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All about paint Correction
Before Paint Correction
Spider webbing effects and micro marring are clearly visible on this BMW
After Paint Correction
Paint defects were removed after compounding and polishing this BMW
What is Paint Correction?
Paint Correction:
Paint correction is the process of removing automotive defects via the process of clear coat removal. Many techniques are used in paint correction such as buffing, polishing, and wet sanding. The most common method of paint correction is done through machine polishing with foam, wool, or microfiber pads in conjunction with a compound formula, polishing, and finishing formulas. Paint correction is a service generally provided by automotive detailers and body shops. Filling in paint chips is usually provided as an option as well.
Paint correction is achieved by a combination of mechanical and/or chemical abrasion.
The problem
Why does your paint look like this?
There are a large number of reasons your paint could be showing spider webbing, light scratches, micro marring, and other inconsistencies. Some of these are:
- Using tunnel washes that are not touchless
- Overly aggressive washing and drying or spot cleaning with improper products
- Leaning or rubbing against your vehicle with your pants, gear, and other objects
- Aggressive snow removal habits
- The many hands your vehicle goes through between the factory and the dealership lot
- An overly aggressive decontamination process performed after having your vehicle
shipped.
- Incorrect compounding or polishing
Many new vehicles are being sold with paint defects similar to this straight off the dealers' lot. If you happen to be car shopping or about to purchase a vehicle on a cloudy day, having an L.E.D. headlamp or flashlight can greatly help you see if swirls or other imperfections are in the paint. With many older vehicles being kept longer, paint correction is an invaluable option for original auto paint restoration.
Before Paint Correction, this BMW’s rear door had seen some things to say the least!
The Solution
How do you keep your car looking great?
We all want our vehicles to look great! While it sounds and should be easy, it is anything but that when you factor in our busy lives and varied range, knowledge, and habits for auto care. Once you decide to get your vehicle looking its best with one of Mobile Cleans’ signature Paint Correction or Paint Enhancement services you’ll find it is definitely possible to get your vehicle to this level and keep it there with a little extra knowledge and some professional support. Not only do you get your vehicle looking great, but you are also given information on how to take care of and keep your vehicle looking its best!
While making your vehicle look great is what Mobile Clean does, you as our client are armed with additional knowledge and other resources to keep your vehicle in great shape. After all, how to keep your vehicle looking its best shouldn’t be a secret!
We now offer auto-care training for you, whether it’s caring for your ceramic coating with maintenance wash training, product recommendations or sales, tips and tricks for DIY auto enthusiasts groups, and more!
Even though paint correction done right can take multiple days there is no need to be away from your vehicle this long. With service offered at our clients' residences, warehouses, and places of business you never have to worry about picking up or dropping off your vehicle! Better yet, want to keep your paint-corrected vehicle looking even better for years down the road? Opt to have a ceramic coating installed immediately afterward.
This BMW was given an in-depth paint correction and then protected with a ceramic coating.
Is paint correction worth it?
What are the costs?
If you care about the appearance and longevity of your vehicle's exterior, paint correction is definitely worth it. The question you really have to ask yourself is what does lack of your vehicle's exterior cost? Re-sale value, how everyone that works on and has access to your vehicle views it, how you feel, and much more initially based on how your vehicle looks (How well it's cared for). Looks are everything? Maybe not, but they count for a lot! Having a great-looking vehicle is not a one-time deal, it’s a lifestyle.
So what is the price tag for paint correcting a vehicle? This varies widely. However based on experience in the detailing industry, the cheaper the service is the more dangerous the service. A good professional paint correction service is expensive.
There are quite a few services that say paint correction or polishing and are priced around $200 - $500, this should signal a buyer beware for two reasons:
1- Low prices can be a sign of less experience or the level of commitment
2- Low prices can be a tell-tale of saving time by cutting corners on the process,
equipment, products, or all three.
Paint correction generally is around the $1,000 range. Why??
Even though the actual costs of perishable products used to paint correct a vehicle are not extremely pricey… Example:
Compounding, polishing & finishing pads are $8-$42 per pad, one role of automotive Masking tape is $4-14, and Compound, Polish, and finish $20-80 per bottle (these usually last multiple vehicles) Once the equipment such as polishers, good lighting, a paint thickness gauge, training, and other supplies are paid for, the costs per job are not extreme. The majority of the cost is actually time. This is something that can vary slightly based on the type of products, and equipment used. However it still takes lots of time, and patience to properly and safely paint correct (clean, decontaminate, prep, compound, polish, and finish) the paint on any given vehicle. Trying to rush or force this process can lead to permanent damage to your paint and produces short-term results for the areas that look good.
So what is this time consuming process?
Let’s start with the preparation process.
First, your vehicle is decontaminated… this includes a thorough cleaning by washing the exterior. Rims, tires, glass, paint, everything is hand cleaned.
Afterward, the mechanical decontamination process is performed. This is done using automotive clay bars, synthetic clay, clay towels, or a combination of these depending on your vehicle's needs. Now the chemical decontamination process can be done, Iron remover is used to remove iron contaminates from your paint's pores (which clay is unable to reach). After bringing out the iron, rinsing, and drying you can start tapping off the rubber and plastic trim as well as any other areas that need masking to keep the polisher or compound from damaging the surface.
Wait!! Don’t forget to get your digital paint thickness gauge and measure the depth on multiple points around the vehicle. Is it safe to proceed? You want to know how much paint / clear coat you have to work with before you start.
Now you can do a small test area (each vehicle's paint characteristics are slightly different). Now that you’ve done a test area you can adjust to the pad type and compound or polish that works best.
Check your work throughout, again and again using lighting at different angles. (The sun shows everything). You’re looking for holograms, paint that has different shades, hazes, residue from products used, overlooked areas, and more. The process done correctly is definitely not for the faint of heart.
Now that you know the steps, you're ready to go!!
Really though, while this process results in great satisfaction and great smiles from our clients, we value working with you and sharing our experience to get and keep your vehicle looking awesome!
Thank you for checking out this page and we hope it’s useful in your journey of choosing a service to detail or restore your vehicle's paint!
Learn More
The start to your vehicles transformation is just minutes away! Click the Get Estimate button below to get and save your personal estimate or even schedule! Want to adjust your package? Reach out and we’ll make it happen.