Swirl & Scratch Removal
Paint Correction in Modesto, CA
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes swirls, scratches, haze and water spots from your clear coat to bring back real gloss. Skylab Ceramic Details offers single-step, two-step and multi-step correction at its Modesto studio, starting at $700. Call (209) 871-7060 for a free quote.
- 4.9 from 80 Google reviews
- GYEON Certified
- Owner on every car
Starting price: from $700
Why people bring their cars to Skylab
- Single-step from $700, removes about 30 to 60% of defects
- Digital paint thickness gauge reading on every job
- Inspected under custom hexagon studio lighting
- Owner Skylar polishes every car himself
Schuyler (Skylar) Ricketts works on every car himself, in a studio built for paint: hexagon lighting, digital paint gauges and infrared curing.
What can paint correction fix?
Correction levels the clear coat by a tiny amount so scratches stop catching light. It removes swirls and holograms, micro marring, haze, oxidation, etching, hard water spots and light to medium scratches. Scratches that go through the clear coat cannot be polished out, and Skylar will tell you that up front. The goal is the most clarity you can get while leaving plenty of clear coat on the car.
Single-step, two-step or multi-step?
Single-step is one machine polish, up to 8 hours, and usually removes about 30 to 60% of defects. It starts at $700. Two-step adds a heavy compounding pass before the polish, takes up to 2 days and removes about 80 to 90%, from $1,450. Multi-step runs 4 to 6 days, starts at $3,500 and is what Skylar recommends for black paint.
Want it done right the first time?
Send a photo or two and tell us about the car. Free quote, no pressure.
Why the gauge and the lighting matter
Every correction starts with a digital paint thickness gauge reading, so Skylar knows how much clear coat each panel has before a pad touches it. Custom studio lighting, including a hexagon light ceiling, shows defects that sunlight hides, and a digital microscope helps check the surface up close. That is how the damage comes out without taking more paint than needed.
Questions
How much does paint correction cost in Modesto?
At Skylab, single-step correction starts at $700, two-step at $1,450 and multi-step at $3,500. The price depends on the paint condition, the size of the vehicle and the result you want. Call (209) 871-7060 and Skylar will quote it after a look.
Will paint correction remove all scratches?
It removes defects that sit in the clear coat, like swirls, haze and light scratches. A scratch you can catch with a fingernail may be too deep to remove safely. Skylar measures the paint first and tells you what will come out and what will not.
How long does paint correction take?
Single-step takes up to 8 hours. Two-step takes up to 2 days. Multi-step takes 4 to 6 days. Larger vehicles and heavily damaged paint can take longer, and Skylar will give you a time when he quotes the job.
Should I ceramic coat after paint correction?
Yes, it is the best time. Corrected paint is as clean and clear as it will get, and a coating helps it stay that way by making washes easier and adding a protective layer. Skylab offers GYEON and nano graphene coatings from $1,000.
Related services
Areas we serve
See Why People Drive to Skylab
Call, text or send the form. Schuyler answers personally and limits how many cars he takes each month.