5 Ceramic Coatings to Choose From

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With each passing decade, car paint gets thinner and softer. Since paint is the most expensive part of the vehicle, manufacturers put less paint on to save money.

A car's exterior consists of the metal, (it is dipped in zinc to form a protective layer which prevents rusting), a primer paint layer, the color and then the clear coat on top. The clear coat is what stops rust and corrosion from effecting the outside of the metal. The zinc plating stop rust and corrosion from the underside of the metal. If either one is breached then rust (oxidation) will begin to eat the metal.

Since we can't do much of anything to protect the underside of the metal we can certainly protect the outside (clear coat). Clear coat is essentially plastic. About 50 microns in thickness. To give a point of reference, a post it note is about 50 microns thick. It looks really shiny and the paint (color) underneath looks deep and glossy when it is new. As soon as the car is painted oxidation goes to work. 

Oxidation "clouds" up the clear coat (like a cataract on the eye). It makes the paint look dull and dingy. the rate at which this happens varies depending on conditions, use and how well the vehicle is cleaned or not cleaned. As the clear coat ages and becomes more oxidized it is harder to clean and needs to be polished in order to remove the oxidation. 

How can you make your vehicle look new and easy to clean? With a ceramic coating. When you ceramic coat the inside or outside an easier tp clean surface is created. How is this possible? Both the inside and outside surfaces are clear coated. The coating has a similar chemical formulation that adheres to the clear coat. the coating is harder than the clear coat and has self clean properties. As a result, dirt is easier to remove and the surface stays cleaner for longer. 

Which ceramic coating should you choose? Choose the coating that best fits your budget based on the level of performance that you want. We have 4 exterior ceramic coatings to choose from and 3 interior ceramic coating levels to choose from. The reality is that any coating is better than no coating and the sooner you have it installed the better. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or text us. We love talking about ceramic coatings.