‘Paint correction’ is a scary phrase to car owners because it is one of the most expensive money pits you can endure. There are a lot of moving parts as to how frequently this process should take place, with make, model, age of vehicle, and most importantly, how much damage the paint has incurred being relevant. Even still, there is a mental checklist you can abide by that will help in letting you know how often you should have restoration performed by experienced auto detailers. So what are some factors that determine the time frame at which correction is necessary?

“If your vehicle is always parked in a shaded or covered region, this will buy you months of time before paint correction is required. This is because the most common cause for a car’s finish needing to be addressed is due to oxidation. Oxidation is oxygen and heat based, meaning the more direct sunlight and UV rays that hit the metal, the faster it will deteriorate its properties”

How Much Is Your Car Exposed?

If your vehicle is always parked in a shaded or covered region, this will buy you months of time before paint correction is required. This is because the most common cause for a car’s finish needing to be addressed is due to oxidation. Oxidation is oxygen and heat based, meaning the more direct sunlight and UV rays that hit the metal, the faster it will deteriorate its properties. Having a garage or awning usually means that correction should be done once every year or two, however if your automobile resides in blistering heat with limited protection, you may need a solution every few months.

Are You Washing And Drying Your Car Improperly?

Heavy swirl marks and spider web shaped imprints means that your vehicle is not being washed or buffed correctly. Assuming you go through the car wash regularly, or routinely use a dry mit or rag to clean the clear coat, paint correction will have to be conducted often. The film layer on a car is very fragile to rough fabrics and sponges. Obviously they will not dent the exterior, but tiny scratches will form each time the metal is wiped in the wrong fashion. Besides its outward appearance, scrapes are bad for an automobile because they deflect light by scattering it and causing the dirt to illuminate, and not the paint. This is why scratched cars always look dusty and old.

What Environment Does Your Car Reside In?

Besides just harsh light, terrain will determine when paint correction must be delivered immediately. Dusty, unforgiving regions like deserts and high traffic areas will ding and scratch your finish constantly. If you drive in these areas with regularity, going past the 6 month mark before having the paint corrected is playing with fire. The reason urgency is always mentioned in the same breath as paint correction is because scratching makes the hood and body more susceptible to moisture penetration. This causes rust and speeds up the oxidation process. Remember, if left untouched for too long, oxidation will force you to repaint the whole car.

Conclusion

The most foolproof solution to extending the life of each paint correction is to go to an experienced auto detailer and give them the keys, so to speak, on restoring your finish. Each trained technician can give years of luster to the clear coat, and bond the finish so well that oxidation will not occur for a long period of time. Most owners cannot afford to get correction done as much as it is needed, so having it taken care of right the first time is wise.