Making the Go No-Go Decision in Paint Correction and Why It Matters

In NASA's space program, the "Go, No-go" decision is a pivotal moment that determines whether a mission will proceed or be canceled. Once the decision is made, it's final until the next evaluation. This moment is critical because it ensures that everyone involved is aligned and clear on the direction forward. Just as crucial as that decision in space exploration, I face a similar "Go, No-go" moment every day as a paint correction specialist. Every car that comes through my line, whether it’s for a multi-stage paint correction or a single-stage correction, must first undergo a careful inspection using a paint depth gauge to determine if it's safe to proceed.

If you’re considering a paint correction, one of the most important things to understand is how much paint is safe to work with. For me, the minimum thickness I’m comfortable working with is 3 mils (or 76.2 microns). It might sound like a lot, but in reality, that’s not much paint to work with, and it’s becoming increasingly common for vehicles to have thinner paint layers. Most new factory vehicles are manufactured with less paint than ever before, making it essential to carefully evaluate the surface before starting any corrective work.

It’s also important to understand that perfection isn’t always the ultimate goal. If your paint thickness is getting close to or below the 3 mil threshold, you’ll need to shift your focus away from achieving flawless results and, instead, prioritize preservation. The goal should be to maintain the integrity of the vehicle’s finish rather than trying to achieve perfection when the paint simply can’t handle that level of correction.

I always recommend to my clients—and I’m suggesting to you—that preservation should be the primary focus when dealing with thinner paint. When the paint is already thin, pushing for a perfect finish could result in damage, and it’s not worth risking the longevity of your car’s paint job. Instead, maintaining and preserving the paint becomes the best option, ensuring that your vehicle continues to look great without compromising its integrity.

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!

Debunking Common Myths About Ceramic Coatings

Unfortunately, there's a tremendous amount of misinformation and confusion surrounding ceramic coatings. A lot of this comes from manufacturers who are eager to sell their products, or from detailers who may be new to the industry and don’t fully understand what ceramic coatings actually do.

If you come across claims about ceramic coatings that mention their hardness, scratch resistance, or durability lasting 7, 8, or even 10 years, it's time to take a step back and approach those claims with caution. These assertions are typically as far from the truth as possible.

Here’s the reality: You won’t get complete scratch resistance from a ceramic coating. While it does provide some protection, it doesn’t turn your car into an indestructible surface. You can still run your clean hands over a coated surface, and you’ll leave light marring behind. Over time, these small marks will build up, leading to swirls in the paint. That’s why it's important to know that a ceramic coating doesn’t make your car invincible.

Another common myth is that ceramic coatings make a car immune to automatic car washes. The truth is, if you take a car with a ceramic coating through an automatic car wash, you’re still going to end up with swirl marks and scratches. The coating will help keep the car cleaner for a while, but it won’t protect it from the physical damage caused by the brushes and chemicals in an automatic wash.

But the biggest myth by far is the exaggerated durability claims. No ceramic coating on the market can realistically last 7, 8, or 10 years. These numbers often come from theoretical lab settings, not from real-world use. When I talk about the effective lifespan of a ceramic coating at The Buffing Moose Detailing, I’m considering what actually happens in the real world, where environmental factors, maintenance, and wear come into play.

Typically, the protective benefits of a ceramic coating start to diminish after about 2 to 4 years. Even if the coating is still on your car’s surface after that time, it’s no longer offering the same level of protection or hydrophobic qualities. The self-cleaning effect that initially made it so appealing will also fade, leaving your car less resistant to dirt and water.

So, when you're looking at ceramic coatings, don’t be swayed by those inflated promises of long-lasting durability. It’s important to be realistic about what the coating can and can’t do. Understand that a coating is a valuable protective layer, but it’s not a miracle solution. With proper care, it will last a few years, but beyond that, you’re looking at a diminishing return on the investment.

The Truth About Paint Correction and What It Can and Can’t Do

You may have heard about paint correction before, but you are not really sure what the term means. Well with The Buffing Moose Detailing, it has been a big thing that my knowledge of paint correction has made me stand out in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. What that means is that I’m going in with machine polishing to get rid of swirls and light defects in the paint to bring out a high level of clarity—making the paint really pop!

Paint correction is a very labor-intensive process that involves many, many hours depending on the level that you’re going for. With older cars, swirls can start developing overtime. Eventually, the car starts getting a little bit beat up during the washing process. Another thing to keep in mind is this. If you look at your car outside in the sun and it literally looks like a spiderweb on the surface…those are swirls. That stuff that can be fixed through paint correction which once again is going to restore that clarity. Many times, people don't realize how bad their car has gotten until they look it over a period of time. Now that you know what swirls and paint defects are, what are your options?

I have several different options of paint correction that you can choose depending on the needs of the car. My most simplest option is called a ‘Light Machine Polish’. Sometimes is it also known as “Paint Enhancement’ which can achieve maybe a 25% rate of defect removal out of the surface. For a more intensive paint correction, you should at minimum consider my ‘Single Stage Paint Correction which offers anywhere between 70%-80% of correction rate. There is a reason why this is my most popular paint correction option because it's really going to transform the looks your the vehicle. However, going for a ‘Multi-Stage Paint Correction’ means taking a car through a very labor-intensive process to refine it to as close to perfection as I can possibly get.

Speaking of perfection, here is what paint correction can do and what it can't fix. If you got heavy gouges in the surface, paint correction is not gonna be able to fix. The reason why is that there's just not enough material to work with. Paint correction also doesn't fix rock chip or cracks in the paint and things of that nature. Even if you have some scars left on the car and you've decided on paint correction to have the finish polished it to a very high level, it's still gonna bring out a tremendous amount of brilliance and looks

So is paint correction just for older cars? No! Believe it or not, brand new cars straight from the factory only represent between 85%-90% of what it’s true potential and looks are. Even a brand new car coming from a factory don’t have the time to do the kind of paint correction that I doing. Therefore, the car doesn't look its full potential compared to what I can do by going in and refining the finish for you. It doesn't matter if you got a brand new Honda Civic or if you've got an expensive Ferrari or anything in between, you can make that paint look better than what the factory can do. Just like how it sounds, I’m gonna be working on the paint, but other areas that I can work on too.

Sometimes on the b-pillars you have shiny black plastic that I can polish up to get rid of the defects or even with carbon fiber. Whether it could be exterior carbon fiber or it could be interior carbon fiber, I've never seen a single piece of carbon fiber that couldn't be approved upon significantly. Polishing them absolutely makes a huge difference once you have those pieces polished out, making that carbon fiber really shine through. Now that you've got the paint correction down on the car, what do you do to protect it? While there's a plenty of options, one of the best paint protection solution that I offer is gonna be ceramic coatings. I would strongly recommend this because a premium quality ceramic coating will lock in those good looks.

For me with The Buffing Moose Detailing, I have been operating as a professional mobile detailer for people from all over the coast from North Hampton, New Hampshire to Kennebunk, Maine to perform my methodology of paint correction. It has become well known that I have the discipline and understanding to do proper polishing techniques to finish down the paint better. I encourage you to speak so that I can discuss with you some of the processes or talk to you about what I can accomplish with your car depending on what your wants and needs. Begin your project with The Buffing Moose and I look forward to working with you in the future.