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Published by Mark Peter on August 29, 2019

Can DIY (Do It Yourself) products replace regular detailing services? Are ceramic coatings trustworthy? And how is ceramic coating going to cover my car detailing needs?

Truth is, there are way too many options for car detailing nowadays, more than enough to being able to catch up.

For many of you, this is the first time you’ve even heard of the term “Ceramic Coating”.

Some people may be skeptical and full of questions – Are the videos I find online staged in any way? Will the coating ruin my car? And why do they seem so expensive when the bottles are so tiny?

And if you are one of them, you’re right to have your concerns!

The decision of picking a product or service like this is not like choosing cereal, where a bad decision is forgotten the next day.  

That’s why this post serves the purpose of solving each and every question you can possibly have on DIY ceramic coating, covering all facts, myths, and lies about what these products deliver.

Let’s begin with the basics.

Just like most of us, when it comes to car detailing, all you want is your car to look as amazing as it did the day you drove it off right after purchasing it.

No matter how hard you try, focusing your efforts on maintaining and washing it…

Marks, scratches, dirt, and stains start to spread across your car’s exterior and the paint begins to fade away from the sun, which spurs you and many consumers to find ways of providing UV protection.

The fact is that everything in the environment is constantly attacking your car’s surface. Mud, dust, rain, water spots, and grime start sticking to your car right after cleaning it. And let’s be honest, no one thinks that having to wash their car is the biggest delight of their day, especially when considering how time-consuming it is.

On the other hand, automatic car washes scratch your paint, while the chemicals inside the wax and soaps used are terrible for the surface.

And then, there are daily life scratches from kids and life at home.

Some waxes add a fairly good level of shine and gloss, and a tiny amount of protection that lasts for a month or two. But it certainly doesn’t act as a quality glass coating product.

That’s precisely where DIY ceramic coating products come in! But then again, what is it?

The easiest way to understand Ceramic Coatings is to think of them as a second layer of skin, or a removable vest for protecting your car’s surface.

How do they work?

They utilize nanotechnology, which are essentially tiny particles that form a very fine, thin layer completely invisible to the eye and highly effective repelling unknown agents that get near it.

These particles are so small that they get inside all surfaces pores and seal them, providing a hydrophobic (water-repellent) effect that’s also resistant to UV, scratches, chemicals, extreme heat, dust, and even dirt…

All while being completely invisible and lasting for up to a year, easily!

As amazing as it sounds, it works, and if you didn’t know before, now you got no excuses to avoid looking for the best option there is for car detailing.

The best part?

You don’t need to rely on your nearest detailer or any kind of service, because this kind of product is easily a DIY solution!

Unless you live under a rock, you should know by now the growing popularity of DIY ceramic coatings.

There is a good reason for that.

A lot of the benefits are simply unheard of in the automotive industry, that’s simply because automatic car washing service providers and high-selling retailers that distribute old fashioned expensive soaps are so afraid of running out of business.

There’s simply no comparing ceramic coatings to regular cleaning detergents, but that said, there are also some minor precautions you need to be aware of.

Si02 Hydrophobic formulas.

An important feature of a nano Ceramic Coating is that it is hydrophobic, thanks to its must-have Si02 technology, otherwise, look for another product.  

This basically means that water will be repelled instantaneously. When your car is properly ceramic coated, the incredible hydrophobic effect of the coating will cause water to roll down the surface along with most dirt, grime, or mud (preventing it to bond to your vehicle’s paint).

When people ask “what is ceramic coating” this is often the first thing to mention.

Mud and Dirt Repellent.

Ceramic paint coating works much better at protecting the surface of your vehicle than an ordinary paint job, but you know that by now, right?

Rain and water won’t ever accumulate on the surface.

Snow and ice won’t stick to the surface either.

And last, dirt, dust, and mud smoothly slide off, there’s no worrying for unwanted dirt when going out of the city.

Protection from UV damage and Oxidation.

Surely you know of this, exposing a car for long periods of time under direct sun is a no go.

Vehicles often exposed to the sun will start seeing the paint fade and look dull. This is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet sun rays, which causes oxidation to the car’s paint…

Fear not!

By adding a layer of Ceramic Coating to your paint, you can dramatically reduce the oxidation.

Long Lasting Care, Everlasting Greatness.

These products have become a staple of regular customers and professional detailers.

The reason?

The new coating bonds with the molecular structure of your car’s paint and it can’t be removed by vibrations or external force, meaning it lasts years, not months.

Just like it was mentioned before, it’s like adding a vest to the surface of your car.

But how long does ceramic car coating last? It truly depends on you, but with simple maintenance, it’s the perfect DIY solution to last 6-12 months.

It doesn’t get any better than that!

Just like it happens with any kind of breakthrough, people begin to assume things and exaggerate possibilities when it comes to new products.

There are misconceptions about what this kind of protection does and does not cover.

Many of these times it’s just a matter of common sense, but nevertheless, it’s worth mentioning.

Even the best ceramic coating does not make your car bulletproof, and certainly, it is not some magic solve-it-all product that will get rid of all potential hazards your surface is exposed to.

The truth is not every vehicle will benefit from it.

Just because your vehicle has gone through the ceramic treatment it doesn’t mean you no longer need to dust, wash or remove bird droppings.

You still do!

But the major difference lies in the fact that maintaining your paint will require less elbow grease and less time.

Now that we’re talking about what you will never find in ceramic coatings, here are some myths people occasionally have about them, just in case you were wondering.

Ceramic Car Coatings Are Scratch Proof.

A lot of detailers and suppliers exaggerate the scratch resistance properties of Si02 Nano Ceramic Coatings for cars, even going so far as to call them scratch-proof or resistant to rock chips which is completely false.

Sure, small scratches can definitely be resisted by a Nano Ceramic Coating and the sacrificial layer the coating forms will certainly help against minor incidents that would otherwise affect your surface.

But nothing more than that, you still have to be careful with it.

Nano Coatings for your Car Don’t Require Maintenance.

Ceramic coated cars do not require washing or maintenance.

That would be true in another reality, in this one there’s no escaping dirt, dust, and other particles floating around to end up on the surface of your car.

A ceramic coating will heavily cut down on the amount of washing and maintenance but not completely eliminate the need for it.

The fact is if you are going to drive your car, even if it’s infrequently, since the road is dirty, the surface of your car is going to gradually get dirtier even with a ceramic coat.

So, as long as you own a car, it’s going to need an occasional wash.

Car Coatings Last For A Long Time .

This one is partially true, but as it was mentioned, it highly depends on you.

The coating is actually semi-permanent, designed to last from months to years with very occasional maintenance, as it bonds with the car surface and cures into a hard and shiny sacrificial layer.

That means that you don’t have to re-apply every other month to maintain that glossy surface we all dream about.

How long does ceramic coating last?  

With a good product and proper application, it should last at least 3-5 or even 12 months, but then again, it is definitely not permanent.

They Are Really Easy to Apply.

This is actually true, but they made the cut for a reason.

Some people expect to just spray the product and get done with it, but, is that how you care for your car?

Before you can even apply the nano coating, the surface has to be clean and free of any kind of residue, which applies to even brand new vehicles.

The process really depends on the condition of the surface. As the ceramic coating will semi-permanently add a layer over your vehicle’s paint, in some cases it’s crucial to do any paint restoration before applying the ceramic coating.

It’s up to you to decide, but we do recommend washing the car, claying, buffing, and keeping it pristine while applying the coating.

Ceramic Coatings Provide More Gloss Than Sealants And Waxes.

Not necessarily, but possibly true.

The thing is, Nano Ceramic Coating for cars doesn’t provide the gloss alone, but how you prepare for it is also crucial.

If you have a very faded paint and apply a ceramic coating to your car, it will still look faded, no matter what you do. (It will end up just with a little bit of shine on top.)

The same applies for swirl marks, they’ll also be under the coating if they’re not removed first.

That does it for covering all things related to Nano Ceramic Coatings.

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!