What Is Ceramic Coating?
A ceramic coating is a liquid product that bonds to the paint and protects it for far longer than wax.
This guide explains what it does and does not do, how long it lasts, what 9H means and when it is worth it.
What Is a Ceramic Coating, and What Does It Do?
A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that bonds chemically with the factory paint and forms a hard, water-repelling layer on top of it. Chemical Guys calls it a semi-permanent shield, and Ceramic Pro, a coating maker, says its coatings are mainly silica and titanium dioxide.
The layer protects against UV light, which can fade and oxidise paint, and against chemicals, salt and acids from bird droppings and bugs. It also makes tree sap and brake dust harder to stick. Naming these makers is not an endorsement.
How Does a Ceramic Coating Bond to the Paint?
Ceramic Pro says its coating penetrates the microscopic imperfections in the paint and fills them, leaving a flat, hard protective layer. Chemical Guys adds that the surface repels water, so it beads up and rolls off, and dirt has a harder time sticking.
That is why a coated car is easier to wash, and why the coating is called hydrophobic.
What Does a Ceramic Coating Not Do?
A ceramic coating does not make a car scratch-proof, because the coating itself can scratch. It is not self-healing and it does not remove the need to wash the car.
A coating also locks in the paint as it is. That is why the paint is washed, decontaminated and, where it needs it, polished first, and why the paint correction guide matters here.
How Long Does a Ceramic Coating Last?
Chemical Guys says a ceramic coating lasts anywhere from 2 to 5 years or more, against up to about 3 months for a wax. These are one maker's general figures, and they are not a promise from EvaFresh Auto Spa.
The real life of a coating depends on the product, the preparation, the wash routine and the conditions.
A car parked outside under trees and driven on salted roads asks more of a coating than one kept in a garage. Ceramic Pro notes that professional coatings are sold in warranty packages, so the warranty is the manufacturer's for the product chosen.
Why Do Lifespans Vary So Much?
Lifespans vary because a coating is only as good as the surface it sits on. A coating over unpolished or dirty paint fails earlier, and a coating that was washed with harsh soap wears faster.
No single figure fits every car, because the product, the preparation, the weather and the washing all change the result. Treat any lifespan, including the one above, as a general range and ask the detailer what applies to the coating chosen.
What Shortens the Life of a Coating?
Harsh detergents, skipped washes and a poor surface preparation all shorten it. Chemical Guys advises a pH-neutral, ceramic-safe soap, and Ceramic Pro says a coating does not remove the need to wash.
How Long Does a Coating Take to Cure?
Chemical Guys says a coating can cure for 24 to 48 hours, and advises keeping the car dry and in a garage during that time. Cure times differ between products, so the detailer tells you the one for the product used.
What Does 9H Mean on a Ceramic Coating?
9H is the hardest grade on the pencil hardness scale, and it does not mean a coating cannot be scratched. Wikipedia explains that a coating's pencil hardness is the hardest pencil grade that does not permanently mark it.
The same page says the test gives relative ratings for coated panels, and it cannot compare different coatings. Ceramic Pro describes 9H as the highest rating on the scale, and also says a coating is not completely scratch-proof.
In practice, 9H tells you a coating is hard, not that a key or a car wash cannot mark it. When a seller talks about 9H, ask what test was used, and ask what the coating's warranty covers and what it excludes.
Ceramic Coating vs Wax vs Sealant
A ceramic coating lasts years, a sealant lasts longer than a wax and a wax gives the warmest gloss for the shortest time. The table compares the three on what they are, how long they last and how hard they are to apply.
A carnauba wax gives a warm, deep gloss and a paint sealant is a synthetic wax, while a coating needs careful preparation and wax and sealant are easy at home.
The figures for wax and a coating come from Chemical Guys, which gives no figure for a sealant. Wax vs sealant is mainly a choice between a warm gloss and longer protection.
How Do You Keep a Coated Car Clean?
Wash a coated car gently and regularly, with a pH-neutral, ceramic-safe soap, as Chemical Guys advises. Ceramic Pro says a coating does not remove the need to wash, and a clean surface is also the easiest one to keep protected.
Avoid harsh detergents and let the water sheet off. Water that beads and rolls away is the sign that the coating is working.
Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?
A ceramic coating is worth it when you will keep the car for years, want easier washing and want protection through Ontario winters, and it is not worth it when wax is all you need.
Think about the car and how you use it. The situations below are the usual ones.
A New Car
A new car has the least paint to correct before a coating, so more of the work goes into protecting it.
A Car Kept for Years
A car you will keep for years gets the most from a layer that lasts longer than a wax.
A Car Driven Through Winter
A winter car benefits from a layer that resists road salt, which Ceramic Pro lists among the chemicals a coating protects against.
When Wax Is Enough
A car you will sell soon, or that is kept under cover, may need nothing more than a wax.
The cost of a coating is quoted after the car is inspected, and it depends on the vehicle and the condition of its paint, so there is no price in this guide. Compare quotes by what they include: the preparation, the number of layers and the warranty.
A coating is not worth it to cover damage, because it locks in the paint as it is. If the paint is marked, correct it first or choose a cheaper wax.
Can a Ceramic Coating Be Applied Outside?
Can ceramic coating be applied outside? A ceramic coating should not be applied outside, because the weather affects how it flashes and cures. Ceramic Pro says the timing depends on the surface and air temperature and the humidity, and that its professional coatings are applied in a controlled environment.
Chemical Guys advises keeping the car dry and in a garage while a coating cures. That is also why the coating does not suit a driveway job on a cold or wet day. A shelter, a steady temperature and a clean, dry surface give the coating its best start.
EvaFresh Auto Spa applies ceramic coatings indoors only, for example in the customer's garage, a condo's underground parking or a dealership's indoor garage.
How Do You Prepare a Car for a Ceramic Coating?
If the paint has swirl marks or light scratches, paint correction comes before the coating, because the coating seals in whatever is there.
Preparing a car for a ceramic coating means washing it, decontaminating it and polishing out the marks that you do not want to lock in. Chemical Guys lists a wash, a polish and a surface prep before the coating goes on.
Can you ceramic coat a new car? Yes, you can coat a new car, and its paint usually needs less correction, but the surface is still washed and checked first. Dealer-delivered cars can carry transport film and fallout, so a wash and a clay treatment come first.
Next Steps After This Guide
Reading is the first step, and a quote is the second. The next step is to look at the service or at the guide for the problem your paint has. A coating is quoted after the vehicle is inspected.
All of the guides are on the car detailing guides page.
Jay, the owner of EvaFresh Auto Spa, is Ceramic Pro certified and writes this guide from the work the business does.
Questions About Ceramic Coating
What is the difference between wax and sealant?
EvaFresh Auto Spa sees wax vs sealant as gloss against protection: a carnauba wax adds a warm, deep gloss, and a sealant is a synthetic wax that lasts longer.
How much does a ceramic coating cost?
The cost depends on the vehicle and the condition of its paint, so EvaFresh Auto Spa quotes a ceramic coating after inspecting the car.
Does a ceramic coating make a car scratch-proof?
No, a ceramic coating does not make a car scratch-proof, and Ceramic Pro says the coating itself can scratch; EvaFresh Auto Spa promises no scratch-proof result.
Do I still need to wash a coated car?
Yes, a coated car still needs washing, and EvaFresh Auto Spa follows Chemical Guys in advising a pH-neutral, ceramic-safe soap.
Can you ceramic coat a new car?
Yes, EvaFresh Auto Spa can ceramic coat a new car, and its paint usually needs less correction first.
Can ceramic coating be applied outside?
No, EvaFresh Auto Spa applies ceramic coating under cover, because the weather affects how it cures.
Read the Related Service
If you decide a ceramic coating is right for your car, see how a quote works, or compare the packages.