What Is Ceramic Coating?
The car wash and auto detailing industry tallies revenues up to $9 Billion. That is some serious cash Americans shell out to keep their cars looking brand new.
Keeping your car running with routine maintenance is essential, but you don’t see the inside of your engine unless you pop the hood. But every day, you see the exterior of your car. You want it to look nice.
When it’s all polished, you smile with pride. But when layered with dirt, bird droppings, and grime, you want to hide it.
As cars have become more sophisticated, so have washing and detailing them. You can do more than just wax your car. Ceramic coating is one of the more sophisticated options you can choose to give your car a glossy showroom shine.
Ceramic Coating, It’s Not Plaster of Paris
With a word like ceramic, you might be thinking of a white, thick, gooey substance that you shape into a vase and bake in a kiln, far from it. Simply put, ceramic coating for a car is a paint treatment that protects the paint from sun oxidation, but more importantly, it gives it a glossy shine.
The treatment comprises silicon dioxide containing quartz and sand; when the coating is applied, it bonds to the vehicle exterior forming a solid protective layer that makes it water repellant.
How Does It Compare to Wax?
Waxing does make a car shine, but it doesn’t last long, requiring several waxes a year to keep it up. In addition, it wipes off easily, and it doesn’t protect against the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Because ceramic coating forms a hard shell, it protects the paint from ultraviolet oxidation. Additionally, its water-repellant feature makes it easier to wash the car and go. Did birds anoint your vehicle? A quick rinse will easily take it all away, like water off a duck’s back.
With proper maintenance, ceramic coating lasts several years instead of waxing, which lasts a few months.
What Does It Cost?
The cost of the auto coating varies depending on the size of your car, whether the vehicle is new or used, and whether you choose to hire a professional or do it yourself. There are DIY kits for under $100 and as high as $300 but hiring a professional is good advice.
Hiring a professional can cost as low as $1000 up to $3000. This procedure is not wax off approach. Prepping the vehicle includes a high-pressure wash to remove all dirt and contaminants. Ceramic coating is permanent, and any mistakes will be obvious.
A professional job will last longer. Many of the DIY products do not offer the longevity that hiring a professional will provide, not to mention the risk of misapplying the coating resulting in correction costs. It is always worth it to hire someone who knows what they’re doing.
The process of installing a ceramic coating is detailed and takes 3 to 4 days. So, be prepared with alternative transportation while your car undergoes its beauty treatment.
Businesses generally offer packages that vary but include multiple coat layering, paint correction, and warranty protection.
The ceramic coating is excellent, but it’s not perfect. It is an excellent way to maintain the exterior look of your vehicle. But it is not a perfect shield. Yes, it will have a fine shine, but it won’t protect from road debris chipping the point, dings from shopping carts, or the erosive effect of tree sap left to bake in the sun.
The car still needs to be washed and cleaned. Scrapes and scratches still occur, but overall, your vehicle will retain that new car appearance.
Is It Worth It?
The whole purpose of having a car coated is to maintain that shiny showroom appearance. Ceramic coating will result in more excellent protection over the long term, but is it the right choice for you?
If the car you have is for daily use, then a ceramic coating will probably be more than you want to spend. A traditional wax or sealant will also have your vehicle shining. If your vehicle is a collector or high-end luxury, then the ceramic coating is a worthy investment.
Regardless of what type of vehicle you drive, ceramic coating is a good thing for your car. It protects it from UV radiation, chemical stains, and etching. It’s easy to clean and gives your vehicle the showroom gloss it deserves.
Maintaining the Fine Shine
Even with the best ceramic coating, the car still gets dirty. It still needs to be washed, just rinsing it down with water won’t do. Should you use any soap to lather up? You want to use soap that doesn’t contain wax and is PH neutral.
You want to be sure that you wash the car regularly. When dirt or oil remains for long, it reduces the effectiveness of the ceramic coating. A rigorous washing will restore the function of the ceramic coating, but dirt left for too long will require stronger detergent which could strip the coating.
Hand washes your car. Carwashes that are touch-free get your car clean by using acidic detergents that harm the ceramic coating.
Removing oil, tree sap, or bird dropping requires scrubbing with a sponge. At a touch-free carwash, your car isn’t cleaned thoroughly by all the spinning mops. That’s why they use acidic soap instead.
Following the simple guidelines listed above will protect the ceramic coating preserving your vehicle’s gleaming exterior.
Time to Shine Her up
You spend a lot of time in your car. Whether it’s running errands, commuting to work, or shuttling the kids around your vehicle is your second home.
Think of how you feel when you are driving down the road in your brightly polished car. It feels good. Even if you have an old jalopy poking down the road, it feels good to have it looking shiny and new.
The best way to preserve the lustrous appeal of your ride is with a ceramic coating. It would be best if you didn’t lose your shine. Check out our website to see the packages we offer.
