Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating
Showroom
or better.
Swirls and haze polished out, then locked in with a professional coating. Or just one of the two — the quiz below will tell you which.
Showroom
Step one
Do you even need it?
Most people asking about correction need it. Some don't. Answer honestly and so will we.
Do you actually need paint correction?
Five taps. We'll tell you straight — including if the answer is no.
1In direct sun, do you see fine circular scratches — spiderwebs?
2Does the paint look hazy or flat even right after a wash?
3Water spots or etching that won't wash off?
4What color is the car?
5Garaged?
0 of 5 answered
Paint Correction
Refining a car's finish to remove oxidation, swirls, scratches, bug etchings, and so on.
Those spiderwebs you see in direct sun are micro-scratches in the clear coat — usually from brush washes and dirty towels. Machine polishing levels the clear coat until they're gone.
Most daily drivers get a one-step: a single pass that takes out 70 to 85 percent of the defects. Neglected or dark paint may need a two-step — a cutting pass, then a finishing pass.
We quote after we see the paint.
Showroom or better shine, guaranteed.
Corrected paint under inspection lighting. This is what done looks like.
Straight talk
What correction doesn't do
- It won't fix rock chips — those are missing paint, not scratched paint
- It won't fix a scratch you can catch a fingernail in. That's through the clear coat; it needs paint, not polish
- It doesn't stop new swirls. Go back to brush washes and they come back
- It removes a little clear coat every time. A car can only be corrected so many times — which is why we protect it afterward
Step two
Is a coating worth it for you?
Coatings are a great product sold to a lot of people who shouldn't buy one. Four taps.
Is a ceramic coating worth it for you?
Four taps. Sometimes the honest answer is "keep your money."
1How long are you keeping this car?
2How's it used?
3Who washes it?
4Garaged?
0 of 4 answered
Ceramic Coating
An ultra-slick, glass-like layer bonded to your paint and exterior surfaces.
Once it cures, dirt and water stop sticking. Washes take half the time, bird droppings and road salt wipe off instead of etching in, and the gloss holds for years.
We install System X and Gyeon coatings, up to Lifetime MAX G+. Every coating starts with decontamination and at least a light polish — a coating locks in whatever's underneath it.
System X Certified Installer · Gyeon Coatings
Water on a coated panel. It doesn't sheet — it beads and runs straight off.
Straight talk
What a coating doesn't do
- Not scratch-proof. It resists light marring; it won't stop a key or a shopping cart
- Won't stop rock chips. For that you want paint protection film, not a coating
- Not a substitute for washing. The car still gets dirty — it just lets go of the dirt easily
- A brush car wash will still mar it. Hand wash or touchless, or the coating was wasted money
Options
Two ways to protect it.
Both include decontamination and a one-step correction, because a coating locks in whatever's underneath it. Prices below are for a small car; pick your vehicle in the estimate builder for your exact range.
3 years
Gyeon 3-year
Decon, one-step correction, and a three-year Gyeon coating. The one most cars get.
from $725
Price it for my car →Lifetime
System X MAX G+
The flagship. Same prep, System X's lifetime coating, warrantied as long as the yearly service is kept up.
from $1,150
Price it for my car →Wax vs. sealant vs. ceramic vs. film
Honest comparison. Coatings aren't always the answer — sometimes the answer is cheaper, sometimes it's film.
| Wax | Sealant | Ceramic coating | Paint protection film | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasts | 4–8 weeks | 4–6 months | 2 years to lifetime | 5–10 years |
| Gloss | Warm, short-lived | Good | Deepest | Clear — shows the paint under it |
| Stops rock chips | No | No | No | Yes |
| Easier washing | A little | Yes | Dramatically | Yes |
| Cost | $ | $ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Upkeep | Reapply constantly | Reapply twice a year | Wash correctly; topper optional | Basically none |
We don't install film. If rock chips on the front end are what's bothering you, film is the honest answer — and we'll say so rather than sell you a coating for the wrong problem.
After you drive away
Keep it this way.
The coating does the hard part. These two cards do the rest — print them, stick them in the glovebox.
The first 7 days
A coating keeps curing after it leaves our hands. For the first week:
- No washing. None. Not even a rinse
- Keep it out from under trees and sprinklers — sap and hard water spot a curing coating
- Park in a garage if you have one, especially the first 24 hours
- Don't put a car cover on it
- Bird dropping? Blot it with a damp microfiber and quick detailer — don't rub, don't leave it
How to wash a coated car
The coating makes this easier, not optional. Get this right and it lasts years.
- Two buckets: one soap, one rinse. Grit guards in both if you have them
- pH-neutral car soap — anything labeled coating-safe. No dish soap, ever
- Wash top down, in shade, on cool paint
- Microfiber wash mitt, not a sponge. Rinse it in the second bucket every panel
- Dry with a plush microfiber towel or a blower. Never air-dry — water spots
- Never a brush car wash. Touchless is fine
- No wax on top. If you want extra slickness, a coating-safe spray topper every few months
Warranty, in plain English
Warranty terms depend on the tier you choose. System X coatings stay covered as long as the yearly maintenance service is kept up — skip it and the warranty lapses, so it's worth putting on the calendar. We walk through exactly what's covered, for how long, and what would void it before we start, and you get it in writing at pickup. Nothing buried in fine print.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
How much does ceramic coating cost in Cincinnati?
Most coating jobs land between $1,000 and $2,000. Where you fall in that range comes down to the tier, the size of the vehicle, and how much correction the paint needs first — that last part is the big variable. Text us a photo of the car and we'll give you a real number the same day.
How long does paint correction take?
A one-step is usually a full day. A two-step is one to two days. You'll be without the car; plan on it.
Will a ceramic coating fix my scratches?
No. Coating locks in whatever's under it. We correct the paint first, then coat — that's why they're sold together.
Can I take a coated car through a car wash?
Touchless, yes. Brush wash, no — it'll mar the coating just like it mars bare paint. Hand washing is best and takes half the time it used to.
How long does a coating last?
Two years to lifetime depending on the tier, assuming it's washed correctly. Neglect it or brush-wash it and it'll fail early, coating or not.
Is a coating worth it on a lease or a car I'm selling soon?
Usually not. If you're keeping the car under two years, a sealant every six months gets you most of the benefit for a fraction of the cost. The quiz on this page will tell you straight.
Cincinnati's cleanest cars
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