Why Professional Paint Correction Matters Before Coating

You’ve probably heard that paint correction before ceramic coating is applied is super important. But why? And what is actually meant by paint correction?

OK, so a car’s paint surface might look and feel smooth, but at a microscopic level, there are a whole load of teeny tiny whirls, scratches, and other anomalies. Because ceramic coating is applied in a liquid format (it’s a solvent containing millions of nano-particles), this will seek the path of least resistance and sink into every nook and cranny. If the pre-coating paint prep isn’t carried out to the highest standard, these will be wholly evident to the naked eye—not exactly the look you’re going for when cruising the streets of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, or wherever you might live.

In addition, the installation requires a silky smooth surface for the best adhesion. This makes the right, painstaking car detailing before coating an essential part of the equation. Without this, longevity is compromised and will play a big part in premature failure of the product.

The Art of Paint Correction Before Ceramic Coating

The best ceramic coating installers all have certain things in common:

1. They’re obsessed about the tiniest details.
2. They take pride in their work.
3. They only use the best products
4. They’ve undergone extensive training and practical experience.

Pre-coating paint prep really is an art form. Every car’s exterior has gone through a lot since it left the factory. Sun, wind, rain, salt… Every day brings new encounters that degrade the paintwork, and it’s the installer’s job to rectify this before even thinking about adding the coating.

This involves meticulous cleaning to remove every speck of dirt before inspecting each square inch of the paintwork under UV light. Only this level of inspection allows the installer to visualize every tiny paint issue that needs correcting.

From here, the magical transformation flows…  Using a variety of specialist tools, the installer buffs back the factory clear coat to the exact level needed to restore the paint to its former glory. Too much and it’s a disaster: too little and that much-needed smooth surface won’t be achieved. As you can imagine, this isn’t a process that can be rushed, and it’s one of the reasons that an installation will take a minimum of 48 hours.

Professional installers use a dual-action machine polisher. These feature an oscillating movement that, when correctly done, doesn’t cause excessive friction and heat that could burn the paint. It can’t be overstated how important training is to use such a tool—even the slightest over-enthusiastic touch could strip back the surface too far. Talented installers take their time and use both sight and touch to check for the smoothest finish.

And then… Thorough Car Detailing Before the Coating is Applied

This is the last step before the painstaking process of ceramic coating application to remove every last bit of dirt and dust. This needs to be done in a semi-sterile environment. The last thing you want is for the wind to blow a cloud of debris to scatter over the freshly corrected and cleaned paintwork.

Once applied, the ceramic coating needs time to cure before being moved back outside—ideally in a temperature-controlled environment. 

At Auto SuperShield, we’re happy to admit that we really are paintwork nerds. We get a lot of pride out of a job well done and we’re happy to be responsible for some of the most eye-catching rides cruising the South Florida highways.

Discover more about us at https://www.autosupershield.com and call today to discuss your requirements.