What are ceramic coatings, and do you need one?
Today, waxes have almost gone by the wayside. They only last 1-3 months and become soft at surface temps over 80 degrees. This allows contaminates in the air, to become trapped in them. UV rays will also begin oxidizing the paint.
Realizing we needed a better option to protect our vehicles better, paint sealants were invented. These sealants form a molecular bond to the paint. They last 9-12 months, pending their environments and how the vehicles were stored. Science continued to improve those sealants, bringing the development of ceramic coatings.
Early ceramic coatings lasted 2-3 years and did a much better job of protecting the paint AND making it easier to care for.
Ceramics are almost like another layer of clear coat to your vehicle, which is why detailers often suggest or perform “paint correction” to remove and oxidation or scratches from the paint. Otherwise, these defects would be trapped under the ceramic and hindering its gloss potential.
With continued development over the last 12 years, some coatings now last 6-10 years or even offer lifetime warranties with annual inspections and top coatings. The gloss factors have also improved making the paint look “wet.” Water and dirt roll off almost refusing to stick to the surface making care incredibly easy. These coatings have become so good in fact, that CARFAX now recognizes their benefits and registers them on your CARFAX report if done at certified installation centers, showing you properly maintain and car for your vehicle adding to its resale value.
So the question is: Do I NEED a ceramic coating? NO, you don’t NEED one. But do you WANT a ceramic coating? OH YA, YOU WANT ONE!