Paint correction, or paint polishing, is the process of removing defects, such as scratches, swirls, and haze from the paint with either random orbital or rotary machine polishers. Paint correction can turn an abandoned or trashed paint job into a stunning, show car finish. By evenly removing a very thin layer of paint, we can effectively remove surface defects, revealing a pristine layer of untouched paint underneath. While this method is the ideal solution for restoring a factory finish, it’s important to know that every paint job has a lifespan, and care must be taken to ensure that clear coat burn through does not occur. Most cars have a paint thickness of 4 to 7 mils, which is about as thick as a dollar bill. Our job is to remove ONLY what’s necessary to achieve a satisfactory result and no more.

Nearly every vehicle on the road has some form of paint damage. Some are still in decent condition, and have full gloss with minimal swirling. These are usually newer or well cared for vehicles. Other cars might have a glossy finish, but have an atrocious amount of swirling due to improper washing, usually in the form of tunnel car washes. These cars have extremely noticeable circular swirls when you look at the paint from any light source. And some cars, whether through lack of protection or old age, have an extremely dulled finish, which changes and deadens the original paint color. Some people may think the paint is a total loss and requires a whole new paint job. This is usually not the case. The power of paint correction can bring new life back to your ride. By removing the old, dead surface paint, we can reveal the original, shiny, beautiful paint underneath.

A pristine paint finish not only looks amazing, but also saves you money by not requiring a new paint job, and provides much higher resale value, especially for collector cars or any vehicle sought after by an enthusiast looking for their next pride and joy. Remember, perfectly shiny paint holds MUCH more appeal and value than old, dead, scratched paint, and also sends a message to a prospective buyer about how much the previous owner cared for the vehicle. Lastly, for enthusiasts like myself who love their vehicles, having a shiny, swirl-free finish simply maximizes the enjoyment of car ownership. Our love for driving is enhanced knowing our pride and joys look and feel their best.

Think of an archaeologist. How do they perform their work? Very, very carefully and slowly. Their job is not simply removing artifacts from the Earth, but preserving them. They use the smallest of brushes and tools to delicately clean the dirt away, while ensuring the artifact is undamaged. Is there a faster way to dig it up? Sure. Anyone can come in with a backhoe and remove it in two seconds. They got the artifact out, but destroyed it in the process.

This is the mindset we employ with our polishing. Instead of hammering down and removing eight of the nine lives of clear coat, our job is to carefully and purposefully remove only one life, keeping longevity and preservation of the original paint in mind.

Safety is our top priority and steps are taken to ensure no damage is incurred during the process. A paint depth gauge is used beforehand to verify there is enough paint on the vehicle to polish. Scratches that are deemed “too deep” may not be fully removed in the interest of preserving the integrity of the clear coat.