Ceramic coating
0.5–2 µmA hard, clear layer bonded to the clear coat. Water beads and runs off, dirt lets go more easily, and light wash marks land in the coating.
It doesn't stop rock chips or deep scratches.
Paint correction and protection
Factory paint is thinner than a sheet of paper. Correction makes it look new by leveling the top layer, which is why it has to be done carefully, and why it should be protected afterwards.
What's on a car's panel
Drawn to scale, 1 micron to 1.2 pixels. A sheet of copy paper is about 100 µm.
| Layer | Thickness |
|---|---|
| Whole factory paint | 90–150 µm |
| Clear coat alone | 30–50 µm |
| One polishing session removes | 1–3 µm |
| Heavy compounding removes | 4–10 µm |
| Ceramic coating | 0.5–2 µm |
| Paint protection film | 150–250 µm |
Figures: published paint-thickness measurements (NIST/Ford) and coating and film makers' specifications.
How we correct paint
Wash and decontaminate
Polishing over grit and iron fallout drags them across the paint. The car is washed, iron-removed and clayed first.
Read every panel
A paint gauge measures the total film over the metal. Low readings, repainted panels and thin edges change what's safe to do.
Test spot
We start with the gentlest polish and pad on a small area and only step up if it isn't enough.
Correct, then refine
Compound where defects need it, always finished with a polish to bring back clarity. Edges and body lines get the lightest touch.
Protect it
Once the clear coat is corrected, a coating or film takes the next wash marks instead of the paint.
Detailers commonly treat total readings under about 80–90 µm as a caution zone, and avoid removing more than 20–25% of the original clear coat over a car's life. That's why we record readings, and why we'd rather protect a panel than correct it twice.
Coating, film, or both
Paint protection film
150–250 µmClear urethane film, about a hundred times thicker than a coating. It's what stands between the paint and stones on the highway.
Usually fitted to the front end, mirrors and rocker panels, or the whole car.
Both
film + coatingA common choice on new and high-end cars: film where the hits come, a coating over the rest of the paint and on the film itself.
Questions
How thick is car paint?
The whole factory paint, from the rust-protection layer to the clear coat, is usually about 90–150 microns. The clear coat on top, the layer that polishing works on, is about 30–50 microns.
Does polishing remove clear coat?
Yes, a little every time: about 1–3 microns for a polishing session and 4–10 microns for heavy compounding. That's why correction should be measured and followed by protection.
Can you polish matte paint?
No. Polishing a matte or satin finish makes it shiny in patches. Matte paint and wraps are washed and protected with matte-specific products, or covered with matte protection film.