by If you want your vehicle to look as good as it did when it came out of the dealership, then you need to perform regular maintenance including washing, waxing and ceramic coatings. However, time and driving habits will cause your vehicle to lose its luster and dull the paint. This is when paint correction is needed.
Paint Correction is a process that removes scratches, swirl marks, and scuffs from your clear coat to restore the vehicle’s appearance and shine. The results of this are amazing and can give your vehicle a showroom shine. The process is a bit complex and time consuming and requires a high level of expertise. That’s where a professional comes in. However, if you’re an experienced do-it-yourselfer and have the time, there are products that can be used. These can be purchased in store or online. We recommend Torque Detail’s Reverse: Car Scratch Remover – it’s an all in one product that removes light scratches, scuffs, water spots, chemical etchings, baked-on brake dust and oxidation. It can also be used to prep the surface for paint protection film or a ceramic coating installation job.
It’s important to remember that there isn’t a wrong or right time to perform paint correction. However, there are a few common times that it is necessary. It’s most often done when your vehicle has lost its luster. This can be caused by scratches and marring to the clear coat, which causes the light to refract rather than reflect off of it. This can also happen if you’ve recently washed your vehicle and haven’t properly dried it, leaving water spots behind.
Before any paint correction is performed, it’s a good idea to start with a quality wash, using the two bucket method and a clean microfiber mitt. Once the vehicle is clean, a clay bar should be applied with lubricant and removed to help remove any dirt or debris that has been deposited in the pores of the clear-coat. This step is vital, as it will help to eliminate any impurities that can interfere with the paint correction and protect the finish from damage.
Once the car is clayed and rinsed, it’s time to begin the polishing and buffing process. A variety of foam and microfiber pads can be used to create the desired result. Some are more aggressive and intended for cutting, while others are more gentle and used for polishing and finishing. This is a very time consuming part of the process, and it can take 8-12 hours of consistent work to achieve the desired results.
When the buffing is complete, it’s a good idea to apply a coat of wax or a nano ceramic coating to help maintain the appearance of the vehicle and prevent future contamination. Keeping up with this routine can keep your vehicle looking brand new for years to come.
There is no “right” or wrong time to perform paint correction, but it’s always a good idea to do so when your vehicle begins to lose its luster. It’s a highly rewarding process that can make your vehicle look like new again and increase its resale value.
