Are ceramic coatings worth it?
What is a ceramic car coating in the first place? And how does this 9H (scale of mineral hardness) hardness rate against other paint protection products?
While there are several ways to spice up the flavor of your daily drivers, such as paint correction or self-cleaning efforts, many consumers are looking into the power found in a bottle of ceramic coating as a viable option.
It’s certainly all over the internet these days with countless videos across social media showing mud being thrown over a hood and sheeting off instantly leaving barely a dirty mark. Some even scratch the vehicle with a cigarette lighter, so show how it reduces damage on the body. In fact, the results are hard to believe.
For many viewers, this is the first time they’ve even heard of the terms “Ceramic Coating” or “Nano Coating”. Others are skeptical — have the videos been staged in some way? Will the coat ruin my car? Can the actual results vary — or are all coatings the same? And why do they seem so expensive when the bottle is so tiny?
In today’s post, we’re going to look at the realities of ceramic coating your car, whether they do what they claim and help you decide whether it’s for you or not. Although the protection these coatings offer is unrivaled, they do have some potential downsides depending on what you’re after. And yes, individual results and price will vary.
Background: Why does your car need a ceramic coat?
You want your car to look as amazing as it did the day you drove it off the dealer’s lot. But despite your efforts maintaining and washing, the scratches, chips, and stains start to spread across your car’s body and the paint begins to dull & fade from the sun.
This spurns many consumers to find ways of providing UV protection with exceptional results, improved shine, reduced damage, at a fair price.
Contaminants Damage Car’s Surface Constantly
Anything and everything is constantly attacking your car’s finish. Mud, dust, dirty rain, water spots, unsightly brake dust, grime start sticking to your car almost immediately after cleaning it. These contaminants can also lead to damage on your vehicle’s paint, headlights, and more.
And let’s face it, having to wash your car is boring, monotonous and time-consuming. Snow, ice, salted roads, tree gum, and bird crap results in more hard working cleaning your ride.
Problems with Using Automatic Car Washes
Automatic car washes might spray off dirt, but it can scratch and mar your paint, while the chemicals used are terrible for the finish. While the price and convenience of an automatic car wash is attractive, the damage done causes havoc to your cars body. Not to mention daily life scratches from kids, shopping carts, bikes, and scooters.
Why Not Wax?
Wax adds a good level of shine and gloss, and a small amount of protection, but lasts a few months at best. And while a coat of natural carnauba and spray wax provides a hardness that Mother Nature appreciates — it’s not exceptionally strong.
But it certainly doesn’t produce results on par with a quality glass coating product. Also, when you apply car wax, you have to remove it before you apply it again.
Here’s where auto Ceramic Coating products come enter the mix.
What is Ceramic Coating for Cars?
What is a bottle of 9H ceramic coating? The easiest way is to understand Ceramics Coatings are to think of them as a second layer of skin, or a sacrificial layer of protection over your car’s coat of clear paint.
The 9H represents the hardness of the coating, based on the pencil scale. It’s what leads to durability and the potential of reduced damage to your ride. While there are some spray ceramic coatings on the market, the 9H hardness is often reserved for highly-concentrated formulas.
Use of Nanotechnology in Ceramic Coating
They utilize nanotechnology, which are essentially tiny particles that form a very fine, thin layer completely invisible to the eye. Because these particles are so small, when applied to a finish, they seal all the pores making the substance hydrophobic (water-repellent), but also resistant to UV, scratches, chemicals, extreme heat and even anti-graffiti.
This 9H ceramic layer results in a completely transparent shield of Armor. The strength of this coat protects paint from damage via UV rays, spray chemicals, and other contaminants.
The higher-quality of the coat, the increased shine, durability and protective qualities. The drawback is an elevated price for many of these products.
Forms Semi-permanent Bond With Vehicle’s Surface
The nano ceramic coating forms a semi-permanent bond. This results in a ‘sacrificial’ layer that will not wash away under cleaning or rain, or break down over a short period of time. In fact, the durability is so protective, it usually lasts years.
They repel dirt and water like nothing else, which makes them easier to spray clean. Their hardness helps to prevent swirl marks and marring from washing. And of course, the price of protection vs the cost of repair makes it a strong value proposition.
