Black Paint Paint Correction & 5-Year Ceramic Coating: Before & After Results
- Tavis White
- Jan 8
- 2 min read
Client Intake & Goals
This client brought in a new to him black Bentley sedan and enrolled in our maintenance program. During the first visit, he also asked about ceramic coating. Since he had recently
switched from another detailing company, I started by clarifying expectations and walking him through what proper paint correction and long-term maintenance would require especially on soft, high-end paint.
Paint Condition & “No-Scratch” Standards. Qualifying standard for 9H hard coatings
The finish showed heavy wash marring and deeper defects, especially on the doors and rear sections. On soft paint, improper washing can create defects quickly, so I explained our wash method and my no-scratch protocol. In simple terms leads to better results with a proper pre-wash, clean wash materials, safe contact technique, and correct drying towels/methods to reduce the chance of new swirls.
Decontamination Wash
Before correction, I completed a full decontamination process of iron removal, clay bar treatment, and a thorough wash/rinse. This ensured the surface was clean and bare so I could accurately identify which defects were safe to correct and which required more targeted work.
Targeted Wet Sanding for Deep Defects/ fine scratches
After identifying the deeper scratches, I performed controlled wet sanding in stages of 1500,2000,2500 and 3000 grit on the affected areas, followed by rotary refinement to prepare for compounding. This step took approximately 3 to 4 hours and helped level the most severe defects safely before the full correction stages.
Cutting Stage aka Compounding
I performed a heavy cut across the vehicle using a rotary polisher. Once the primary correction was complete, I transitioned to a dual-action cut and polish step to reduce rotary haze and refine the finish. Throughout the process, I used inspection lighting in multiple areas reflects and completed a sun check to confirm defects weren’t being hidden.
Polishing & Final Refinement
After confirming the haze was removed, I moved into final refinement, focusing less on aggressive defect removal and more on maximizing clarity, gloss, and uniformity, while respecting the delicate nature of Bentley paint. I also spot refined any remaining defects that were safe to improve without compromising clear coat integrity.
Ceramic Coating 5-Year Protection
Once correction was complete, I performed a final surface prep to ensure the paint ready for protection. In this case I did a foam wash with no contact to loosen up compound stuck in the fine details of a beautiful vehicle. The vehicle then received
5 year ceramic coating, applied with careful leveling for an even, high-gloss finish and consistent protection.
Alongside the coating, I applied a ceramic booster to enhance slickness, gloss, and hydrophobic beading. This helps the finish stay easier to maintain while the coating cures and settles into the maintenance cycle.
Results
The Vehicles clarity and gloss were significantly improved, heavy wash marring was removed, and deeper defects were reduced where safely possible (80-90%) leaving a sharper, cleaner finish ready for long-term protection. With the 5-year ceramic coating installed and the booster applied during delivery, the Bentley is now set up to stay looking freshly corrected with far less risk of reintroducing wash damage!
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