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Published by Mark Peter on September 02, 2019

So, you’ve finally decided you need to ‘shield your ride’ with a ceramic coating, the groundbreaking detailing solution that EVERYBODY seems to be talking about!

Hopefully you’re just like most of us, your ride is your pride and joy, and you want to protect your investment with the best possible ceramic coating available.

Naturally, you might be starting to wonder about which coating to choose The answer to this question is critical. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed after searching the internet for answers, and it becomes confusing very quickly, but trust us, it’s absolutely normal.

Having said that, we are very glad you’re reading us and we hope this article offers you some insights and guidance to help you in your purchase decision.

One thing is for sure: once you go the DIY ceramic way you’ll never want to go back to using your old soaps!

We appreciate that you share our passion, and that’s precisely the reason why our goal is to help you learn more about ceramic coatings by sharing our knowledge and experience.

In this article, we will explore factors, pro’s and con’s to consider when researching and comparing ceramic coatings options including:

1. Buying online products and the risks that come with it.

1. Determining if the product is truly a ceramic coating.

1. Understanding what’s a ‘superior’ ceramic protection (products properties).

1. A look at coating effects after applying it.

Without further delay, let’s get into your new guideline for the ultimate detailing experience. we hope you enjoy it!

Let’s begin with online shopping basics.

It’s no secret, online shopping is one of the most efficient ways to cover your needs nowadays, the thing is, many customers fear not truly getting what they paid for, and they’re right to do so. Unfortunately there are more than too many fake brands and phonies trying to sell you impossible things with their products.

So, how to make sure that you’re getting the real deal?

Be sure it is a true ceramic coating. An important clue is to look for a powerful and trustworthy formula that can guarantee results.

Here’s the thing, you either had to pay for the necessary paint corrections or were able to give it a proper polish prior to using the product. But after applying a cheap, washed out coating you got from a phony retailer, it will initially look like it’s coated just like the true ceramic coating…

But give it some time! 

After a few months of exposure to environmental elements and washing, your vehicle will start to lose its hydrophobic properties from the coating and the high gloss shine. This is a very clear indicator that the inferior coating is wearing off…

Obviously your paint WON’T BE protected anymore as it was supposed to. Scratches, blemishes and swirl marks will begin to appear in your clear coat paint again, and you will consider getting a new paint correction process.

Although you initially may have your doubts spending your money to do it yourself, over time it will be a great investment to ensure your vehicle is properly protected and maintained if you choose the right product.

Now you know, avoid at all costs cheap and quick solutions, they do no good even in the short term.

Instead try something with a solid background like its formula and a guarantee that you’ll get your money back if anything goes wrong.

So how to know if your product is a good ceramic coating? Let’s check it out!

Let’s talk about ceramic coating properties and contents.

To know that what you actually got was legit, you have to tell easily by its looks after applying, no bugs, stains or marks should remain as your car is supposed to literally repel everything from the its surface.

We have researched and studied properties in many ceramic coatings and found out most products do not rely on any formula that can support what they’re promising. Many brands present their products as ceramic-quality and mislead customers by selling them less durable coatings, or worse, expensive dish-washing soaps.

Traditional silica materials degrade when heated and are easily destroyed by wash and wear. That’s why you have to do your homework before trying out any product at all.

Another important feature to look for in a ceramic coating is self-levelling properties. Many products do not have a self-levelling feature which is absolutely required to achieve a superior finish and a perfected smooth coating. Self-levelling allows the ceramic coating to form along your vehicle’s surface and create continuity without causing high or low spots.

Also remember all coatings have ingredients that create some level of permanency, so it is important to have your vehicle paint-corrected prior to ceramic coating applications.

Does thickness of ceramic coatings really matter? Yes it does, but that’s not all there is to it.

The most basic thing you should check about the product you’re using is if it contains effective and powerful surfactants.

Now, you may be asking: “Should I take french fries with those?” Not yet, let us explain…

Surfactants are the compound inside detergents and concentrated solutions for removing dirt, stains, and dust. The major difference is that regular soaps (which are contained in most products) only push the dirt away, leaving it all over the place even if you are not able to see it. On the other hand, surfactants penetrate dirt and stains particles, lift and dissolve them.

Makes sense how important it is to look for those, right?

Now, about how much water should be applied for it to do its job…

The answer is NONE! And this is no joke.

It’s really easy to associate water with car cleaning and detailing, but the fact is, with the right product you shouldn’t need to drain an ocean’s worth of water on your car. Instead, you should expect to simply remove dirt with a dry cloth and then clean & protect the surface with your product… STILL DRY!

Another important aspect is the duration of the effect.

A thin coating is not durable and if it is not a true ceramic coating it will wear down and a re-application will be necessary. Some coatings have proven to last for only 3 to 6 months before they have either worn off or washed away by low and high pH chemicals used in waterless products.

A true ceramic coating should last from 6 to 12 months of active exposure, and with care and an occasional retouch it should go further than that. Also, remember that this kind of coating should be able to protect your baby under any kind of environmental conditions.

We’ve found that the most balanced and effective formula to procure do this is the Si02 technology. That’s because it’s hydrophobic, greatly long lasting, highly resistant under any kind of conditions, includes UV protection, and of course, it’s also the most cost-effective there is in the market.

What you should expect after a month of using your product, the most out of results, and the less possible in effort in all of the following aspects:

• Forget about annoying bird droppings, dust, dirt, raindrop marks, and, basically any kind of residue lying on the car’s surface, the job has to be almost done by itself.

• Water? Don’t think so, just a fiber cloth needed to remove whatever’s left which, once again, has to be little compared to the usual.

• No soap or additional detergents and magical liquids should be needed as cleaning and protection are offered in the same process.

• The car’s shine should remain strong enough to think it just got cleaned and detailed.

• You should only consider giving a small retouch to certain small parts if your car’s usage is hard on them, and yet, it shouldn’t be completely necessary.

• You would still need one, but not two or three products to get the job done, so you would be using it for a couple of months after the first application (savings in the long run!)

And that’s it for covering all you need to know when looking for your own trustworthy ceramic coating DIY product.

We hope you know what you’re after now, but if you’re still wondering which way to go, we will gladly help you get the best among the best.

Our most trusted and recommended Si02 DIY NanoTech Ceramic Coating of choice is Shine Armor’s Fortify Quick Coat!