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It is important to polish paint to correct imperfections and perfect the finish because once the ceramic coating is applied it will lock those scratches and swirls under the coating and you will not be able to remove them without first removing your ceramic coating.
Should I do paint correction before ceramic coating?
The detailer will be leveling the paint to the depth of the scratch or swirl before applying a ceramic coating. Paint correction must be done prior to coating any vehicle to get the best results. If you decide to skip this step any defect in the paint will be magnified tenfold by the ceramic coating.
How do you correct paint before ceramic coating?
The first step involves using a heavy cutting compound, with a machine polisher, and polishing pad – to really dig into that paint damage. The second step progressively decreases the grit, and finally, a light polishing compound should smooth out the damage.
Do you wash car before ceramic coating?
For a ceramic paint coating to bond with any substrate, that surface needs to be impeccably clean and free of debris. Before we get too crazy about the prep and paint correction steps, it’s important to first wash the vehicle completely by hand.
Can you mess up paint with ceramic coating?
Ceramic coatings can’t damage your paint, regardless of what you do. However, improper application can leave streaks, high spots, hazing, and horrible reflections. The only way you can remove a ceramic coating after it has cured is to bust out the sandpaper and sand, then polish, then finish the whole car.
Is paint correction necessary?
Paint correction is an important step in maintaining the shine and slick of your vehicle, as scratches or micro-marring in the body paint layer creates the imperfections you see on your car. Among the imperfections that can appear are swirl marks or spider webbing, caused by improper washing and drying.
Do you need paint correction before PPF?
Technically, no, paint correction is not needed to prepare the surface of the vehicle for PPF or ceramic coatings. Even brand new vehicles can benefit from paint correction and the perfect time to have it done is when you take delivery of a new car.
What is 2 step paint correction?
Stage 2 Paint Correction is used on vehicles with some swirl marks and/or light scratches. This takes 2 polish and pad combinations. First, an abrasive polish removes the paint defects then a finishing polish and pad are used to refine the paint work afterwards.
How is paint correction done?
Paint correction involves the use of machine polishers and a range of different polishes and graded pads. A fully corrected vehicle when viewed in direct sunlight will show only true reflections and no swirl marks, scratches or blemishes will be visible to the naked eye.
Can you wash car after ceramic coating?
The golden rule you should always stick to after a ceramic coating is Do not wash your car within 7 days of application! You need to give the Coating time to fully cure on your vehicle. If you wash or otherwise agitate the surface of the paintwork, it can drastically inhibit the curing process of the product.
Can a car with ceramic coating go through a car wash?
Ceramic-coated cars should not be driven through an automatic car wash. Most automatic car washes use recycled water and unmaintained brushes. The friction of the unmaintained brushes scrubs dirt over the coating, damaging it in the process. Ceramic-coated cars should be maintained by hand washing.
What happens if it rains after ceramic coating?
If it’s rain water or tap water, the impurities present in both will destabilize the cross link bonds before they can fully form. That can lead to premature coating failure in many instances. That’s why washes and driving in the rain are not recommended during the first week after application.
Can ceramic coat damage car?
Unlike a wax, for example, a ceramic coating adheres to and bonds with a car’s paint and cannot simply be wiped off and reapplied. Experts claim that’s even true for brand-new cars fresh off of a dealer’s lot, as they likely have slight paint damage from being run through an automatic car wash.
Will ceramic coating hurt my car?
Another danger for your car is chemical staining from naturally acidic contaminants. By creating a chemically resistant surface, a Ceramic Coating can keep some contaminants from bonding to your vehicle’s paint.
Can you remove ceramic coating?
Since the ceramic coating is a physical layer, polishing is the only surefire way to remove it 100% and expose the clear coat underneath. In fact, many of the high-grade professional ceramic coatings claim the only way to remove them is through machine polishing. Just be careful to not eat into the clear coat.
How often do you need paint correction?
Summary Checklist Exterior Detailing Process How Often? Decontamination Every 6-12 months Full paint protection Every 6-12 months Apply glass and alloy sealant Every 6-12 months Paint correction (polish or compound) Only when necessary.
How much does it cost to get a paint correction?
You will usually find that paint correction work performed by a professional will cost between $200 to over $1000, though it depends on the amount of work that you need to have done.
Will PPF hide scratches?
While this does add some additional time to the complete process, it’s worth it in the end – as it will protect the paintwork and other areas of the vehicle against rock chips or a light scratch, which can be fixed easily with self healing PPF.
How hard is it to do paint correction?
No matter the response, one thing remains constant: Paint correction is no simple task. The removal of paint swirl marks, fading, oxidation, and marring in clear coat requires a significant amount of time, patience, equipment, and preparation, none of which can be skipped or hurried.
How long does a paint correction take?
Paint correction is a process that can take anywhere from 6 hours to 20 plus hours of multiple stages of compound and polish. Lets discuss each product and its purpose before moving further into the explanation.
Does paint correction fix deep scratches?
Asking whether or not paint correction can remove scratches is a bit of a loaded question, since the answer is both yes and no. While obviously deeply embedded scrapes will need a bit more than just a touch-up, the truth of the matter is several nicks can be addressed with ease.
