Myth Busting: Ceramic Coating

Myth Busting: Ceramic Coating
ceramic coating for cars

Content

Click here to see the different types of ceramic coatings on market

Click here to view what ceramic coating options you would typically have.

Click here to view benefits of ceramic coating and what it can do for you.

Click here to see the final verdict

Click here to see where you can get your car professionally done 

While many people still wonder what ceramic coatings really are, some are contemplating if ceramic car coating is even worth it in the first place. But the truth is that if you are a fan of keeping your car’s exterior looking like showroom quality, you probably must have heard of ceramic coatings, if not, you’re in the right place.

Car owners have several ways of protecting the paint of their pride and joy. From applying car wax to paint sealants, or having a regular car detailing session, everyone surely has their way of enhancing the exterior appeal of their ride and it really boils down to your lifestyle.

However, one of the most effective products presently on the market when it comes to car paint protection are ceramic coatings. These products are specifically designed to help keep your car glossy and shiny while also protecting it from exposure to contaminants that could damage the curb appeal of the car – lasting for many years.

ceramic coating sydney

Is it worth investing in ceramic car coating at all?

The truth is that ceramic coatings are very effective when it comes to helping your car constantly produce that showroom kind of shine. It improves hydrophobic properties and also protects the car’s body against damaging elements. Some automotive experts even suggest that the most economical ways of protecting car paints from acid rain, UV sunlight, bird droppings, and many more, is to invest in a professional Nano-Ceramic coating and not those off the shelf from your local auto shop.

So what is there to know about these magic products that do so much for car paint?

This article will show you everything you need to know about car ceramic coatings. It highlights what they really are, the different types, benefits, and also common questions that car owners also ask when considering making the smart investment.

What Exactly Is A Ceramic Coating?

A ceramic coating works as an additional protective layer for the paint of your car – similar to car sealant or wax but designed to last longer, much longer. Ceramic coatings are a liquid polymer that is applied to the exterior of a vehicle – usually by hand. The coating then bonds chemically with the factory paint of the vehicle, creating a layer of protection.

When you apply a car ceramic coating to your vehicle’s paint, it fills all of the microscopic imperfections in the paint, hence making the surface perfectly smooth. This additional layer of protection helps improve hydrophobic properties and makes the paint water-resistant. It also makes it resistant to scratches, chemicals, UV light, bird droppings, bug splatter, road grime, and much more.

The bond between the car paint and ceramic coatings is usually a semi-permanent one, which means it can’t break down or wash away and does not require repeated application every month.

car paint protection sydney

What Are the Types of Ceramic Coating for Cars? ​

Quartz

By design, the quartz coatings are harder than other types of ceramic coatings. Quartz, which is also known as silicon dioxide coatings achieves a high level of hardness that aims to armor the vehicle against scratches and debris. They are great for preserving the shiny and fresh appearance of a car even after years of use and abuse.

Polymer

The polymer or epoxy type of ceramic coating is the most widely used among the different types that exist. This coating forms a strong bond with the factory paint coating of the car. This type of bond formed is usually a near permanent type as the polymer and the paint become one layer that is more resistant to damage. That is the major reason you can’t just wash away a layer of ceramic coating. If you want to remove the polymer coating, you can only do that by machine polishing.

Hybrid

As the name suggests, hybrid ceramic coatings are a combination of polymer and quartz coatings. The hybrid coating, which claims to have the best of both coatings seems to be harder and offers protective shell around the vehicle. However, no one is certain if hybrid coatings provide any extra protection than the polymer and quartz ceramic coatings.

What Options Of Ceramic Coatings Are Available To You?

Either you own a car, an SUV, a truck, or performance vehicles, there are two options of ceramic coatings available to you. These two options include the commercial/professional grade ceramic coating and the DIY Nano-ceramic coating.

1) Commercial Ceramic Coating (professional grade)

This is usually the most popular type of ceramic coating and requires that a trained and certified professional install it. This industrial strength ceramic coating requires advance preparation and application procedure and also delivers super hydrophobic properties. This type often takes longer to cure and usually takes a few days to complete. Because of the much time required to correctly apply the coating, professional companies often charge from $1000 to $2000.

That can be huge among of money for a casual driver that just wants to protect his car against the elements while also enhancing cleaning.

2) DIY Nano-Ceramic Coating (retail grade)

This is the newest kid on the market now when it comes to paint protection. This seems to rightly address the needs of casual drivers who want to protect their cars against the element without breaking their budget.

There are a variety of grades of ceramic coating used in the DIY consumer kits, which are rated based on the percentage of quartz contained in the formulation. Most DIY Nano-ceramic kits contain about 40-60% quartz, so not that much compared to commercial grade alternatives.

Perhaps you are wondering what are the differences between these two options of ceramic coatings aside their cost. The DIY kits are not only more budget-friendly, as they only cost around $150, they are also specifically formulated for an easier consumer application. While it can also produce similar result as the commercial-grade ceramic coatings, it doesn’t require the same advanced prep-work. Failing to apply ceramic coating properly can really ruin the appearance of your gloss. So that’s why it is always a great idea to have it professionally installed using professional grade paint protection coatings. Just like how your dash cam should be installed professionally, so should your paint protection – it is just not worth compromising on the quality and performance of the technology..

ceramic coating

Why Should You Ceramic Coat Your Car?

There are many benefits that come with ceramic-coating your car. Ceramic coatings add extra layer of protection to your car’s exterior and make it look new like you just bought it. The coating is able to do all of these by making your car more resilient and pretty easier to clean. Below are some major reasons you should consider ceramic coatings for your car.

#1: It protects your car from UV damage and oxidation

Frequent exposure of your car to the sun will cause the car paint to oxidize, resulting in dulled and faded paint. Using the right ceramic coating will help create a robust layer of protection on your car’s paint against the ultraviolet rays of the sun. That way, the amount of oxidation that happens on your car paint is substantially reduced.

#1: It doesn't eliminate the need to wash your car

Chemical stains from acidic contaminants in your natural environment is another danger for your car. While environmental pollutants can still bond to your car, it is much easier to remove when you have a ceramic coating on the car because the bonding will be a very weak one. This is because ceramic coating dramatically reduces the surface tension, therefore, preventing things like dirt, bird droppings, bugs, tar and graffiti from bonding to the surface. However, even though ceramic coatings can prevent some chemicals from bonding to your car paint, you still need to remove such pollutant as soon as possible or it will cause damage.

#2: It makes your car easier to clean

This is likely one of the most significant features of ceramic coatings. Their hydrophobic properties make them a better repellant of water. When you ceramic coat your vehicle, water will bead on the surface and easily slide off, similar to water sheeting. What this means is that grime and mud will find it more difficult to bind to your vehicle’s paint. This hence, helps you save time and effort when washing your vehicle as contaminants become very easy to remove.

#3: It brings about improvement on gloss

The nanotechnology makes the ceramic nanoparticles to rightly fill up the smallest pores in the paint. When this is professionally applied to your car, it will improve the reflective properties of the car paint, adding more clarity and depth to the color. It really achieves that immense hard candy gloss appeal.

#4: It is cost-effective

Since car wax only lasts about a month on average, you will need to re-wax your vehicle more than you may like. Ceramic coatings, on the other hand is significantly more durable. When properly applied and well maintained, it can serve you for a few years before considering a replacement. In the end, you will be saving more money with Nano-ceramic coating compared to paint sealant or wax every day of the week.

Top 7 Frequently Asked Questions about Ceramic Car Coatings

Answer – It is important that you keep your car well-maintained even with ceramic coatings – remember it doesn’t eliminate the place of washing. You will need to regularly wash the car, but not with harsh chemicals that can damage the coating by interacting with it. Thanks to the dust-repellant feature of the ceramic coating, you don’t need a strong car wash to get your car cleaned.

Answer – No. using a ceramic coating on your car has already ruled out the need to wax altogether. Ceramic coating provides the benefits of waxing, a glossy finish, and durability combined.

Answer – When properly maintained and cared for, a layer of ceramic coating will preserve the brand new look of your car for a few years.

Answer – No. the truth is that a high-quality Nano-ceramic coating can be applied to paint protection film, helmets, automotive glass, and windscreens.

Answer – The maximum number of coat required is two. If a manufacturer tells you that you need more than that, what it means is that that is not a very good product, to begin with. So go for a more quality product that will serve you better. Like Schmicko, we use a ultra-high density coating, meaning that only one layer is required.

Answer – Once you have opened the bottle of the ceramic coating, the best thing is that you try to use it as quickly as possible as it will harden up in to a glass-like compound.

Answer – Nano-ceramic coatings are not permanent but semi-permanent. That means you don’t have to apply and reapply every month to maintain the shine of your car paint. With just one application. It can last years if properly maintained. But is not permanent, despite all claims

Ceramic Car Coating vs Car Wax – Which Is the Smarter Investment?

If you are considering whether or not a ceramic coating is a good investment, then let me help you out. You will see the several benefits of having a ceramic coating on your car, from providing protection to making maintenance super easy;  worth every penny.

Comparing with car wax, let’s start by considering the money you will spend on the regular trip to the car detailer, applying sealants and wax, and the labor and time involved in the process over a period of a few years. Then, we will not need to debate the fact that ceramic coating is well worth the initial investment.

Now let’s do the math.

Car Wax: $30
Polishing Compound: $30
Buffing Machine: $200 – $800
IPA Cleanse: $20
Microfibre Towels: $10
Clay Bar: $20
Car Wash Shampoo:$30
Bucket: $2
Car Wash Mitt: $15
Drying Towel: $25
Pressure Washer: $150 – $300
Time: 3 to 4 hours

Initial Cost: $532 to $1282 (depending on the grade of your equipment ie Pressure Washer and Buffing Machine)

Your initial cost outlay will of course cost you a fair bit, but ongoing, you would most likely need wax, polishing compound, IPA Cleanse, Towels, clay bar car wash shampoo and time. This also does not guarantee you superb results, as quality will vary between person to person depending on their experience and skill level. What may take 3 to 4 hours for a detailer will most likely take 5 to 6 hours for your average Joe. The results are all within the preparation and application, you could spend 5 to 6 hours, but would it necessarily meet the same standards to that of a professional? If applied poorly, the only way ou could remove the coating is by machine buffing and buff incorrectly, you could face possible swirl marks and other defects.

Also remember that wax provides little to no protective hardness whereas a coating does. 

For the price of your initial outlay, you could pretty much book a Mobile Car Detailer for around the same price, including paint correction and the ceramic coating application at Schmicko.

The Bottom Line

Drawing a conclusion over the whole thing, if what you need for your car is cost-effectiveness, long-lasting results, and maximum protection, then your best shot is applying a ceramic coating. Not only does it offer protection to your car paint against damaging contaminants, but it also continually produces an elegant shine that makes your car appear brand new.

However, if you will be using a DIY Nano-ceramic coating, it’s important you complete some additional research to know the proper preparation and application techniques. That is very important to the result you get from it. But in whichever way, ceramic coatings are quite easier to install than you would think, and its results speak for themselves.

Don’t want to worry about the details and would rather a professional do it just for you, at your home? Then Schmicko Mobile Car Wash & Detailing can help you. Just look below:

schmicko car detailing

Protect Your Car Professionally

At Schmicko, we offer ceramic coating and car paint protection services all over Sydney. We apply our auto-engineered coating to provide you with the ultimate gloss and protection for your vehicle. Of course, it is ideal to have your coating installed by one our experienced professionals for the best results. Much of the detail comes in to the preparation, such as machine buffing to ensure that we can minimize any surface blemishes as much as possible prior to sealing that showroom finish.
icons8-user-male-500

Chester.H

Your Car Care Guy

Everything you need to know – from car care advice to amazing weekend escapes. We make the difficult things, simple.

The Sydney car care guru
All you need to know about mobile car wash and detailing
Google Rating
4.8
Based on 549 reviews
×
js_loader