{"id":126,"date":"2026-09-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freelancerzuerich.online\/?post_type=guide&p=126"},"modified":"2026-10-31T16:42:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T16:42:54","slug":"detailing-levels-explained","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/freelancerzuerich.online\/?guide=detailing-levels-explained","title":{"rendered":"The five detailing levels explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Detailing is the perfect, detailed cleaning of every inch of your vehicle, with the right products, machines and expertise. It is not the same as washing the car at home or in a car wash, where paint damage and surface imperfections are mostly caused by incorrect washing techniques and detergents. INCUTE detailing runs in five levels. The difference between them is mainly how far the paint is corrected.<\/p>\n

The five levels at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Level<\/th>\nFocus<\/th>\nPaint correction<\/th>\nRate per hour<\/th>\nWorkload, small \/ large vehicle<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1 \u00b7 Basic package<\/th>\nChemical and mechanical decontamination, protection<\/td>\nNone: deep clean only<\/td>\nCHF 160<\/td>\napprox. 6 h \/ 10 h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2 \u00b7 Paint improvement<\/th>\nSingle-stage polish<\/td>\nUp to 80%<\/td>\nCHF 180<\/td>\napprox. 8 h \/ 16 h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 \u00b7 Paint correction<\/th>\nMulti-stage polish after an ultrasonic thickness check<\/td>\n80\u201395%<\/td>\nCHF 200<\/td>\napprox. 16 h \/ 32 h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 \u00b7 Refinement<\/th>\nThree- to five-stage correction, wheels off, underbody and engine bay<\/td>\n95\u201399%<\/td>\nCHF 210<\/td>\napprox. 32 h \/ 48 h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 \u00b7 Perfection<\/th>\nClear-coat levelling in five steps<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\nCHF 220<\/td>\napprox. 48 h \/ 120 h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Level 1: the foundation<\/h2>\n

A pH-neutral wash with a double two-bucket system, so no sharp particles of dirt reach the paint on the wash mitt; acid-free wheel cleaning; hand drying with microfibre; solvent and clay-bar decontamination; and a hand degrease for better adhesion of sealants. It involves no paint correction, which makes it the right choice for satin and matt finishes that cannot be machine-polished, and the basis for every other package. See detailing<\/a> for the full list.<\/p>\n

Levels 2 and 3: improvement and correction<\/h2>\n

Level 2 adds a one-stage polish that removes small swirl marks and minor paint damage and lifts the gloss, with a correction factor of 70\u201380% depending on the paint. Level 3 first measures the paint thickness with an ultrasonic gauge and judges the finish under different lights, then corrects in two to three polishing stages, checking the result with an alcohol-based paint cleaner after each one. Deeper clear-coat scratches will not disappear entirely, but they become much less visible.<\/p>\n

Levels 4 and 5: refinement and perfection<\/h2>\n

Level 4 removes the wheels for a thorough clean, polish and ceramic coating, conditions the engine bay and underbody, and corrects the paint in three to five stages. Deeper scratches that polishing cannot remove are levelled by hand. Level 5 is the signature treatment: the clear coat is evened out, refined and polished in five steps to remove dimpling, salt-and-pepper effects and other defects, using dry and wet sanding and several correction stages to reach a glass-like finish. It removes 15 to 20 micrometres of clear coat, less than 10% of an average paint thickness of up to 260 micrometres. We recommend sealing and\/or paint protection film afterwards.<\/p>\n

What is dimpling?<\/h2>\n

Dimpling, or orange peel, is a distortion in the clear coat that appears when paint is applied in the factory. All cars show it, even new ones, and how much varies by car and by panel. Level 5 is the level that addresses it.<\/p>\n

Choosing a level<\/h2>\n