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Achieving a high-gloss, swirl-free, and crystal-clear finish on your car's paint requires a combination of the right techniques, products, and patience.
The goal of paint correction is to eliminate swirls and imperfections, allowing your car’s paint to shine. Depending on your preferences, we can aim to remove between 65% and 90% of the imperfections from the paint. This is typically achieved through an intensive 2-step correction process involving cutting and polishing to maximize gloss and clarity.
However, some scratches or imperfections may be too deep to fully remove. This could be due to the depth of the scratch, the nature of the imperfection, or simply the risk of damaging the paint if we polish too aggressively, especially on areas with a thin clear coat.
As part of the process, we make careful judgments about what can be safely corrected. It’s not just about removing as many imperfections as possible, but also knowing when to stop to preserve the integrity of the paint and maintain its overall health.
The time we spend polishing your car can vary significantly, ranging from 5 hours for a more basic correction to 20 hours for a comprehensive, high-level correction. Ultimately, the amount of time spent depends on the results you want to achieve.
Even New Vehicles Need Paint Correction
Even if your car is only a few months old, it may still require a 2-step paint correction. While it’s fresh off the lot, your vehicle has already been through a lot — transported, handled by various people, washed, stored, and moved between locations.
Throughout this process, imperfections like swirl marks, light scratches, and hazing can develop. It’s not uncommon for new cars, regardless of make or model, to leave the dealership with these flaws.
Paint correction is an investment in maintaining the vehicle's appearance. After the service, proper maintenance is key to keeping your paint looking great. If you don’t wash and dry your car carefully, you can undo all the correction work and reintroduce swirls and scratches in just a few washes.
This is a detailed and time-consuming service. Depending on the condition of your vehicle's paint and the level of correction needed, the process can take anywhere from 8 to 15 hours to complete.
The Paint Correction Process
1. Clean Wheels, Tires, & Fenders
We start by thoroughly cleaning the wheel faces, wheel barrels, tires, and inner fender liners to ensure every inch of your vehicle is spotless.
2. Gentle Foam Hand Wash
Your vehicle is treated to a thick layer of foam for a gentle hand wash. During this process, we also clean the jambs, gas cap, and carefully remove any bugs from the paint.
3. Chemically Remove Iron Particles
To ensure a perfectly clean surface, we perform a chemical decontamination to remove iron particles from your paint, ensuring no contaminants are left behind.
4. Clay Bar Treatment
Next, we use a clay bar treatment to remove any remaining embedded dirt or debris. After this step, your paint will feel incredibly smooth and ready for polishing.
5. Tape Off Sensitive Areas
To prevent any polish buildup or staining, we carefully tape off and protect trim, chrome, and other sensitive areas of your vehicle.
6A. Step 1: Compound Phase (Correction)
We begin the paint correction process by safely removing the majority of swirls and scratches from your vehicle’s surface using a machine polisher, cutting disc, and compound. This phase restores clarity and shine to your paint.
6B. Step 2: Polishing Phase (Polish)
We enhance the shine and clarity by polishing away the micro-scratches left behind from the compound phase, giving your paint a refined, smooth finish.
7. Paint Wipe Down
To inspect the true condition of your paint, we wipe it down, removing any leftover polish residue that might be hiding imperfections, ensuring a clean and accurate surface.
8. Apply Paint Protection
Depending on your chosen protection option, we apply a wax, sealant, or a durable ceramic coating to shield your paint and enhance its longevity.
9. Dress Tires, Plastic & Trim
For a complete and polished look, we dress all exterior plastic and trim, including tires, fenders, and moldings, giving them a rich, even black finish—without any greasy residue.
10. Clean Exterior Windows & Mirrors
We finish off the exterior by cleaning all windows and mirrors, leaving them streak-free for crystal-clear visibility.
11. Final Touch-Ups
A final inspection is performed to ensure every exterior surface meets our high standards. Any areas that need attention are touched up to ensure your vehicle looks flawless.
Paint Correction Pricing
The cost of paint correction varies based on the size, condition, and type of clear coat on your vehicle. Below are general price estimates. For a more accurate quote, please contact us directly.
Small
Mustang, Malibu
$550 – $750
Medium
F150, Explorer
$650– $900
Large
Large Truck, Large SUV
$850 – $1,100
Paint Correction FAQ
Do you offer ceramic coatings?
Yes, we do! Ceramic coatings are an excellent way to protect your paint from the elements and keep it looking new longer. You can learn more about our ceramic coatings . If you prefer, we also offer traditional wax or sealant options at no additional charge.
How long do the results last?
Once the paint correction is complete, the next step is maintenance. Think of it like training a dog—you don’t just teach them once and expect them to remember forever. Similarly, to keep your paint in pristine condition, you need to routinely wash and dry your vehicle correctly. Without proper care, those swirls and imperfections will return, and you'll be back to square one.
Where are you located?
We offer mobile detailing services, so we can come directly to you! However, due to the time and attention to detail required for some of our services, we typically perform paint correction and more extensive detailing either at your residence or at our shop. We’ll work with you to find the most convenient location, ensuring we have everything we need to deliver the best results possible.
What tools and products do you use?
We use a variety of high-quality machines, pads, polishes, compounds, cleaners, towels, and lights, tailored to your vehicle’s specific needs. Each car is different, and we adapt our tools and techniques to achieve the best possible results.
What’s the difference between a wax and paint correction?
Waxing does not remove swirls or scratches. It simply covers light imperfections and provides a layer of protection to your paint. The process takes just a few hours. In contrast, paint correction actually removes swirls, scratches, and imperfections, restoring the clarity and depth of your paint. This process is more labor-intensive and can take anywhere from one to two full days, depending on the size, condition, and desired results.
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