Does Car Detailing Remove Scratches?

What do you think of when you hear the term car detailing? The first thing that comes to mind for most is a thorough car cleaning which reaches into all the nooks and crannies of the car. But do car detailers do more than just clean? The answer is absolutely, yes! Car detailers are experts in car maintenance as a whole and are trained to correct a variety of vehicle appearance problems. These problems include scratches, swirl marks, paint fading, paint oxidation and a variety of other forms of paint damage.

In this blog post we will discuss

• If scratch removal is part of a typical car detailing service

• Types of common scratches found on cars

• How detailers remove scratches

• The limitations of car detailing in scratch removal

• DIY options for scratch removal

• The cost of scratch removal

• How to protect you car from scratches

Is Scratch Removal Part of a Typical Car Detailing Service?

A professional detailing service can vary greatly from one shop to the next. Most shops offer detailing packages to help their customers choose what is best for their needs. Typically the detailing package can specify if it is for the exterior, interior or both. It can also specify if the car is being just cleaned, or cleaned and protected with waxes and conditioners. Some deluxe packages may even include a light polishing of the vehicle to help enhance shine and appearance.

Most often though, scratch removal is not a part of the typical detailing package. Scratch removal requires a professional assessment to determine severity before starting, and labor time in scratch removal varies greatly from case to case. This makes scratch removal a specialty service which is often an add-on service at detailing shops. Ask your detailer how long the service will take and what they charge as their labor rate to determine the cost to get it repaired.

Does Wax Remove Scratches?

One common misconception that we often hear is that waxing can fix car scratches. Waxing offers powerful protection against the environment, but do not be disappointed if the scratches on your car remain after it's applied. We will get into the exact process of how scratches are removed further down in this blog. For now, just know that waxing does not have the necessary abrasion required to remove scratches.

A high-quality wax can however serve as a temporary filler in the scratch and therefore temporarily reduce its appearance. This is not the same as removing it. This is hiding the scratch while it remains present. Once the wax degrades off the car in a few weeks to months, the scratch will look as it always has. This also only works for very fine scratches so it is a bandaid solution, and a limited one at that.

Does a Ceramic Coating Remove Scratches?

Ceramic coatings are a new technology that has improved vehicle protection from the environment. As opposed to waxes which last weeks to months, ceramic coatings last for years or even the life of the car with proper maintenance.

But when these coatings are applied do they remove scratches? No, ceramic coatings are clear so whatever they are applied on top of will still be visible. It will be extremely well protected for sure, but it can still be seen. A ceramic coating is not capable of filling in scratches or hiding them, it just protects whatever it is applied on top of.

For this reason, professional detailers do extensive prep work to ensure a vehicle is in the best possible condition before applying a ceramic coating. This includes the removal of scratches.

Of note with ceramic coatings, because they are so durable and hard, they can help prevent minor scratches. Large gashes and rock impacts will still damage these coatings but it does offer some noticeable resistance.

Understanding Car Scratches

Automotive paint has a few layers you must know in order understand car scratches. At the base is the metal body of the car and a Cationic Electrocoating [E-coat] layer which helps with primer bonding and corrosion resistance. Just above the car's metal and E-coat is a primer layer. Above the primer is a layer of paint, and above the paint is the clear coat. The entire thickness of the these layers is about 100 to 180 microns and the clear coat accounts for 40 to 50 microns. For reference a human hair is about 70 microns thick. That means the paint on your vehicle is extremely thin.

Scratches can be categorized based their depth with some subcategories based on their common characteristic types. Here for this auto detailing blog we will break down scratches based upon their depth.

Clear Coat Scratches

The most superficial scratches are scratches which enter into the outermost layer of paint, the clear coat, and then do not extend below it. These scratches are often caused by car wash tunnels or improper car washing technique. Improper technique includes drying the vehicle with a towel that is not microfiber. It also includes not using enough lubrication during washing or drying. Another problem is not rinsing your wash mitt or sponge often enough. There are more ways in which improper washing technique can cause scratches. To learn more about how to properly wash your vehicle, read our blog post here.

Clear coat scratches are sometimes only visible from certain angles and in specific lighting. These scratches are often called swirl marks because their shape often looks circular. More often than not, these scratches are not localized to just one area but rather are over the entire vehicle or large sections.

Car detailers are very capable of removing clear coat scratches through gentle machine polishing. To learn more about the process detailers use to fix these scratches, continue reading below. There are DIY solutions for clear coat depth scratches which work best when the scratch is isolated. However, if the scratches are present over the entire vehicle, an expert may be the best option.

Paint Depth Scratches

Deeper than clear coat scratches are paint depth scratches. These scratches extend through the clear coat, and into the paint without extending into the primer or metal body of the vehicle. These scratches tend to be more isolated than clear coat scratches. Examples of these types of scratches would be key scratches, tree branch scratches or animal claw scratches. Because these scratches are deeper they are usually visible from all viewing angles and do not require specific lighting to see. They also can give your vehicle a much more worn appearance and reduce your vehicle's resale value.

These scratches can sometimes be corrected by detailers and sometimes not, and it always comes with limitations. Fixable paint depth scratches will be isolated to a small area and the surrounding area will have ample remaining paint to work with. If the scratch is broad or if the surrounding paint is not deep enough to perform paint correction then the scratch cannot be removed. In these instances the vehicle will need to be taken to a body shop to have the panel repainted.

The detailer can use touch-up paint in combination with wet sanding to correct the scratch. A limitation is that the area which received touch-up paint will not have the same durability as the rest of the paint. Another limitation is that the neighboring paint will be wet sanded, meaning some of the clear coat layer will be removed. This will leave that section of paint vulnerable to damage in the future.

Deep Scratches Into Primer or Metal

The deepest and most severe scratches extend through both the clear coat and paint into the primer or metal body of the car. These scratches are not able to be fixed by professional car detailers. To use abrasion to level the painted surface down to the level of the scratch would leave the area damaged. When a scratch is this severe the only way to repair it would be to repaint the panel at a body shop.

Recognizing and Addressing Paint Transfer Damage

One situation that often looks like a scratch but is really more of a specific case is during paint transfer. Paint transfer occurs when your vehicle hits, or is hit by a painted object such as another car or a mailbox. The paint from the other object gets transferred on to your car in the linear shape of a scratch. These issues are resolved differently than pure scratches.

In professional detailing, a solvent is used to remove the paint that has been transferred. The solvent is then safely removed from the vehicle to prevent the solvent from damaging the paint. After the solvent has been removed, the area is assessed to see if there are any scratches or damage underneath where the paint transfer was. If there are scratches then typical paint correction techniques are used.

Paint transfer is one problem that can sometimes be safely removed at home. DIY paint correction kits will use abrasion to remove the paint transfer or household solvents like mineral spirits can often do the trick. Just be sure to thoroughly remove the solvent after its use to prevent vehicle damage.

What Is Paint Oxidation and How to Identify It

One issue that customers often mistake for scratches is actually another issue entirely called paint oxidation. Paint oxidation is when your paint looks faded and burnt by the sun. Oxidized paint also feels rough to the touch which is why customers often think they are scratches. Paint oxidation is actually a chemical reaction which occurs slowly over time. Over time car paint reacts with oxygen in the air, while the sun's heat and UV rays act as a catalyst, speeding up the reaction.

Paint oxidation is an issue that also can be corrected in professional car detailing. But time is of the essence with paint oxidation because the chemical reaction is progressive. If the problem progresses too far then damage will extend deeply into the paint. When this happens the panel can only be repainted to be corrected.

The Paint Correction Process

We have covered up to this point various types of paint damage such as scratches, paint transfer and paint oxidation. We have discussed that car detailers can fix these problems but it is not typically included in a standard car detailing service. Now let's get into the process detailers use to fix these problems. What techniques, products and tools do detailers use?

The most important thing to understand about removing scratches is that to remove them the professional car detailer doesn't remove it by plucking it out. A scratch is not an object, it is an absence of clear coat or paint that should be there. To remove it, you actually need to remove paint in the area surrounding the scratch, down to the depth of the scratch. This way all surfaces are flat and level and there is just a clean reflection.

Another important topic to discuss are the various terms professionals may use to discuss fixing scratches. They may call it scratch removal, paint correction, paint enhancement, buffing or polishing. These terms are largely interchangeable and are talking about the same thing. Each term refers to the process of using abrasion to remove scratches and other paint damage.

With all that said, let's get into the paint correction process.

Assessment to Determine Depth of Paint

The first step in paint correction is to estimate the depth of the scratch and accurately measure the depth of paint in the surrounding area. This is done by using a paint thickness gauge. This tool uses either magnetic induction or ultrasonic techniques, depending upon the material used to construct the body of the car. It is so accurate that it can determine paint depth down to the micron. This helps detailers make an assessment of if the scratch can be repaired or not. It will also help the professional make an assessment as to the best techniques to use to make the correction.

The depth of the scratch itself is estimated. This is done visually and with simple tests such as the "thumbnail test" or by spraying water on the scratch. If water is able to hide the scratch it is likely shallow, it is remains visible while wet it is deep. The reason for the estimate is that paint depth gauges are unable to measure within a scratch, only in broader sections.

As a rule of thumb, most detailers will not attempt to correct a scratch if there is less than 75 microns of paint remaining. Remember as we discussed before, most cars today come from the factory with somewhere between 100 and 180 microns of paint thickness. That does not leave much room for correction which adds to the need for permanent protective coatings such as ceramic coatings.

Preparation Steps Before Paint Correction

One important subject to cover is the preparation work which should be done prior to scratch removal. Before starting to remove a scratch, the vehicle should first be thoroughly washed. If you use a machine polisher on a dirty vehicle, you put downward pressure and rotation on dirt particles which will scratch the car further.

After washing the vehicle, the professional will clean the vehicle to remove embedded contaminants. This includes using a clay bar and chemical agents which will remove contaminants left behind after washing. A clay bar is a synthetic clay which is sticky and grabs on to any dirt which has embedded itself into the paint. A clay bar lubricant should be used with the clay bar to prevent the clay bar from damaging the paint which is called paint marring. Chemical agents such as an iron remover and a water spot mineral remover are then used. The iron remover dislodges any rust or metal particles that are embedded in the paint. The mineral remover dislodges minerals from water evaporation on the car.

These steps should not be skipped before any downward, lateral or rotational pressure to the vehicle. This type of pressure is required during the abrasion process and can scratch the vehicle if the prep is not performed.

Paint Correction Techniques

Wet Sanding Paint Correction

Wet sanding is used for paint depth damage, and can be used in combination with touch-up paint for isolated deep scratches. Wet sanding is the most aggressive form of abrasion and is done very carefully by professionals. A lubricant is sprayed on to the car, and sandpaper is used to abrade the paint down to the level of the scratch. A course sandpaper is used first, followed by progressively finer grits. This is something that should be reserved only for professionals and always requires fine-grade polishing afterwards. The polishing will bring the opaque, sanded surface back to a glossy finish.

Machine Polishing Paint Correction

Polishing using a machine polisher and polishing pads is used for both course and fine grade corrections. To achieve a course grade correction a combination of either a wool or dense foam pad is used in combination with polishing compound. Polishing compound is a paste applied to the pad which is more aggressive than fine grade finishing polishes. To achieve a fine grade correction low density foam pads are used in combination with a fine grade polishing paste.

Both course grade and fine grade techniques work the same, just at varying degrees of aggressiveness. Both techniques use abrasion to remove the surrounding paint down to the level of the scratch to achieve a level and reflective surface.

How to Use Touch-up Paint for Deep Scratches

Touch-up paint is often used for isolated deep scratches where leveling the surface to remove the scratch is not possible. Touch-up paint is always followed up with machine polishing because the touch-up process will leave brush strokes from the applicator.

Touch-up paint can be a helpful way to preserve paint for deep scratches. Remember the process of removing a scratch is you remove the neighboring paint down to the level of the scratch. If you fill the scratch with touch-up paint, you then do not have to go as deep with the abrasion process. This can help preserve some of the neighboring paint.

Limitations of Car Detailing in Scratch Removal

Car detailers are experts in paint damage correction including the removal of scratches. But although expertly trained, there are some forms of paint damage which cannot be corrected other than through repainting a panel. As a general rule for scratches, if a scratch is shallow it can be fixed. If it is deep and thin then it can often be fixed. If it is deep and broad then your only option is to repaint. This applies to other forms of paint damage such as paint oxidation as well.

In regards to repainting a panel, this too has its limitations. For one, it is very difficult to perfectly match the rest of the cars paint. Even if you use the manufacturers exact paint, the paint on the remainder of the car has aged and therefore its appearance has changed. Secondly, aftermarket paint is not nearly as durable as the original paint. Thirdly, repainting a panel is much more expensive than simple correction. For these reasons, trying to preserve your original paint is often the best course of action.

DIY Vs Professional Scratch Repair

DIY kits are available to repair minor scratches and paint transfer. These kits often use a foam sponge or pad with a fine grade polish to remove a scratch through abrasion. Some kits may even come with touch-up paint.

My professional advice for using these kits is to be sure that the vehicle is clean before you try to remove the scratch. Also if the scratch is not showing much progress after a minute or two of rubbing then the scratch is likely deeper than you thought. In these instances you should reach out to a professional for advice. These kits can also leave something to be desired with the final finish on the repair. The repaired area may look hazy when compared with the rest of the cars paint. A professional detailer would be able to offer a finer grade finish than a DIY kit simply because of their access to more products.

DIY kits can be used on deeper scratches too but a professional detailer with experience in paint correction is very valuable here. The key is not only to remove the scratch but to preserve as much paint as possible during the removal process. If the abrasion process to remove the scratch is too aggressive then there will not be much paint remaining in the surrounding areas. This leaves the vehicle prone to future damage or even rust formation. The skilled removal of the scratch while preserving as much paint as possible is where using a detailer really pays off in the long run.

Cost of Detailing Scratch Removal

Scratch removal services and other forms of paint damage correction are a speciality service which requires expertise and practice. Detailers use advanced tools like paint depth gauges and machine polishers with a variety of polishing pads and polishes to achieve the desired result. Professional detailers often take educational courses to become certified in this specialty. Because of these factors, scratch removal and other paint correction tends to be one of the more expensive services offered by detailers.

Most detailers charge by the hour for their labor on specialty services and a fair rate would be approximately $75 to $125 dollars per hour. For reference, a paint correction service can take as little as one hour or take as long as a whole day depending upon the extent. The rate you pay can depends upon the detailers experience, your geographic location and the materials required to complete the work.

How to Protect Your Car From Scratches?

Now that we have covered the topic of removing scratches from you vehicle, what are some tips to prevent scratches in the future? As with most things, a little bit of prevention can go a long way. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?

Regular Maintenance Tips

The most important tip to avoid scratches and paint damage would be to avoid car wash tunnels. Car washes use high speed rotating foam or cloth materials to scrub your vehicle. The problem is that every vehicle which has gone through the tunnel before you has left its dirt on the cloths. That means a dirty cloth is being hit against your car at high speeds. This is a guaranteed way to get swirl marks and occasionally paint chips.

But what about touch-less car washes? These options use high and low pH chemicals to try to clean the car. The problem is that these chemicals can weaken your paint over time. A touch-less car wash also never fully cleans the car, so contaminants build on the surface and slowly erode the paint. It's best to avoid the car wash if you want to preserve your car.

If you are going to wash your own vehicle then the best tip is to use plenty of lubrication during the wash process. Use a dedicated car wash soap as these are made to have a high degree of lubricity. Also avoid washing your car in the sun as the sun will dry out your soap and lead to more friction. Make sure to rinse your wash mitt or sponge frequently to avoid rubbing dirt over the paint. A pre rinse is also often needed when a vehicle is very dirty. And the last bit of advice is counterintuitive. Make sure that you use plenty of lubrication while drying the car and always use a microfiber towel. Microfiber towels actually absorb better when they are damp so keep the vehicle wet before you dry. If you are interested, check out the two-bucket wash method for a safe at home hand washing technique.

Protective Coatings to Prevent Car Scratches

Protective coatings and films serve an important role in the prevention of car scratches. Ceramic coatings are a clear and extremely hard coating applied to vehicles which can help to prevent minor scratches. Ceramic coatings however do not offer protection against deep scratches. Ceramic coatings, made from silicon dioxide, are similar to a layer of hardened glass around the vehicle. Glass is resistant to scratches but not bullet-proof. If you have questions about these advanced protective coatings, reach out to your trusted car detailer.

The best protection against scratches comes in the form of paint protection film [PPF]. This is a clear film that gets applied to the vehicle and acts as a sacrificial barrier. Some films are even self-healing, meaning that minor scratches and swirl marks are self corrected by the films unique materials. For deep scratches the film can simply be removed and reapplied. Many professional detailing shops offer PPF to their customers as an option for scratch prevention.

For wax coatings, although they offer great environmental protection, they do not offer any protection against scratches.

Scratch Removal in Broward County, FL

Are you looking for professional scratch removal in our local service area of Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Parkland, Coral Springs and the rest of Broward? A professional assessment is completely free. To get started give us at Shine Plus Automotive Detailing a call at (954) 299-8499.