Comprehensive Guide to Paint Correction for Your Vehicle

Paint correction is worthwhile if you care about your vehicle's exterior and the longevity of its paint job. Though it may appear that paint correction is only necessary after significant paint damage, the truth is that any car may require it.

Everyday situations and debris encounters can degrade the luster and integrity of your car's paint. Remember that your car's clear coat can only do so much to protect the paint.

If your vehicle lacks a paint protective layer, such as a ceramic coating or paint protection film, expect light scratches, swirl marks, and other minor paint imperfections to appear over time.

However, paint correction can remove these vexing paint flaws from your vehicle. If you're tired of your car's exterior appearance and are considering paint correction, this article explains what it entails and answers pertinent questions about the process.

What Is Paint Correction?

The leveling and removal of surface imperfections from a vehicle's clear coat is referred to as paint correction. The procedure entails removing defects, such as fine scratches and water spots, through the necessary stages of machine polishing.

This car detailing procedure is also known as cutting and polishing, buffing, or simply "polishing." None of these terms are incorrect, but paint correction is the industry standard.

How is Paint Correction Done? 

Step 1: Washing

The removal of surface contaminants is the first step toward achieving a brilliant shine through paint correction. Because regular washing does not remove all stains, detailing professionals use a clay bar to remove stubborn contaminants from the vehicle's paint.

This is essential for car paint correction. If the contaminated paint surface is not polished, it may develop scratches or other undesirable effects. After washing, an expert inspects the clear coat of the paint to determine the necessary corrections.

Step 2: Wet Sanding or Surface Leveling

Buffing and polishing aren't always enough to remove flaws from car paint. Wet or colored sanding is used to repair significant paint damage, such as deep scratches.

Surface leveling entails sanding away the top layer of the clear coat with automotive sandpaper. Keep in mind that this step is only required if your paint has damage that necessitates the process.

Step 3: Buffing and Polishing

This step appears simple, but it isn't as simple as grabbing a polisher and working the paint's surface. Before polishing, factors such as clear coat type and imperfection severity are considered.

Each vehicle and each paint correction case may necessitate a unique combination of machine, pad, and polish. Your vehicle would most likely go through several polishing stages for perfect paint correction, the first being an abrasive polish and the last being a fine finish polishing.

Step 4: Paint Sealing and Waxing

After finishing the correction procedures, it's time to apply the paint sealant. Paint sealants protect the clear coat from further scratching by providing additional protection. Some auto detailers use alternative products to mask their poor paint correction abilities at this stage.

Should I Get Paint Correction for My New Vehicle? 

Your new car may have left the factory with a flawless paint job, but many things could have happened between the dealership and your home. Minor scratches or chemical exposure during shipping could be the cause.

As a result, it's a good idea to get paint correction for your new car, especially if you're thinking about paint protection like ceramic coatings or protection films.

How Much Does a Professional Paint Correction Service Cost?

The cost of an expert paint correction service varies greatly, and the charge is primarily determined by the severity of the damage and the number of hours spent on the job. A professional service will typically cost between $200 and $700.

Minor issues may result in a much lower charge. If you want to do it yourself, the cheapest paint correction kit should cost around $100. However, keep in mind that the kit may not include all of the equipment required for advanced paint correction.

Contact Obsessed Detail and Restoration for Your Auto Detailing Needs!

If you're going to invest in the appearance of your car, hiring a professional is essential, and Obsessed Detail and Restoration is here to help. Our detailing professionals are obsessed with delivering high-quality results on interior and exterior vehicle detailing tasks.



We are licensed and certified, and our detailing professionals pay close attention to detail to ensure complete customer satisfaction. Call us right away at 801-708-9059.