All About Ceramic Coating

What Is Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coating is a special liquid that goes on your car. When it dries, it makes a hard shell. This shell sticks to your car’s paint very well.

The science part is cool! It has things called SiO2 and TiO2. These big words mean it has tiny bits that make a strong bond with your car.

Ceramic coating is not like wax. Wax sits on top. Ceramic coating joins with the paint. It does not wash off fast like wax does.

This coating is very hard. It gets a score of 9H. That is the top score on the hard test! It also hates water. Water just rolls off it.

Benefits of Ceramic Coating

Ceramic coating has lots of good things about it:

1. Lasts a long time: It can stay on for 2-7 years! Wax only lasts 2-6 months. That means you save time not waxing your car so much. 
2. Keeps your car safe: It stops sun rays from making your paint look old. It also helps when bird poop or tree sap falls on your car. They don’t stick as much.
3. Easier to clean: Dirt and mud don’t stick well to it. This means you don’t need to wash your car as much! You use less water too – up to 60% less! 
4. Looks shiny: Your car will look very glossy and new. The paint will seem deeper and more rich in color.

Ceramic Coating vs. Other Things

Let’s see how ceramic coating is different from other ways to keep your car nice:

The big thing to know: Ceramic coating is not the same as PPF (that’s a clear film). PPF stops rock chips better. But ceramic coating makes your car more shiny and costs less. Some people get both!

Pro vs. DIY Application

You can get ceramic coating two ways:

1. Pro Shop Way

This is when you pay a shop to do it. They will:

• Wash your car very well
• Fix tiny scratches first
• Use big lights to dry the coating

Pro shops use strong brands like Ceramic Pro and Gtechniq. These last 5-7 years. The shop will give you a paper that says they will fix it if it goes bad.

2. DIY Way

You can buy kits to do it at your home. Brands like Adam’s Polishes and Chemical Guys make these. They cost about $50-$150.

The DIY kind does not last as long – just 1-2 years. If you do it wrong, it might not work well.

Warning: The most big mistake is not cleaning your car well first! All the dirt must be gone.

If you want to see how to do right, check with a pro first.

How to Take Care of Ceramic Coating

To make your ceramic coating last long, do these things:

1. Use the right soap. Get a pH-neutral car soap. Don’t use dish soap!
2. Use the two-bucket way to wash:
   • One bucket has soap
   • One has just water to rinse your cloth
3. Don’t go to car washes with big brushes. They can scratch your coating.
4. Use a boost spray once a year. This adds more of that good SiO2 stuff.
5. Don’t put wax on top of your ceramic coating. It won’t stick right.

People who get cnc machining services for car parts often get ceramic coating too. It’s that good!

Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?

The big question: Should you spend money on it?

Good For:

• New cars: Keep them looking new!
• Cars you love: If you want to keep your car a long time.
• Places with bad weather: Like very sunny spots or where it snows a lot.

Not So Good For:

• Old cars with bad paint
• Cars you plan to sell soon
• If you don’t mind waxing often

Let’s look at what you spend and save:

Costs:

• Pro job: $800-$3,000 one time
• DIY: $50-$150 every 1-2 years

Savings:

• Less waxing (save \$20-\$50 every few months)
• Less washing (save water and time)
• Car looks better for longer

Most people say it’s worth it! In a big survey, 68% of people with nice cars got ceramic coating. 

Myths About Ceramic Coating

Let’s fix some wrong ideas:

❌ Wrong: “It lasts forever” ✓ Right: It lasts 2-7 years, then needs to be done again ❌ Wrong: “It stops all scratches” ✓ Right: It stops tiny scratches but not big ones from keys or rocks ❌ Wrong: “You never need to wash your car” ✓ Right: You still need to wash it, just not as much  ❌ Wrong: “All ceramic coatings are the same” ✓ Right: They have different amounts of SiO2 – more is better!

For tough jobs, some people use cnc precision machining to fix parts before coating them.

Questions People Ask a Lot

Real Results with Ceramic Coating

A big car fleet that gives rides put DIY ceramic sprays on 50 cars. They saved 45% on car wash costs! Also, people said their cars looked nicer. 

A boat owner in Miami put ceramic coating on his boat. After 2 years, it had 70% less rust than boats without it.

Is Ceramic Coating Green?

Ceramic coating helps the earth too! Since you wash your car less, you use less water. Some say you use 60% less water per year!

Also, you use less soap that can go in rivers and lakes.

Summary: Is Ceramic Coating Right for You?

Ceramic coating is a great way to keep your car looking new. It’s not magic, but it’s very good.

If you:

• Want your car to stay shiny
• Don’t like washing and waxing a lot
• Keep your car more than 2 years

Then ceramic coating is a smart choice!

To learn more about how precision machining helps make car parts last longer, check out that link.

More Steps After Ceramic Coating

Once your car has ceramic coating, you can make it even better! Some people add:

1. PPF (clear film) on the front to stop rock chips
2. Window tint to match the nice look
3. Wheel coating to keep brake dust away
4. Interior coating for seats and dash

Your car will be super protected and look amazing for years!