Paint correction. Until it's right.
Paint correction is the machine-polish process that removes swirls, light scratches, oxidation, and water-spot etching from the clear coat. At Innovo it's $120/hr custom work — no flat tier, no fixed package. We assess the paint, agree on a target outcome, and stop when the paint hits it. Typical jobs are 3-8 hours; quoted on inspection.
Pricing
Four tiers (Medium through XXL). Compact vehicles fold into Complete Detail pricing.
| Tier | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Custom hourly | $120/hr | Time depends on paint condition — typical 3-8 hours |
In every Paint Correction
- Pre-correction wash + decon (iron, tar, clay) — sets up the paint for the machine work
- 2-pad cut + polish (more passes / more aggressive compounds as conditions warrants)
- IPA wipedown between passes — verifies actual correction depth vs filler-effect
- Optional ceramic prep handoff — if you're ceramic-coating after, we hand the paint over surface-prepped
- Final inspection under controlled lighting
What this isn't
- Body work (dent / paint repair) — outside our scope
- Wet-sanding for deep scratches — case-by-case; quoted separately if applicable
- Ceramic coating — separate quote (paint correction is the prep step; coating is the protective layer)
Common pairings
Add at booking or any time before the appointment.
How a Paint Correction runs
Lighting + paint thickness gauge
Paint condition under controlled lighting. Paint thickness measurements on every panel. Agree on a target outcome with you before starting.
Iron + tar + clay-bar
Chemical decon removes bonded contamination that would interfere with machine work. Clay-bar pulls anything chemicals missed.
Machine work, panel by panel
2-pad cut + polish on every panel. More aggressive compounds + pads on panels with deeper defects. IPA wipedown between passes to verify true correction.
Inspect + ceramic-prep wipe
Final inspection under controlled lighting. If ceramic is going on next, surface-prep wipe to remove polish residue.
Paint Correction FAQ
How is paint correction priced?
$120/hr custom — we don't flat-tier this. Time depends on paint condition: well-maintained newer paint may need 2-3 hours; neglected older paint with heavy swirling and oxidation can run 6-8+ hours. We quote on inspection — you'll know the number before we start machine work.
Will paint correction remove all defects?
Most surface defects (swirls, light scratches, light water-spot etching, oxidation) — yes. Deeper scratches that catch a fingernail — partially or fully depending on depth + clear coat thickness. Sanding marks from body repair — sometimes. Defects below the safe-correction depth — we won't chase them (over-thinning clear coat causes failure).
Do you charge a flat rate for paint correction?
No — paint correction is $120/hr custom work, never flat-tiered. We assess the paint, agree on a target outcome, and stop when the paint hits it. Most jobs need a 2-pad cut + polish sequence (medium-cut compound then finishing polish) — typical 3-8 hours of $120/hr work depending on vehicle condition.
Do I need paint correction before ceramic coating?
Yes — at least light correction. Ceramic coating bonds to whatever's on the surface at application time. Apply ceramic over swirled paint and you've sealed the swirls under 5 years of coating. Most ceramic clients get paint correction as part of the prep.
Mobile or shop?
Same rate either way. Paint correction benefits from controlled shop lighting for inspection accuracy — but mobile is fine if you prefer it. For full-day correction jobs the shop is generally easier on both sides.
Pair with ceramic to lock the result in.
Paint correction restores the paint surface. Ceramic coating on top — P&S STOUT or STEK Final Coat — keeps it there for 5+ years. Most clients book correction + ceramic together because the prep work overlaps and ceramic locks the corrected finish in. Skip the ceramic and the corrected paint will swirl again with the next round of wash-induced marring.