It’s common for a vehicle’s paint job to get damaged as your vehicle ages. Debris and other harmful chemicals can destroy your car’s exterior, compromising how your vehicle looks.
Taking a trip to your local car wash or paying for detailing aren’t the only options you have when trying to maintain your car’s paint. You can also try to apply a ceramic coating to improve your car’s overall look and appeal. This coating also provides an extra layer of protection that can last for years.
What Is a Ceramic Coating?
A ceramic coating is a type of auto body protection used to keep your car’s painting looking good as new.
This coating is clear and made of silicon dioxide. Some ceramic coatings have titanium dioxide for additional hardness. The extra oxide layer provided by a ceramic coating protects your vehicle’s surface from damage.
Ceramic coating is usually applied by hand, and it blends with the paint of your car.
Is Applying a Ceramic Coating to Your Vehicle Worth It?
It depends on a lot of factors. Applying a ceramic coating has several advantages, but it also has its drawbacks.
Pros
Let’s look at some of the ceramic coating benefits we have on our list:
It Minimizes the Harsh Effects of UV Rays
Too much sun exposure will make your vehicle’s paint fade because UV rays can destroy your paint’s molecular bonds.
If you often park your car under the heat of the sun, applying a ceramic coating can be a good way to protect its paint from UV damage.
It Helps Prevents Rust Damage
Since ceramic coating protects your car’s paint from debris that can harm it, it can significantly reduce the possibility of exposing the metal body panels of your vehicle to the elements.
As long as moisture doesn’t come into contact with metal and iron, the possibility of rust forming on metal components is minimal.
It Keeps Your Car Looking New
If you want your car to keep turning heads, applying a ceramic coating is also a good idea. This can make your existing paint job appear more shiny and make its color more vibrant.
It Helps Minimize the Time You Spend Cleaning Your Vehicle
Applying a ceramic coating can make it easier to wipe dirt off your vehicle’s surface. Ceramic coated cars naturally repel dirt, so you can worry less about dealing with stubborn dirt and stains.
It Offers Good Value for Your Money
Ceramic coating doesn’t come cheap, but it’s sure worth every penny. Traditional wax can be cheaper but ceramic coating can protect your paint job better.
A repaint can cost you more than $1000, so investing in a ceramic coating is a more worthy investment.
Cons
Like any other automotive product out there, ceramic coating has its drawbacks. No matter the advantages, there are just some things it cannot do.
Here are some of the downsides of applying a ceramic coat:
You’ll Have to Redo It
Ceramic coating’s efficacy has already been proven. There’s no doubt about that. However, the protection you get from this coating won’t last forever.
A typical ceramic coating can last from three to five years. So if you want to keep your ride protected, you’ll have to redo it at some point.
There is a type of ceramic coating on the market that you won’t have to apply again. If you don’t want the hassle of redoing it, you can try and buy this type of ceramic coating.
There is a type of ceramic coating on the market that you won’t have to apply again. If you don’t want the hassle of redoing it, you can try and buy this type of ceramic coating.
–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
It Can’t Prevent Water Spots
One of the major drawbacks of applying a ceramic coating is that it can’t prevent water spots. Although the composition of this coating naturally repels water, it also causes a water-beading effect. So if you don’t wipe water stains right away, they’ll stay and cause spots that can completely be an eyesore.
Expensive Upfront Pricing
If you’re on a tight budget, this might not be your best option. There are budget-friendly ceramic coating kits out there, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll effectively protect your car’s paint job.
If you’ve decided on DIY-ing this project, stick to a well-known product, read online reviews, and ask for advice from professionals.
How Do You Apply a Ceramic Coating?
You can pay a professional to apply the ceramic coating for you or you can do the application on your own. Let’s look at each option in detail:
Professional Application
The main advantage of letting professionals do the job is that they’re more used to the process and they have materials and tools readily available for them to use.
If your budget isn’t limited, you might want to explore this option.
Since professionals at detailing shops usually give more attention to detail, it can take longer and they also cost more than DIY coating kits.
DIY
There are DIY ceramic coating kits out there if you’d like to try and do the coating on your own.
The home kit usually includes the ceramic concentrate, sponges, and pre-cleaners.
Make sure that you read the instructions carefully before applying the coating. If you’re not sure about anything, it’s best to ask the help of an experienced DIYer or a detailing professional.
How Much Will I Have to Shell Out?
A professional ceramic coating application can cost anywhere between $250 and $3000. The exact cost of applying a ceramic coating will depend on a lot of factors. For example, the quality of the ceramic coating you want to use will affect pricing.
If you’re going the DIY route, a kit can cost anywhere between $100 and $300.
You’ll also have to take into consideration other related repairs. For example, it might also be a good time to have scratched or dented panels fixed.
Lastly, you have to consider taxes and the labor rates that apply in your area.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
