on a regular basis as we work through your unique repair needs.

Efficiency and trust are important to us here at Dalton Collision and we’re happy to have this valuable tool to offer to our customers.  Remember, at Dalton Collision, we offer a tradition of service that is backed by over fifteen years of experience.  Car accidents, minor dings and weather damage to your vehicle are some of those unfortunate situations that visit us all from time to time.  We think all of our customers will appreciate the convenience of our repair tracking system on our website, and we welcome your comments if you’ve used the Your Vehicle Status link recently!

Make the Right Decision ~ Choose Dalton Collision!

Dalton Collision · Dalton Collision Website · Repair tips · Track Your Vehicle Status Online

It is the car that rolls out of the detail shop, every panel shining brightly as rays of sunlight bounce off the car. It has the appearance that quietly screams out, “Look at me!” You know when a car has been properly cleaned. Many vehicle owners love the sight of a clean car, but rarely know how to keep it that way.

According to About.com, the following tips were suggested for maintaining your vehicle’s paint finish so that it will last…

1. Always start by properly washing your car using the proper tools. Get a cotton or paint-safe microfiber washing mitt, a 5 gallon bucket and good cleaning products specifically designed for automotive use – Mothers, Meguiars or Stoner would be our suggestions. These companies offer products that are pH balanced, non-detergent formulas that won’t strip off wax, and combine them with lubrication to prevent scratching and conditioners to maintain the shine protection. They are usually gentle on all painted finishes as well as rubber, vinyl, and plastic components.
2. Never skip drying! Drying your vehicle after washing is necessary to prevent water spots – those pesky mineral deposits that etch the outline of a drop of water into your vehicle’s paint. Auto detailing professionals advise using 100% cotton detailing cloths or sheepskin chamois to dry your car – polyester and microfiber can scratch your paint surface. If you want to get more high-tech, many car care product lines have “paint safe” drying towels that are super absorbent and claim to be lint and scratch free. Two products that we like are the P21S Super Absorbing Drying Towel and the Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel.
3. If a good wash wasn’t enough to get off all the road grime, bug residue, pollution or tree sap, the next step would be to use an Auto Detailing Clay Bar because it “pulls” contamination off the surface without abrasion or scratching. Detailing clay usually comes in a kit with a lubricating spray to protect your paint. You just spray the area to be cleaned, and then glide the clay along the surface of your paint – it will grab anything that protrudes from the surface. Detailing clay is not designed to remove paint scratches or swirl marks. Heavy tar or insect deposits may need to be removed using a specialty solvent.
4. But the paint still looks dull! At this point, you have one problem with three solutions. The problem is old oxidized paint and the solution is either car polish, cleaner or rubbing compound. All three remove unwanted dull paint, but in varying degrees of aggressiveness. Polish removes the least amount of paint for a given application, while rubbing compounds remove the most and cleaners are somewhere in the middle. We recommend starting with an application of polish first before moving on to a cleaner. Rubbing compound is a very aggressive abrasive and you should talk to a professional before giving that a try.
5. Can I wax my car now? Waxing is the most important thing you can do to protect your car’s paint and an absolute “must” if you have just used a polish or cleaner. We suggest a carnauba wax or a paint sealant. Carnauba car wax produces a deep, healthy shine that you can’t attain with a sealant, but only has the longevity of eight to twelve weeks. Paint sealants give you longer lasting protection and will not melt, wash off or wear away for about six months. If you have the time and money, use a paint sealant like Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant and then wax with a product like P21S Concours Carnauba Car Wax.

1. Always start your project with the car out of direct sunlight. Make sure the paint is cool to the touch before applying any cleaning product or wax.
2. Spray your car with ample amounts of water before washing. Use the water to spray off dirt and other contaminates that will scratch your car if you immediately start using a sponge and water first.
3. Be sure to wash and rinse in sections so the car wash soap doesn’t dry before being washed off.
4. Read the manufacturer’s directions on all car care products prior to use.

Dalton Collision is proud to offer quality detail service at affordable prices. In addition to making your vehicle look brand new, we even have the ability to “recondition” the housing of your headlamps. By using a specialized procedure, we remove the fading, hazy, dull look from your headlamps and restore them to a like new condition. While we don’t remove the headlamp or take it apart, this service provides a brighter, clearer display; especially helpful for night-time driving!

Take some time to give Dalton Collision a call. Either by assisting you with a quality detail, or reconditioning your headlamps, they can help your car look even better and turn a few heads while your driving down the road. Because let’s face it, Americans love to show off a great looking vehicle!

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The car accident. We all know someone, either ourselves, a relative, or a friend who has been involved in an accident at some point or another. The most common scenario is that you would take the vehicle to a nearby repair facility, have an estimate written, and then schedule repairs. The second most commonly asked question comes up at that point: What am I going to drive while my car is in the shop?

Body shops have this question presented to them all the time. If you are deemed “not at fault” for the accident, usually the other person’s insurance covers you while the repairs take place. But what happens if you are deemed “at fault?” At that point, many drivers are having to pay the cost of a rental car for every day their vehicle is in the shop. On average, the cost of a rental vehicle per day is around $30.00 for a compact-size car.

Did you know that some automobile insurance policies add rental reimbursement for an average $30.00 per year? Here is some quick math on the subject: On a repair with 15 labor hours, the vehicle typically takes only 3 days to repair at Dalton Collision. That is $90.00 plus tax for the cost of your rental vehicle. Let us say one year’s worth of rental reimbursement is $30.00; in just one accident based on the time frame above, you have saved $60.00 or more in some cases, depending upon whether you have an SUV, truck, etc.

Some would argue that it is an unnecessary expense, but is it not the purpose of automobile insurance to protect you in the unlikely event of an accident? In the end it is a personal choice, as most insurance companies make this coverage optional. Keeping this in mind, it would seem that the money saved in the event of an accident overrides the cost per year even if you do not use the coverage. The old addage, “Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it” certainly seems to apply in this situation.

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