Ceramic Coatings: A 2020 Guide. What To Expect & What You Get!
A Ceramic Coating does preserve your vehicle’s exterior and reduce ongoing maintenance needs. Therefore, if you choose to have a Ceramic Coating applied, you will be adding value to your vehicle.
Compared to other types of car paint coatings, ceramic coatings last the longest; it remains intact for years. As a result, you get an all-time shine and gloss over your car for a long period of time, removing the need to wax your car on a regular basis.
Paint detailing preparation is a requirement prior to any ceramic coating. Ceramic coatings do not fill the appearance of swirl marks or other defects, so these must be addressed prior to ceramic coating application. Ceramic coatings must also be applied in a controlled environment and allowed to cure before they are exposed to the elements.
In short, a Ceramic Coating adds additional protection to your car’s exterior and helps keep it looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance. The coating achieves this result by making your vehicle more resilient and easier to clean.
If a vehicle is often exposed to the sun, its paint will begin to oxidise, resulting in dulled and faded paint. A layer of Ceramic Coating protects a vehicle’s paint from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the amount of oxidisation.
Another danger for your car is chemical staining from naturally acidic contaminants. By creating a chemically resistant surface, a Ceramic Coating can keep some contaminants from bonding to your vehicle’s paint. The result is that your vehicle will be more resistant to staining and etching, provided the contaminant is removed in a timely manner.
One of the most significant features of a cars paint coating is that it is hydrophobic, which is a fancy way of saying it repels water. When a vehicle has a hydrophobic Ceramic Coating, water will bead on the surface and slide off more easily. This means that mud and grime will have a more difficult time bonding to your vehicle’s paint, and when you wash your car, contaminants can be removed with less effort.
If you want your paint to pop with gloss, you will want to add a Ceramic Coating. A good Ceramic Coating enhances the reflective properties of your car’s paint and clear coat, adding to the depth and clarity of your paint.
The scratch-resistance of a Ceramic Coating is often exaggerated. Though some small scratches can be repelled by a Ceramic Coating (as we described above), a coated vehicle will not be completely resistant to the risk of rock chips or parking lot scratches. Furthermore, improper car washing techniques or automated car washes will still create swirl marks on your vehicle’s surface. It is important to know that a Ceramic Coating is not a substitute for more serious scratch or chip protection (such as Paint Protection Film, also known as Clear Bra), nor does it eliminate the need to wash your car in a proper manner in order to avoid swirl marks.
A normal drop of water contains a certain amount of dirt or minerals. When water evaporates on your vehicle’s surface, the minerals are left behind, creating visible spots. Detailers and consumers may assume that the hydrophobic quality of a Ceramic Coating will eliminate water spotting, since water slides off the coated surface. While it is true that some water will be repelled from the hydrophobic surface, other water droplets will bead and remain on the vehicle, creating the opportunity for water-spotting.
Notice above we said a Ceramic Coating keeps your car looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance, not no maintenance. Let’s face it, the road is a dirty place. If you are driving your car, it will get dirty, ? Even with a Ceramic Coating, you will still need to wash your car regularly in order to maintain its look. The benefit of a Ceramic Coating is that the cleaning process will be easier. Moreover, having a Ceramic Coating means that you will no longer have to wax your vehicle every few months, eliminating a significant part of maintaining your car’s exterior. Thus, a Ceramic Coating does not make your vehicle maintenance-free, but it does mean that with less work you will be able to maintain better results.
Simply put, it is important to be educated about a product before making a decision about whether it is right for your vehicle. Will Ceramic Coatings benefit your vehicle and add value? Certainly! Are Ceramic Coatings a miracle, one-stop-shop solution for all of your vehicle’s exterior problems? Certainly not!
It is also important to realise that Ceramic Coatings are not a substitute for the more comprehensive protection you find in a quality Clear Bra (Paint Protection Film). For ultimate protection, add a layer of Paint Protection Film to the most vulnerable parts of your vehicle, then you can coat over the top of the clear bra and those painted surfaces.
To book a Ceramic Coating, head over to our Car Paint Coatings Page and hit the “book” button!
To get in touch, hit the button below!
Speak soon.
