About APC Auto Spa

APC Auto Spa was built around a simple idea: vehicle protection should be done thoughtfully, transparently, and with long-term ownership in mind. Since opening our doors in 2015, we've focused on providing protection solutions that make sense for real drivers, not just showroom moments.

Built by people who care how it's done

APC Auto Spa began with GT-Rs. In 2013, Seth was looking for better protection for his Nissan GT-R and couldn't find anyone in Washington offering Ceramic Pro, so he trained to install it himself. Heather also owned a GT-R, which is how the two of them met. By 2015 they had turned it into APC Auto Spa: a place built around doing the work the right way, every time.

An estimated 13,000 services and counting. Certified by multiple manufacturers, including STEK and Ceramic Pro, so we choose the best product for each job instead of one brand's whole catalog.

Why trust Heather

Heather has co-owned and operated APC Auto Spa since 2015 and is fully trained in every service APC offers, including detailing, paint correction, ceramic coatings, paint protection film and window tint. While much of her role today is focused on running APC's two locations, customer education and quality control, she remains fully capable of performing those services herself.

Her product knowledge also extends beyond what APC currently sells. Heather regularly tests products from other manufacturers to compare installation, performance and real-world results. Products and technology change, and she believes staying informed means being willing to test something different, question what you already know and change course when something better comes along.

APC's core values (Be Positive, Work Hard, Stay Humble, Keep Smiling, Dream Big, Be Kind and Be Honest) are Heather's personal values and the principles she built the company around. They also guide the information she reviews here. Staying humble means continuing to learn. Being kind means respecting every customer and every vehicle, whether it's a daily driver or an exotic. And being honest means telling people what their vehicle actually needs, not what's easiest or most profitable to sell.

Heather's goal is simple: explain what these products actually do, be equally clear about what they don't do, and give people enough honest information to decide what's right for their vehicle, even when that answer isn't something APC sells.

Meet Seth

Seth Thomas, Founder and Co-Owner of APC Auto Spa

Seth was a car guy long before there was an APC Auto Spa. For him, cars have never just been something to own. They're something to drive, understand, improve and, whenever possible, race.

In 2013, Seth was looking for a better way to protect his Nissan GT-R when he discovered Ceramic Pro. At the time, he couldn't find anyone in Washington offering the product, so he pursued the training to install it himself. What began with wanting the best protection he could find for his own car led to coating cars for other GT-R owners and a relationship with Ceramic Pro that predated APC itself.

It's also how he met Heather.

By 2015, Seth and Heather had taken what began with a GT-R and turned it into an actual company: APC Auto Spa. Seth's passion for cars and early involvement with Ceramic Pro provided the spark; together, they built the business around it.

Seth's automotive life has always extended far beyond detailing and vehicle protection. He has raced competitively, worked as an HPDE driving coach with ProFormance Racing School, participated in racer licensing with IRDC and coached other competitive drivers. His experience has put him behind the wheel of everything from club-racing cars to Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars and European endurance race cars, on tracks throughout the United States and abroad.

Today, his driveway is a pretty good reflection of his philosophy about cars: drive everything. The GT-R may have started the story, but these days you'll find a Toyota Supra alongside a right-hand-drive Land Cruiser and the rest of a rotating automotive lineup. For Seth, being a car enthusiast has never been about one badge, price point or type of vehicle. If it's interesting to drive, he's interested.

Seth isn't involved in APC's day-to-day operations today. His professional career is in technology, where the same curiosity and tendency to dig into how things work has followed him. He still contributes that technical perspective behind the scenes at APC, while Heather runs the company's daily operations.

But cars, and especially racing, remain the passion. Seth has spent years driving, racing and helping other drivers become faster, more consistent and more capable behind the wheel. The dream is eventually to spend a lot less time behind a desk and enough time behind the wheel to call racing the full-time job.

APC has grown into something much bigger than the idea that started with one GT-R in 2013, but that origin still says a lot about the company Seth and Heather built together: find something you believe in, learn it properly, keep pushing to understand it better, and never lose the love of cars that started the whole thing.

APC was built around a shared belief: protection should never be rushed, outsourced, or oversold. Every service is installed in-house, by trained technicians, using documented processes designed to support long-term ownership, not just a single visit.

As a historical note: APC Auto Spa was formerly a Ceramic Pro Elite Dealer. That program provided certified training, authorized access to upper-tier coating systems, and manufacturer-backed warranty registration during those years, and the installation standards it required became our own.

Today we select materials on measured real-world performance rather than program membership, and we install everything in-house. Our current lineup includes Ceramic Pro coatings, Ceramic IR window tint, and STEK paint protection film - chosen, applied, supported, and stood behind by our own team long after installation.

Our Philosophy

We believe automotive protection works best when customers understand what they're getting and why it matters. That's why our approach prioritizes education, realistic expectations, and honest guidance over quick decisions or one-size-fits-all recommendations.

Every vehicle, owner, and use case is different-and our process reflects that.

How We Work

At APC Auto Spa, protection is never rushed. Each service follows a structured process that emphasizes proper preparation, controlled application, and long-term durability.

From ceramic coatings and paint protection film to window tint and interior protection, our goal is consistency, repeatability, and results that hold up over time. APC doesn't do dent or body repair, but an independent paintless dent repair technician can come to the shop.

One Team, Two Locations

Our Tukwila (Seattle area) and Monroe (Snohomish County) locations operate as one unified team, following the same standards, training, and service philosophy. This allows us to deliver a consistent experience regardless of where your vehicle is serviced.

Why We Choose the Products We Use

We work with professional-grade products that meet strict performance and durability standards. Our selections are based on real-world testing, long-term results, and compatibility with modern vehicles, not trends or marketing claims.

Long-Term Relationships Matter

We don't view protection as a one-time service. Our focus is on building lasting relationships by helping customers maintain and protect their vehicles over years of ownership. Ongoing care, maintenance guidance, and continued support are part of that commitment.

If you'd like help choosing the right protection for your vehicle or want to better understand your options, we're always happy to guide you.