Polishing! What exactly is it?

We always hear the word “polish” or “buffing” a car, but as a detailer I can tell you that a lot of people just aren’t exactly sure what it means, many people think it’s the same as waxing a car! This leads to shocked reactions when they get their quote.

Polishing is a 1-step paint enhancement service that removes ~50-75% of minor scratches, swirls, etchings, and water spots to enhance the gloss of the paint by reducing those defects that make it appear dull or not as glossy. Buffing and polishing is a 2-step paint correction service that removes ~75-95% of those defects, which you could imagine would bring an even deeper gloss and reflection, since the paint would be more clear of those scratches, swirls, and water spots.

Detailing and paint correction typically takes 6-15+ hours depending on the exact service, how dirty and contaminated the vehicle is, and how many swirls, water spots, and etchings that are being removed from the paint. The paint enhancement/correction is what really stretches that time out for a detail to take that long. This is because when using a polisher to remove these paint defects, it is a slow moving, drawn out process that is typically worked in small sections at a time. What is happening here is that the compound or polish on the pad is erasing the defects with a high speed and friction to smoothen out your paint.

This is why it is recommended that the highest form of protection is applied once this process is done, because you can only polish so many times before the clear coat is completely removed from the paint, which would require a repaint to fix the area! A 6 month sealant is included with polishing services, but a ceramic coating is what you’re going to want on your paint once you get that service done. This will protect the paint from getting scratched up that badly in the future, and act as a sacrificial barrier to your clear coat to give it a shield of protection for however many years it lasts, which can range from 1-10 years.

If you have any questions about any of these services, or want to get them done to your vehicle, please feel free to get in contact!