Automotive Aptitude

Paint Restoration

What Is Paint Restoration

Paint Correction is the process by which car compound and car polish are used to rejuvenate and restore the finish of the paint. This process is the single greatest way to improve the finish of the paint and leave a lasting mirror-like finish. This is done by a multistep process that will be described on this page. Learn More <

Whats Happening?

When restoring paint you are removing small scratches or sun oxidization. This is done by polishing a clear coat to level out any scratches, swirl marks and oxidation to a mirror finish. This is why you cannot polish paint an infinite amount of times. To prevent future need for paint correction Ceramic Coatings, sealants, and waxes will always get applied in our paint correction process.

Decontamination

First Wash

One of the preparatory steps for paint correction is to decontaminate the vehicle. As noted in the Clay n’ Seal Package a good decontamination process always starts with the wheels. This is to ensure we clean the dirtiest part of the vehicle. Next up in the process is a two-bucket wash. This includes a full foam bath and washes down. After an Iron fallout remover, the clay bar is next. We then dry the car and begin the paint correction process.

Iron Fallout Remover

 First in the process is Chemical decontamination. Spraying Iron fallout remover will remove a lot of embedded contaminants.

    Using Iron fallout remover will remove a lot of the surface-level contaminants.

Clay Bar

    After the iron fallout remover, any left over contaminants needs to be removed to ensure a proper paint correction.

    The clay bar will remove any leftover contaminants and leave a clean surface.

Blank slate

The Importance Of Decontamination

    When paint correcting it is important to have a clean and raw surface as possible. This is to ensure that the Car Polish and paint are in direct contact.

    This is important to strip any dirt, oils, and other contaminants. This step is also important to strip any protection like waxes or sealants off of the paint.

Paint Correction

Prep stages

      Next up is to prepare the paint and other parts of the surfaces for correction. This all starts with taping off the trim, glass, and any other material that doesn’t get polished. This is important to not only protect the trim and taped-off parts but also the polish pads.

    When it comes to paint correction it is very important to take the necessary steps to ensure a smooth process.

Car Polish, Car Restoration.

Compounding Stage

    Compounding is the stage of paint correction that reduces the larger defects in the paint. After removing the larger scratches and defects in the paint a slight haze is left behind.

Polishing Stage

    Once the paint is free of deeper scratches and left with a haze the next step is to reintroduce gloss and clarity. 

    Polishing is the final step before the application of the coating. With both steps done that leaves the paint primed for the application of the coating.

Test Panel Assessment

    In order to attain the best possible finish for the paint we must use the right combination of car polish and polishing pads. Every time that we polish the car we remove a little bit of clear coat. Because of this, our goal is to remove the least amount of clear coat as possible. Because of this you can only polish and compound the paint so much until there is no clear coat left.

    We set up a few spaces to test a variety of methods to see which one will reintroduce as much shine as possible while removing the least amount of clear coat. 

Panel By Panel Correction

Our next step is to go panel by panel going in a crosshatch pattern to use the car polish to remove any and all defects in the paint. We start with the roof to remove all of the defects with minimal chance of marring or scratching the farther down we go on the car. In the continuance of top-down, we then do any pillars. Then we do the top half of the doors and then move down.

What Affects Pricing?

How many stages of paint correction?

One polishing stage may take up to two hours. Depending on the level of finish or correction needed the price may vary.

Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic Coatings are the best in paint protection. Ceramic coatings have a variety of benefits that are listed on another page written by Automotive Aptitude. Learn More <