Ceramic coating is one of the best types of paint protectants because it lasts much longer when compared to waxes and sealants. But it won’t last long unless you take care of it. In this post, I’ll show you how to get the most out of ceramic coating on your car so it really lasts as marketed by manufacturers.
Key Takeaways:
- Use high-quality ceramic coatings.
- Let professionals apply it for you.
- Properly and regularly wash your car.
- Use ceramic coating spray boosters.
- Keep your car in the garage.
Lifespan of Ceramic Coating
Before I show you the exact tips, I first want to show you how long do ceramic coatings last if you maintain them.
Below is a table of the most popular ceramic coatings and expected longevity according to manufacturers.
| Ceramic Coating | Expected Longevity |
|---|---|
| Gyeon Q2 MOHS EVO Ceramic Coating | Up to 36 months |
| CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 Ceramic Coating | 18 to 24 months |
| Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light Ceramic Coating | Up to 5 years |
| Adam’s Advanced Graphene Ceramic Coating | 9+ years |
| Chemical Guys Carbon Force Ceramic Coating | ca. 24 months |
| Migliore Strata Ceramic Coating | 12 to 24 months |
As you can see, mentioned above are DIY ceramic coatings. And for some of them (Gtechniq and Adam’s), you should take that longevity with a grain of salt. It’s only when applied by certified professionals and by keeping your car in the best possible conditions all the time.
Professional ceramic coatings tend to last longer, but I didn’t want you to bother with them because you can’t even buy them if you’re not a certified auto detailer. But with professional ceramic coatings, expect 3 to 5 years of protection on average.
How To Make Ceramic Coating Last Longer
Now that you know the average ceramic coating lifespan, let’s see how you can extend the longevity of ceramic coating on your car.
1. Use High-Quality Ceramic Coatings Only
High-quality ceramic coatings are 10x better than cheap ones. When you buy a ceramic coating, you want it to do certain things. You want it to be durable, long-lasting, and easy to apply. The $20 ceramic coatings are not going to be perfect and long-lasting. If you want the best product, you have to pay the price.
The main reason why many ceramic coatings fail is that they are not quality enough. In fact, they’re not a true ceramic coating at all. Ceramic coating is expensive to make, so manufacturers will use a polymer or acrylic sealant instead and add a little bit of nanoparticles to give you the impression that it’s real.
I have an article on the best DIY ceramic coatings, where I recommend the best ones that I’ve tested.
2. Let The Professionals Do The Job
Ceramic coating your car is a simple process if you leave it to the professionals. Ceramic coatings, however, are tricky to apply. The consequence of applying the ceramic coating incorrectly is reduced longevity of the paint’s protection and gloss finish.
That’s why professional car detailers are the best for the job. They have all the necessary skills and experience in applying ceramic coatings correctly, ensuring your car has a high level of protection and a glossy finish that lasts for years.
Also, the curing time for ceramic coating is much longer than for waxes or sealants. While the ceramic coating cures, it should be inside a garage or some other area where it’s protected from outside elements such as wind, rain, etc. Professionals will always keep the car safe until the ceramic coating has bonded to the surface completely.
Of course, if you have the knowledge and the required equipment for ceramic coating application, there’s no need to spend an extra few hundred bucks on paying for professional detailing services.
3. Regularly Wash Your Vehicle (Properly)
Ceramic coatings provide a tough, long-lasting protective layer against contaminants. However, it does not mean that you do not have to wash your car for a year. From dust, dirt, bird droppings, and acid rains to harsh UV rays – the ceramic coating can resist all of these elements (for some time).
Once you’ve applied the ceramic coating to your vehicle, it’s important to wash your car regularly in order to maintain the durability of the coating.
Why? Because even though this protective layer is capable of resisting all external threats, it isn’t capable of preventing them from attaching to the surface of your vehicle.
The longer you let this dirt and debris sit on the surface of your vehicle, the more likely they are to degrade ceramic coating in one way or another.
It’s important to mention that you still need to follow some guidelines on washing vehicles. You can’t just go and use a sponge to wash your vehicle – it’ll scratch the ceramic coating.
4. Use Ceramic Coating Spray Boosters
Ceramic coating boosters are a fantastic way to extend the durability of ceramic coatings. They are often used in between washes to freshen up your car, but they can also be used as a way to apply additional protection on top of your existing coating.
Make sure not to buy typical spray detailers since their purpose isn’t to boost the ceramic coatings. I suggest you try Chemical Guys HydroSpeed Quick Ceramic Detailer. It’s extremely simple to use and has great water-beading properties.
You don’t need to apply ceramic boosters very often. Most of them (high-quality ones) also have great longevity, so there’s no need to re-apply these boosters every few weeks; twice a year is more than enough.
5. Keep Your Car In The Garage
One of the biggest enemies of ceramic coating is UV exposure; harsh sunlight can fade your car’s paint and break down the protective layer over time. Acid rains, bird droppings, road dirt, insects, etc., are also enemies of ceramic coatings and car paints in general, and they degrade ceramic coatings with time.
To prevent that from happening, try to keep your car in a garage as much as you can.
I know that plenty of you don’t have a garage. However, you could at least move your car away from direct sunlight when possible and park it in some covered areas (public parking, etc.). That’ll help a lot. Just don’t park under trees; it’s even worse.
Conclusion
Simply put, ceramic coatings are not indestructible; they’re not like the abrasion resistance of paint protection film. Even though they’re made to protect the clear coat and make car maintenance easier, they’re not bulletproof. You should all understand that.
You have a 9H nano-particle layer that is chemically bonded to your paint. Clearcoat is 2H or 4H. The ceramic coating is 5-7H harder than a clear coat. Imagine that.
However, you can still scratch through it if you aren’t careful. It can also wear down over time if you don’t take good care of it. It’s not going to last forever, but by following the tips I showed you above, some of the highest quality ceramic coatings may even last for 7-10 years.
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