One-Step Paint Correction starts at $399, Multi-Stage at $699. What the extra stages actually add, who needs which, and how to avoid paying for correction you don't need.
If you've decided your paint needs more than a wash, the next question is usually: how much correction is enough?
At WTD Detailing & Tint, paint correction comes in two levels: One-Step (from $399) and Multi-Stage (from $699), with pricing based on vehicle size.
Here's how to choose between them without paying for work your paint doesn't need.
What Both Levels Have in Common
Both services use machine polishing to permanently reduce defects in the clear coat — swirl marks, fine scratches, haze and oxidation — rather than hiding them with fillers.
Both start with the same foundation: a clean, decontaminated vehicle and a proper paint inspection.
The difference is how many polishing stages are used and how much defect removal is realistically achievable.
What One-Step Paint Correction Does
One-Step Paint Correction uses a single primary polishing stage.
One carefully chosen pad-and-polish combination is used across the vehicle to noticeably improve gloss and reduce lighter defects.
One-Step is usually the right choice when:
- The paint has light to moderate swirl marks
- You want a visible improvement, not absolute perfection
- The vehicle is a daily driver
- You're preparing the paint for ceramic protection
- You want the best balance between result and budget
For many vehicles, a well-executed One-Step correction is a dramatic improvement — especially on paint that has never been polished.
What Multi-Stage Paint Correction Adds
Multi-Stage Paint Correction separates the work into distinct stages.
A more aggressive cutting stage first addresses deeper defects: heavier swirl marks, more noticeable scratches and stronger oxidation. A refining stage then restores clarity and removes the marks left by the cutting stage itself.
Multi-Stage makes sense when:
- Defects are clearly visible in direct sunlight
- The vehicle has years of improper washing behind it
- You want the highest realistic level of correction
- The vehicle is being prepared for long-term protection
- It's a darker colour, where defects are most visible
What Neither Level Can Do
Some scratches are simply too deep to remove safely.
Clear coat is a finite material. Chasing a deep defect until it disappears can require removing an unsafe amount of paint — no responsible detailer will do that.
A proper correction removes or significantly reduces what's safe to remove, and improves rather than risks the rest.
How to Decide
A practical way to think about it:
- Paint looks decent in the shade, swirls visible in sunlight → One-Step is usually enough.
- Swirls obvious even in normal lighting, rough or hazy finish → Multi-Stage is worth considering.
- Not sure → an inspection answers it in minutes.
The goal isn't the most aggressive option. It's the right amount of correction for your paint's actual condition.
Pair It With Protection
Correction without protection means the clock starts over with the next few washes.
Both levels pair naturally with ceramic coating — the corrected finish stays glossy longer and maintenance washing becomes easier.
WTD Detailing & Tint — Edmonton, Alberta.
Select your vehicle in our online calculator to see One-Step and Multi-Stage pricing for your exact vehicle →
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