Are you thinking about getting a ceramic coating on your vehicle? Are you unsure whether the benefits of a ceramic coating on your vehicle are real, or are they just marketing hype?
Is a ceramic coating worth more money than wax/polishing products? And how do ceramic coatings compare against other paint protection products, such as paint protection film (PPF)?
If you have asked yourself these questions before, chances are you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information on the web regarding ceramic coatings. This can be very frustrating. This is why we have put this information together to help provide clarity.
Today, we will explain the basics of ceramic coatings: what they are, their benefits/drawbacks, comparisons with other options like wax/polishing products, and our professional opinions on ceramic coatings.
What Is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings can be semi-permanent or permanent, depending on the type. They provide protection from damage to the paint on your vehicle’s exterior.
The ceramic coating creates a bond with the existing paint and provides an extra level of protection for your clear coat.
Some formulations include additional ingredients, such as titanium dioxide, for increased protection and longevity.
When the ceramic coating has been properly applied and cured, a hard protective layer has been created. This layer protects your vehicle from contaminants like bird droppings, brake dust, and more.
Although the term “ceramic” is quite commonly used, not all ceramic coatings are the same, and the amount of silicon dioxide contained within the products is the main difference between them.
Ceramic coatings that are sold by dealers, or that detailing shops charge hundreds of dollars to apply, are typically sold in very small bottles and therefore are sometimes concentrated with more than 80% silicon dioxide.
Other ceramic coating products sold in the market may contain similar chemicals in a diluted form. While this does not mean that a diluted ceramic coating is necessarily inferior to a concentrated version, the diluted product is expected to last less time than its concentrated counterpart—this factor is critical to the results of our tests.
5 Benefits of Ceramic Coatings
Chemical compounds, such as ceramic coating, provide resiliency. The benefit to your vehicle is that they are permanent and easier to clean than waxing. In addition to protecting your paint from environmental elements, there are some other benefits of applying ceramic to your vehicle.
Protects Against Damage
Every time you drive your vehicle, your vehicle’s paint is exposed to many different contaminates that can cause damage. Ceramic coating provides your vehicle with a strong protective surface which prevents all sensitivities or contaminates from penetrating and damaging your vehicle.
Ceramic coating is able to protect your vehicle from a great deal of damage without showing any visible signs of fading, chemical staining or oxidation.
Ceramic coating also provides protection against harmful UV rays, which will oxidize the paint on your vehicle. If you park your vehicle outdoors, this is especially important.
Stays Cleaner
Because Ceramic coatings provide hard surfaces, dirt and debris will simply run off the surface of your vehicle, rather than become stuck in the tiny, pinhole-size openings throughout your vehicle’s body.
Therefore, ceramic-coated vehicles are always cleaner and take less time to wash at the car wash!
Lasts Longer than Other Paint Protection Methods
Unlike traditional paint protection methods, such as waxing, which wear off quickly when exposed to natural weather and air components, ceramic coatings can last for many years without showing any signs of wear.
Cost Effective
One of the primary reasons ceramic coatings are so popular with vehicle owners is that they provide incredible savings over time.
Although ceramic coating has a higher initial cost, it will save money in the long term, as you will no longer have to replace wax and have your vehicle washed and detailed, and it is an extremely durable alternative to waxing for many owners.
Some of the different types of ceramic coatings can be considered to be a permanent option, so you won’t have to continuously replace your ceramic coating annually!
Look Amazing
A new ceramic coating will give you an amazing shine! Every car owner loves the look of a new, shiny vehicle, and with Ceramic Coating, not only is your paint job protected, but your vehicle will have a high-gloss appearance, almost like a candy coating!
Ceramic Coating will enhance your original paint job and restore the shine to your vehicle as it looked the day you drove it off the lot!
What Ceramic Coating Won’t Do?
Ceramic coatings are not something everyone should consider. They tend to be very expensive compared to other products, such as waxes, and while you can easily wax and remove wax from your vehicle, a ceramic coating is a chemical bond that has been created with the paint on the vehicle and it cannot be wiped off like wax.
Imagine applying stain to a piece of wood. It requires the same smooth and even consistency of application, and to get the best results, it should be done by a professional contractor who has experience applying ceramic coatings.
If you make an application error or if anything touches the surface before it is fully cured, you will need to wet sand the area and reapply the coating to that complete area.
While ceramic coating kits are available for less than $100, the amount of labour you will need to put in for proper preparation before applying the coating will quickly add up to make the cost much higher than the price of the kit.
It is imperative to polish the paint before applying a ceramic coating because you will magnify any imperfections in the paint after it has been coated.
Many industry professionals and experts will say that this includes even freshly painted vehicles, which have likely experienced some sort of paint damage due to being run through the automatic car wash.
As a result, most professionals will charge over $1000 to apply a ceramic coating, and we do not recommend the average do-it-yourself buyer try to apply the coating to a vehicle worth more than a few bucks.
In addition to the expense associated with getting a ceramic coating on your vehicle, many people have extravagant and unrealistic expectations for the finish. It is true that ceramic coatings provide an overwhelming amount of protection to the exterior of a vehicle.
However, while it offers a very high level of protection, it does not create a total barrier of protection against everything that can chip the paint on your vehicle, dent your fender, or negatively affect the finish of your vehicle.
Additionally, if you have a ceramic-coated vehicle, you will need to maintain the ceramic coating with frequent washing with the brushless wash method in order to avoid scratching or swirling, and occasionally with a special spray that owners can do themselves.
Related Post: How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car?
Is Ceramic Coating worth it?
Yes, ceramic coating has many great benefits, and as we’ve seen in this article, it adds value to your vehicle over time.
Ceramic coating will help you maintain and clean your vehicle less often, spending more time enjoying and driving your vehicle rather than worrying about how to maintain it.
However, if you ask us if ceramic coating is the “end-all” solution to your vehicle paint woes, we would have to say no. There is no single product that you can purchase today that will guarantee to protect your vehicle from every possible paint problem.
If there was, we wouldn’t be talking about ceramic coating, which is one of the best ways available to protect your vehicle paint.
When comparing the costs of maintaining and waxing your car annually with the cost of ceramic coating, there is no contest.
FAQs.
Is ceramic coating good for your car?
Ceramic Coatings definitely make the car much easier to wash and the vehicle is certainly going to stay cleaner for a longer period of time and heavily cut down on the amount of washing needed, but not completely eliminate the need for it and your car is still going to get dirty even with a Ceramic Coating on it.
What are the disadvantages of ceramic coating?
The Cons of Ceramic Coating a Car:
1. It Doesn’t Remove Existing Flaws. While ceramic coating preserves the look of your car’s exterior, it doesn’t cover anything up.
2. It’s Not Invincible.
3. It Doesn’t Replace the Need to Wash Your Car.
4. Water Spots/Swirl Marks Are Never 100% Preventable.
5. It Doesn’t Come Off.
How long does ceramic coating last?
For the most part, ceramic coatings last between two and five years. In some cases, they can last up to a decade, but this is pretty rare. However, there are many factors that affect their lifespan and might force you to replace yours sooner than you’d expect.
Can I wax over ceramic coating?
The lesson is simple: unless your goal is to strip the ceramic coating off your car, keep the polish away. Car wax and polish are not the same. Car waxes with ingredients like carnauba wax and synthetic shine polymers are perfectly safe to use—and even recommended to use—on top of ceramic coatings.
Can you go through a car wash after ceramic coating?
The golden rule you should always stick to after a ceramic coating is Do not wash your car within 7 days of application! If you know the basic properties of these types of products, you will know that once they are applied they will begin to cure and harden.