Ceramic Coatings FAQ
What’s the difference between a Ceramic Coating and Paint Sealant or Wax?
Ceramic Coatings and traditional waxes or sealants serve similar purposes. Both are aimed at providing protection from environmental contaminants and enhancing a vehicle’s gloss.
However, a Ceramic Coating is a higher performing and more permanent solution. While a traditional wax has to be reapplied after several weeks, polymer sealants after 8 to 12 months, Ceramic Coatings provide multi-year protection as well as providing a higher level of gloss than traditional sealants & wax.
It’s additional hardness also provides increased protection for painted surfaces against scratching and contaminant etching caused by birds, bugs, tree sap, & environmental fallout. Ceramic Coatings also provide increased protection against harmful UV Rays that cause fading to painted surfaces.
However, a Ceramic Coating is a higher performing and more permanent solution. While a traditional wax has to be reapplied after several weeks, polymer sealants after 8 to 12 months, Ceramic Coatings provide multi-year protection as well as providing a higher level of gloss than traditional sealants & wax.
It’s additional hardness also provides increased protection for painted surfaces against scratching and contaminant etching caused by birds, bugs, tree sap, & environmental fallout. Ceramic Coatings also provide increased protection against harmful UV Rays that cause fading to painted surfaces.
Will a Ceramic Coating ELIMINATE the danger of scratches, rock chips, and swirl marks?
No. A Ceramic Coating does not make your vehicle’s paint bullet-proof. In fact, the scratch resistance of Ceramic Coatings is often exaggerated. While the surface of a cured Ceramic Coating is harder than a vehicle’s factory clear coat, it is still susceptible to chips and scratches and thus needs to have a certain level of care taken to retain its surface appearance & permanence.
Are Ceramic Coatings a viable alternative to Paint Protection Film?
No. While a Ceramic Coating does provide a level of protection for your cars paint, it is no substitute for the comprehensive protection provided by a premium Paint Protection Film (otherwise known as Clear Bra). Our XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Premium Paint Protection Film is thicker than a Ceramic Coating, (approximately 150 microns for PPF/approximately 1-2 microns for Ceramic Coating) and its surface is designed to self-heal from chips and scratches.
These characteristics provide unique protection against flying debris encountered while driving, such as rock chips that damage the front facing surfaces of your vehicle. While it is possible to protect all painted surfaces of your vehicle with Paint Protection Film the high cost is generally prohibitive for most vehicles thereby making ceramic coating the best viable option to protect the rest of your vehicle
We highly recommend XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Paint Protection Film to protect the front of your vehicle, in combination with a Ceramic Coating to protect the remaining paint, glass, trim & wheels.
Are Ceramic Coatings a viable alternative to Paint Protection Film?
No. While a Ceramic Coating does provide a level of protection for your cars paint, it is no substitute for the comprehensive protection provided by a premium Paint Protection Film (otherwise known as Clear Bra). Our XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Premium Paint Protection Film is thicker than a Ceramic Coating, (approximately 150 microns for PPF/approximately 1-2 microns for Ceramic Coating) and its surface is designed to self-heal from chips and scratches.
These characteristics provide unique protection against flying debris encountered while driving, such as rock chips that damage the front facing surfaces of your vehicle. While it is possible to protect all painted surfaces of your vehicle with Paint Protection Film the high cost is generally prohibitive for most vehicles thereby making ceramic coating the best viable option to protect the rest of your vehicle
We highly recommend XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Paint Protection Film to protect the front of your vehicle, in combination with a Ceramic Coating to protect the remaining paint, glass, trim & wheels.
How long after application does the coating need to keep dry?
It is recommended that you allow a freshly applied coating to cure for 12 hours before you get it wet.
Will a ceramic coating keep my vehicle from getting water spots on the surface?
With any hydrophobic (water repelling) coating, if dirty or in particular hard tap water is left on the surface to dry, it often deposits these residues onto the surface. These residues appear as unsightly spots on your beautifully glossy coated finish!
In most cases these will wash off. But in some cases, particularly with hard water which leaves behind white spots of calcium & magnesium they may need additional measures to facilitate removal.
Our best advice to prevent this from happening is to NEVER allow tap water to dry out on your vehicle! We offer many products that aid in safely drying the surface of your vehicle after wet washing it.
Can I use wax over my paintwork coating?
Yes you can, as wax or sealants will not damage your coating. However you may not want to. Firstly, your coating is extremely hydrophobic; wax will reduce the hydrophobicity of the surface. Also your coating is designed to drastically reduce contaminant bonding and is non-yellowing. Wax on the other hand is a soft finish into which contaminants easily bond & wax is not optically clear.
What effect will a coating have if I need to get my paint repaired or repainted?
Our coatings have no adverse effects on standard repaint procedures. Also none of our coating produce airborne silicones & therefore will not cause any body shop contamination.
What effect will a coating have if I need to get my paint repaired or repainted?
Our coatings have no adverse effects on standard repaint procedures. Also none of our coating produce airborne silicones & therefore will not cause any body shop contamination.
If my car has been repainted - how long do I need to wait before applying or re-applying a coating?
Most coatings are gas permeable and therefore do not prevent paint from “out-gassing” solvents. (ie, curing out) We do recommend waiting at least 72 hours after painting before applying a coating. The paint shop where you are having the paint work done should have a recommendation for you based on the type of repair work done.
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