Let’s talk about paint correction—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it takes serious know-how to get it right.
First off, let’s clear up a common misconception: paint correction isn’t about “erasing” scratches or imperfections like magic. What we’re doing is carefully shaving off a few microns (that’s thinner than a human hair!) of your car’s clearcoat to level out the surface. Think of your paint under a microscope: it looks like a series of tiny peaks and valleys. Our job is to mow down those peaks until everything’s smooth and uniform.
Now, why is this such a big deal? Because we’re dealing with incredibly thin layers of your car’s finish. A misstep can mean burning through the clearcoat or exposing the paint underneath. That’s why paint correction is as much an art as it is a science. It takes skill, the right tools, and years of experience to know exactly how far we can go to restore your car’s finish without compromising it.
A question we get all the time is: “How do I know if a scratch can be removed?” Here’s the quick answer: if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, it’s probably too deep to completely fix with paint correction alone. That said, just because we can’t make it vanish doesn’t mean we can’t improve it. Even deeper scratches can often be softened and made far less noticeable.
What surprises a lot of people is that we even recommend paint correction for brand-new cars. That showroom shine? It’s hiding all kinds of microscopic defects from the factory or transport. Swirls, light scratches, and even slight imperfections in the clearcoat are all there—just not obvious to the naked eye. We always recommend addressing these before applying Paint Protection Film or a ceramic coating. Why? Because once you seal those imperfections under a protective layer, they’re there for the long haul. Fixing them first ensures a flawless finish that stays that way.
Paint correction isn’t something to take lightly. There’s a reason people trust us to do it. With over a decade of experience here at American Detail, we’ve seen it all—and we’ve perfected the process to deliver results that speak for themselves. If you’re curious whether paint correction is right for your vehicle, stop by and let’s take a look together.
Stay tuned for more posts diving into specific topics like prepping your car for PPF or ceramic coating. There’s a lot that goes into top-tier car care, and we’re here to walk you through it.