A ceramic coating is the most misunderstood thing we sell. Some people expect a force field. Others think it is an expensive wax. It is neither, and knowing which it is will save you money and disappointment.
What a coating does
A coating is a thin, hard layer that bonds to the clear coat and stays there. Wax and sealant sit on top of the paint and wear away over a season. A coating lasts far longer, because it becomes part of the surface.
That surface is slick and sheds water. Rain beads up and rolls off, and it takes loose dirt with it. Road film, bugs and bird droppings have less to hold on to, so they come off with less effort. Washing takes less time, and because you are rubbing less, you add fewer marks.
It also keeps the gloss that correction gave the paint. This is why we only coat corrected paint: a coating locks in whatever is under it, swirls included.
What a coating does not do
It will not stop a stone chip. The layer is hard, but it is very thin, and a stone at speed goes straight through it and the paint beneath.
It will not stop scratches from a dirty sponge or a brush wash. A coated car resists light marring a little better than bare clear coat. It does not make bad washing safe.
It does not mean you can stop washing the car. A coating that is left dirty clogs up, and the water stops beading. People often think the coating has failed at this point. Usually it is just buried, and a proper wash brings it back.
And it does not last for ever. How long it lasts depends on how the car is used, where it is parked and how it is washed. Anyone who promises you an exact number without asking about those is guessing.
Looking after one
The first week matters most. We cure the coating under lamps before the car leaves, but it goes on hardening for some days. Do not wash it during that time. If a bird finds it, rinse the spot with plain water and leave it at that.
After that, the routine is simple:
- Wash by hand with two buckets and a pH-neutral shampoo
- Wash often enough that dirt does not bake on
- Dry with a clean, soft towel or a blower
- Stay out of automatic brush washes
- Skip wax and polish: the first does not bond well, and the second removes the coating
Take bird droppings and tree sap off as soon as you see them. A coating buys you time, not immunity.
Bring the car back once in a while and we will wash it, look over the coating under the lights and tell you how it is wearing. Most of what makes a coating last is done on your driveway, not in our bay.