What Is Paint Correction?
Paint correction, sometimes referred as polishing or buffing, is the process of removing swirls, scratches, water spots, and other paint imperfections to bring out a deep, glossy finish on your paint. When done correctly, your car, truck, or boat can look even better than when you first got it, especially when it’s outside under the sun.
The process involves machine polishing with specialty pads and compounds to carefully refine the surface. Our goal is to remove defects while preserving as much clear coat as possible.
Why is that important? Polishing too aggressively can wear down the clear coat faster than necessary or, worse, burn through it, which the only fix would be to repaint the panel. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many cases where improper polishing causes more harm than good. That’s why experience matters.
We take the time to assess your paint condition and use the safest, most effective methods to bring out the best results while protecting your vehicle’s finish. Whether it’s your everyday driver, a classic car, or a high-end vehicle, we have the expertise to make it shine.
Many customers follow up paint correction with a ceramic coating for long-term protection against Maine’s tough weather conditions.
Our Paint Correction Process
We achieve top-quality results by following a carefully refined process. Unlike quick-turnaround car washes, we focus on every step to ensure a high-quality finish.
Thorough wash and dry: We start with a thorough exterior wash, including wheels and tires, to remove dirt, road grime, and contaminants. A clean surface is essential before any polishing begins.
Cleanse the paint: This step removes stubborn, embedded contaminants like brake dust and industrial fallout. A smooth, contaminant-free surface ensures the best results during polishing.
Inspect the paint and perform a test spot: We evaluate your vehicle’s paint condition and test different polish and pad combinations to find the best approach. This ensures we get maximum results with minimal clear coat removal.
Polish the imperfections away: This is where the magic happens. Using professional-grade polishers and compounds, we carefully remove swirls, scratches, and haze from the paint. Whether you’re looking for a full restoration or just an enhancement, we tailor the process to your vehicle’s needs.
Protect your paint: Once the polishing step is completed, we apply a high-quality sealant or ceramic coating (available at an additional cost) to lock in the results and protect against Maine’s elements.
Final touches: To complete the job, we clean all the glass and windows, wipe down door jambs, and dress the tires for that fully detailed look.
We use this proven system on all vehicles, from newer models needing minor enhancement to older vehicles requiring a full restoration. And this can also be done on your RV, boat, or motorcycle!
And the best part? We’re mobile! So we make it very convenient to get your car detailed and freshed up while you’re at home or work.
We serve customers throughout Somersworth including Wells Maine, Berwick Maine, Kennebunkport Maine, Kittery Maine, North Berwick Maine, Newmarket, Durham, Farmington NH, Sanford ME, Lebanon ME, Biddeford ME, Eliot ME, Barrington, Dover, Lee, Madbury, Milton, Rochester, Somersworth, Strafford Xounty, Rockingham County, Alton, York Maine, Berwick Maine, Hampton, Rye, Manchester, Auburn, Raymond, Hooksett, Newmarket, Wolfboro, Meredith
Paint Correction Pricing
Every vehicle is different, so pricing depends on size and condition. Even similar makes and models can vary in cost based on the level of correction needed.
For example, a small sports car may require more time and effort than a larger SUV. Here’s a general breakdown of our pricing:
Large Sized Vehicle: $450
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Read What Customers Are Saying About Fine Shine Auto Spa
Delivering the best paint correction results is our goal, but we also focus on providing top-notch customer service. That’s why we have dozens of 5-star reviews from satisfied customers. You can read more reviews here.
“Have used Fineshine Auto Detailing a couple of times, first with my 1986 18 Donzi. It was in rough shape, and I was amazed at how wonderful it looked when Fineshine got done. I have also had them do paint correction on my Lincoln Aviator along with a 3-year ceramic coating. Always quick to respond, very punctual, works hard, and does a great job! Very highly recommended.” - Charles Lape
“Greg is amazing at what he does! My truck looks like a brand-new vehicle right off the lot. He even did extra with a clay mitten and got all the fine grit out of the paint. I highly recommend Fine Shine Auto Spa! You will not be disappointed. Thanks, Greg, for your professional work!” - Tony Viel
The Tools and Products We Use For Quality Results
Achieving a flawless finish requires the right tools for the job. No single solution works for every vehicle, which is why we carry a wide range of professional-grade polishers, pads, and compounds.
Polishers
Polishers come in different sizes (1", 3", 5", and more) and styles, including rotary, dual-action, and forced rotation. The larger throw polishers are ideal for hoods and large panels. Smaller polishers work better for tight areas like bumpers and side mirrors. We also use the smaller polisher during the headlight restoration process.
Pads
Pads are what actually buff the paint surface when attached to a polisher. We use a variety, depending on the level of correction needed. For instance, wool pads are used for the most aggressive level of swirl removal. If there’s a vehicle with “hard” clear coat, we’ll need to get more aggressive to get the swirls out. Most aggressive, used for heavy swirl removal.
After that, you have the microfiber cutting pads that are the happy middle between it’s not the most aggressive but also not the weakest. And finally, the foam polishing pads are used as the last refinement step to bring out the maximum gloss and clarity.
Compounds and Polishes
The last step of the equations are the compounds and polishes. For the cutting step, when it comes to removing the imperfections, we lean towards the compounds as they’ll give you the cut you need. And on the final step, to really bring out the gloss and clarity, you use a polishing pad with a fine polish.
We always perform test spots to determine the best pad, polish, and compound combination before working on your vehicle.
We Offer More Than Paint Correction in Somersworth
In addition to paint correction, we offer a full range of detailing services to keep your vehicle looking its best:
Engine Bay Cleaning: Has it been a while since you last cleaned your engine bay? Our process removes built-up dirt, grease, and grime while dressing the plastic and rubber components to keep them in top shape.
Exterior Detailing: Give your vehicle’s exterior a refresh service with our thorough detailing service. We deep-clean the wheels and tires, hand wash the vehicle, perform a clay bar treatment, and finish with a premium sealant for long-lasting shine and protection.
Undercoating and Rustproofing: Maine’s winters can be tough on vehicles, but our undercoating and rustproofing services provide a strong protective layer to help prevent rust and corrosion. Keep your car’s undercarriage safe from road salt and moisture year-round.
Fleet Washing: A clean fleet is a professional fleet. Our fleet washing services ensure your company’s trucks or vans stay spotless, making a great impression while protecting your investment.
Interior Detailing: Has it been a little too long since you last cleaned your car's interior? This service will get the interior back to a like-new condition.
Paint Overspray Removal: Do you have a rough texture on your paint? Do you see white or black specs? That's most likely overspray and we can help remove that from your paint.
Odor Removal: Stubborn odors lingering in your vehicle’s interior? Our odor removal service doesn’t just mask smells—it eliminates them at the source, leaving your car fresh, clean, and comfortable.
The Difference Between Hard and Soft Clear Coat
You’ll hear the term “soft” and “hard” clear coats be used when we talk about polishing paint because it can really have an impact on the process and results.
Clear coats protect a vehicle’s paint, but not all clear coats are the same. You can categorize in two bucks—hard clear coat and soft clear coat.
A hard clear coat is more resistant to scratches and swirls, meaning your paint stays looking better for longer. However, once imperfections like swirls and other imperfections appear, they take a lot more effort (and time) to remove. Generally speaking, a hard clear coat will require more aggressive compounds, pads, and even polishers to the desired results. The advantage is that once corrected, the paint stays looking great for longer.
A soft clear coat, on the other hand, is much easier to scratch and swirl, making it more prone to imperfections. However, this also means that paint correction is typically easier and requires less time and effort. Swirls and light defects can often be removed with less aggressive polishes and pads and reduce the amount of clear coat that needs to be removed. The downside is that maintaining a soft clear coat requires more gentle washing and drying techniques to avoid reintroducing imperfections.
Regardless if your clear coat is soft or hard, we have the right tools, products, and process to get the job done right.
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