San Diego’s Premier Paint Correction Specialists

Interested in our paint correction process? While this provides a detailed glimpse, it doesn’t cover every step involved. We’ve refined our techniques through trial and error, which are applicable to paint correction and our paint polishing services (excluding step 8, the correction phase).

1) Examine the vehicle: We’ll measure the paint all around, gauging the clear coat we have to play with. Looking at the wheels, tires, and paint, we pinpoint any specific areas that might need special consideration—be it for precise taping or a little extra care during the polishing stage.

2) Deep clean and detail the wheels, tires, and wheel wells: We’ll start with a good rinse for the wheels, tires, and wells, then apply our wheel cleaner, ensuring we reach all those hard-to-reach areas with various brushes. Finally, we’ll finish with a thorough rinse. 

3) Clean the vehicle: Begin by rinsing away any loose debris. Follow up with a foaming session using a pressure washer, then transition to our towel-wash method. Employ proper wash techniques, applying light pressure, moving side-to-side, and regularly flipping the towel sides for optimal results. Finish by thoroughly rinsing down the vehicle. 

4) Paint Decontamination:  Now, we apply the iron remover and clay bar treatment to eliminate any lingering above-surface contaminants that weren’t removed during the wash. This step leaves the paint with an exceptionally smooth feel, and it’s crucial to ensure optimal paint correction results.

5) Next, we dry and blow out the vehicle using compressed air. We want to ensure the car is completely dry before our next step. We’ll get the paint, wheels, and trim all nice and dry using a drying towel and a blower. 

6) Prepare the panels: We’ll remove each panel using a wax/grease remover. Ensuring a clean surface is key—we aim for it to be completely “naked” during the polishing stage. Any polish or wax residue could interfere with the correction process, so we pay close attention to this part. 

7) Tape off vulnerable areas: Returning to step 1, we carefully tape off sections that need to be protected—whether it’s trim, chrome, glass, or other materials. This will be different for each car, but the core objective remains the same: preventing any compound or polish from reaching surfaces it shouldn’t.

8) Time to correct the paint: Now we’re getting into the real deal—removing most imperfections from the paint using the correct method. It’s the first step in a two-part process to bring out the best gloss and clarity. Despite sounding brief here, this part of the job can take some time, usually around 7 to 11 hours.

9) Time for polishing: Once we remove imperfections in the correction phase, the paint is smoother and looks much better. But we take it further with some polishing to bring out the shine. It might seem counterintuitive—correction does the heavy lifting but intentionally leaves a bit of micro-hazing. Now, enter polishing, the step that brings out that show-car shine.

10) Unmask and prepare the paint: After correcting the paint and ensuring the desired results, we’ll remove the tape and prep the paint again. This step involves eliminating any lingering polish residue from the correction process.

11) Time to protect the paint: After all the prep work and correction, it’s time to protect that beautiful paint. We’ve got options—go for a durable ceramic coating for years of defense, or opt for the classic wax or sealant for a good six months of protection (under ideal conditions).

12) Finishing touches: It’s time to give those tires, wheel wells, and wheels some love, wipe down those door jambs, clean up the exterior glass, and take care of any other details that will bring your car together.

And that’s a wrap! Just a heads up, the time we spend working on your vehicle can vary (usually 11+ hours), depending on its size and condition. That’s why we prefer you drop it off at our shop—we like having it here so we can keep a close eye on all the details, big and small, to ensure optimal results.