The automotive industry has a wide selection of products and innovation for when it comes to paint protection. The Industry has grown from carnauba waxes, synthetic paint sealant, sprayable paint sealants to ceramic coatings and paint protection films. But one that people always tend to stumble on are ceramic coatings.
What is a ceramic coating?
A Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer based product that has a chemical compound called Silicon Dioxide(Si02) that is applied by hand to the exterior surfaces of the vehicle. Ceramic Coatings chemically bond with your vehicles paint creating a semi permanent layer of protection that is greater than your paints clear coat.
In simpler terms you might hear it be referred to as a super wax because it out preforms a regular wax is every aspect by a long run.
Now some people might say they enjoy the satisfaction of waxing their vehicles, why should I ceramic coat it instead? That's fair! nothing beats the satisfaction you get from spending the last couple hours washing and waxing your own vehicle. Except, it's short term.
Most quality waxes will last you from 2-3 months with regular washing habits. Whereas most professional grade ceramic coatings will last you from 3-5 years. Yes, years! It all just comes down to what you're trying to achieve protection wise, how much work you want to put in maintaining your vehicle, and of course what your budget is.
Let's Talk Benefits!
Ceramic coatings have many benefits when protecting your vehicle and are much superior to many other protection substances.
1. Ceramic coatings protects against:
Paint Fading
Rusting
UV Damage
Reduce risk of Micro Marring
Bird Droppings
Mud, Dirt, and Acid Rain
2. Ceramic coatings provide a rich, deep, long lasting gloss to your paint and eliminates the constant need of continuous waxing. Once your vehicle is coated you do NOT wax it after
3. It requires less maintenance. Ceramic coatings are highly hydrophobic which means they repel water, dirt and mud making your vehicle easier to clean.
4. It's Versatile. A ceramic coating can be applied to surfaces other than just your vehicles paint. Its high heat resistance allows it to be applied on wheels, brake calipers, and exhaust tips to make those surfaces easier to clean!
Ceramic coatings can also be applied to:
Glass
Plastic Trim
Leather | Vinyl (Specially Formulated)
Fabric (Specially Formulated)
Misconceptions About Ceramic Coatings
Now, we've talked about all the good about ceramic coatings and why it's a great product but we will address the misconceptions that a lot of people have about ceramic coatings.
They DO NOT prevent scratches and stone chips. A lot of people get misinformed by some detailers that ceramic coatings will prevent rock chips and severe scratches and that's not the case. Ceramic coatings are not thick enough to protect your vehicle against stone chips and serve scratches. If that's the type of protection you are looking for then your next step above would be to look into paint protection film (PPF). Just to be aware that next step of protection also comes with that next step in price.
They require no maintenance at all. That's not the case, just like any form of paint protection you still need to wash it and maintain it or else the coating will fail pre maturely. Your coating installer may say the coating is set to last you 3 years with regular maintenance but if you only wash your car every 6 months you can't expect it to last 3 years. All the dirt, road salt, and grim will eat away at the coating a lot faster than if you were to wash it on a bi weekly basis. The coating will protect against those harsh elements from contacting your paint but those elements still needs to be washed off to obtain longevity of the coating.
How Much Does A Ceramic Coating Cost.
Prices on ceramic coatings may vary depending on who's installing it, where you are located, the size of your vehicle, and the condition of your paint. There is a lot of labor that goes into applying a ceramic coating properly. Prior too coating a vehicle the paint must be wash, decontaminated and at least single stage polished to ensure the panel is perfectly clean.
Depending on the depth of correction needed on your paint may also determine the price of a ceramic coating. If the paint is heavily swirled and scratched you can expect to pay top dollar for a ceramic coating because you would want to surface to look its best before putting a semi permanent layer over it.
On Average expect to pay between $800 - $2700 all depending vehicle size, condition, type of coating, and the results you want!
Here at Refined Appearance Auto Care our 3 year ceramic coating package starts at $799 but can quickly make its way up with determining factors. So, it is important that you contact and talk to the installer about what your desired results are so we can give you the most accurate price!
We hope this article was found helpful and was a deciding factory if a ceramic coating is a good investment for you. For more information regarding pricing and packages please visit our services
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