What is a Ceramic Coating?

A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that chemically bonds to the surface of your car’s paint job. The ceramic coating is applied all over the vehicle and protects against just about everything including –

· UV rays

· Tree sap

· Chemicals used on roadways

· Road salts

Ceramic coatings also give your paint a stunning gloss, superior to waxes and sealants. 

Unlike other paint protection options, the ceramic coating chemically bonds to the paint, so it has a much longer lifespan. The average ceramic coating lasts between two and four years. 

Ceramic coatings are also very difficult to wash off, whereas waxes and sealants degrade with detergent use.

HOW IS CERAMIC COATING APPLIED? 

The first step in applying a ceramic coating is to thoroughly wash and “decontaminate” the vehicle’s exterior. Scratches, swirl marks and oxidation should be removed. If you don't take these steps, you will essentially "lock in" the defects. The ceramic coating needs to be able to bond with the paint so that it “sticks.”

Applying a ceramic coating on a dirty vehicle (or a vehicle that has another type of finishing product on it already) causes various problems.

Firstly, the coating may not adhere correctly. Secondly, the finish may not look as intended. Lastly, it is possible that the ceramic coating could interact with other substances on your vehicle’s paint.

Once your car is thoroughly clean, the ceramic coating gets applied to the vehicle in a liquid form. A skilled detailer will apply the coating by hand to each panel of the vehicle’s exterior painted surfaces.

The ceramic coating must “cure” before it can effectively protect your vehicle. It takes an average of twenty-four hours for curing, and while the coating is still curing, your vehicle should not get exposed to rain.

WHY IS A PROTECTIVE COATING FOR YOUR CAR NECESSARY?

A protective coating of any type is designed to protect your vehicle paintwork from damage and degradation. Depending on the type of protective finish you choose, your vehicle may be more or less protected from everyday wear and tear. 

For example, during the springtime, you may use a wax coat on your vehicle to protect the paint from the wave of pollen that will stick to your car. In the fall, you may use a sealant to protect against falling tree sap that can really take a toll on the quality of your paint job.

Wax and sealants both help to protect your paint job, but they are short-lasting, and repeated application can get expensive. Ceramic coatings offer better protection than waxes and sealants, and they last much longer.

HOW DOES CERAMIC COATING WORK?

When applied to your vehicle’s paint, the liquid ceramic coating reacts to the paint surface and forms a chemical bond. This chemical bond keeps the ceramic coating adhered to your vehicle (even when washed!) This bond differs from waxes and other protectants that only adhere to your vehicle’s paint.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CERAMIC COATING AVAILABLE?

There are many different brands of ceramic coating available for your vehicle. The Discerning Detailer uses a small variety of products, selected for longevity and budget.

While many people attempt to DIY their ceramic coating to save money, a large percentage of those people wind up having a professional complete the job after they have botched the application themselves. If you do not know how to apply a ceramic coating the correct way, save time and money and have a professional do it for you.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A CERAMIC COATING? 

Long-Lasting Protection

A ceramic coating lasts for between two and four years. Wax lasts between two and four months. Sealants last between three and six months. Longer-lasting protection also means having to make fewer applications of paint protectant each year.

Full Coverage 

Ceramic coating protection covers all painted exterior surfaces of the vehicle and offers the most comprehensive paint protection compared to wax, sealant, and film.

More Diverse Protection

A ceramic coating protects your car’s paint job against a full range of offenders including UV rays, tree sap, road salt, and road chemicals. Something like wax, however, offers very minimal protection by keeping lighter dust and grime from adhering to your paint job.

ARE THERE ANY DRAWBACKS TO CERAMIC COATING?

Ceramic Coating is Not a Miracle Product

Many people mistakenly believe that adding a ceramic coating to their vehicle will protect the paint from anything and everything. This idea simply is not true.

While the ceramic coating does protect your vehicle from most of the common road and parking lot “hazards,” it cannot prevent deep scratches or chips in the paint from rocks or debris hitting your car.

Ceramic Coating Can’t Stop Water Spots

Yes, your paint protectant will repel water from the surface of your vehicle, but as this water beads and rolls off your car, the naturally occurring minerals in that water can be left behind. This process can cause water spotting on the surface of your car’s paint. 

The only way to truly stop water spots from happening and leaving traces of minerals on your paint job is to never let your car get wet, and that is just impractical! Thankfully, washing them off should be easier than expected without the coating.

CAN I INSTALL MY OWN CERAMIC COATING?

Many automotive stores do sell DIY ceramic coating kits, but a ceramic coating is not something that should be taken on lightly.

Applying a ceramic coating takes talent, patience, and knowledge. As a first-timer, you should ALWAYS have a professional apply your ceramic coating for you.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG IF I INSTALL MY OWN CERAMIC COATING? 

If you apply your own ceramic coating and don’t know what you are doing, you are risking the finish of your car. Improper application can:

· Leave hazing on the surface of the paint

· Leave streaking on the surface of the paint

· Create high spots

· Create distracting reflections 

In short, the improper application can cause your car’s paint job to look hideous.

You can take comfort in the fact that ceramic coating – even when improperly applied – will not damage the paint of your car. You will have to put up with an awful finish on your paint until that coating wears thin, though.

Can you remove the ceramic coating yourself? Yes, but you probably don’t want to. If your application goes wrong, you will have to

1. Wait it out for a few years.

2. Sand, polish and refinish your vehicle.

3. Head to the professionals and let them do the job for you.

IS CERAMIC COATING EASY TO MAINTAIN? 

Compared to other paint protectants, the ceramic coating is the easiest of protectants to maintain. After application, simply wash your vehicle as you normally would (after the ceramic coating has cured!) to keep it clean!

Your ceramic coating will begin to show signs of wear after between two and four years depending on your vehicle use. For example, if you drive six hours a day, every day, your ceramic coating is going to be shorter-lived than someone who drives one hour a day, every other day. 

Your ceramic coating will also show signs of wear earlier on if you wash your vehicle every single day versus once a week.