THE REALITY OF CERAMIC COATINGS
Ceramic coatings are the very best option for total automotive protection and shine. The plethora of benefits far outweigh those of a standard wax, sealant, or spray protectant. Ceramic technology excels in many ways:
DURABILITY
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
UV RESISTANCE
HYDROPHOBICITY
SHINE ENHANCEMENT
MAKES CLEANING EASIER
However, there’s a lot of misinformation and unethical business practices in the world of ceramic coatings. Many companies claim to sell a coating that has a lifespan of 10 years, 20 years, even a LIFETIME. Some coatings claim a hardness of 10H, which is equivalent to a diamond. These outrageous claims are simply not true. This is false advertising that preys on the uneducated consumer. Unfortunately, many detail shops are the ones using these products and passing on the false claims to their customers. These detailers see the words “10 YEAR DURABILITY” or “LASTS A LIFETIME” and blindly accept it as truth without doing any research. This is completely dishonest and unfair to the customer. As a detailer and business owner who truly cares about providing a quality service, I want to be open and honest about our practices and the products we use, what our services DO and what they DON’T do.
WHAT CERAMIC COATINGS DO
DURABILITY
Ceramic coatings don’t just sit on top of your paint. The coating chemically bonds with the surface, providing a much more durable form of protection than a traditional wax or sealant. It’s extremely important to us to source coatings from a trusted company. In our case, we use AMMO NYC, a professional detailer-owned company. AMMO coatings have been tested and proven to last up to 2 years.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
Ceramic coatings excel at protecting your car against harsh chemicals, which can occur in many ways, such as bird poop, acid rain, harsh car wash chemicals, etc. Bird poop, for example, is highly acidic and can permanently etch your paint if left unprotected.
UV RESISTANCE
Chances are, you’ve seen cars driving around with peeling clear coat on the hood and roof. These cars were left to bake in the sun without protection and the result is pretty apparent. Ceramic coatings protect and maintain your paint’s flexibility, which will prevent clear coat failure.
HYDROPHOBICITY
The extremely hydrophobic nature of a ceramic coating is perhaps the most noticeable characteristic and certainly the most fun. You’ll notice that during a wash, or in the rain, the water will bead up into millions of tiny beads and glide effortlessly off your car. This self-cleaning ability helps your car stay clean longer, as the water beading is highly effective at safely carrying the dirt away.
SHINE ENHANCEMENT
The boost in depth and gloss you’ll receive from a ceramic coating is out of this world. Once fully cured, it almost looks like a layer of glass on your car. Ceramic coatings have a leveling capability, which means they essentially fill in any microscopic imperfections in the paint, resulting in a much smoother, more reflective surface.
MAKES CLEANING MUCH EASIER
Uncoated cars hold onto their dirt quite well. Usually, pressure washing is not enough to sufficiently clean the car, which means it’ll take much longer, which means the car might simply never be washed at all. If you love having a clean car at all times, a ceramic coating is your new best friend. As mentioned previously, the hydrophobicity makes cleaning much faster and easier. Simply pressure wash the car and watch the incredible water beading carry the dirt away. Follow up with a microfiber towel and drying aid, and your car is spotless once again.
WHAT CERAMIC COATINGS DON’T DO
LAST FOREVER
Ceramic coating companies arrive at their outrageous claims through advanced weather testing in labs and estimating the durability based on those results. The reality is that cars don’t sit in labs. Cars are driven in the real world through dust, rain, snow, sun, hail. Cars are touched, swirled, scratched. Cars are washed with high and low PH products. In short, cars are subject to a multitude of realistic factors that all contribute to wear and tear of a ceramic coating. The only realistic way a ceramic coating might last that long is by parking the car in a covered, climate controlled, dust free environment and not driving it for the rest of it’s life.
PROVIDE DIAMOND HARDNESS OR SCRATCH RESISTANCE
Ceramic coatings excel at proving CHEMICAL resistance, not scratch resistance. Some companies claim their coating has a hardness of 10H, which is equivalent to a diamond on the Mohs scale. This is highly misleading, as no coating will ever come close to being as hard as a diamond. In these cases, the number 10 refers to a pencil hardness, not a Mohs reading.
ELIMINATE THE NEED TO WASH YOUR CAR
Ceramic coatings don’t keep your vehicle clean 24/7. Dirt and dust can still collect on your car, but thankfully, the ceramic coating makes it much easier to clean. The hydrophobic nature allows water to carry away dirt much more effectively. This means that, in most cases, you can sufficiently clean your car by rinsing with a pressure washer. If your car is extremely dirty, however, a full proper wash is still necessary. We recommend washing at least once a month.