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paint correction detailing swirls

Paint Correction — Removing Swirls, Scratches & Bringing Back Gloss

Machine paint correction removes swirl marks, holograms, water spots and light scratches, restoring the deep gloss your car had when it left the factory.

Published 31 July 2026

What is Paint Correction?

Paint correction is the process of removing surface imperfections — swirl marks, holograms, light scratches, water spots and oxidation — using progressively finer polishing compounds and machine polishers.

Do You Need It?

If your car looks fine from a distance but shows fine cobwebs of swirls under strong direct light or LED torch, it needs correction. This is especially common if the car has been washed at rollover/brush car washes, or by hand with dirty sponges/cloths.

Our Correction Stages

  • Stage 1 Buffing — refines the paint with a fine polish. Removes 70–80% of light defects. Ideal prep before a ceramic coating.
  • Stage 2 Buffing — a compound cut followed by a refining polish. Removes 90%+ of moderate defects, restores real depth of gloss.
  • Stage 3 Wet Sanding — the highest-intensity finish. Reserved for deep clearcoat defects, pronounced orange-peel and heavy oxidation. We wet-sand the clearcoat flat with ultra-fine abrasives, then compound and polish it back to a mirror. Three-day process; unnecessary on most cars, but a genuine game-changer where it's needed.

Prep for Ceramic or PPF

If you're planning a ceramic coating or PPF, correction is essential — you don't want to lock swirls in for 5 years.

Aftercare

See our paint correction guide. Use the two-bucket wash method, avoid automatic washes, and consider adding a ceramic top-coat to preserve the finish.

→ Book a paint correction consultation

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