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Car Paint Correction: Everything You Need to Know and Can Do
Paint corrections involve buffers, buffing pads, compounds, polishes, and sometimes sandpaper to remove paint defects. It’s essential to perform a spot-check to test your method. Begin with the least aggressive product combination available whenever performing a paint correction. For example, if a light polish yields the desired results, there is no need to diminish the clear coat thickness by performing a compounding step. Remember, there is a finite amount of clear coat. Its overall thickness is roughly equal to a sheet of paper.
What is paint correction?
Paint corrections remove a small layer of paint to remove scratches, swirl marks, and etchings by polishing. Severe paint blemishes require using a compound to remove them. Removing blemishes that catch a fingernail is not safe as they have likely penetrated through the clear coat into the color coat. Adding a ceramic coating after correcting the paint can help mitigate the loss of paint thickness.
How much does paint correction cost?
A one-stage paint correction for a car will cost roughly $400 for two-stage paint correction with compounding and polishing costs $600. Larger vehicles can cost over $1,000 if a two-stage paint correction is required to remove the paint defects.
How long does paint correction take?
A one-step paint correction on a car takes around eight hours, and a two-step paint correction can require ten or more hours to complete. Larger vehicles can take over fifteen hours to compound and polish the paint.
Does paint correction fix rock chips?
No. A paint correction will likely make the rock chips stand out, especially on dark-colored paint. The only way to fix rock chips is to fill them with touch-up paint. The best approach to dealing with rock chips is to prevent them by adding paint protection film to a car when it’s new.
How long does a paint correction last?
A paint correction will last for a few years with proper care. However, one trip through the automatic car wash with brushes can ruin a paint correction, wasting hours of hard work and hundreds of dollars.
What is soft paint?
Soft paint is easy to scratch, and great care is necessary when washing. Even with proper car care, it’s likely that wash-induced paint marring will occur and will be especially noticeable on black paint. Soft paint is generally associated with Japanese cars, and the hardness of the paint can vary color-to-color.
What is hard paint?
Hard paint is more scratch resistant but requires more aggressive polish and buffing pad combinations to remove paint defects. It’s not uncommon to need to compound and polish hard paint to achieve the desired level of paint correction. Hard paint is typical on German cars, but it can vary depending on the color of the paint.
Is Paint Correction Worth the Cost?
Yes. With proper car care, a paint correction should only be necessary every few years. The time varies depending on how many miles you drive and the elemental exposure. Paint corrections start around $400 for a 1-step polish, removing swirl marks and light to medium scratches. Larger vehicles or multi-step paint corrections can increase the price to more than $1,000.
Brushes at automatic or self-service car washes can ruin the paint’s flawless finish. Remember to factor in additional costs that products may add if they aren’t already in your car-detailing kit.
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