If you are in Calgary and you are driving a 5-year-old used car, you know that the exterior of the vehicle has endured quite a lot. This includes the likes of winter road salt, summer sun with high UV, city driving, and probably a few automatic washes that were not very gentle on the finish. These factors degrade the exterior of the used vehicle more quickly than most car owners realize.
However, you can restore the showroom shine to your 5-year-old used car in Calgary. You have to understand and implement a proper paint correction process.
Paint correction tricks for a 5-year-old used car in Calgary
For a 5-year-old used car, it means that the factory finish is almost lost. The original gloss and clarity are things of the past. This is where paint correction proves to be useful. With this process, you can easily renew what the environment has worn down on your vehicle.
- Oxidation treatment – Oxidation is actually the chalky appearance of paint or the dulling of paint. This is when the paint layer undergoes degradation due to contaminants, UV, environmental exposure, and time. Because of Calgary’s sun and salt environment, oxidation takes place more quickly.
Identify the oxidized panels in the used cars Calgary first. Perform a heavy correction stage or a strong compound polish to remove the oxidized layer or its effects. Once the correction is complete, the paint looks clean, vibrant, and reflective.
It is important to address oxidation before protection. In case you apply a coating over oxidized paint, the result is less durable and less visually sharp.
- Swirl removal – Swirl marks are light, circular patterns on the paint finish on your car. These marks are due to improper washing, automated car washes, dust rubbing during cleaning, or abrasive drying. They look quite ugly and can be tough to get rid of.
To remove swirl marks, wash the car thoroughly and decontaminate it to remove all kinds of embedded contaminants. Use a dual-action polisher or an appropriate machine-polish combo with a cutting pad to level the clear coat where the swirls are. Now refine the surface with a fine polish to restore gloss and clarity. This minimizes swirl marks and visible mini-scratches.
For a 5-year-old used car in Calgary, the technique will involve multi-stage correction.
Benefits of ceramic coating
Once paint correction is over, the next step is protective coating, particularly a ceramic coating. Ceramic coating from places like https://stampedeauto.com/ provides superior gloss and depth, offering showroom-level shine.
This coating also offers UV and oxidation protection, slowing the aging of the paint. Most importantly, ceramic coating is easier on the maintenance quotient and has strong hydrophobic effects. This means less aggressive washes and fewer swirl marks or damage.
Summing it up
For a used car in Calgary, the paint has definitely undergone damage. It has become faded, with accumulated swirls and oxidation. By performing a proper paint correction followed by a good ceramic coating, you can restore the shine of the vehicle and extend the life of the paint.
