Every vehicle accumulates paint imperfections over time — swirl marks from improper washing, scratches from automated car washes, oxidation from UV exposure, and water spots from Ottawa's hard water. These defects dull your paint's finish and are visible under direct light. Paint correction is the professional process of machine-polishing these imperfections out of your clear coat, restoring depth, clarity, and gloss that makes your paint look better than new.
Benefits of Paint Correction
- Removes swirl marks, scratches, water spots, and oxidation from your clear coat
- Restores factory-level (or better) gloss, depth, and clarity
- Essential preparation for ceramic coating — ensures imperfections aren't sealed permanently
- Dramatically improves the appearance of older or neglected vehicles
- Increases resale value by presenting the paint in the best possible condition
- Reveals the true colour and depth of your vehicle's paint that defects have been hiding
Stages of Paint Correction
Single-Stage Correction
Single-stage correction uses one polishing step to remove light swirl marks and surface-level defects. This is suitable for vehicles in relatively good condition that need a gloss enhancement and removal of fine swirls. It typically achieves 60-70% defect removal.
Two-Stage Correction
Two-stage correction uses a cutting compound to remove deeper defects followed by a finishing polish to refine the surface. This is our most popular level for vehicles with moderate swirling, wash marks, and light scratches. It typically achieves 85-95% defect removal.
Multi-Stage Correction
Multi-stage correction involves three or more polishing steps with progressively finer abrasives. This level is reserved for heavily neglected paint, deep scratches, or when the goal is absolute perfection. It can achieve 95%+ defect removal and produces the most dramatic before-and-after results.
Our Paint Correction Process
- Thorough wash and decontamination — iron remover, clay bar, and chemical decontamination to remove bonded contaminants
- Paint depth measurement with a digital gauge — this determines safe correction limits for each panel
- Test spot on a hidden area to determine the optimal compound and pad combination for your paint
- Systematic machine polishing panel by panel, verifying results under high-intensity inspection lighting
- Finishing polish to refine the surface to maximum gloss and clarity
- Panel wipe with IPA solution to reveal the true corrected finish without polishing oils
We measure paint thickness on every panel before starting. This ensures we never remove more clear coat than is safe, protecting the long-term integrity of your paint. Not every shop takes this step — but it's essential for doing paint correction properly.
Things to Consider
- Paint correction removes a thin layer of clear coat — it should be done by experienced technicians with paint depth gauges
- Not all scratches can be corrected — defects that have gone through the clear coat into the base coat require repainting
- Correction results are best preserved with ceramic coating or PPF applied immediately after
- The process takes 1-3 days depending on the correction level and vehicle size
- Regular maintenance washing with proper technique prevents swirls from returning
Why Choose Garage Knights for Paint Correction
Paint correction requires patience, skill, and the right equipment. We use professional dual-action and rotary polishers, a range of compounds and pads for different paint types, and high-intensity LED inspection lighting that reveals defects invisible under normal light. Every panel is measured, tested, and verified — because guesswork has no place in paint correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will paint correction damage my clear coat?
Not when performed properly. We measure paint thickness on every panel before starting and use the least aggressive approach needed to achieve the desired results. Professional paint correction removes only a few microns of clear coat — a safe amount on vehicles with factory paint.
What's the difference between polishing and paint correction?
Polishing is a general term that can refer to applying a gloss-enhancing product. Paint correction specifically means removing paint defects through abrasive polishing with machine tools. It's a more intensive and skilled process that permanently removes imperfections rather than filling them temporarily.
How long do paint correction results last?
The correction itself is permanent — removed defects don't come back. However, new swirls and scratches can accumulate over time from improper washing or environmental exposure. Protecting corrected paint with ceramic coating is the best way to maintain the results long-term.
Should I get paint correction before ceramic coating?
Yes. Ceramic coating locks in whatever is underneath it — including swirls and scratches. Paint correction ensures the surface is flawless before the coating is applied, so you're sealing in perfection rather than imperfections.
Can paint correction fix deep scratches?
Paint correction can remove scratches that are within the clear coat layer. If a scratch has gone through to the base coat or primer (you can feel it with your fingernail), it cannot be fully removed through polishing and may require touch-up or repainting.
