paint correction 

 

Everyone knows a little machine polishing goes a long way—from restoring faded paint to removing stubborn scratches. But what is paint correction?

It’s virtually the same process, but "paint correction" is the exact industry term used when resetting paint back to factory condition.

Allow us to explain the difference between a Stage 1 Machine Polish and a Full Paint Correction (Stage 1 & Stage 2):

Stage 1 Polishing

A Stage 1 polish uses a single abrasive step to eliminate eyesores like swirl marks and light scratches. A dual-action or rotary machine polisher generates friction to create localized heat. With just the right amount of heat, those swirls and scratches are safely leveled out. Too much heat, however, can burn through pads—or worse, the paint itself.

As you can imagine, doing this job correctly requires time, skill, and patience. That is why a full multi-stage correction can take up to 7 days on an average-sized car.

Stage 1 vs. Full Correction: What’s the Difference?

It all comes down to friction, heat, and refinement.

Once you push past light defect removal into heavy cutting, the polishing process leaves behind subtle heat signatures (micro-marring or haze). A Stage 2 Refinement polish is required to clear away those signatures, restoring deep gloss and clarity to the paint.

A Stage 1 Polish is designed to stop before crossing the threshold where heat signatures occur. This generally yields a 70% correction rate (and sometimes even higher depending on the paint system).

What is a Correction Rate?

A correction rate is the overall percentage of defects successfully removed from the paint finish. For example, a 70% correction rate means 70% of all swirls, scratches, have been permanently removed.