Is ceramic coating worth it? To answer this question, we need to know more about ceramic coating first. Let’s dig in:
In the detailing industry nowadays, the term “ceramic coating” is used loosely and sometimes not accurately. So what is the ceramic coating?
What is Ceramic Coating
A true ceramic is a high solid coating.
Once it’s applied, it chemically bonds to the surface and increases surface hardness, much like a clear coat from the factory on top of the paint. A simple way to explain how a coating works is to imagine it like this…a coating is a liquid that becomes a solid. This liquid is applied carefully and then bonds to the surface.
This creates a strong, protective, or sacrificial layer over your vehicle’s paint. Standard factory-applied clear coat typically ranks around a three h or four h on the pencil hardness scale (a basic metric for determining the resistance/hardness of materials).
On this same scale, most ceramic coatings rank around eighth or ninth, making ceramic about three times more durable than regular clear coats alone! Some companies state that your vehicle will never scratch again.
This is not entirely true; coatings do provide increased scratch resistance. If it does infract scratch, the coating has done its job.
It is also important to note that any kind of contact may cause minor surface scratching. With a coating, this scratching concern is greatly reduced but not gone.
Like anything else, quality care and maintenance are required to keep the coated vehicle pristine.
Ceramic Coating Products
About Ceramic Coating Products Many products on the market now claim to have some sort of ceramic base in them. These products typically have a high solvent and low silica base content to them. Silica is one of the main compounds from which ceramic coatings are made of.
Products with low content are mostly diluted and are used for quicker, less intensive detailing (much like a spray wax).
Often these products are used as stand-alone. Although they are easy to apply and may show quick and shiny results, they aren’t considered high solids and don’t properly protect the car.
A ceramic coating done the right way is often a bit longer and more intricate process; however, doing so ensures the vehicle is protected for years.
Most coating companies make maintenance products that help prolong the duration of the coating after it’s applied.
Although these products can be used as stand-alone for a quick shine or light protective layer,
they are not adequately preserving and protecting your vehicle as well or as long as a fully bonded coating does.
Benfits Of Ceramic Coating
The benefits of a ceramic coating are not a one-size-fits-all solution to protect your paint. For some vehicles, it’s life-changing. After a few washes, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. For others, you might feel let down, thinking it would make a bigger difference. So which vehicles will benefit from a ceramic coating? Has paint that’s kept in near-perfect condition. Driven regularly in all conditions but isn’t neglected. Washed often, with proper wash techniques and products. Can benefit from the ability to wash quickly and easily
The coatings that offer the most protection for the longest amount of time are for professionals only. The reason for this is that the coating is so strong that if something goes wrong, it can only be removed by wet sanding.
The companies don’t want the liability of you messing up your paint, so they only offer these to their accredited detailing businesses like us at TINTIX.
There’s usually a process required to become an accredited detailer. It involves proving to the company that they are experienced and know what they’re doing.
Finding one of these detailers like Tintix will give you peace of mind knowing that they have the right skills for the job.
It might seem like anyone can apply these themselves without problems, but that’s not always the greatest idea.
The application can still be tricky, and you need to have a very clean environment with correct lighting to do a proper job. It’s not always as easy as the guys in the videos make it look.
Now Let’s get back to the main question: Is ceramic coating worth it?
Is ceramic coating worth it?
The short answer is yes. It will make your job of cleaning and maintaining it less tedious. So that you spend more time driving and enjoying your car than thinking about ways to keep it protected. If you’re a college student or recent graduate with a used car for commuting, then this is not a pressing need.
But if you’ve bought your car new, or are leasing with the intent to purchase, then it’s worth at least considering.
If you’re talking value for money — paying to have a ceramic coating applied to the exterior of your car or motorcycle is absolutely worth it! even for interior ceramic coating!
Ceramic coating will not only provide a superior layer of protection for your car’s paint (than regular car wax), but it will also save you money in the long run as you won’t have to pay for continuous waxing every few months. Not to mention the peace of mind you will have knowing your vehicle’s paintwork is being protected at a molecular level every time you drive.
Not to mention the peace of mind you will have knowing your vehicle’s paintwork is being protected at a molecular level every time you drive.
Looking for a Ceramic Coating in Brentwood, CA?
If you care about preserving the look and quality of your car’s paint, you can request a quote in under two minutes, either by calling us or sending us a message, and we’ll follow up to answer all of your questions.
We are not in the business of making outlandish promises and pushing a product on you. Instead, we’re here to help you make the right decision for you and your car in the long run. Toward that end, we would love to discuss your specific situation and your plan for maintaining your vehicle’s beautiful shine.
