How Paint Correction Works
Paint Correction is a phrase used by professional detailers and car enthusiasts to describe the methods used to restore paint by permanently removing imperfections in the paint. These imperfections include, but are not limited to, swirl marks caused by improper washing techniques, buffer trails/holograms caused by an inexperienced detailer, light-medium scratches, water-spots, nibs, excessive orange-peel, etching from sap or bird droppings, and RIDS (random isolated deep scratches). These imperfections reflect light off in several directions which makes you vehicle’s paint look hazy, dull or oxidized, taking away from the rich, brilliant, luster your paint once had. Paint Correction is a term that should used only if properly executed to permanently remove these imperfections, and not simply filled using a type of glaze or polish that uses fillers.
The paint on most vehicles is very thin (about the size of two Post-It notes) so proper technique is vital. This technique involves a multiple stage process of meticulously taking off layers of paint, that are microns of an inch thick, until the surface of your paint is leveled and provides uniform reflection. Prior to any level of paint correction, an intensive wash and decontamination must take place. All surfaces must be properly washed to remove all dirt and debris. After the wash is completed, the vehicles paint, depending on the severity of the contaminants, will then be decontaminated using a professional clay bar, clay mitt, or, in severe cases, a chemical decontamination wash. This process removes things such as tar, rail dust, over-spray, harsh chemicals, and industrial fall-out, which have bonded to the surface of your clear coat.
Once the paint has been thoroughly decontaminated, you can fully inspect the vehicle and evaluate it to see what level of correction is needed. The level of correction needed dictates which polish and pad combination will be used to achieve optimum results.. There are several grades of polish ranging anywhere from a fine polish with no abrasives, to give already corrected paint a deep, brilliant shine, to a cutting compound with heavy abrasives, to slowly work down the paint to permanently remove scratches. There are many types of pads, as well, and they range in a similar fashion as polishes. Cutting, polishing, and finishing pads are the most common ones used, though there are hundreds of different variations and types.
After the vehicle has been evaluated and the pad/polish combination has been chosen, it is time to start the correction. This is often times a multiple stage process which can take several hours or even days, depending on the severity of the paint imperfections. In worst case scenarios a heavy cutting compound and pad accompanied by a dual action polisher, which rotates and oscillates simultaneously leaving the paints surface flat and even, would be needed. This stage is where most of the correction takes place. Microns of an inch of paint are slowly and gently shaved away to permanently remove scratches and imperfections. This must be done meticulously and evenly to avoid adding defects to the paint, such as buffer trails or marring. The next stage in the correction process is the polishing stage. In the polishing stage, a polish with light abrasives alongside a medium cut polishing pad is generally used, This will remove light scratches, dullness, or micro-marring left over from the compounding stage, resulting in a deep, brilliant shine to the paint that will give off a mirror-like reflection in direct sunlight. This is then followed up with a finish polish stage, using a non-abrasive polish and a finishing pad, to make the paint flawless and give it the deepest, most reflective, pristine shine possible.
Once the vehicle has been fully corrected, the desired type of protection is applied. These options are wax, a sealant, or a ceramic coating. A wax will provide a deep shine but doesn’t have much longevity, a good wax lasting six weeks. Sealants provide longer lasting protection, six months to a year, but do not provide much of a shine. Ceramic Coatings are the best of both worlds but better. Ceramic coatings provide more luster and depth than wax and are much more durable. They have been designed using nano-technology to create a bond with your paint that can only be removed with abrasion (buffing or sanding) , and generally last two to five years.