Kansas City’s Premier Paint Correction Specialists
Restore your paints shine by removing the imperfections
Remove Swirls and Bring Out Maximum Gloss and Clarity
Paint correction is all about removing swirls, oxidation, and light imperfections so your paint can shine again. Depending on your goals, we can safely remove around 65% to 90% of defects using a thorough cutting and polishing process known as a 2 step correction. This is what brings out the highest gloss and clarity in your paint.
Some scratches are simply too deep or unsafe to remove, especially if the clear coat is thin. In those cases, we will make the right judgment call to protect the health of your paint. Paint correction is not just about removing defects, it is also about keeping your paint safe and within professional standards.
Whether it takes 5 hours or 20 hours, the level of improvement depends on the results you want to achieve. We tailor the correction to your goals and your vehicle’s condition.g
Even New Vehicles Need Paint Correction
Even if your vehicle is only a few months old, it may still need a two step paint correction. Before you bought it, your car was transported, washed, stored, and handled many times by different people. All that movement and washing often creates swirls, light scratches, and imperfections in the clear coat.
That is why many brand new vehicles, no matter the make or model, leave the dealership with noticeable paint defects.
Paint correction is an investment in keeping your vehicle looking its best. After the service, proper washing and drying are crucial. If the paint is not maintained correctly, swirls and scratches can return in just a few washes.
This is one of the most meticulous services in detailing. Depending on the condition of your paint, the size of your vehicle, and the results you want, a paint correction can take anywhere from 8 to 15 hours to complete.
Come By Our 2000SF Shop In Kansas City
Empire Customs Car Detailing offers a wide range of services for your vehicle. Our goal is to offer the best quality service and results we can. Some of our popular services include:
The Empire Customs Paint Correction Process
With more than 11 years of experience, we have corrected paint on every type of vehicle, from high end supercars to daily drivers that need a refresh. No matter what you bring us, we follow a proven process to deliver consistent, high quality results.
What Our Paint Correction Service Includes:
Clean Wheels, Tires, and Fenders: We start by deep cleaning the wheel faces, barrels, tires, and inner fender liners.
Foam Hand Wash: Your vehicle receives a thick foam bath and gentle hand wash while we clean door jambs, the gas cap area, and remove bugs from the paint.
Iron Decontamination: We apply a chemical iron remover to pull embedded metal particles from the paint and ensure a clean surface.
Clay Bar Treatment: A clay bar is used to remove remaining contaminants and leave the paint smooth and ready for correction.
Tape Off Sensitive Areas: Trim, chrome, and delicate surfaces are taped off to prevent polish buildup or staining.
Step 1: Compound Stage: Using a machine polisher, cutting pad, and compound, we safely remove a large portion of swirls, scratches, and oxidation.
Step 2: Polishing Stage: We refine the finish by polishing away micro scratches left from compounding, bringing out clarity and shine.
Paint Wipe Down: We wipe the paint with a prep solution to remove polish residue and reveal the true condition of the surface.
Apply Paint Protection: Depending on your choice, we apply a wax, sealant, or ceramic coating to protect the freshly corrected paint.
Dress Tires and Trim: Exterior plastics, trim, tires, and fender liners are dressed for a clean, even, non greasy finish.
Clean Exterior Windows and Mirrors: All glass surfaces are cleaned for a streak free finish.
Final Touch Ups: We perform a complete inspection and address any areas that need attention before you pick up your vehicle.
Paint Correction Pricing
Price is based on size, condition, and type of clear coat. General prices shown below. Please contact us for a more accurate quote.
Small
Camry, Mustang
$550 - $750+
Medium
Ranger, Rogue
$650 - $850+
Large
Large Truck, SUV
$950 - $1150+
Our paint correction service removes swirls, scratches, water spots, and other imperfections to restore deep gloss and clarity. Once we finish, your paint will look dramatically better.
How long those results last depends on how the vehicle is maintained. Automated car washes are the fastest way to ruin fresh paint correction. The spinning brushes and bristles slap the paint repeatedly, often with embedded dirt or debris from previous vehicles. This creates new scratches and can even cause deeper damage.
We see this often. Cars come in with long scratches or scuffs caused by a piece of debris trapped in a car wash brush.
To keep your paint looking its best, proper washing is essential. Low quality wash mitts, dirty towels, and poor wash techniques can reintroduce swirls in just a few washes, and your shine will fade quickly.
Whether you have us maintain your vehicle or wash it yourself, the goal is to use the right tools, clean towels, and proper washing methods to preserve the finish.
With good maintenance, most vehicles only need a light polish every year or two to remove minor swirls and bring the gloss back to a high standard.
How Long Do Paint Correction Results Last?
A ceramic coating is one of the most popular ways to protect your paint after a polish. It is a long lasting, durable layer that bonds to your paint and helps repel dirt, water, and road grime so contaminants do not stick as easily.
When you wash your car, you will notice that most dirt rinses off quickly, making maintenance much easier compared to an unprotected surface.
However, a ceramic coating does not stop rock chips or physical impact. For protection against chips or debris, paint protection film is the better choice.
What is a Ceramic Coating?
Hire a Paint Correction Expert in Kansas City
Paint correction should always be handled by a trained professional if you want great results without risking damage. We often see vehicles come in because another detailer used the wrong tools or techniques, leaving the paint in worse condition.
One of the most common issues is buffer trails caused by a detailer using a high speed rotary buffer with a heavy wool pad. This can leave swirl marks and smears across the paint. In more serious cases, improper technique can burn through clear coat or chip the paint, which can only be fixed with touch up paint or a full respray.
We use a combination of dual action and rotary polishers along with wool, microfiber, and foam pads to safely achieve the best finish possible.
The Right Tools and Products for Maximum Paint Correction Results
Restoring your paint to a like new finish takes more than one tool or product. We use professional grade polishers, pads, compounds, and techniques to safely remove swirls and bring back deep gloss and clarity.
Polishers: The Foundation of Paint Correction
We use multiple types and sizes of polishers, including 1 inch, 3 inch, and 5 inch machines. Rotary, dual action, and forced rotation polishers each have a specific purpose depending on the panel size, the shape of the area, and the hardness of the clear coat. Larger panels like hoods require bigger throw machines, while tight areas like bumpers need precise 3 inch polishers.
Pads: What Makes Contact with the Paint
Pads play one of the biggest roles in the correction process. Wool pads are used for heavy cutting and removing deep swirls. Microfiber and foam pads are used for medium and light polishing. Before beginning, we test different pad and compound combinations to find the best setup for your vehicle’s paint.
Compounds and Polishes: The Final Ingredient
Compounds come in different strengths. Heavy cutting compounds are used to remove deeper defects, often paired with a wool pad and a rotary for serious correction. Finishing polishes are used to refine the paint, boost clarity, and create a mirror like gloss. Every step is chosen based on what your paint needs to achieve the best possible finish.
Hard vs Soft Clear Coat: What’s the Difference?
When polishing a vehicle, the type of clear coat makes a big difference in how we correct the paint and what results you can expect. Clear coat is the protective layer over your paint, and it generally falls into two categories: hard and soft.
Hard Clear Coat: Hard clear coats resist scratches and swirls better, so the paint usually stays looking nicer for longer. When imperfections do appear, they take more effort to correct. Hard clear coat often requires stronger compounds, more aggressive pads, and more polishing time. The benefit is that once corrected, it holds its shine very well.
Soft Clear Coat: Soft clear coats scratch and swirl more easily, but they are also easier to polish. Light compounds and gentler pads are usually all that’s needed to bring the finish back to life. Because it marks easily, soft clear coat needs careful washing and drying to stay looking its best.
No matter which type your vehicle has, we use the right tools and techniques to safely correct the paint and bring out maximum gloss.
Paint Correction FAQs
Where are you located?
Our detail shop is located at 5100 Ararat Dr, Independence, MO 64129, right behind Bellicose Church. Most paint correction services take 2 to 3 days depending on the level of work. Paint correction is a shop-only service.
What tools and products do you use?
We use a full range of professional tools including 1 inch, 3 inch, and 5 inch polishers, along with multiple pad types, compounds, towels, and lighting. For heavier defects, we use more aggressive tools to safely achieve the desired results.
Before polishing, we measure the paint with a paint thickness gauge to make sure there is enough clear coat to work with. This prevents over-polishing and protects your vehicle from unnecessary damage.
What is the difference between a wax and paint correction?
Wax does not remove swirls or scratches. It only hides very light imperfections and takes just a few hours.
Paint correction actually removes the swirls, revealing deep gloss and clarity. This process takes significantly more time and typically requires one or two full days depending on the condition and size of the vehicle.
My paint is chipping. Can you still polish it?
If your paint is chipping, cracking, or heavily oxidized, that panel may be too damaged to polish. However, other panels in good condition can still be corrected normally. If the paint is beyond repair, the best solution is repainting that specific panel.
Does the color of the car matter?
The polishing process is the same, but darker colors like black show far more swirls and imperfections than lighter colors like white. Black can achieve an incredible shine but requires more maintenance. White tends to hide many imperfections because they blend with the paint.
How often should I polish my car?
Paint correction should not be done every year. Clear coat is limited, and each correction removes a small amount. Proper washing and maintenance help preserve your finish so you do not need to polish it often. The goal is to correct the paint once, then maintain it properly.
