Ceramic Coating For Cars
Getting that perfect luxurious shine on the surface of your car is hard enough, and once you’ve finally polished it up like new, it never lasts for very long even with the most expensive wax job. Your car costs you a small fortune and keeping it sparkling clean costs you endless time and money you’re sick of spending. Still, every day you pull into the parking lot next to cars that shine stars in the night sky. What’s their secret?
Washing and waxing keep your paint job clean, and nothing will ever replace that. But that ultra-clean shimmer can fade in a short time requiring you to clean and wax again and again. Instead, applying a ceramic coating to your exterior helps keep your car’s paint clean and shiny for far longer.
Are expensive ceramic coatings right for your car? Does ceramic coating for cars really work the way it’s advertised, and does it actually save time and money in the long run? We’re here to answer all of your questions about ceramic coatings with our ultimate guide to ceramic coating for cars.
What Is Ceramic Coating for Cars?
Ceramic coating is an industry-grade chemical polymer solution that you can apply to the outside of your car to protect your paint and finish from dirt, dust, weathering, and chemical wearing. Ceramic coating is usually a clear solution that you apply carefully by hand creating a thin, hydrophobic layer over the surface of the vehicle.
The ceramic coating bonds to your vehicle’s finish and dries transparently, resulting in a crisp and clear look that maintains the original luster of your paint job. It lasts much longer than wax alone and protects your paint from damage due to abrasive particles and chemicals in the environment resulting in a fresh appearance that lasts longer between cleanings and a more durable coat that’s resistant to aesthetic blemishes.
Why Use Ceramic Coating?
It may well be true that you enjoy an afternoon out in the driveway washing and waxing the car by hand. If you’re like most people, though, this laborsome chore is a big time sink, and you wonder if there’s not a better way to keep your car looking clean and new.
The ceramic coating bonds to your vehicle’s finish and dries transparently, resulting in a crisp and clear look that maintains the original luster of your paint job. It lasts much longer than wax alone and protects your paint from damage due to abrasive particles and chemicals in the environment resulting in a fresh appearance that lasts longer between cleanings and a more durable coat that’s resistant to aesthetic blemishes.


Protection from UV Rays


Protection from Chemical Contaminants


Water Resistant & Easy to Clean


Glossy Shine
Types of Ceramic Coatings
Polymer Coating
Quartz Coating
Hybrid Ceramic Coatings
Features to Look For in Ceramic Coating


Hardness
With regards to protective coatings, hardness refers to the ability of the ceramic coating to resist nicks and scratches. As a rule, the harder the coating is, the better a job it does at repelling these blemishes. There are varying levels of hardness in ceramic coatings, and you’ll often see a rating of 9H in ceramic coating products.
This is one of the “highest” levels of hardness you can find, meaning diamond-like hardness, although that can be a bit of a misnomer. Additionally, just because products claim 9H hardness doesn’t mean that they’re actually designed to that true specification. Before relying on the label, make sure to consult ratings and user reviews to learn how well the product works and whether it’s true to its word.


Clarity & Shine
While any ceramic coating will be a transparent liquid, you want to make sure that the ceramic coating you apply to your car is high-quality and adulterant-free. A low-budget ceramic coating might do a decent job at paint protection, but what’s the point if it dulls or discolors your paint job in the process?
Make sure to select a nano-ceramic coating with a truly clear coat that will show the true color of the car paint. Your ceramic coating shouldn’t bend or distort light, but instead should allow it to pass through unfiltered allowing the clean surface of your car to shine clearly and brilliantly.


Water & Dirt Resistance
Especially in harsher climates and dustier locales, you’ll want to protect your car with a ceramic coating that’s highly water-resistant (hydrophobic) and dirt-resistant. Some ceramic coating products are designed to shine and protect your paint but don’t do too great a job at actually repelling dirt and preventing it from sticking to your exterior. And if you’re still showing dirt, what’s the point of trying to make your car look good in the first place?
A ceramic coating with high water and dirt resistance is key to keeping your car looking clean and polished for a longer time in between having to actually wash your car.
Maintenance Reminders & Limitations
A ceramic coating might sound like a cure-all for your carwashing woes, but despite their modern manufacturing and innovative chemical technology, ceramic coating can’t quite do it all.
For example, you’ll still need to routinely wash and wax your vehicle to ensure that your ceramic-coated car has a fresh and clean appearance as often as possible. A ceramic coating makes a car wash much easier as it creates a slick surface where dirt doesn’t stick. You’ll enjoy less scrubbing and a quicker, easier job, but the job will still have to get done.
Even the best ceramic coating won’t protect your car outright from deep scratches. Be careful with ceramic coating products that are listed as “professional grade” and promise the sun and the moon when it comes to scratch protection. At the end of the day, when you’re flying down the highway, fast-moving debris or rock chips from the road can still penetrate a ceramic coating.
We’ve stressed the importance of a good hydrophobic ceramic coating to avoid the residue from water deposits on the surface of your car. However, just like with scratch protection, anti-residue properties in even professional-grade ceramic coating sprays tend to be overstated. While water will flow easily and freely from the top of your vehicle, the edges and sides of the car are still prone to water spots. You’ll want to keep your car dry as much as possible, and in icy and snowy weather, you’ll want to stay indoors as much as you can.
Applying Your Ceramic Coating


Hand Wash the Car


Spray Iron Remover


Clay the Surface


Dry Thoroughly


Buffer & Polish
To get the best results and protection out of your ceramic coating, you want your original paint job to be in the best shape possible before application. You’ll level your paint and grind down any minor blemishes on the surface using a dual-action buffer. Gently but firmly, go over the surface of your vehicle’s paint job with your buffer to polish any light defects and level the topcoat. It’s OK to use a light polishing pad without fillers, but don’t use any paint sealant or car wax.
In areas where there are more scratches or any swirl marks, you’ll want to be sure to use paint correction with multiple polishing stages going from coarser to finer. Obviously, you’ll get better results with a newer paint job, and your buffer can only restore very minor wear. The difference, however, can be enormous if you skip this step, so if you have access to a dual-action buffer, take the time to polish the car properly.


Clean with Isopropyl


Apply Your Ceramic Coating
Grab yourself another brand new microfiber towel, an applicator pad, and your ceramic spray coating. Put 7-8 drops of coating on your applicator and start working it around the surface of your car in a circular motion. Work in shoulder-width areas one at a time, going over each area of the surface no more than two times each.
After a pass through each zone, let the coating sit for about a minute, and you’ll notice small beats of condensation appearing. Use your fresh new microfiber towel to wipe away these areas. After you’ve gone over the entire surface of the car, you can use an LED light to find any areas where residue is still resting and needs to be wiped away.


Cure
Scorpion’s Ceramic Coatings for Cars



Ceramix RENU (16oz)
- Body-Shop Safe
- Use on Ceramic Coated & Non Coated Cars
- Spray on / Gently Rub in / Wipe Off
- Cuts Dirt, Dust & Grime on Contact
- Use on a Wet or Dry Surface
- Streak-Free – Safe on All Solid Surfaces


Ceramix ION
- No Barnacles
- UV Barrier
- Better Fuel Economy Long
- Lasting Shine
- Repels Dirt and Water
- 7 Mohs Hardness


Ceramix Io2 (50ML)
- No Barnacles
- UV Barrier
- Better Fuel Economy Long
- Lasting Shine
- Repels Dirt and Water
- 7 Mohs Hardness



Ceramix 5 Year Paint Kit
- Ceramix ION (25ml)
- Ceramix Prep (8oz)
- Ceramix Prep (8oz)
- Microfiber Pads (4)
- Microfiber Towels (4)