Paint Correction Services
Paint Correction Is The Process Of Refinishing Your Vehicle's Paintwork
Your vehicle's finish dulls over time. Oxidation from UV exposure, etching from contaminants, scratches and swirl marks from washing and daily use. All of it builds up on the surface, killing the depth and gloss while preventing waxes, sealants, and coatings from bonding properly.
Even new cars straight from the factory will benefit tremendously from paint correction offering a far superior look and finish vs the factory finish.
Paint correction removes that damaged layer and reveals the finish underneath: deep, mirror-like clarity that brings your vehicle back to life. We're refinishing the surface of your vehicle's paint work.
I've been doing this for 35 years. I've corrected thousands of vehicles. Everything from daily drivers to million-dollar classic collection. I know how to read and measure paint, how to approach soft modern clear coats versus harder Ultra High Solid clear coat finishes, as well as the lacquer and enamel paint systems of yesteryear, and how to deliver uncanny results that make a statement.
This isn't a one-size-fits-all polish job. Every vehicle gets inspected, measured, and corrected based on what the paint needs and not what's easiest or fastest for us. We're working for you to help you achieve your goals for your vehicle.
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(773) 817-4713
What is paint correction?
Paint correction is the process of refinishing your vehicles paint work. We measure the depth of the vehicle's finish with a special tool called a spectrometer. After determining how much paint depth we are working with, through a collective application of polishing techniques, we remove microscopic layers of paint from your vehicle's surface, meticulously refinishing the surface by leveling swirl marks, scratches, and other blemishes while revealing the healthy vibrant paint underneath the surface. This process leaves your vehicle's paint work, smooth, glossy, and slight, with a depth that is unparalleled by any factory finish, leaving your vehicle looking "better than new". When it's paired with our ceramic coating services, it's an extremely powerful one-two punch to make your vehicle look unreal and to keep it looking that way for a long time.
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(773) 817-4713
What Sets Horizon Detail Paint Correction Apart?
With over 35 years of experience working on automotive paint systems, there's quite a bit that sets us apart. For starters, we aren't charging you so we can learn on your car. We're applying every lesson we've learned over the last three and a half decades to YOUR car. There is no guesswork. If we identify further issues, we won't gloss over it or pretend it's not there. We'll address it, communicate with you, present options, and work with you on a remedy.
We often catch hidden problems on brand new cars that would be nearly impossible for you to catch in time to rectify with the dealership. We've identified repainted panels, undisclosed accidents and damage, and we've helped many clients get reimbursed for such problems.
I've personally worked on all of the most common automotive finishes from the last century. I've mastered paint systems that are 100 years old, and I demonstrate that mastery all the way through the single-stage enamels of the 70s and 80s, the polyurethanes of the 90s and 2000s, and into today's super soft, super thin water-based paint systems.
You may not realize how much goes into your vehicle's paintwork, but with manufacturers cutting costs at every corner and always looking for ways to maximize profits, it literally pays to have a great detailer in your life.
Have A Quick Peek At What Paint Correction Can Do
This was a showroom effort multi-step paint correction. We removed almost 20 years of mineral and chemical staining and swirl marks from the paint work on this 2008 Mazda Miata.
See Some of The Finished Pictures!
A few more peeks...
We spent approximately 24 hours on the paint correction and refinishing alone. Removing > .3mils of paint to accomplish a near flawless finish. This wasn't easy, the paintwork was nearly 20 years old and very thin original factory Mazda paint. It came out absolutely amazing and we finished her off with our Signature 3 Year Ceramic Coating.
What Types of Issues Can Paint Correction Fix?
Paint correction is the process we use to refinish your vehicle's paintwork. If you've ever had your cabinets or flooring refinished, you're already familiar with the concept.
When we perform paint correction, we're fixing the issues in your vehicle's paintwork that are causing it to look dull, faded, and hazy. Chances are your vehicle can benefit tremendously from paint correction - even if, or especially if, your vehicle is brand new. We'll make it look even better than you imagined a new vehicle could look.
Similar to refinishing cabinets, we're leveling the surface to reduce the appearance of blemishes from your vehicle's paintwork like:
- Swirl Marks
- Oxidation
- Staining
- Scratches
- Etching
- Scuffs
- Transfers
And just like cabinet refinishing, we'll address the vast majority of damage, targeting up to 90-95% of defects, while leaving a small percentage of deeper blemishes behind. But even those deeper marks will look much better, blended into the surrounding gloss and depth of the refinished paintwork.
Oxidation Remediation
This Lexus was repainted and the paint that was used on the repaired area was a lower quality clear coat that failed prematurely and oxidized severely. We were able to remediate the oxidation and we applied a 1 year ceramic coating to help lock that finish in.
Paint Correction & Ceramic Coatings
Paint correction and ceramic coatings were made for each other. You can have one without the other, but they won't be as good as they would be together. At Horizon Detail, we believe paint correction is required before installing a ceramic coating.
You'll find other shops that will apply ceramic coatings after just a deep cleaning. This is a recipe for failure. Even brand new paint jobs will have dirt, dust, and haze in the very top layer that cleaning and decontamination alone cannot remove. If you install a ceramic coating on top of that, you're locking in less-than-perfect paintwork, coating over contamination, and likely ending up with a weak bond between the coating and paint system.
Paint correction performs two essential functions. Regardless of the age of the paint, it will have cured and created a top layer that's less than perfect and it can look off (texture, haze, blemishes) and will have embedded contaminants just beneath the surface. Paint correction fixes all of that and leaves your paintwork looking unbelievable.
Paint correction also preps the paintwork to be more receptive to ceramic coating bonding agents. By revealing a fresh layer of paint, we're ensuring all of the bond points - or anchor points - are available to the coating to create strong bonds.
Simply put: we'll never apply ceramic coatings without first refinishing the surface. And if you're working with a shop that will, understand they're not informed enough to be performing the work in a lasting and meaningful way.
Call or Text For a Free Consultation
(773) 817-4713
Call or text to schedule your appointment today!
(773) 817-4713