Everybody loves cars. Either it’s for their looks, their power, or their functionality, cars own a special place in our hearts. For real. I mean think about how much we depend on this means of transportation, especially when there is no other option like buses, trains, or subway to jump into to get to work or at a doctor’s appointment, or whatever.
But wait… It’s not all sugar and spice and everything nice; whether we like it or not, cars need maintenance, and that is a safety measure that one cannot underestimate or ignore. Luckily, we usually like caring for our four-wheeled babies, so this article comes as a statement to that.
Great cars need great care, so, among other things, the best quality coating; and the best car coating is… drums… ceramic coating. But wait… Does that mean that ceramic coating is exclusively meant for select cars? Definitely not! It is for all of you who like to offer the best maintenance to your car. Now let’s dive a bit into what coating implies.
First of all, it is well-known in the glass and ceramic industry as a product composed of liquid polymer that is secondary to silica. It is also the most durable type of coating you will find on the market, it is why more and more car owners resort to it when they need to add a protection layer to their automobiles.
Ceramic coating is produced at a great temperature due to its unnatural composition that enhances high temperatures. What does that mean? It means that, if properly applied, the ceramic coating creates a microscopic connection with the designed paintwork material that gives more durability and more protection to the safety coat.
You can also forget about worrying that your coating might scratch or be deteriorated by exposure to sun, or that it might lose its glow once exposed to a an intense washing. Seriously, the ceramic coating will last you for years, making your car look brand new.
When you think of protecting your car’s paintwork, the paint, and the wax, it kind of gives you a headache, right? And yet, by simply applying ceramic coating you tick off the rest of your tasks, because ceramic coating interacts with the entire paintwork, making it last.
1: It secures a couple of years without worrying about adding new protection layers to your car paint
Ceramic coating is currently the most durable way to protect your car’s paint. Its superiority comes from the callousness, the shininess, and the resistance to wearing in time. Those three attributes are guaranteed for any type of coachwork. Right after applying it, the ceramic coating turns into a clear and thick bed of no more than 3 mm over the varnish. This layer completely isolates and protects the paint from damaging external factors, like acid rain, salt, or scratches.
Another huge plus of using ceramic coating is by reducing the risk of scrapes or corrosion. What does that mean? It means a consistent cost-cutting in the investment in your car’s color maintenance.
2: You can apply the ceramic coating yourself
Nevertheless, the intervention of a specialist ensures great results, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot apply the coating yourself. Of course, if you have some knowledge about it and if you are willing to give it a bit of time, as the process requires some prep. Ready? Here is how you can apply ceramic coating in five easy (-ish) steps:
Step 1. OK, so as stated before, you have to prepare your car before actually applying the ceramic layer. So, before anything, wash and degrease your car very well. We cannot stress enough how important it is not to skip this first step. Wash and degrease, people.
Step 2. Shake the ceramic coating bottle and apply a few drops (8-10) on a dry microfiber satin cloth wrapped over an applier. For the first applying, make sure to wet the cloth adequately.
Step 3. Apply the ceramic coating in a zigzag pattern on small portions. Why small portions? Because afterwards it will be easier for you to polish it.
Step 4. Leave the coating to dry until it makes a crust. At a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius, in no more than two to three minutes, the ceramic coating should change its color.
Keep an eye on the way in which the color changes. The ceramic layer should look like a rainbow.
Here’s when it is safe for you to start polishing the surface with a microfiber cloth.
As a heads-up, the higher the temperature, the quicker will the ceramic layer dry, while at lower temperatures, it will dry slower.
Step 5. After applying the first ceramic layer, you should wait for at least an hour and then apply a new one. For maximum durability and efficiency, you should apply three ceramic layers at a distance of an hour.
3: The surface becomes clearly glossy
After completing the whole process, meaning after you are done applying the three layers of ceramic coating, you should perceive a remarkable glow. From a close-up, your car should look as if it was covered with a glass layer giving it a mirror effect; and it doesn’t matter if the car is new or older, the effect is equally surprising.
4: Ceramic coating keeps dirt away
Have you ever heard of hydrophobic coverage? If not, do not worry, we are about to explain what it is and what its benefits are.
Hydrophobicity is a physical property of molecules to reject masses of water or dirt. The process is not repulsive, it is rather a natural lack of attraction. Thus, the surface remains intact. So, your car will get dirty less often and you will have to take it to a car wash less frequently. The maintenance of ceramic coating once every three to six months will ensure the protection of your ceramic layer for years now.
5: Ceramic coating does not provide safety to the paint only
Ceramic coating ensures durability not just for the painted surfaces, but also for seals, chrome-plated elements, plastic materials, windows, and tires. It provides safety to the entire vehicle.
If you were wondering what makes this ceramic coating so special, let us tell you that there’s much to write about. We will there, but until then let us point out some different aspects of ceramic layers applied by professionals versus the ceramic coating installed by the car owner.
a). Ceramic coating applied by professionals is created in such a way that it requires a lot of prep work before the actual applying. Not only does the car need to be all clean, but even the environment has to be freshly cleaned. After your professionals have applied the coat, depending on the way your present paint looks like, it has to stay in a controlled environment, at a certain temperature for a couple of days, generally no more than five. Of course, the price is to match, from 750 dollars up to 2000 dollars. But seriously now, a job done by a professional is long lasting, so it totally worths the money.
b). Ceramic coating applied by the owner, so the DIY applying, has been created in such a way to offer the same advantages that professional ceramic coating applying. The only difference is the process, which is much simpler here. Of course, your car needs some prep work before, but incomparable to the professional process. Also, the installation is simpler and the costs are smaller, from 10 USD to 300 USD. Of course, you will notice some differences in the quality of the products, given the price range.
We have prepared for you some similarities and differences between the two coatings, to give a glimpse on why wax has become kind of obsolete for us.
First of all, it is completely natural, so it does not affect the environment.
Then, there’s the easiness with which you, as a non-professional can apply it, without much experience required. Plus, it takes lesser time to install it.
You will not need any professional help unless you want it to look as shiny as possible, because professional tools make a difference.
Car wax resists to excessive heat display when properly applied.
It is also hydrophobic, meaning that it keeps water and dirt away.
Maybe the most disturbing thing about car wax is that it has to be reapplied very often, every 4 to 6 six to make sure you’re your car paint remains intact. So, this requires some effort from your side. Then, there’s the process itself, and we are not only referring to the enforcement only, but to the pre-enforcement and post-enforcement too. Your car has to be washed and completely dry, sometimes you must even remove the older wax, and only then apply the new wax layer. Without respecting those steps you will probably not get the results you want, so make sure to reserve some extra time to complete the process.
Another minus of car wax is that you can be tricked sometimes by the market. How’s that? Well, some products might just seem what you need, but the actually are not the real deal. So beware of the simple conditioner that some car washes might try to trick you into using, because those are not car wax. Of course, they will wear off shortly after the enforcement, not to mention that they will you’re your paint zero protection.
First and foremost, ceramic coating protects your car against UV rays, thus the paint will not oxidize, keeping the quality of the vehicle intact for a long time. This type of coating, unlike car war, does not require applying every 6 weeks, but every several years, so it is much more durable.
Given its superior quality, it is much more resistant to weather conditions, dirt, mud, or water. Just like wax, it has hydrophobic characteristics, adding to it a much quicker dry, and a more vivid glow that will last you through the years.
You could say that it is a bit time-consuming, because the process is much more complex than when applying wax; plus, it seldom requires professional help. You might also consider keeping your car away from bad weather conditions for a day or two to make sure that the layer is well fixed.
The costs are higher, also the artistry will cost you some money, but remember that this is an action that requires maintenance once in a few years, so we would say it is worth it.
Now here is a Top 7 Best Ceramic Coating For Car that we would recommend you to look into so that you can find the right version for your car, depending on your urges:
First and foremost, Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat ceramic car wax is a real package deal; not only it dries out quickly, but it will leave your car looking brand new, squeaky clean thanks to its waterless wash function, shiny, and protected.
Here’s something that we hate when it comes to our beloved babies on four wheels: when they are full of dust, fat, or mud. Well, luckily, there are products like Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat ceramic car wax that come with a sealer that eliminates all those unwanted extras.
Due to its hydrophobic attribute and its edgy characteristics, this ceramic coating adds to that glossy stylish look a sealant safety shield that keeps you car in good condition for a long time.
It’s also very important to mention here that you can safely apply this ceramic spray on any two or four wheelers; so if you (also) own a motorbike, an RV, or a boat, this is a great option for you.
As you might have noticed, coating could damage the paint in a car, but there is a reason why this product is top-notch on the market; it does not scratch, smudge, nor streak your car’s paint; and that is applicable to absolutely any vehicle, not only the most expensive ones.
Pros:
It adds a UV protection
Works on trim, metal, and fiberglass
Disposable on any paint
Very affordable
Goes well for the engine bay cover
Good for the interior of a car too
Cons:
It does not protect your car against the sprinklers
