Paint correction in Sacramento for swirls and light scratches
Paint correction is machine polishing that can take wash swirls and light scratches out of your paint. Most swirl marks come from how a car gets washed and dried: automatic brush washes, a dirty wash mitt, scrubbing too hard, drying it the wrong way, and the same rough contact over and over. I do paint correction in Sacramento at your home or office, after we look at the paint together. One-step correction starts at $275, depending on vehicle size and paint condition.
- 26+ years' experience
- 1-hour arrival window
- Home or office
- Hablo español
What paint correction includes
- A look at the paint with you first, so you know what should come out and what won't
- The wash, decontamination and prep the paint needs before it can be polished safely
- One-step correction for lighter defects
- More stages when the paint needs them
- An estimate from photos, confirmed once I see the paint in person
Not included:
- A full detail. The prep only gets the paint ready to polish. Cleaning the inside and outside is a full car detail, a separate service.
- A ceramic coating. That's a separate service, and correction is never folded into a coating price.
What polishing can and can't fix
Some defects can be corrected. Some can only be improved. What correction can work on:
- Light-to-moderate swirls from washing, which may polish out
- Light scratches, which often come out
- Oxidation, depending on how far it's gone
- Water spots: most true mineral spots can be removed (more in the questions below)
Swirls. Heavier or long-term swirling, from years of brush washes or a dirty wash mitt, may need an additional correction stage. I won't promise how much comes out until I've seen the paint.
Clear coat that's failing. On older vehicles, some of what looks like swirling is actually the clear coat breaking down. No polish fixes that. I can usually tell the difference, and I'll tell you before I start that full removal may not be possible.
Scratches. It comes down to depth. A scratch that's through the clear coat most likely won't come out fully, and trying to chase it can cause more damage.
Other marks. Bird-dropping marks, tree sap and overspray all depend on the car, its age and how bad the damage is. I'll tell you what I expect once I've seen it.
When the damage is too severe for me to fix, I'll say so and tell you it's a job for a body shop or a paint shop. That happens most with paint that hasn't been looked after.
What people most often mix up is damage that comes with age and damage that can still be fixed. Not everything can be fully removed, and at a point it's too late. Regular maintenance is what keeps paint from getting there.
How correction works at your place
- We look at the paint together. You point out what bothers you, and I tell you which defects should come out and which won't.
- I work out how many stages it needs. After about 26 years of this, I can usually tell by looking.
- The vehicle goes into shade. A dark vehicle sitting in full sun can't be polished there, so I'll find it some shade, even a couple of doors down, or we'll pick another day.
- I wash and decontaminate the paint where it needs it, then machine polish it one stage at a time.
A one-step correction runs about 1 hour 45 minutes and up. Each added stage adds roughly another hour. It's the most demanding work I do, physically and mentally.
I need space on every side of the vehicle, and a garage only if it rains. If the weather turns, I'll call you, and without a garage we'll most likely reschedule. Water and power aren't your problem: the truck carries its own water, and my generator covers the power.
How paint correction is priced
One-step correction starts at $275. From there, the price depends on the vehicle and what the paint needs: how much damage there is and how many stages it takes. Heavier swirling means more work, and the price goes up with it.
If you're also planning a ceramic coating, correction comes first, and it's priced separately from the coating.
I'll confirm after a quick look or a few photos.
Travel fees may apply depending on location and service, and will be confirmed with your quote.
What paint correction customers say
Customers describe the work in their own words below.
Paint correction questions
What's the difference between one step and more stages?
One step is the lightest correction, and it's where the price starts. Heavier damage needs more stages, and each one adds time and cost. I'll tell you how many your paint needs once I've seen it.
Can you quote paint correction from photos?
Photos get you an estimate. I still need to see the paint in person before I confirm the price.
Can you remove water spots from my paint?
Most true mineral water spots can be removed. How much work they take depends on how severe the buildup is and whether the marks are actually mineral deposits or deeper chemical staining or etching. I'll inspect the finish first and tell you what I expect before I quote the work.
Is polishing safe for my paint?
Within limits, yes. Knowing when to stop is a big part of this work, and I won't chase a defect if getting it out would take too much clear coat. Original paint is easy to tell from a repainted panel, and a repainted panel needs a little more care, so I look for those before I start.
Should I get a ceramic coating after correction?
If you want one, yes, and correction has to come first. On older paint I usually recommend at least two stages before a coating goes on.
Get a paint correction estimate
Send me your vehicle with the form below and I'll come back with an estimate. To include a few photos of the paint, or to explain more, use the quote request form, where you can attach them.