Paint Correction

Purchasing a vehicle can be an exciting thing. When you drove off the lot, your car was likely sporting a fresh-looking paint job that gleamed. As your car ages, however, the luster and glossy look of your paint can fade. What you are often left with is a paint job that is full of imperfections and scratches.

No matter how well you care for your vehicle, it can still be exposed to the elements as you drive it. Fortunately, professional paint correction can drastically improve the look of your car's paint job, restoring its beautiful shine.

What is Paint Correction?

Auto paint correction refers to the process of eliminating swirl marks, deep marring, and other paint scratches. While some customers think that paint correction involves painting over the imperfections, it does not. What actually takes place is a specialized form of polishing.

There are multiple stages to car scratch repair treatments. Simple machine polishing can be used if the damage to your paint is minor. On the other hand, more severe defects may require multi-stage car paint correction to achieve optimal results. More involved restorations include two-stage paint corrections and three-stage paint corrections.

Common Types of Paint Defects

There are many types of paint defects that can be corrected through polishing, including spider web swirls, marring, micro marring, buffer trails, holograms, bird droppings, bird drop etchings, water spots, road tar, tree sap, paint scuffs, paint overspray, bugs, paint oxidation, clear coat failure, among others. Let’s go over the main causes of common types of car paint defects.

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Swirl Marks

The most common defects that you might encounter are known as swirl marks or swirl mark marring. Swirl marks are caused by improper wiping of your automobile when washing your car, using a dirty towel, automatic car washes, dirty covers, among other reasons. The reflection of light hitting a slice in your vehicle's paint will reveal the swirl marks as illustrated below.

Acid Etching

Acid etching is similar to a watermark, but it is considered to be a more detrimental stage of corrosion. Acid etching occurs when hard water or acid rain has penetrated the surface of your vehicle's paint. The minerals in the water eat into your paint, and the resulting damage can be more difficult to remove.

Deep Marring

Another type of defect that can be addressed through car paint correction is deep marring. Deep marring is generally caused by improper sanding of your vehicle's paint or washing your car. Random deep marring will have varying patterns and frequency. Deep marring refers to damage that is not deep enough to feel but is deep enough to see.

Deep Scratching

Paint scratches are common in the detailing industry. There are many types of car paint scratches that can be treated with professional paint correction. Paint scratches can be caused by automatic car washes, road debris, accidents, or intentional.

Watermarks

Two more obvious paint defects are watermarks and acid etching. These imperfections are usually relatively large and easy to see. Watermarks occur as a result of hard water or mineral deposits on the outer surface of your paint. They are characterized by rough, circular, or semi-circular shapes.

Buffer Marks

The last type of paint defect that you may encounter is not common, but it is equally frustrating. This defect is referred to as a buffer mark hologram or a buffer trail. Holograms form as the result of poor polishing attempts. They can be caused by improper buffer usage or the use of the wrong pad and polish.

Stages of Paint Correction

There are many different car paint correction treatments available on the market today. These options may be done in one, two, or three stages, with a one-stage correction being the most basic. Deciding which stage will offer the appropriate correction for your vehicle will depend on your paint type and condition.

Stage-One

Stage 1 car paint detailing refers to the process of polishing the paint on your vehicle in a single step. Technicians only use one buffing agent and one pad. This stage is considered to be a refining process that only eliminates the most minor imperfections. Stage 1 paint correction is done with a minimally abrasive finishing pad that will not remove swirl marks.

Stage-Two

The Stage 2 treatment is a good intermediate option. It is suitable for use on vehicles that have minor scratches and moderate swirl marks. The treatment is known as a two-stage process because two different pads and polishes are utilized. The first stage uses a more abrasive pad and a cutting polish that removes the imperfections. After the cutting stage is complete, a smoother polishing pad and finishing polish will be applied to your vehicle. The finishing stage serves to remove holograms and marring that remained after the cutting stage. Like Stage 1, Stage 2 concludes with a wax sealant to protect your newly refinished paint job.

Stage-Three

The most advanced car scratch repair option is a Stage 3 paint correction. The second and third stages of this treatment are the same as those found in a Stage 2 paint correction treatment. However, a heavy cutting agent and a courser pad are used first. These tools are more abrasive than the standard cutting agent and are designed to remove deep scratches and marring. If necessary, three-stage auto paint correction can also include spot wet sanding at the site of deep scratches. If sanding is required, it will be done before any of the polishing stages. After all of the stages are completed, a sealant will be applied to protect the paint.

Benefits of Paint Correction

The most obvious benefit of paint correction is an improved look to your vehicle. A professional paint correction treatment will get rid of nasty imperfections and leave your car looking new. Not only will it remove scratches and marring, but a paint correction can also restore your car's clear coat, which gives your car that perfect shine.

Paint correction can also improve the longevity of your vehicle's paint job. The correction process and wax sealant will extend your factory paint's life and help fight the elements. When good maintenance practices follow up a professional car paint correction, your paint job will last even longer.

Paint Correction vs. Repainting

Despite some common misbeliefs, paint correction is not the same as repainting your vehicle. Repainting involves stripping away old paint and removing rust and corrosion. Repainting covers all painted surfaces in a new coat of paint. Paint correction, in contrast, is a type of advanced polishing treatment.

Alternatives to Paint Correction

When it comes to car scratch repair, there are a few options. Soft waxes are commonly used because they are very budget-friendly and can fill in imperfections. Unfortunately, the results of a soft wax are unlikely to last for very long. Scratch fillers or touch-up pens can also be used, but they often do not match your vehicle's factory paint.

Paint Correction Costs

To accurately determine your paint correction costs, you must consider the correction stage you will need, your vehicle's overall size, and your car's paint type and condition. The more stages that are involved in the correction process, the more expensive the treatment will be. A single-stage correction treatment will typically cost around $400 or more, while three-stage treatments will cost upwards of $1,000.

Protecting Your Car’s Paint

While professional paint correction is an excellent way to restore your car to its former glory, it will not last forever. The wax sealant will wear over time, and your vehicle will again be at the mercy of the weather. Fortunately, you can take some extra steps to keep your vehicle looking great.

One of the best options to protect your vehicle is to apply a ceramic coating. Ceramic coating is made from a clear polymer that bonds with your vehicle's surface at a molecular level. This bond means that the ceramic coating will last for years.

Ceramic coating guards against scratches, chemical etching, extreme heat, UV light, and corrosion. Ceramic coating even makes your vehicle hydrophobic, which means that water will bead off of your vehicle.

DIY vs. Professional Paint Correction

You might think that the costs of a paint correct are due to expensive materials being used. In reality, the polish and pads are relatively affordable. The real thing you are paying for is a professional's expertise, as a high-quality paint correction requires skill and time. A three-stage correction can take a full day or more.

Many drivers make the mistake of attempting a DIY paint correction at home in their garage. However, when a car owner uses the wrong pad or polish, the result can be hundreds of dollars in damages.

Do not risk making your vehicle's paint any worse. Leave paint correction treatments to the professionals at Windows & Wheels. Let us give your vehicle a facelift. We guarantee the best prices around and can even offer a quote 24/7!