Ceramic coatings are a great way to go when it comes to improving the durability and longevity of your paint work. Applying a ceramic coating to your car’s paint provides an ultra glossy and effortless layer of protection with fantastic results that keep your vehicle looking great for years.
On average, a professionally applied protective coating will last between two and five years with proper maintenance, but some coatings (like our CeramicPro ION) can last longer. Knowing how to maintain your ceramic coating is crucial to ensure that the benefits last as long as possible.
Here is what you need to know about maintaining your car’s ceramic coating.
How to Keep Your Car’s Ceramic Coating Looking Fresh
Allow Time to Fully Cure the Coating
Waiting for your ceramic coating to fully cure ensures that the compound has enough time to attach firmly to the surface and harden. If you subject your car to the elements too soon after the coating is applied, it will not be durable.
Cure times can vary depending on the type of coating used. To guarantee optimal performance from your ceramic coatings, ask your coating installer how long to wait before washing or taking your car on the road.
While your new coating is still curing, parking in a garage or over-covered area overnight is highly recommended. You should also drive it as little as possible and keep it out of direct sun and rain. This step will prevent the elements from penetrating a coating that has yet to harden completely.
Keep Your Vehicle’s Surface Clean With Regular Handwashing
Keeping your car clean is essential to protecting a ceramic coating. When oil, water, dirt, or other contaminants remain on the surface of your vehicle, it can degrade the coating and affect its shine, creating scratches or fading over time.
Hand washing is the preferred method when cleaning a ceramic-coated vehicle since automated car washes might strip away or damage coating layers. A proper hand wash every one to two weeks will keep your vehicle’s paint looking immaculate and protect the longevity of your ceramic coating. Hand washing also allows you to closely identify blemishes and major contaminants requiring more attention or specific cleaning agents.
Maintain Your Vehicle’s Shine with Occasional Detailing
Regularly detailing your car can make a monumental difference in the overall appearance. Our professional detailers can remove dirt and grime that builds up over time and treat those pesky scratches and chips that can collect on the surface. During your detailing appointment, a ceramic topper can be applied to rejuvenate the coating’s appearance and hydrophobic properties.
Contact AODetail to ensure the job gets completed correctly. We have access to tools and treatments needed to bring out the color and luster of your vehicle’s finish. This service typically includes interior and exterior cleansing.
How Often Should You Detail Your Vehicle?
The frequency of car detailing depends on various factors such as the type of road you usually drive on and if you have children or pets along for most trips. Getting your car detailed every three or four months may be wise if you often face harsher roads, rain and snow, or dustier/dirtier conditions. If you find yourself driving on smooth highways and maintaining good hygiene inside your car, getting it detailed two to three times per year should do the trick.
Can You DIY Ceramic Coating?
It may be tempting to purchase and apply a ceramic coating yourself – do not do this. When it comes to automotive coating products, you get what you pay for. While a DIY coating is cheaper, you will ultimately get much better results with a professional shop like AODetail. This is because we’re equipped with the industry’s top products and equipment to do the job right. Decades of experience with all makes, models and paint conditions allow us to get the most out of every coating installation.
Getting perfect results from your ceramic coating relies on perfect prep, skillful application, and professional-grade products. Our coating technicians know how to properly prepare the surface and each layer of the product to create thick, durable coatings designed to stand up against all sorts of conditions like harsh chemicals, UV rays, and road debris.
Long story short: A professional ceramic coating service is worth investing in to ensure your vehicle looks better and lasts longer than it would otherwise.
A Professional Ceramic Coating Service is the Key to Long-Lasting Results
Ceramic coatings are an excellent way to protect your vehicle from wear and tear. AODetail has over 16 years of experience providing results that get our customers compliments on the road. AODetail is an official CeramicPro Elite Dealer, a title that represents the best of the best in our industry and provides us access to the latest technology in automotive coating products, such as the CeramicPro ION line.
From paint correction, PPF, and more, we provide quality assurance and proper application techniques for long-lasting results. Contact us today.
