Ceramic Coating Products

What Is Ceramic Coating for Cars?

Ceramic car coating usually uses silicone dioxide or silicon carbide that chemically bonds to the clear coat and cures into a hard, hydrophobic layer. Thanks to this, water beads up and rolls off instead of sitting on the surface. Dirt is suspended in water, so when water rolls off, dirt goes away with it.

The coating does not add measurable thickness. However, you can feel it because paint becomes smoother and more slick to the touch. You can also see deeper colour on dark paint and glassy shine. Although it may seem similar to wax, it is not the same. Wax sits on top of paint and wears off in weeks or months. Ceramic coating bonds to paint and lasts years. You do not reapply it every few months like wax.

Benefits of Ceramic Coating

When you use ceramic coating, water beads and sheets off, and the dirt does not stick as hard. You do not have to scrub, so washing takes less time. Just rinse it, wash lightly, rinse it again, and it is done. In winter, road salt and grime wash off easier.

Ceramic coating protects your car from the UV light that oxidises paint, makes it fade and dull over time. It also slows oxidation. As a result, your paint keeps its beautiful colour longer.

The hard layer protects against light scratches, swirl marks and abrasion from dust. It is harder than a clear coat, so it takes the abuse instead of your paint. However, it will not prevent deep scratches from keys or shopping trolleys.

Wax lasts from 2 up to 3 months. Sealant lasts for 6 months. Ceramic coating lasts from 1 to 5 years. Obviously, you need to wash the car properly, top up with ceramic boost sprays every few months, and avoid automatic car washes.

How to Prepare a Car for Ceramic Coating?

Coating bonds to whatever surface is there. If paint is dirty, contaminated, or scratched, the coating locks that in. To avoid worsening the situation, wash the car thoroughly. Use the two-bucket method and a proper car shampoo. Remove all surface dirt from wheels, arches, door jambs, everything.

Washing removes loose dirt, but it does not remove tar, iron fallout, tree sap, or old wax residue. Use iron remover first to avoid that. Spray it on, wait for it to turn purple (that means iron particles are reacting), and rinse it off.

Then clay bar the entire car. Clay removes embedded contaminants that washing and iron remover missed. Lubricate it with clay lube or car shampoo diluted with water, rub it gently over paint. The surface will get smoother as clay pulls contamination out. After finishing, wash the car again and polish it. Work panel by panel. Apply polishing paste on paint, work it in with overlapping passes. Wipe off the residue. Repeat until all the defects are gone.

Apply the coating indoors if possible, anywhere out of direct sun and wind in the temperature between 15-25°C. This is because dust and wind contaminate the coating before it cures. Direct sun, on the other hand, makes it cure too fast, so it is harder to work with.

FAQ – Ceramic Coating for Cars

Is ceramic coating worth it?

If you want your car to last a long time, then yes. Protection and easier cleaning justify the cost. If you change cars every year, probably not.

Can I apply the ceramic coating myself?

If you have detailing experience and proper tools, you definitely can. If you have never polished paint, then it is better to ask somebody to do it for you.

How long does the ceramic coating last?

It lasts from 1 to up to 5 years, depending on the quality of the product. However, the duration also depends on how you treat your car.