Why should I get a Ceramic Coating?
- Lengthen the time between washes by weeks!
- Provides unparalleled protection from water spots and bug splatters.
- Preventing oxidation that can lead to rust and corrosion.
- Protects your paint job from harmful environmental elements such as acid rain, ozone, and harsh chemicals.
- Adds a deep gloss shine with a mirror finish for countless hours after application.
Ceramic Coating has excellent resistance to bugs, tree sap, bird droppings, and any other contaminants commonly found while driving around town. If you’ve ever taken a moment to watch how these substances cling to waxed paint you’ll notice they leave subtle looking swirls and damage behind after removing them. A Ceramic Coating will prevent this by allowing each of these foreign items to slide off the paint effortlessly.
What is a Ceramic Coating?
A Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer. It can be applied to the exterior of your car. This coating will chemically bonds with your vehicle’s paint, creating a layer of protection against UV damage, and oxidation. It can be thought of as a wax alternative. Unlike Wax, a ceramic coating will not wash away or break down and it will not need new coats every few months.
A ceramic coating is a ‘liquid skin’ that forms a chemical bond with the surface of the vehicle’s paintwork. It is a high-tech, super-slick barrier against the elements and Mother Nature. Once applied, it prevents contamination from building up on the surface and damaging the paint underneath. Unlike waxes and sealants, which only offer temporary protection before needing to be reapplied, ceramic coatings last up to two years by protecting your vehicle from UV rays that cause oxidation and fading of your automobile’s paint finish. In addition to this benefit, they provide increased water repellency without scratching or harming painted finishes when used as directed.
The outermost layer of paint on a car is composed of numerous layers of molecules called polymers which over time get worn away due to weathering and sun exposure. A ceramic coating fills in these microscopic breaches in the surface with materials such as silicon carbide nanoparticles for added shine and gloss retention.
Ceramic coatings are made up of high-tech polymers with ingredients embedded at the molecular level. Simply put, these super tough transparent films form an incredibly strong bond to your vehicle’s paint. Rather than just sealing the outer layer of the paint like waxes and sealants, ceramic coatings provide three distinct layers of protection:
- A chemical bond that prevents contaminates from reaching the actual paintwork.
- An optically clear barrier that blocks harmful UV rays responsible for discoloring paint finishes, fading trim pieces and clouding windshields.
- A super slick surface on which water slides off easily (hydrophobic).
All of these properties combined create a coating on automotive surfaces that lasts longer, looks better, and cleans easier.
A Ceramic Coat is perfect for people who:
– Do not have time to wax their car every other week.
– Have recently had their vehicle vinyl wrapped.
– Take pride in their hard-earned vehicle and think long-term.
– Plan on selling their vehicle privately down the road.
– Live in a hot/humid environment and want something more than just wax.
– Do not like washing their car every weekend because it takes too much time and work to get that shine back (wash, clay bar, polish, then wax)
For those who own a vehicle that is not new or has been neglected for years, this may seem like an expensive proposition to fix the problems you have now. This simply isn’t true. The rate at which ceramic coatings improve the vehicle’s appearance and performance will shock you! You can perform a complete detail on your less-than-new car and drastically improve its appearance for so little money it will be unbelievable! Once great-looking finishes are restored, a proper automotive paint care regimen can help maintain them through the use of two products every six months rather than five to seven products used in our industry today.
Are you considering doing a DIY coating?
The most common complaint about ceramic coatings is that they are too difficult to apply – a detail-oriented job reserved for car care professionals. Quality ceramic coating systems require a professional application; poor-quality products can be applied by anyone at home with ease.
If you are considering applying ceramic coatings on your own, understand that there are two types of ceramic coating solutions available: paint coatings and glass coatings. Both products protect against UV rays but they’re not interchangeable—one does not replace the other.
Paint protection coatings are typically used on factory-painted surfaces because they can be applied to single-stage or base clear coats. But if you have a car with an existing polyurethane (clear) finish, this is your best solution for adding scratch resistance to your vehicle’s exterior. This type of coating should only be applied by a professional.
Glass coatings protect both painted finishes as well as glass surfaces from scratches and oxidation making them ideal for those car owners who drive in areas with high sand and stone chip exposure. They are also very easy to apply yourself, can be re-applied at any time, and the result is a slick surface that will make cleaning your vehicle’s exterior a snap.
The main difference between these two coatings is their ability to repel water. Coating manufacturers have developed spray application processes for polyurethane finishes that allow it to bead rainwater. Glass coatings, on the other hand, typically offer no such protection which makes them a poor choice for surfaces exposed to elements like dirt, rocks, or road salt.
Instead of having to do the research and using valuable time to do a DIY job, we recommend you let a professional use their knowledge and experience to use the right tools and quality products.
Ceramic Coating Colorado Springs From Olympus Auto Spa
You may not be convinced or all the terminology is just too much information…
So you’ve heard about ceramic coating for vehicles, but are not sure what it is or how it works, or if it is even worth the money? Let me try to explain. It basically adds a protective finish to your car over the existing paint. This makes washing easier because dirt and other junk won’t adhere as easily to your paint, which means that you don’t have to wash the car as often, depending on how dirty it gets of course. Ceramic coatings also provide protection against scratches and swirl marks caused by small particles hitting the surface of the vehicle. I’ve seen some claims that say they can last up to 10 years! However, this depends on many factors such as your car’s proximity to sunlight, quality of the product, washing habits, frequency of travel.
If you are considering selling your vehicle in the future or worked hard to purchase your vehicle and intend to keep it in good condition for as long as possible then getting a ceramic coating is perfect for you. A ceramic coating every couple of years seems like a worthwhile investment in comparison to a new paint job. Painting can range starting 3k and up, and even vinyl wraps are starting at 2.5k in most areas.
Now let’s talk about how long it takes for this coating to apply and how much it costs and what is the total price for this protection (including the photos used in this article). The minimum amount of time required for installation is 3 hours, but there are instances in which the time required spans up to 6 hours.
The best part is that ceramic car coatings are very cost-efficient which means that it will only require a small investment on your part for this coating to be applied! Yes, you heard right…a small price for giving added protection against harmful materials or bad weather conditions.