Nowadays, It has therefore become a growing trend to apply the ceramic coat on the cars with a view of protecting the paint of these automobiles. Well done ceramic coating, when done professionally gives literally a thin shiny hard layer over the paint layer that shields it from getting stained by bird droppings, fade by UV light, get etched off by chemicals or get micro-surface scratches. However, these are some of the ceramic coats with different thickness, and not all will give the same protective layer and hence durability. When choosing a ceramic coating on car, it’s important to avoid these eight common mistakes.
Selecting the cheapest provider in a given sector
Something that has to be mentioned is that nothing can be cheaper than cheap regarding the described product since this is a true worth of ceramics coatings. Low-cost and non-durable ceramic coatings should not concern you first, because lower expenses are characteristic of such goods. Nevertheless, such treatments are not permanent and can disappear after some time; therefore, they need to be repeated sometime in the future. It indicates that in the future, more funds are required to fix the harm that the poor performance has incurred. But don’t go and get a ceramic coat done yourself because it takes the proficiency of an expert detailer to do it right. The paint with a high first price has more protection and a shiny lustre that will preserve the appearance of the external part of the car for extended years.
Neglecting Proper Preparation
Some important preparation steps before applying any ceramic coating is to prepare the paint properly. Whenever you apply the ceramic coating, it adheres to a layer below it; therefore, you need that layer to be perfect. These scratches, swirl marks, stains or other imperfections may well end up getting sealed under the coating if they were not removed prior to the coating process. This involves washing, sanitising and then buffing the paint until it comes out with a glossy face that is free from any roughness. Failure to do good preparation work or trying to do it later, or too fast will only result in a poor coating job that will fail early.
Choosing the Wrong Shop
While waxes and sealants can be rinsed off the car and are not permanent, ceramic coatings cause a chemical bond with the clear coat therefore cannot be washed off without being abrasive. What that means is that, once you manage to apply a layer of ceramic coating to your car, then your paint is changed for good. You would like to work with a well-established shop that will have certified detailers to do the work of applying the coating. It is recommended you spend some time to search for a shop that offers services in ceramic coating and only applies original products from the right manufacturers. Do not hire a low cost substandard “pop up shop” or an inexperienced auto detailer.
Not Considering Climate Conditions
It is however important to note that some weather conditions especially those that are extreme may affect the coatings on ceramics. In very hot environments; look for a paint that has been developed for use in regions with extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. For instance, invest in coatings with better chemical durability if the area is characterized by long winters with a lot of snow and liberal use of salt. Inform your installer your conditions so he or she can choose the appropriate coating and additional processes that would enable optimum life of your surface.
Choosing Style over Substance
A few of the ceramic coating manufacturers have gone further to include custom tint colours, matte/satin finish or even added gloss option in their products. Although these options give your car a beautifully glossy shine when first applied, they also don’t last as long as clear ceramic coatings. Sometime along the line, custom colours will wear off, and mattifying coatings will cease to be able to sheet water. Avoid other cheap coatings which while they may be transparent are not optically clear and do not last as long as the ceramic coatings and actually dull down the richness of your factory paint.
Not Considering Maintenance Requirements
Ceramic coatings aren’t all just ‘lather, rinse, repeat. ’ While it makes washing/maintenance slightly easier and one definitely does not have to wax as often as it would with unprotected paint, it does still require a degree of care and maintenance to get the most out of the product. Always read the maintenance guidelines provided by your installer concerning the washing of the car, substances to avoid using during the washing process besides other recommended topper coats to be applied every 1-2 years. Ensure that you always have your owner’s manual and manufacturer warranty within your reach for easy access.
Assuming an Everlasting Shine
Ceramic coatings give an extreme slickness and a liquid look to a car that looks amazing when newly applied on the car surface. However, one has to remember that over the course of several years an influence of these environmental factors will depose the coating. Even if you are applying genuine ceramic coatings, the protection they provide will still be present as they wear but their shininess and water repellent properties may not be as good as year 3-5 onwards. A good suggestion is that you should budget for a refresh or reapplication around this time to maintain your car looking as best as it can.
Coating the Glass
As for the protection of paint, ceramic coatings are known to serve this purpose but many detailers may add an extra service where they coat exterior glass. However, this is not always possible and could be risky. It forms annoying water beading that hinders the vision on the glass thus making the ceramic-coated glass very irritating. The other is that any glass surface also has to be sanded first very roughly which may degrade the surface or the material over time. In that case, employ the special glass sealant or ceramic window coating instead of the paint coating for the glass surfaces.
Conclusion
These mistakes help you to choose the best ceramic coating for cars service for the best result and at reasonable prices. Using an authorized applicator to get the best ceramic coating helps keep your paint protected, essentially sealing it in a digital bubble. They are extremely non-porous and will resist water, solvents, dirt and other contaminants that will keep your paint looking like it was just detailed yesterday. Consult a professional detailer to discuss which ceramic coating for your car is suitable and affordable. Then set up a schedule on how to maintain the coating to ensure it will continue to look like it was applied just now.
