Auto Detailing, Paint Protection Film and Tint for Gresham Drivers

Gresham auto detailing and paint protection, done in-house

Custom Details is an in-house auto detailing, paint protection film, ceramic coating and window tinting shop at 3433 SW Multnomah Blvd in Multnomah Village, on the southwest side of Portland. Gresham is on the opposite side of the metro, about 30 to 35 minutes away outside rush hour, and we know that is a real drive. Gresham drivers make it because the combination of east wind grit, winter sanding and Mt. Hood trips is harder on a vehicle than almost anywhere else in the area, and because we offer pick-up and drop-off so the trip is optional.

Here is what east county driving does to paint and glass, which of our services fixes it, which ones prevent it, and how to get here from Gresham.

East wind, gravel and Mt. Hood trips

Gresham sits at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. When the east wind blows through Troutdale and across Gresham in winter, it carries fine grit from the Gorge and the Sandy River bottoms that scours paint the same way a dry wipe with a dirty towel does. The same wind delivers the ice storms that shut down I-84 and Powell every couple of years, and after each one ODOT and the county spread sand and de-icer that ends up on your lower doors and rocker panels for weeks.

Then there is the mountain. Gresham is where the Mt. Hood Highway starts, and if you ski, hike or camp, your car sees cinder, sand and magnesium chloride from Sandy to Government Camp every trip. Cinder chips paint; magnesium chloride creeps into seams and corrodes bare metal if it is not washed out. Add heavy truck traffic on I-84, 181st and Burnside, and it is not unusual for a Gresham daily driver to need both a serious detail and real protection before its second winter.

Detailing packages that undo a Gresham winter

For a car coming off a winter of Gorge grit and mountain trips, start with the full detailing packages. The Full Detail from $399 includes a two bucket hand wash, paint decontamination, tire and trim dressing and a full interior, and takes five to six hours. The Full Detail plus Polish from $599 adds single stage paint polishing to remove the fine scratches the east wind leaves behind, and takes seven to eight hours. The Basic Detail from $199 is the right choice for a maintenance visit. Trucks and SUVs add $79.

If you only need one side of the vehicle handled, the exterior and interior detailing page lists a hand wash from $89, an exterior detail with polish from $499, engine bay detailing from $50, a basic interior from $139 and a full interior detail from $259. Engine bay work is popular after mountain season because road salt substitutes collect on everything under the hood; our post on what gets cleaned in an engine bay detail explains the process.

Protection before the next season

Paint protection film for cinder and gravel

The only product that stops chips from cinder and gravel is Global Films paint protection film, a self-healing TPU backed by a 10 year manufacturer warranty against bubbling, cracking and yellowing. Full front coverage (bumper, hood, fenders, headlights, mirrors and door cups) takes one to two days and is what we recommend for anyone who drives US-26 to the mountain or I-84 through the Gorge. Full body coverage takes four to five days. Pricing is quoted per vehicle; matte film starts at $2,599 for a full front.

Feynlab ceramic coating for grit and de-icer

A Feynlab ceramic coating gives the paint a hard, slick surface that wind-blown grit slides across instead of grinding into, and it keeps magnesium chloride and road film from bonding so both rinse off with a hand wash. The 1 year, V3 (3 year), Plus (5 year) and Matte (about 3 year) tiers all start with paint correction. Ask for a quote based on vehicle size and paint condition.

Window tint for east county sun

Gresham gets more clear summer days than the west side, and the low sun coming down the Gorge in the morning is straight in your eyes on I-84 westbound. Our Global window tinting starts at $99 for a windshield strip, $159 for the front two windows matched to the rear glass, $229 for a full windshield and $279 for a full surround. Ceramic IR film, which rejects about 70 percent of infrared heat, is $159, $259, $325 and $599. All installs follow Oregon law: 35 percent light transmittance on the front side windows and non-reflective film only on the top six inches of the windshield.

Getting here from Gresham

From Historic Downtown Gresham, Rockwood or Gresham Station, take I-84 west (the Banfield) to I-5 south, then exit 296B for SW Multnomah Boulevard. The shop is at 3433 SW Multnomah Blvd, a few blocks into Multnomah Village. From Pleasant Valley or the Powell Valley side of town, Powell Boulevard (US-26) west across the Ross Island Bridge to I-5 south is a similar time. Plan on about 30 to 35 minutes outside rush hour; the Banfield between 7 and 9 am adds twenty minutes or more.

Pick-up and drop-off for Gresham

Because the drive is longer from Gresham, most of our east county customers use pick-up and drop-off. We collect the vehicle from your home or work in Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview or Wood Village, complete the detailing, coating, film or tint work at our shop, and bring it back. Detail packages are same day; film and coating work takes one to five days. Keeping multiple vehicles, an exotic, or a special car that rarely leaves the garage? Select high-end vehicles, exotics, and collector cars may qualify for white glove service at your location.

We also serve drivers from Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro and Vancouver, WA.

Gresham frequently asked questions

How far is Custom Details from Gresham?

About 30 to 35 minutes outside rush hour. Take I-84 west to I-5 south and exit 296B for SW Multnomah Boulevard, or Powell Boulevard (US-26) across the Ross Island Bridge to I-5 south. The shop is at 3433 SW Multnomah Blvd in Multnomah Village.

What does the Columbia Gorge east wind do to my paint?

The wind carries fine grit that scratches paint the way a dry wipe with a dirty cloth does, leaving a haze of fine marks that dulls the finish. A polish removes the marks that are already there, and a ceramic coating gives the paint a harder, slicker surface that grit slides across rather than grinding into.

Which detail package makes sense after a winter of Mt. Hood trips?

The Full Detail plus Polish from $599. It includes a two bucket hand wash, paint decontamination, single stage polishing to remove fine scratches, and a full interior detail. If the paint is in good shape, the Full Detail from $399 covers the wash, decontamination and interior without the polish. Both take most of a day.

Do you pick up vehicles in Gresham?

Yes. Pick-up and drop-off is available throughout Gresham and the neighboring cities of Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village. Ask for it when you book and we will schedule the transport around your day.

To book from Gresham, call (971) 400-1406 or send the quick quote form with your vehicle, what it needs and whether you want pick-up. We reply with pricing and the next available day.