Paint Correction
Machine polish to remove swirl marks, scratches, water etching, and oxidation. Single-stage or two-stage depending on paint condition.
Most jobs in this service: $449–$1499
Typical duration: Six to twelve hours. Two days for two-stage on heavily defected paint.
What is included
- Decon wash and clay bar
- Paint depth measurement
- Section-by-section polish with foam pads
- Defect reduction documented with before/after photos
- Sealant or wax to protect the corrected finish
How we do it
- Measure: Paint thickness gauge on every panel — we do not polish blind.
- Prep: Decon wash, iron remover, clay bar to give us a clean surface.
- Test panel: Polish a small area to dial in compound, pad, and pressure.
- Correct: Section by section, panel by panel, cross-hatch pattern.
- Refine: Finer polish to clear up haze from the cut.
- Wipe: IPA wipe to strip polish oils and reveal the real finish.
- Protect: Sealant or wax — corrected paint without protection oxidizes again fast.
Recovery time
24 hours before rain or detailer's wash if no sealant is applied immediately after
When this is not the right call
If the paint has been polished thin already, or if there is a deep scratch into the basecoat, correction will not save it. We use a paint depth gauge to tell you when to stop.
Frequently asked questions
One step or two step?
One step removes about 60-70 percent of light defects. Two step removes about 95 percent. Most daily drivers are happy with one step. Show cars and luxury cars usually want two step.
Will paint correction damage my paint?
Done right, no. Done wrong, yes — too aggressive a compound or too much pressure burns through the clear coat. We measure thickness before and during the job.
How long does it last?
The correction itself is permanent — those defects are gone. New defects accumulate from washing, weather, and use, so the finish degrades over time. A ceramic coating on top extends the looks-corrected window.
What clients say about paint correction
-
★★★★★
I would highly recommend! This communication was easy and also helpful! The men who came did such a good job! Thank you Nikki! It was awesome to get our team out there for a detail on your Hyundai. A full…
Nikki T. · Raleigh -
★★★★★
Had my wife's car detailed as a gift and she is blown away by how good her car looks (and smells) now! Our toddler had made some pretty serious surface scratches on the driver side and the crew at Mobile…
Devin B. · Raleigh -
★★★★★
They did a paint correction and ceramic coating on my 2012 Mustang GT. It turned out great! They were very knowledgeable and professional and I would highly recommend them. The paint correction and ceramic coating sure made that beast shine!
Michael L. · Raleigh