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Coating Repair / Rework

Quick answer: Coating rework is the targeted correction of application defects – removing or blending high spots, fixing low or missed areas, and re-applying locally or panel-wide so the film cures uniform and looks clear again.

What it means

If a ceramic coating cures with high spots, smears or thin patches, the finish can look patchy and behave inconsistently. Repair involves mapping defects under raking light, safely reducing excess film by polishing (or very light denibbing), cleaning with a panel wipe, and re-applying within the same system to restore even film build and water behaviour.

Why it matters

  • Appearance: removes rainbowing, smudges and dull patches that won’t buff away once cured.
  • Performance: evens out hydrophobics and chemical resistance across the panel.
  • Longevity: correct film build reduces premature failure in thin areas and prevents proud patches trapping dirt.
  • Customer confidence: consistent look and feel after delivery or first wash.

Where you’ll see it

Installer quality control before handover, early follow-up visits when high spots are noticed, warranty call-backs, and after DIY attempts that left visible defects.

Context

Car Paint Protection; Ceramic coatings; Quality control

How it’s done (at a glance)

  • Diagnose: inspect under raking light at multiple angles; mist water to reveal behavioural differences.
  • Reduce defect: spot-polish the high spot with a fine/medium polish and small pad; avoid over-thinning surrounding clear coat.
  • Clean: de-dust and panel wipe the worked area thoroughly.
  • Re-apply: within the product’s re-coat guidance, feather a thin pass over the corrected zone or re-do the panel for perfect uniformity.
  • Level & check: level on-time, refine with a fresh towel, and re-check under raking light after initial set.
  • Protect early cure: keep dry and chemical-light until water-safe/full cure per TDS.

Common mistakes

  • Trying to “wipe away” a cured high spot with QD – once cured it needs polishing.
  • Over-polishing a small area and creating a halo – feather your correction and verify blend.
  • Re-applying outside the inter-coat window without proper prep – the new layer may not bond.
  • Fixing symptoms not causes – ignoring panel temperature, humidity, section size and towel rotation that created the defect.
  • Using harsh solvents that stain trims or creep under PPF edges.

Written by . Last updated 06/11/2025 01:11

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