Paint Correction

What is Paint Correction?

Paint correction is the skilled core of detailing. Under direct sun or an inspection light, most cars show a spider-web of fine circular scratches — swirl marks inflicted by automatic brush washes, dirty sponges and dry wiping. These scratches scatter light, which is why dark cars look dull and grey rather than deep and reflective. Correction removes them by levelling a few microns of clear coat with an abrasive compound and a rotary or dual-action machine polisher, then refining the finish with progressively finer polishes until the surface is optically flat. A single-stage correction removes perhaps 60–80% of defects and suits most cars; a two- or three-stage correction chases near-perfection and is reserved for show cars and high-end paint. Because clear coat is finite — typically 40–60 microns, of which correction consumes 2–5 — a competent studio measures thickness with a paint depth gauge before starting and will refuse to correct panels already thin from previous work.

How Paint Correction Works

1. 1Decontamination wash, clay bar and iron removal
2. 2Paint depth gauge readings across every panel
3. 3Test spot to determine the least aggressive effective combination
4. 4Compounding stage to level defects
5. 5Refining polish stages to remove haze and restore gloss
6. 6IPA panel wipe and inspection under multiple light sources

Key Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions