Water spots

Hard water leaves mineral deposits that etch into the clear coat if they sit too long. We remove the spots and restore the paint underneath, without a repaint.

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Before & after

Here's what the fix looks like

Every one of these is a real job we did somewhere around Summerville or Charleston.

Close-up of car tire and scratched grey car fender with black scuff marks and paint damage.

Before

Close-up of a fixed area on a vehicle's light gray fender above the tire.

After

Deep scratches

2 hours

250$

Car hood covered with water spots and light reflections of sky and clouds.

Before

Glossy black car hood with a Raptor badge and reflections of trees and a lamp post.

After

Water spots

2,5 hours

300$

Close-up of white vehicle's front left fender with black scratches near the headlight and tire.

Before

Close-up of a white vehicle's front tire, black fender, orange side marker, and headlight.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Close-up of a black car's fender with visible scratches and scuff marks above the tire.

Before

Close-up of the front left wheel and fender of a black vehicle on a gravel surface, showing tire tread and part of the headlight and indicator light.

After

Paint transfer

2 hours

270$

Reflection of a person wearing a blue visor and black shirt, crouching and holding a phone, seen on a glossy surface with a long scratch across it, with a beige house door and siding in the background.

Before

Reflection of a man taking a photo with a smartphone, kneeling next to a black toolbox with red latches on a gravel surface in front of a white house with a door and window.

After

Deep scratch

1 hour

140$

Close-up of the driver's side of a black car with visible scratches and scuff marks on the door near the handle and lower panel, parked on a gravel surface with grass and trees in the background.

Before

Close-up of the side of a black car with a large dent on the rear door panel, parked on a driveway in front of a garage, with reflections of nearby house siding on the car surface.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Water spots

What you need to know

A clear picture of what you're dealing with makes the next step a lot easier.

Don't let it sit

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

Why water spots form

  • Minerals are left behind as water evaporates. Rain, sprinklers, and hose water all contain minerals that stay on the surface after the water dries.
  • Direct sun speeds up the process. Heat causes water to evaporate faster, concentrating the minerals and making etching more likely.
  • Sprinklers are a common cause. Cars parked near sprinkler systems often get repeated water spot exposure in the same areas.
  • Coastal humidity adds to it. The Lowcountry's mix of humidity, rain, and salt air makes water spotting more common here than in drier climates.

Surface spots versus etched spots

  • Surface deposits sit on top of the clear coat. These usually wash or wipe off without leaving a mark.
  • Etched spots have started to eat into the clear coat. These need polishing to remove, since washing alone won't lift them.
  • The longer they sit, the deeper they etch. Water spots left for weeks or months are more likely to require polishing rather than a simple wash.

Simple process

How we fix it

Once you know what you're dealing with, here's what happens next.

//01

Washing the surface

A thorough wash removes any loose deposits before we assess what's left.

//02

Testing the etching depth

We check whether the spots are on the surface or etched into the clear coat.

//03

Machine polishing

Polishing levels the clear coat to remove the etched deposits and restore clarity.

//04

Sealing to prevent recurrence

A protective sealant makes future water spots easier to wipe away before they etch in.

FAQ

Questions we get a lot

Chances are, someone's already asked what's on your mind. Here's what we tell them.

Can all water spots be polished out?

Will water spots come back after treatment?

Does washing alone remove water spots?

How can I prevent water spots in the future?

Does coastal weather make water spots worse?

Get started

Get your free quote

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

A man wearing sunglasses, a blue visor, black t-shirt, and gray shorts kneels on a driveway holding a vehicle buffer polisher while smiling at the camera, with a white SUV and toolboxes containing car care products nearby.