What is a 9H Ceramic Coating?
Also referred to as a nano-ceramic coating, nano-coating, or glass coating, a ceramic coating provides the most durable protection lasting years to a lifetime with available warranty and CARFAX reporting. Vehicles receive top UV protection and superior hydrophobic water repellency properties, gloss and surface slickness.
Ceramic coatings are available for various surfaces including paint, trim, windows, wheels and interior.
Benefits of a 9H Ceramic Coating
A 9H ceramic coating provides the best paint protection blocking damage from UV rays and other harmful contaminants. While a traditional car wax can last approximately 3 months (applied 4x per year for 1 year of full protection), ceramic coatings can last several years to a lifetime creating cost savings and making it much easier to clean and maintain a vehicle. The active ingredient in a ceramic coating is silica dioxide (SiO2).
- UV Protection
- Superior Hydrophobic Water Repellency Properties
- Durability
- Self-Cleaning
- High Gloss
- Repels Dirt
- Surface Slickness
How to Apply 9H Ceramic Coatings?
STEP 1: Rinse Paint & Wash
Use pressure washer to rinse paint and foam canon wash. Use a Safe Wash Method 2 bucket system with one bucket to wash and one to rinse vehicle. Work top of vehicle to bottom as lower panels often have the most dirt.
STEP 2: Chemical Decontamination
Use bug and tar remover and iron filings product to remove harmful iron deposits, which go on clear and change color to let you know the product can be rinsed off the vehicle.
STEP 3: Second Decontamination Phase
Use a clay bar and clay bar lubricant to pick up remaining contaminants embedded in clear coat. Go left to right and up and down panel by panel to remove contaminants.
STEP 4: Polishing
Before you apply a ceramic coating, you want to make sure the paint of your vehicle is as perfect as possible as they are semi-permanent coatings and seal any defects left on the surface. With a dual action orbital buffer, use a polishing finish to remove swirls and light scratches, and it will give your finish a nice gloss. For deep scratches and swirl marks, machine compound polishing is best suitable.
STEP 5: IPA Wipe
Spray a isopropyl alcohol mix on the surface and wipe with a microfiber towel to remove any residual polishing oils. This will ensure a proper bonding of the ceramic coating.
STEP 6: Ceramic Coating Application
Take foam block and wrap your micro-suede applicator around it. Shake your ceramic coating bottle well. Then, make a line of the ceramic coating product on the micro-suede applicator. Work in 2×2 sections. Apply left to right and up and down to apply the ceramic coating. Don’t let it dry for too long. After 20-30 seconds the product will flash and it will be ready to be removed with a high quality microfiber cloth. Use low pile 300-360 GSM. After buffing the car, throw away microfiber towel as the silica dioxide will dry up and marr the paint if used again.
Allow the product to cure on the paint for 12-24 hours without any contact to water leaving the vehicle parked in a garage.
Maintaining Your Ceramic Coating
It is important maintain your ceramic coating to maintain the integrity of the ceramic coating. Using a pH neutral shampoo will reset your ceramic coating and rid contaminants. It will also get the paint protection performing as good as it can.
Top off your ceramic coating every 3-6 months with a silica spray that will further maintain and top off your ceramic coating. It will add more gloss and more UV protection. See it as a layer on top of your paint protection, so foreign matters will have to first go through this layer and not affect your ceramic coating.
Are Ceramic Coatings Cost Effective?
The initial investment of a ceramic coating may seem excessive. When compared to the cost of protecting a vehicle with a traditional car wax, it is considered much more cost effective. An smaller vehicle automotive detail cost at $200 x 4 times per year = $800. A thorough detail is 5 hours based on condition, size, and level of service at 5 hours. 4 annual details * 5 hours = 20 hours. Over 5 years, the cost of applying a wax is $4,000.
You would have to wax your car 20 times over a 5 year period to try to keep up with the durability of many ceramic coatings. If you invest $1,500 initially, you would save $2,500 over a 5 year period compared to waxing.
Ceramic coatings offer the best paint protection money can buy. Overall value over the long run and ease of maintenance, ceramic coatings win.