The steps to protect your paint. Maintain the life of your coating. Keep your vehicle looking its best.
Ceramic coating has become one of the most popular protection options for vehicles these last few years. These coatings have a longer lifetime and enhance the gloss on your paint, but installing the coating is only the beginning. Yes, Ceramic coatings do have a longer lifetime, but the important key is proper maintenance to all the coating to perform its best. This guide will explain what a Ceramic coating is, how to install it, and the proper care needed to maintain it.
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What Is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coating is a liquid protection that is applied to your vehicles paint. Once it is cured that liquid form created a thin layer of protection that hardiness after it is cured. This protection enhances the gloss, easily repels water, and easier to maintain. Compared to waxes and sealants, ceramic coatings have a longer lasting protection. However, these coatings do require more maintenance to perform correctly.
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Hydrophobic Properties
One of the main benefits of ceramic coating is its hydrophobic properties. This is where the water beads on the surface and easily roll off, which helps with easier maintenance.
Enhanced Gloss
With proper prepping ceramic coating enhances the depth and the gloss of the paint, giving it a shinier appearance.
Easier Maintenance
With the slick surface it becomes difficult for grime and dirt to stick on to the paint. Allowing maintenance on the vehicle easier to wash and dry.
Paint Protection
The layer ceramic coating creates protect the paint from environmental contamination, UV exposure and bird droppings. Although ceramic coating creates this protection, it does not make it scratch proof.
How Is Ceramic Coating Applied?
Installing a ceramic coating is more than just apply the coating. The vehicle has to be properly washed and prepped before installing the coating. Each step in the process helps to make sure the coating last and bond correctly.
The Ceramic Coating Process
Step 1: Wash
First, we want to thoroughly wash the vehicle to remove any dust or grime on the paint.
Step 2: Decontaminate
Secondly, we want to chemically decontaminate the vehicle by using an iron remover to remove any embedded contaminates.
Step 3: Clay
Thirdly, we use a clay bar or a clay mitt for any remaining contaminates and give that paint a smooth surface.
Step 4: Polish
After clay barring there is usually some marring. This is why we want to polish to give it a fresh layer of clear coat to work on to bond. While also improving the gloss and removing any scratches.
Step 5: Paint Prep
Once the polishing step is complete. We want to spray the car with a prep spray to remove any residue and oils left behind from the polish to allow the coating to bond.
Step 6: Apply Ceramic Coating
Now we apply the ceramic coating per panel, so it doesn’t dry on us. Once the coating is applied some either have a rainbow flash or it beads up, that’s when we know we have to wipe.
The Cure Process
Once all these steps are completed and the ceramic coating is installed it needs time to cure and bond to the paint. While the coating is drying it should stay dry for at least 12 to 24 hours after the coating is applied but also make sure to check your coating each one can be different. So, that means no washing, rain, or adding anything else to the paint.
How To Maintain Your Ceramic Coating
After the installation of the coating now we need to know the proper maintenance techniques. With proper maintenance techniques we can make sure the coating performs and stays looking good. With the right washing methods and product care the coating will be able to last the overall performance.
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Proper Washing
For the washing process doing a regular hand wash is the best for washing the vehicle. Keep in my mind that a PH neutral soap is the safest to make sure nothing strips or damages the coating life.
Proper Drying
After the washing, the vehicle needs to be dried to reduce the chance of water spots. Using a drying towel or a leaf blower to safely dry the water off the vehicle. Make sure to avoid any water to fully dry on the surface.
Using Coating Safe Products
When using any detailing products, make sure they’re made specifically for ceramic coated vehicles. Usually, these products are made to make the life of the coating to last and bond correctly.
Ceramic Coating Do’s & Don’ts
Do’s
- Regularly hand washing
- Use safe PH neutral soap
- Use clean microfiber towels & mitts
- Dry the vehicle after washing
- Remove any bird dropping or bugs
Don’ts
- Use automatic brush car washes
- Use dish soap to wash the vehicle
- Let water spots sit and dry on the paint
- Use old or dirty wash mitts and towels
- Assume that the coating makes it scratch proof
Test Your Knowledge
True or False: Once your vehicle is coated, you don’t ever need to wash it again?
False. The coating only makes the vehicle easier to wash and maintain.
True or False: Having a ceramic coating makes the vehicle scratch proof ?
False. Ceramic coating does add protection but not scratch proof resistance.
True or False: Ceramic coating can help water bead off your vehicle?
True. Once a coating is applied it add hydrophobic properties to the paint.
True or False: Automatic brush car washes are the best to wash your vehicle?
False. The brushes are too aggressive for the coating and the paint of the vehicle.