Overview

You want your vehicle to look as good as it did the day you bought it. So you carefully wash it on a regular basis and you apply a new coat of wax every few months. But despite your efforts, swirl marks, chips, and stains start to populate on your vehicle’s exterior. Not only that, water spots, dirt, and grime start clinging to your car the day after you give it a thorough wash. What if there was a product that could change this narrative; a product that would provide protection from environmental hazards and make your car easier to wash, while not requiring repeated application. Good news! There is. It’s called a Ceramic Coating (or Nano-Ceramic Coating), and it could add substantial value to your vehicle. But before you make a buying decision, it’s important to get the facts straight. If you have read anything online about Ceramic Coatings, you may have come across some competing claims. On the one hand, manufacturers and detailers have made outstanding promises about the performance of their Ceramic Coatings. On the other hand, some auto care commentators have offered critiques. Let’s spend some time clearing up the issue. What’s the truth about automotive Ceramic Coatings? What are their benefits? What are their limitations? What will be best for your vehicle? WHAT IS A CERAMIC COATING? A Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer that is applied by hand to the exterior of a vehicle. The coating chemically bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint, creating a layer of protection. A Ceramic Coating is not a substitute for Paint Protection Film, which provides a more comprehensive for of defensive. Rather, it is a premium wax alternative. A Ceramic Coating creates a permanent or semi-permanent bond with a vehicle’s paint, meaning that it does not wash away or break down and does not require repeated application every few months. WHAT DOES A CERAMIC COATING DO? In short, a Ceramic Coating adds additional protection to your car’s exterior and helps keep it looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance. The coating achieves this result by making your vehicle more resilient and easier to clean. Here are the main benefits: PROTECTION FROM UV DAMAGE / OXIDIZATION If a vehicle is often exposed to the sun, its paint will begin to oxidize, resulting in dulled and faded paint. A layer of Ceramic Coating protects a vehicle’s paint from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the amount of oxidization. PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL STAINS AND ETCHING Another danger for your car is chemical staining from naturally acidic contaminants. By creating a chemically resistant surface, a Ceramic Coating can keep some contaminants from bonding to your vehicle’s paint. The result is that your vehicle will be more resistant to staining and etching, provided the contaminant is removed in a timely manner. EASE OF CLEANING One of the most significant features of a Ceramic Coating is that it is hydrophobic, which is a fancy way of saying it repels water. When a vehicle has a hydrophobic Ceramic Coating, water will bead on the surface and slide off more easily. This means that mud and grime will have a more difficult time bonding to your vehicle’s paint, and when you wash your car, contaminants can be removed with less effort. ENHANCED GLOSS If you want your paint to pop with gloss, you will want to add a Ceramic Coating. A good Ceramic Coating enhances the reflective properties of your car’s paint and clear coat, adding to the depth and clarity of your paint. You can contact SwissTouchDetailPros to schedule an appointment for an estimate.