Buff or Ceramic Coating?

Do It Yourself (DIY) Notes: Prep and Ceramic Coating to a 1987 Porsche 928 S4, Cayman and Mooney M20R Airplane. The mirror shine in the paint is stunning from considerable Prep work and application of the Ceramic Coating. A substantial improvement to buffing and waxing.

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1979 Porsche 928 after a Ceramic Coating. As much as 20 hours of preparation and finish work went into each vehicle!

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What is a Ceramic Coating?

A Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer that is applied by hand to the exterior of a vehicle. The coating chemically bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint, creating a layer of protection.

It is a premium wax alternative. A Ceramic Coating creates a permanent or semi-permanent bond with a vehicle’s paint, meaning that it does not wash away or break down and does not require repeated application every few months.

What Does a Ceramic Coating Do?

In short, a Ceramic Coating adds additional protection to your car’s exterior and helps keep it looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance. The coating achieves this result by making your vehicle more resilient and easier to clean.

Here are the main benefits:

Protection from UV Damage / Oxidization

If a vehicle is often exposed to the sun, its paint will begin to oxidize, resulting in dulled and faded paint. A layer of Ceramic Coating protects a vehicle’s paint from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the amount of oxidization.

Protection from Chemical Stains and Etching

Another danger for your car is chemical staining from naturally acidic contaminants. By creating a chemically resistant surface, a Ceramic Coating can keep some contaminants from bonding to your vehicle’s paint. The result is that your vehicle will be more resistant to staining and etching, provided the contaminant is removed in a timely manner.

Ease of Cleaning

One of the most significant features of a Ceramic Coating is that it is hydrophobic, which is a fancy way of saying it repels water. When a vehicle has a hydrophobic Ceramic Coating, water will bead on the surface and slide off more easily. This means that mud and grime will have a more difficult time bonding to your vehicle’s paint, and when you wash your car, contaminants can be removed with less effort.

Enhanced Gloss

If you want your paint to pop with gloss, you will want to add a Ceramic Coating. A good Ceramic Coating enhances the reflective properties of your car’s paint and clear coat, adding to the depth and clarity of your paint.

Additional explanations about the Ceramic Coating process.

The car must be cleaned to a spotless condition (even used rubbing alcohol in last pre-stage) … further removing imperfections using the clay bar.

A Clay Bar Treatment is the process of using a clay bar to remove containments from the surface of your car. Common containments that pollute and slowly destroy your vehicle include things like rail dust, brake dust, and industrial fallout.

These pollutants can penetrate through paint, glass, and metal and settle on those components even after several car washes and polishing.

Many detail companies charge $1000 – $1500 for the job (expect the higher cost if the paint requires a lot of work to bring it back to good condition).

Give it a go. DO IT YOURSELF !