Paint correction
Paint Correction Service
Paint correction permanently removes swirl marks and scratches by machine-levelling the clear coat, unlike wax or glaze that only hide defects for a few weeks. We measure paint thickness first, cut in one or two stages, and price the work from 1800 MAD.
- From
- 1800 MAD compact, 2400 MAD saloon or SUV
- Second stage
- +900 MAD, for holograms and heavier oxidation
- Working time
- 360–480 minutes
- Vehicles
- Compact to motorhome, imported and resprayed panels included
- Safety floor
- Cutting declined below 90 microns measured
- On site
- 220 V socket, 5 m × 3 m, shade
- Protection afterward
- Sealant or ceramic coating, from 2500 MAD
- Booking lead time
- 24 hours
- Location
- Your home, hotel or residence parking, Agadir
What does a paint correction include?
Paint correction includes eight operations: thickness measurement, a fingernail test, visual diagnosis, decontamination, a targeted cutting pass, a finishing pass, a gloss buff and a second thickness check. Four of the eight happen before any abrasive pad touches the clear coat.
- Paint depth measurement
- A gauge reads clear-coat thickness in microns at three points on every panel.Panels under 90 microns are declined, because a cutting pad on paint that thin breaks through to bare metal.
- Fingernail test on every deep mark
- A fingernail runs across each suspect scratch to check whether it catches the edge.A mark that catches a fingernail has already passed through the clear coat into the primer.
- Visual diagnosis under raking LED light
- Every panel is inspected under angled LED light that reveals swirl marks and oxidation invisible in daylight.Direct Agadir sunlight later exposes the same defects a flat daylight inspection hides.
- Chemical and clay decontamination
- An iron remover and a tar solvent strip embedded metal and tar, then a resin bar lifts what remains bonded.A particle still on the surface scratches the clear coat the moment a pad passes over it.
- Targeted cutting pass
- A dual-action polisher abrades only the diagnosed defect zones, never the whole panel at once.This pass removes 3 to 5 microns of clear coat from the affected zone only.
- Finishing pass on corrected zones
- A softer pad and a finer compound remove the haze the cutting pad leaves.A cutting pass alone leaves fine holograms that appear under raking light.
- Final gloss buff
- The finishing compound is worked into the paint by microfibre across the whole corrected panel.Buffing restores depth of colour without removing further clear coat.
- Second thickness measurement and written report
- The gauge reads every corrected panel again and compares the result against the first reading.The report documents the exact microns removed, for the next correction decision or a ceramic coating booking.
What paint correction does not fix
Four limits bound paint correction on this page. A fingernail-deep scratch, a stone chip, a bare unprotected finish after the work, and interior or headlight condition fall outside its scope entirely, each belonging to a different service.
- A scratch you can feel with a fingernail has cut through the clear coat into the primer. Correction cannot rebuild material that is already gone.Car Detailing in Agadir
- Stone chips, cracked lacquer and a previous bad respray are body-shop repairs, declined here because they need equipment we do not carry on site.Paint Protection Film (PPF)
- Corrected paint carries no protection of its own. Bare clear coat acquires new fine marks within weeks unless a coating follows the correction.Ceramic Coating in Agadir
- A hazy headlight lens, odour, pet hair and stained upholstery sit outside an exterior clear-coat procedure entirely.Headlight Restoration
How do we work, step by step?
Paint correction follows six fixed steps: wash, decontaminate, measure, test, cut and seal. Measurement always precedes cutting, and a cutting pass targets only the zone the test identified, never the whole panel at once.
- 45 min
Wash the vehicle to remove loose grit before any tool touches the paint
A two-bucket contact wash lifts sand off the surface, so later steps do not drag grit across the clear coat.
- 40 min
Decontaminate the clear coat chemically and with a clay bar
An iron remover and a tar solvent strip embedded metal and tar, then a resin bar lifts what remains bonded.
- 20 min
Measure paint thickness at three points on every panel
A gauge records clear-coat depth in microns and sets the safety floor for the session.
- 15 min
Test every deep mark under raking light and with a fingernail
Swirl marks, holograms and any mark that catches a fingernail are classified before a pad is chosen.
- 3–4 hours
Cut and refine the diagnosed zones with a dual-action polisher
Masked trim stays protected while the polisher cuts each zone, one or two stages, then a finer pad removes the resulting haze.
- 10 min
Seal the corrected paint or book a ceramic coating within days
The technician recommends a sealant or a ceramic coating appointment before the vehicle leaves bare and unprotected.
What products and equipment do we use?
Four items carry out a paint correction: an electronic paint depth gauge, a dual-action polisher with cutting and finishing pads and compounds, an isopropyl alcohol panel wipe, and a raking LED inspection lamp.
- Electronic paint depth gauge
- A handheld gauge that reads clear-coat thickness in microns on steel and aluminium panels alike.The reading decides which panels stay eligible for cutting, not the visual condition of the paint above 90 microns.
- Dual-action polisher, cutting and finishing pads
- A random-orbital machine whose pad oscillates as well as rotates, paired with a cutting compound and a finer finishing compound.The random pattern will not burn through an edge, which matters on the thin repainted panels found on imported vehicles.
- Isopropyl alcohol panel wipe
- A diluted alcohol solution wiped over every panel after the finishing pass.Polishing oils otherwise mask fine defects and prevent a sealant from bonding to the clear coat.
- Raking LED inspection lamp
- A colour-matched lamp at a low angle, used before, during and after every pass.A raking angle reveals a swirl mark or a hologram that flat daylight hides completely.
One-stage or two-stage correction?
One stage removes light swirl marks and restores gloss in a single cutting-and-finishing pass. Two stages add a deeper cut for holograms and heavier oxidation, take significantly longer, and cost more than the base rate.
- One-stage correction
- A single cutting pass followed by one finishing pass, priced at the base rate of 1800 to 2400 MAD, suited to light swirl marks.
- Two-stage correction
- A deeper cutting pass added before the finishing pass, for holograms and heavier oxidation, priced at the base rate plus 900 MAD.
- Swirl marks
- Fine circular scratches cut into the clear coat by a dry wipe or a worn wash brush, visible mainly in direct sunlight.
- Holograms
- Straight, fine lines left in the clear coat by an aggressive or unfinished cutting pass.
What result can you expect?
Expect swirl marks and holograms to disappear from the diagnosed zones under raking light, gloss and colour depth to return, and the technician's job sheet to record the exact microns of clear coat removed to reach that result.
The check that matters happens under raking LED light, not flat daylight. A panel that showed swirl marks across most of its surface before the session shows none on the corrected zones afterward, and the job sheet records a loss of 3 to 5 microns against the first reading.
Every cutting pass removes clear coat permanently. A vehicle carries a finite number of corrections over its life, because a panel measuring 100 to 150 microns when new never grows a new layer once cut.
An imported saloon parked outdoors for one or two Agadir summers arrives with exactly this pattern: paint that looked fine in the shade and turned out dull under raking light. Correction restores it once. Keeping it that way depends on what protects the panel afterward.
What do we need at your address?
Three conditions at your home, hotel or residence parking: power and clear working space, shade for the whole session, and the same spot free for up to 8 hours on a two-stage job.
- Power and 5 m × 3 m of clear space
- A 220 V socket within 20 metres runs the polisher and the gauge, and the technician needs room to walk the full circumference of the vehicle.
- Shade or covered parking
- Cutting compound dries and loses its abrasive action in direct sun before a pass finishes, and Agadir logs 3000 sunshine hours a year.
- The same parking spot free for up to 8 hours
- A two-stage correction runs toward the 8-hour end of the working range, so the spot needs to stay clear for the whole visit.
How much does paint correction cost in Agadir?
Paint correction costs 1800 MAD for a compact and 2400 MAD for a saloon or SUV, one cutting stage included. A second stage for deeper defects adds 900 MAD to that base rate.
From 1800 to 2400 MAD for one stage, plus 900 MAD for a second stage where the diagnosis calls for it.
- Vehicle size
- A saloon or SUV adds 600 MAD over the compact rate, for the extra panel area measured and corrected.
- Number of stages
- A second stage for holograms or heavier oxidation adds 900 MAD to the one-stage rate.
- Paint thickness measured
- Paint already close to 90 microns reduces the panels eligible for cutting and moves the quote to an on-site assessment.
- Protection afterward
- Sealing the corrected paint with a ceramic coating is a separate booking, from 2500 MAD.
What is the difference between polishing and paint correction?
A quick polish adds gloss in a single unmeasured pass and hides shallow defects temporarily. Paint correction measures clear-coat thickness first, removes each diagnosed defect permanently, and records the exact microns taken off in a written report.
| Criterion | Quick polish | Paint correction (this service) |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness measured first | No | Yes, on every panel before any cutting |
| Result on the defect | Temporarily masked | Permanently removed from the clear coat |
| Passes | One fixed cutting-and-finishing pass | One or two passes, decided defect by defect |
| Price | 1800–2400 MAD, fixed | 1800–2400 MAD, plus 900 MAD for a second stage |
Going further
Why Agadir's sun and sand bring paint back to correction faster than northern Europe
Agadir logs 3000 sunshine hours a year, so swirl marks hidden under grey northern skies show on every panel here. Chergui wind carries sand roughly 25 days a year, and a dry wipe over that sand cuts new ones in.
Two local habits explain most of the swirl marks a diagnosis finds here. Automated tunnel washes running on recycled water and worn brushes drag grit across the clear coat on every cycle. The larger cause is simpler: wiping a dusty car with a dry cloth drags airborne sand straight across the paint and cuts fine scratches into it.
A car serviced in Manchester or Amsterdam can carry the same fine scratches for years unnoticed, because a cloudy climate never lights them up. Under 3000 annual sunshine hours in Agadir, the same swirl marks appear on almost every panel in direct light.
Correction only resets the clock. Corrected paint sits bare again the moment the polisher stops, and the sand that caused the original damage keeps landing on the panel every day. Protecting the corrected finish is the next decision.
Paint correction questions
Will the swirl marks come back after correction?
Yes, eventually, unless the paint is sealed. Bare corrected clear coat acquires new fine scratches from ordinary contact within weeks, which is why we recommend a sealant or a ceramic coating booked within days of the correction.
How much does paint correction cost in Agadir?
From 1800 MAD for a compact and 2400 MAD for a saloon or SUV, plus 900 MAD if the diagnosed defects need a second stage.
Can correction remove every scratch?
No. A scratch that catches a fingernail has passed through the clear coat into the primer and needs a body-shop repair, not correction.
What limits the number of corrections on the same panel?
A finite number of times. Clear coat on a new or unrepainted panel measures 100 to 150 microns, and each correction removes 3 to 5 microns permanently, until the panel reaches the 90-micron floor where cutting stops.
Can you correct paint at my hotel or rental apartment?
Yes, provided there is shade, a 220 V socket within 20 metres, and the parking spot stays free for the length of the session.
What is the difference between paint correction and Paint Protection Film?
Paint correction removes defects already in the clear coat. Paint Protection Film adds a physical layer over the paint afterward to stop future stone chips, and repairs nothing that is already there.
Related services in Agadir
- Mobile Car Wash in AgadirOur full range of at-address washing, detailing and protection services across Agadir.
- Car Detailing in AgadirThe detailing hub this correction service sits under, alongside interior and protection work.
- Ceramic Coating in AgadirThe protection layer to book straight after correction, so the freshly levelled paint stays bare for the shortest time possible.
- Paint Protection Film (PPF)The physical film that stops future stone chips, a job correction does not attempt.
- Headlight RestorationThe separate process for a hazy polycarbonate lens, which is not clear-coated paint.
- Interior Car DetailingThe cabin-side work that pairs with an exterior correction on a car not detailed in a year or more.
- Car Odor Removal ServiceAn interior treatment booked alongside correction on a vehicle bought used rather than new.
- Motorhome & Campervan Cleaning in AgadirLarge flat panels on a motorhome show the same sun-exposed swirl marks correction addresses on a car.
- Car Detailing Prices in AgadirThe full price list in MAD for washing, detailing and protection work, correction included.