Protect Your Car’s Finish And Make It Easier To Maintain With Ceramic Coating
In recent years, specialty car detailing shops have been focusing on providing ceramic coating services to clients. If you have ever visited one of these shops for a quote, you might have left shocked seeing the estimate being close to, if not over, $1,000 for a quality ceramic coat using products from a reputable brand such as Ceramic Pro. We all know not everyone loves their car that much and is willing to spend that much money on ceramic coating, so thankfully car detailing brands have formulated their own products at a much more affordable price. They may not give you the same result as a professional detail, but for many, off-the-shelf products will suffice.
Even if youve spent several years of your life detailing your own cars, you may not know everything there is about ceramic coating. Is it really worth the extra money? Are there benefits over traditional wax or other sealants? In this article, well take a look at the top 10 best ceramic coatings and ceramic detailing products in todays market, as well as explaining what ceramic coating does and how it benefits your cars finish.
For more information on the top 10 best ceramic coatings and detailing products, refer to our table of contents.
How Do Paint Sealants Compare To Ceramic Coatings
Now that we know what it takes to care for a ceramic coating, lets talk about how waxes and paint sealants compare. Theres something to be said about the simplicity of a wax or sealant.
First, the cost of having them applied is at least 10 times less than a ceramic coating. Is the protection you get from a coating 10 times better than a sealant? Thats a tough call. The beauty of a paint sealant is that it offers some protection while being easy to remove, and cheap to replace. For example:
You notice a few light scratches on your drivers door. A mobile detailer can come and buff these out, then re-seal the area in a matter of minutes. He can even do it outside in your driveway. Good luck doing that with a ceramic coated vehicle.
First, the coating needs to be removed from the whole panel, then the damage can be fixed, then it needs to be re-coated. You cannot spot treat scratches on a coated vehicle.
Has your vehicle been neglected to the point where its covered with traffic film and dirt? No problem. Hit it with a strong car soap and re-seal it. You avoid potentially spending hundreds of dollars on coating specific care products.
For these reasons alone, I believe paint sealants will never die. They offer decent protection and are much easier and cheaper to both apply and maintain. Check out this post for ways to get the most out of your paint sealant.
What Is Ceramic Coating
Industry-grade ceramic coating is a chemical polymer solution that is applied to the exterior of a vehicle to protect it from external paint damage. Typically applied by hand, it blends with the paint of your car and creates an additional hydrophobic layer of protection.
Due to this chemical bonding and creation of a new layer, the carâs factory paint job remains untouched.
While many car enthusiasts and even detailers believe it to be an alternative to clear bra , ceramic coating, in reality, is an alternative to waxing. The main idea is to prevent dirt, grime, and stain marks from appearing on the paint job and ruining the clear coat.
Ceramic coating, also sometimes called nano-ceramic coating, is a permanent or semi-permanent solution to your worries depending upon the coating and type of polymer used. Due to its chemically intrinsic properties, it does not break down in normal atmospheric conditions like rain or summer.
Modesta, Nanolex, CQuartz, Ceramic Pro and IGL Kenzo are some of most popular brands of ceramic coating today. They are widely used in and around the Houston area and elsewhere in Texas. But before you decide if you really want to try it out, letâs dig deeper.
People keep raving about it. So what more can it do for your car?
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Can I Polish My Car After Ceramic Coating
While car wax strengthens and protects your finish, car polish corrects and restores the paint surfaces underneath. Because of its restorative properties, applying a polishing compound to your ceramic coating would simply strip away this protective layer, leaving your car with nothing but the exposed clear coat.
How Does A Nano Coating Compare With Car Wax
Comparing wax with a nano coating is not apples and oranges its closer to apples to a perfectly cooked Rib Eye from The Golden Steer in Las Vegas. From the hardness of the coat, the curing process and the warranties provided, the comparisons between these two paint protection options are night and day. Lets explore a few in the info below.
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Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax Review Any Good
I must say I am initially impressed with this product, especially the ease of application. You can add some nice protection to your car in less than 5 minutes in total. This is going to appeal to the mass market of Weekend Warriors who dont want to spend ages applying wax to their car by hand.
To be honest, something like Meguiars Ceramic Wax is going to outperform some of the mainstream waxes. Below is a video of the water behaviour on the car after I had applied the Meguiars product. You can easily see that this product is repelling water like crazy.
I am sure this is going to result in some nice water beading the next time it rains
I was also impressed at the glossy appearance that was left behind after the initial application. It was noticeable and the surface of the car was left with a nice slick feeling to it
Here are some shots of the car immediately after.
What Is H Score And Is It Reliable
H Score is a ranking system developed by our team of experts. It from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites.
H Score is programmed using many mathematical formulas and our algorithm based on data which is collected from the internet by H Boot.
Take the article Best Ceramic Spray Waxes in 2021 for example, H Boot analyzes and evaluates:
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17 products
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127,194 reviews from many sources on the internet on the topic Best Ceramic Spray Waxes
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Based on the price of each product at the time of H Boot crawl
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Based on the list of brands which discusses on the topic Best Ceramic Spray Waxes
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Is Ceramic Wax Better Than Carnauba Wax
Yes if youre a lover of the wax on wax off method of paint protection a ceramic wax is a far better alternative to the traditional carnauba wax. Its designed to apply easier, remove easier, can be layered with each application, and simply lasts longer. It gives your paint an added boost of luster and shine at a depth that is superior to normal wax.
You Can Skip Straight To Applying A Coating If Your Vehicle Is Brand New
Youd think this one would be true, but its not. Unfortunately, most new vehicles will be delivered to their owners with defects in the paint. Sanding marks and holograms from improper buffing are the most common.
Sometimes repairs are needed due to issues with the painting process or damage done to the vehicle after it leaves the factory. Car companies dont spend the time or money to repair them properly, so these fixes will show up under certain lighting conditions.
If your car sat on the dealers lot for some time, its also very possible that its been washed incorrectly. That means itll already be covered with swirl marks. Unfortunately, this applies to every car company, from Hyundai to Ferrari. Your paint will need to be properly inspected and corrected before its ready for a coating, regardless of whether its new or not.
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Wax Vs Sealant Vs Ceramic Coating
The experience speaks for itself. More than 48,000 Cars completed
There are some age-old questions should you get your car ceramic coated or waxed? Is sealant equally good? Whats the difference between the three and which one should you go for?
Today, well be discussing these in detail and providing an unbiased opinion based on our experience of serving over 20,000 customers.
Your vehicle is one of the most important investments in your life that you want to protect. Other than washing, there are many ways to take care of it, such as using sealants and applying waxes and ceramic coating.
It is important to note that each one of the protectants has its own features and characteristics, and depending upon your budget and goals, will often vary.
Road tar, potholes, bird droppings, and mud can all add up to quickly deteriorate your cars paint and you need to do something to add longevity to it.
Lets discuss each one of them separately.
What Are The Different Type Of Car Waxes
There are different types of car waxes, with each having various price tags and features. Here is a summary of the most common types of wax available in the market today:
Carnauba Car Waxes
As discussed earlier, it is a refined form of natural wax derived from a Brazilian palm tree. Don’t be fooled, though. Many wax brands will advertise their products containing 90% carnauba, whereas they do not contain over 30% of carnauba wax. In terms of shine and color, they provide the best protection.
Synthetic Car Waxes
These are entirely artificial forms of synthetic paint sealants. While they can last for up to a year, they don’t produce the same level of shine and UV protection compared with carnauba car waxes. However, if you want a rapid and time-effective solution, you should go for synthetic car waxes.
Cleaner Waxes
Cleaner waxes are akin to synthetic waxes but perform a 3 in 1 job cleaning, polishing, and protecting the car’s factory coat. The cleaning agents clean and polish your car. They are a good choice if the factory coat has deteriorated over the years. Do note that the shine and protection you get either from carnauba or synthetic waxes is not the same you’ll get from cleaner waxes.
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Why Apply Ceramic Car Coating
There are a few reasons why you should add ceramic car coating to your detailing arsenal, including:
Longer-lasting than car wax: While waxing gives your car a beautiful glow, it only lasts three to six months. Comparatively, some of the best ceramic coatings for cars last more than a year. Applying a ceramic car coating may be more labor-intensive, but you dont need to reapply it as frequently as traditional carnauba wax.
Protection from the elements: Ceramic coatings protect your vehicle from UV rays, debris, rain, stains, oils, dirt, contaminants, and industrial fallout. Depending on where you live, your paint job can take a beating. A ceramic car coating ensures that your paint coating is guarded in the long term.
Cut down on cleaning time: After a ceramic car coating cures and hardens, your cars surface will become slick, making it hard for water, dirt, and debris to stick. The fewer particles on your car, the less time it takes to clean.
Cost-effective way to enhance your car: On average, ceramic car coating products range from $15 to $25. Pro-grade kits cost more, but most are less than $100.
Ethos Ceramic Wax Pro
This liquid ceramic wax from Ethos saves vehicle owners lots of time by combining three products in one bottle: polish, wax and sealant. The traditional car waxing process involves buying and applying each separately.
Reviewers are also particularly impressed with its striking sheen. I have been detailing for thirty years and have tried a lot of products, wrote one Amazon reviewer. This one is on my top list the finished product is amazing. Better reflection than any other liquid wax out there.
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Is Ceramic Coating Or Traditional Car Wax Better
Ceramic coating and traditional car wax are both great options that will allow individuals to keep their vehicle protected from inevitable debris and other foreign particles. Ultimately, the protective layering you choose will depend on your needs. For instance, if you dont want to deal with the hassle of reapplying so often then a ceramic coating may be the better option for you.
However, if you have a small budget then you may find that a traditional car wax best suits your needs. Either way, adding a protective layering to your vehicle is worth the investment and can save you money when it comes to the cosmetic repairs.
If you want to know more information about ceramic coating and traditional wax or want to learn more about how we can help you protect your investment, contact us today.
The Cons Of Ceramic Coating
- Time-Consuming: Not only do you have to apply the coating carefully and wait for it to cure, but you also have to keep your car clean more often to prevent the dirt from sticking to your coating.
- Difficult to Apply: Ceramic coating is best applied by a professional, but adept car owners can do a bang-up job without one, once they beat the learning curve.
- Expensive: The price of products, labor, and man-hours put into applying ceramic coating can be off-putting for those short on cash.
Ceramic Spray – Spray On Ceramic Coating
Get showroom shine with diamond-like protection in just minutes! Car maintenance has never been easier.
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What To Consider When Buying Ceramic Coatings
Second guess us, check out what others have to say, call us out. That’s what it’s all about. We want you to make an informed decision, not just take our word for it. We’re here to help you with doing that. This section is here to help you find out what makes a ceramic coating better than others so that you can nail down the perfect option for your situation.
What Is Nano Ceramic Coating
A Nano ceramic coating is essentially a liquid-polymer that is derived from silica and is commonly used in the manufacturing of ceramic or glass products. Like carnauba wax, there are several unique combinations, molecular structures, and quality that yield different results.
The word Nano refers to the size of the molecules or particles in the coating itself. These particles range from 80-100 Nano-meters. FYI there are 25 million nano-meters in an inch.
Because the particles are so small, when applied to a surface, they seal all the pores making the surface hydrophobic , but also resistant to UV, scratches, chemicals, extreme heat and even anti-graffiti.
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Resisting Contaminants And Elements
Its too bad our vehicles cant tell us more. Imagine a talking car that could complain when its skin is under assault. Think about Kitt, that black Pontiac Trans-Am in the 1980s series Knight Rider, for example. Youd hear about how it prefers not to bake in the hot sun or take on razor-sharp sand particles at freeway speeds. Youd hear about those acidic compounds that eat away at its surface.
There are more contaminants assaulting your vehicles finish than you might think. Theres the road salt in the winter and the potential for acid rain in the summer. There are corrosive compounds like tree sap, bug residue, and brake dust.
Extreme heat, ultraviolet light, and detergents also take a toll. This is true whether you have single-stage paint on a classic or clearcoat on a more current model. In many situations, ceramic wax is better than traditional wax. It better resists the many things that assault your vehicles exterior finishes.
Ceramic Wax Vs Traditional Wax: Final Thoughts
For decades, waxing the car was an American tradition. Car owners applied traditional wax every month or so. Theyd spend hours rubbing it on, letting it dry and wiping the residue away.
Today, theres an alternative. SiO2 ceramic wax is a high-tech product offering spray-on, wipe off simplicity. The glass-like surface delivers protection lasting for months. It resists UV light and airborne particles. It also resists waterborne contaminants like road salt.
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Do I Need To Remove Wax Before Ceramic Coating
We recommend using Wipe Out to prepare the surface for coating, which will remove any lingering and leftover waxes, sealants or glazes. Use a clean and lint-free premium microfiber towel for best results. Now that the surface is perfectly clean and residue-free, you are ready to apply your ceramic coating!Apr 9, 2019.
What You Need To Know
Since the introduction of ceramic automotive technology, the variety of ceramic-infused products has grown deep and wide. They include everything from complicated ceramic coatings applied by highly trained specialists to off-the-shelf, ceramic wax products made simple for the DIY detailer. And just as the products and application methods vary a great deal, so do the results and the costs. With so much to consider, its easy to get lost in your options, so lets clear it up.
Essentially, silicone polymers are the things that make ceramics ceramic. Of these, silicon dioxide is the most commonly used. The real advantage of these silicon molecules isnt just their unique toughness or shine, but how they adhere to your cars clear coat. The easiest way to picture whats happening is to think about applying traditional car wax. You can almost imagine spreading it like soft butter over your paint. It goes on smooth and leaves a wax coating on top of your finish, but, over time, the coating wears and washes away.
The reason silicon polymers are so durable is because they dont just coat your cars surface like a wax. Instead, they chemically bond with your clear coat, which makes them much more resistant to wearing and washing away for long-lasting paint protection. For as long as this coating is intact on your car, your clear coat will be shielded from damaging UV rays, chemical contamination and everyday wear and tear.
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