Understanding Single Stage Paint Correction and What to Expect

Let’s clarify something first. A single stage paint correction or one-step polishing is exactly what it sounds like. It is done with one polishing pad and one polish. A multi-stage paint correction means going in with a correcting compound and a finishing polish. With that said, here is where a one-step polishing process falls into place is this. Many people make the mistake thinking that there's car washing and then there's full paint correction. Well for most people looking to have their cars look a lot better and they don't need it to be perfect or they're not wanting to invest in the budget required for a multi-stage paint correction, a single stage paint correction can still get a lot accomplished in just one step if done correctly.

I think it’s also important to understand a little bit about the one-step polishing industry standards and what kind of correction you can get from a single stage paint correction. You might have seen someone going over the car in 30 minutes or even less. If this is all you think you need, then I do have offer a similar process called a light machine polish. This will be a better fit for you. But the reason why I would like to distinguish the difference in meaning is because a light machine polish doesn’t really doing anything at that level except adding a little bit gloss and slickness. You may also expect a tiny bit of correction to it as well.

Accordingly, this doesn't fall under the category of one-step polishing or single stage paint correction. My range may fall anywhere from 60% to 90% depending on the paint and also on the condition of the car that I start off with. Regardless, I always need to treat all single stage paint correction similarly to a multi-stage paint correction. My aim is to always maximize the amount of correction possible out of a single stage paint correction.

Most of the time with single stage paint correction, it's going to require the same combination. However, what can vary a little bit is the techniques that is used to achieve this goal. By spending the proper amount of time doing a test section and visually inspecting the paint will allow me to see how much correction is taking place. Ocassionally, I may need to see if my process or technique needs any type of adjustment to increase the quality of reflection and clarity of the paint surface.

Now if you've have a vehicle with softer paint, a single stage paint correction may actually surprise you because of how much defects can be removed. In past situations, I can have made a car look like I did a multi-stage a paint correction with the right combination of technique, pads and polish. On the other end of the spectrum with harder paint, you might only receive about 30, 40 or even 50% correction. It all just depends. No doubt a single stage paint correction is something that will take time to complete. One thing for sure is there will always be a satisfying level of clarity added.

A very important thing to be aware of is the time spent on your project will vary. Every paint correction is done differently. You may find a detailer who will end up spending just two hours on a paint correction. While more time doesn’t necessarily translate to more, I always plan on spending 6 to 8 hours during this process to do it right after the vehicle has been properly washed and prepped alone. If more than about eight hours is taken, then maybe a person is trying to accomplish a bit too much with that one step procedure. Again, it all depends on what your expectations are.

Note: Here is a self-examining thought. Are you going to be happy viewing the paint from 20 ft. away or are you going to examining all the imperfections still at about a foot away? If you see yourself as the second one, perhaps you want to strongly consider a multi-stage paint correction instead, especially if you feel that you're not going to get as good of a finish as you had wish for. Plus, I think you may be much happier with your decision too!