We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to car paint correction. Read more about what car paint correction is, why you need it, and how you can get it done.
Is your car in need of some TLC?
Car paint correction is a process that removes scratches and swirls from the surface of your car’s paint. You can do this by hand or with machine, depending on the severity of the damage.
The process will make it look newer, shinier, and more vibrant than ever before. Plus you’ll get all these benefits for years to come because this procedure actually helps protect against future damage too!
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know in this guide to car paint correction.
What Is Car Paint Correction?
Car paint correction is a process that polishes and refines the surface of your car’s paint, removing scratches and swirls. You can do this by hand or with a machine depending on how damaged it is. But it basically gives your vehicle a special coating.
The goal of the process is to make scratches less visible and restore gloss levels to like-new quality. It involves working on the front and rear of the car, as well as the sides. This is one of the best ways to get more life out of your car and to protect your investment.
The longer you let paint damage go untreated, the more difficult it is to correct. Luckily this process is not very difficult so it might be best to try your hand at it yourself rather than spending money on a professional detailer or mechanic if possible.
For example, if your car has a scratch on the bumper and you don’t know how it got there, this process will work great to fix that. You can also use paint correction on faded or oxidized paint by restoring the color and shine to like-new quality.
Why You Need Car Paint Correction
Paint damage is a car’s most common type of damage.
It can happen in the form of rock chips, bird droppings, acid rain spots, and scratches from other objects. The paint gets a little damaged each time but it’s not noticeable because that’s what you expect from normal wear-and-tear.
The damage starts to become very noticeable when it builds up over time. When you combine all the small nicks and scratches together, they form a larger scratch that is highly visible. This can make your car look older than it actually is, which can potentially reduce its resale value.
Machine-created swirls can also make your paint look older than it is. Swirls are fine scratches that form when the paint gets hit by something. They make the surface of your car’s paint look bumpy and uneven because there are many different angles.
This makes the paint look like it has a bad finish, which drives people to want to repaint your car.
Car paint correction is your best option for restoring the look of your vehicle’s paint. Not only will it make them look like they aren’t damaged but it can help prevent future rock chips and scratches from happening as well.
How To Do Car Paint Correction
Car paint correction generally involves polishing and refining the surface of the paint to remove scratches and swirls. The goal is to make your paint look like it wasn’t damaged at all. There are two different ways you can do the correction, depending on how bad the damage is:
- Using a machine polisher or orbital buffer with an appropriate compound/polish
- Doing it by hand with a combination of microfiber towels and rubbing compound
Learn more about each method in greater detail below.
Machine Polishing vs. Hand Polishing
If your car paint has swirls or other paint defects, machine polishing is definitely the way to go. A machine polisher will work much faster and more efficiently than doing it by hand.
In fact, you might not even have to remove your car’s paint to do a truly thorough job of polishing. You can often get away just by using a combination of wax and an orbital buffer.
A machine cannot buff out scratches though, as they are too deep. The only way you can get rid of scratches is by doing it by hand, which can take much longer than using a machine polisher.
This is why many people recommend just having your car professionally detailed rather than trying to remove the paint yourself. If you do decide to do it yourself, be aware that it will take many hours of work.
Machine polishing is usually much faster than hand polishing so you can get the job done in maybe a day or two depending on how bad your car’s paint is. Hand polishing could take weeks for just one small area of your car.
Should I Hire a Professional?
It comes down to how much money you have and how skilled at detailing you are.
Hiring a professional can be expensive so it’s only recommended if your car has severe paint defects or other damage that requires immediate attention. If the paint damage is just something small, then it might be best to do it yourself.
But there are tons of benefits to hiring professionals. They have the experience needed to do a great job without damaging your car’s paint. Beyond that, they have the tools required for a job well done.
Professional detailers can also make use of methods that aren’t available to the average person. For example, using paint decontamination tools or waxes/sealants with special ingredients that are not made available to the general public.
Most car detailing professionals will also know what to look out for so they don’t over-polish your paint. Excessive polishing can cause damage, which is why you should always have it done by a professional unless you are extremely skilled at detailing yourself.
Get Started With Car Paint Correction Today
Car paint correction is a vital step in getting the most out of your vehicle’s paint. Without proper care, your car’s paint job can get worse over time from debris on the road or from it being outside.
If you have taken all of these steps for car paint correction, then congratulations! You now know how to rejuvenate the appearance of your car’s paint.
And when you’re ready to call some professionals, give us a call at CoaterZ!
