Answering some questions and misconceptions about ceramic coating
What is ceramic coating?
While ceramic coating itself is not new to the detailing world, it is finally gaining steam and getting the recognition it deserves within car club communities and with car collectors. So what is a ceramic coating? It is basically an extremely strong protective coating that creates such an intense bond to your cars paint that they can sometimes last up to 7-10 years and in some cases even longer. It's like having a permanent wax on your vehicle. To put it's protective strength into perspective, your car's clear coat measures anywhere from a 2h-4h on the hardness scale, while many ceramic coatings measure a 9h (which is the highest on the measurement scale). A ceramic coating creates a permanent or semi-permanent bond with a vehicle’s paint, meaning that it does not wash away or break down and does not require repeated application every few months.
What does a ceramic coating do?
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. Here are the main benefits:
PROTECTION FROM UV DAMAGE / OXIDIZATION
If a vehicle is often exposed to the sun, its paint will begin to oxidize, 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 oxidization.
PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL STAINS AND ETCHING
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.
EASE OF CLEANING
One of the most significant features of a Ceramic Coating is that it is hydrophobic, which is a fancy way of saying it repels water. When a vehicle has a Ceramic Coating, water will bead on the surface and slide off more easily due to it's hydrophobic properties. 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 an ease that ou have to experience to believe.
ENHANCED GLOSS
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.
What does a ceramic coating NOT do?
For the reasons listed above, 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. However, despite the claims of some manufacturers and detailers, a Ceramic Coating is not a miracle, super-cure product that will solve any and every problem for your car. Thus, it is important for you to know what a Ceramic Coating does not do.
ELIMINATE THE DANGER OF SCRATCHES, SWIRL MARKS, OR ROCK CHIPS
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, nor does it eliminate the need to wash your car in a proper manner in order to avoid swirl marks.
ELIMINATE THE RISK OF WATER SPOTTING
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 of 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.
ELIMINATE THE NEED TO WASH
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.
Should I get my car ceramic coated?
While this is a question that only you can answer, here are 3 things to consider when deciding whether or not to get your car ceramic coated:
1) The road is a jungle, and scratches, rock chips, swirl marks, water spots, and bug etchings are unavoidable. With no protection on your car's paint, it will inevitable degrade more and more until it really just looks sub par, and in the detailing world, PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN A CURE, because in many cases, the cure is either too expensive, or it just doesn't exist. Many clients say to me, "I want my paint to look show room new condition," to which I respond, "You should have decided that 5 years ago when show room new was possible, because now, at best you are looking at average paint condition." Once again, spend the money now for protection, so you do not have to spend the MUCH MORE later on the "cure" that may or may not restore it to the condition you are looking for.
2) This is probably obvious, but if a car's paint is maintained, the trade in value is dramatically effected. To many customers I explain it like this: If a ceramic coating on your new 2018 Toyota Camry costs $800-$1000, that may feel like a lot of money, but that protection will keep the paint looking the way it looks right now, and will in turn drastically increase the trade in value when it is time to get another car. So let's say with the paint protection, after 7 years your paint still looks just like the day you bought it, and right off the bat the dealership offers you $6000 to trade it in, whereas the next guy who did not take care of his paint, rolls up in his 7 year old Camry that has weathered many storms on the road with no maintenance... they offer him $4000... if he is lucky. The Ceramic coating has already paid for itself... literally! If you look at it from this perspective, you may find yourself spending a prettier penny than you were previously willing to spend on your paint's protection.
3) Another reason why I consider ceramic coatings worth the investment, is for the ease of maintenance and up-keep. When a ceramic coating has been applied to a vehicle, washing, waxing, and maintaining that vehicle becomes DRAMATICALLY easier. This is because of the advanced technology of these coatings. They resist bonding, so unlike the clear coat of a car that bonds fairly easily with the elements in the outside world, these ceramic coatings resist, at a very high level, bonding with anything outside, and therefore make maintaining the vehicle so easy it's amazing!