Should I choose Gtechniq C4 or Solution Finish?

C4 restores and protects the trim's existing color, including black or gray trim. Solution Finish Black adds pigment when badly faded black plastic needs stronger color recovery.

Can Over The Top be applied on the same day as Solution Finish?

Yes. Once Solution Finish is fully dry and evenly buffed, Over The Top can be applied during the same appointment. The final treatment must remain dry for at least 12 hours.

Can exterior trim restoration be added to an interior-only detail?

No. Trim restoration is an exterior service and is available as a standalone appointment or with a package that includes exterior washing and preparation.

Will exterior trim restoration repair damaged plastic?

No. Restoration can improve faded plastic, but it cannot repair cracks, gouges, missing texture, or physically deteriorated material.

Restoration science, not a dressing

Faded trim tells us what it needs

Oxidation, lost pigment, old silicone, and damaged plastic do not respond to the same treatment. We inspect the surface first, then choose the system that gives it the best chance at a durable recovery.

Build my trim service See how we diagnose it

Surface assessmentColor. Porosity. Contamination.

01 Original color
02 Oxidation depth
03 Previous products

Diagnosis before product

We read the plastic before we touch it

A gray bumper that has faded lighter may need its original tone restored. Black cladding that has gone chalky may need pigment put back into the surface. Covering both with the same glossy dressing is quick. It is not restoration.

We look for uneven UV damage, trapped wax, silicone residue, physical deterioration, and previous coatings. Those details decide whether C4 can bond cleanly or whether Solution Finish is the better route for color recovery.

The product follows the diagnosis. We do not force every vehicle into the treatment we happen to prefer.

Clean Getaway trim labWhat does this surface need?

Recommended path

Gtechniq C4

Optically clear restoration for black or gray trim. The original color stays the target.

Two systems we trust

Different chemistry. Different jobs.

Both treatments can produce a dramatic result. The difference is what the plastic needs from us.

Preserve and protect

Gtechniq C4 Ceramic Trim Restoration

C4 bonds to properly prepared exterior trim and leaves an optically clear ceramic film. That matters on gray plastic. We can restore depth without turning the material black or hiding its original tone.

Where C4 shines

We have used it on extremely faded trim with excellent results, especially gray surfaces. It also makes sense on newer trim when the goal is to resist UV exposure and slow future fading.

How we give it the best chance

Old dressings and silicone interfere with bonding. We clean until the surface is free of residue, confirm it is completely dry, apply C4 evenly, and protect it from water during the 12-hour cure.

Color Clear over black or grayExpected life Up to two yearsCure Keep dry 12 hours

Put black back

Solution Finish Black Trim Restoration

Solution Finish is pigment-rich. It penetrates faded black exterior plastic and restores depth without leaving the greasy, artificial shine associated with temporary dressings.

Where Solution Finish shines

We reach for it when UV exposure has washed black plastic toward charcoal or pale gray and the surface needs more than a clear coating. Clean Getaway currently offers the system in black only.

How we give it the best chance

We remove oxidation and incompatible residue, work in controlled sections, allow the product to penetrate, then buff until the color is even and the surface is dry. Over The Top can then be applied during the same appointment.

Color Black exterior trimExpected life Roughly 8 to 12 monthsUpgrade Same-day OTT sealer

The finishing layer for Solution Finish

Seal the recovery

Solution Finish puts the color back. Over The Top is the compatible clear sealer that helps keep it there.

Once the restored surface is dry and evenly buffed, we apply OTT as a flexible protective layer. It adds UV and weather resistance without leaving the artificial wet look of a trim dressing.

Finish Clear and natural-lookingBuild Up to three controlled coatsTiming 30 minutes between coatsFinal cure Keep dry for 12 hours

Same-day Solution Finish upgradeFrom $79

The result starts before the bottle opens

Prep is the restoration

A premium product cannot bond through years of dressing, wax residue, and road contamination. The work before application determines whether the finish looks even and whether it stays that way.

Identify.
We confirm the material, original color, and areas that should not be treated.
Strip the interference.
Old dressings and contamination come off without attacking nearby paint or fabric.
Restore deliberately.
Thin, controlled application lets us build an even result instead of flooding the surface.
Inspect and cure.
We check the finish in changing light, remove excess, and protect the treatment from water.

Longevity without fairy tales

Care changes the calendar

No responsible detailer can promise an exact date when a restoration will fade. Sun exposure, storage, washing chemistry, plastic condition, and application quality all change the outcome.

8 to 12 monthsSolution Finish baseline

When we follow the application process carefully, this is a reasonable expectation rather than a warranty.

Longer with protectionSolution Finish + OTT

Garaging, reduced UV exposure, gentle maintenance, and Over The Top can stretch the useful life well beyond the normal window.

Up to two yearsGtechniq C4

Protected, garaged vehicles may retain the improvement longer. Condition and care still control the real result.

Now the numbers make sense

Trim restoration pricing

Standalone pricing includes the cleaning and preparation needed for the treatment. Add-on pricing applies when an exterior wash or detail already handles part of that setup.

Solution Finish Black
Vehicle	Standalone	With exterior service
Sedan/Coupe	$199	$149
Truck/SUV	$249	$199
XL/heavy cladding	$299	$249

Gtechniq C4
Vehicle	Standalone	With exterior service
Sedan/Coupe	$249	$224
Truck/SUV	$299	$274
XL/heavy cladding	$349	$324

Over The Top sealer for Solution Finish
Vehicle	Same-day upgrade	Purpose
Sedan/Coupe	$79	Locks in the restored appearance
Truck/SUV	$89	Added UV and weather protection
XL/heavy cladding	$99	More product for larger trim coverage

Why OTT instead of C4 over Solution Finish: Over The Top was developed for the Solution Finish system. C4 needs clean, uncontaminated trim for proper bonding, so we do not stack the two restoration systems.

Prices are starting points for trim in average condition. Heavy contamination, old dressings, previous coatings, or unusually extensive cladding may require an adjusted quote after inspection.

Straight answers

Limits and aftercare

01System choiceShould I choose C4 or Solution Finish?

02TimingCan Over The Top be applied the same day?

03EligibilityCan this be added to an interior-only detail?

04LimitsWill restoration repair damaged plastic?

Plan for a dry cure: Avoid rain, washing, sprinklers, or other water exposure for at least 12 hours. A garage or carport is safer than a loose cover touching freshly treated trim.

Let the surface make the decision

Build your trim service

Compare both treatments, see the size-based price, and reserve a time with no deposit.

Open the estimator