Is there a downside to ceramic coating?
Disadvantages of ceramic coating include the potential for scratches and water spots, high costs, and the need for professional installation. Several layers of liquid polymer and other strong materials create a powerful coat, but nothing can protect a car against everything.
Ceramic coatings effectively repel water. These surfaces cause water to condense into beads, but the coating is so durable that these little balls of water roll off the automobile and pick up dirt as they go. Every time it rains, the coating's hydrophobic features ensure your car's paint gets cleaned!
Yes, it is possible to mess up a DIY ceramic coating application. Improper application may cause high spots, streaks, cloudy reflections or hazing. These mistakes won't permanently damage your vehicle's paint and can be undone.
Cost and problematic. Maybe not the cost of the material, but the dowtime during the curing process. That would 12 to 48 hours to the production time, olus they need to be stored in a clean space for that period of time.
Is it worth getting a ceramic coating? At face value, the paint protection offered by a ceramic coating is well worth the cost you pay for it. You can expect robust protection against surface contaminants - such as dirt or swirl marks - and clear coat scratches.
First and foremost, one of the most important things you need to know about ceramic protection is that it's not recommended to wash your car for up to 7 days after applying the coating. This allows the coating to fully cure on your vehicle's surface.
In general, most ceramic coatings will reach 90% of their cure in just 72 hours! However, it is important to keep in mind that a full cure can take up to four weeks. During this time, it is best not to apply any pressure or blows to the coated area; for example, avoid washing your car with a high-pressure hose.
- Use some sort of Pre-Wash Or Snow Foam before coming in contact with the paint.
- Use a Two Bucket Wash Method at the very least.
- Use a good quality Microfiber Wash Mitt.
- Use Grit Guards Where Possible.
- When drying your car use a dedicated detailing towel or a blower.
Just to set the record straight, yes, you can apply car wax to a ceramic coated surface.
Unfortunately, no. Ceramic coatings are not standard finishes for vehicles, so polishes are not formulated to work with them. If you use polish on top of ceramic coating, you will strip the coating off of your vehicle, leaving it patchy and damaged.
Does pressure washing remove ceramic coating?
Will high-pressure washing cause damage to a ceramic coated vehicle? A car with a ceramic coating can be washed with a pressure washer without concerns. You may take advantage of the coating's capacity to clean itself with the help of a pressure washer, which removes the vast majority of surface contaminants.
If you want to know if a car has a ceramic coating, take the car for a drive. Spray the car with water; as you increase the speed of the vehicle, water beads will gather into streams that will flow from your vehicle. In the absence of ceramic coating, the drops of water will cling to the car's surface.
The Use Of Too Much, Or Too Little Product
While a little goes a long way when it comes to ceramic coatings, applying way too little product will make the coating ineffective. On the other side, using it excessively can result in a greasy looking coating that might be hard to cure properly.
Adding Professional-Grade Ceramic Coating to Reduce Scratches. While it is true that ceramic coating is scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof, applying it to your paint still offers plenty of benefits and reduces the risk of swirl marks appearing.
| PRO Ceramic Coating | DIY Ceramic Coating | PRO Wash/Wax/Polish |
|---|---|---|
| $11,800 (install + 5 years of upkeep) | $940 (product + 5 years of upkeep) | $13,800 (install + 5 years of upkeep) |
Graphene coatings are more durable and offer better protection against UV rays and chemicals than ceramic coatings. They also last longer, with most manufacturers offering a warranty of up to five years.
The answer to this question is yes. Having your car coated immediately after purchase is beneficial as you'll require less paint correction or prep work, which can save you time and money.
The Typical Lifespan of Ceramic Car Coating
For the most part, ceramic coatings last between two and five years. In some cases, they can last up to a decade, but this is pretty rare. However, there are many factors that affect their lifespan and might force you to replace yours sooner than you'd expect.
Ceramic protectants (coatings) provide a much higher durability than wax. They resist heat, UV rays, environmental contaminants & harsh detergents much better than wax. Wax on the other hand simply sits on top of the paint's surface. It does not create the chemical bond like we find with ceramic coatings.
A ceramic coating is a proven paint protection solution. However, it shouldn't be assumed that you don't need wash it frequently. Every two weeks is recommended.
Does ceramic coat leave water spots?
While a ceramic coating can reduce the potential water spots, it is not water spot proof. In areas where there is high calcium or mineral content in water, water spots on ceramic coating are a common phenomenon.
Premature exposure to moisture will wreck a ceramic coating faster than you can say “smells like rain.” Precipitation, dew, mist, or testing the hydrophobic properties of the coating before it has fully cured can all compromise the quality of a vehicle's ceramic coating.
If it's rain water or tap water, the impurities present in both will destabilize the cross link bonds before they can fully form. That can lead to premature coating failure in many instances. That's why washes and driving in the rain are not recommended during the first week after application.
Whether you have a Ceramic Pro 9H coating, KAVACA PPF or the vehicle is unprotected, using a super plush microfiber drying towel is the best solution.
When it comes to ceramic car wash soaps, Nexgen Ceramic Car Wash Soap, Mr. Gold Foaming Car Wash Soap from Chemical Guys, and Car Wash from Armor All have my highest all-around ratings. All these three products are concentrated, wash the surface extremely well, and protect the car's paint.