Your car’s paint job can say a lot about your vehicle. Of course, newer cars will always look fantastic, but what happens when your car gets older? Exterior car maintenance is essential for ensuring that your auto continues to look as good as new.

America’s tastes are changing, with white the most popular car color today, with 30% of cars bearing this color.

In recent years, ceramic coating has grown in popularity, but is it worth it, does it work, and what are its benefits?

What is Ceramic Coating?

Firstly, many people are unaware of what a ceramic coating is. Ceramic coating can either be semi-permanent or permanent, depending on the coating you decide on. The permanent option will be the costlier option. Its sole purpose is to protect against external damage.

Ceramic coating is a nanoscopic paint treatment. It appears in liquid form when applied, but it eventually hardens over your vehicle’s paint. It’s made from silicon dioxide, sources from materials like sand and quartz.

When applied to your car’s paint, it forms a water-repelling layer. Understand that there are several types of ceramic coating in Charlotte, NC, to choose from.

Make sure you visit a professional to ask about the different options available to you. This is not a paint treatment option you can apply at home by yourself.

Is there a Downside to Ceramic Coating?

The powerful coat is created with several layers of a liquid polymer combined with other strong materials. The durability of cars with a ceramic coating is excellent, but it should be noted that it will never protect your vehicle against everything.

While this coating will repel water, mud, and dirt, it will not remove everything. If not removed relatively quickly, any water spots that remain on the vehicle may create unsightly marks.

It should also be noted that the growing demand for ceramic coatings, paired with the high cost of materials, means that the price is continually rising.

Avoid opting for at-home kits for your vehicle. While ceramic coating kits can be purchased online, these vary heavily in quality and cannot compare with a professional application. Aiming to reduce your costs will only leave you with subpar results.

Instead, the better option is to shop around, as prices vary between mechanics.

Protects Your Paint

Whenever your car is out in the open, the paint is exposed to blunt trauma from rocks, hailstones, and contaminants, such as bird droppings.

Ceramic coating is a strong protective surface that blocks objects and matter from damaging the car. In particular, ceramic coating is highly effective at nullifying the effects of oxidation, chemical staining, and fading.

Not many people know that even UV rays from the sun can contribute to fading and oxidation over time. Those who park their vehicles on the street are especially vulnerable to this type of damage.

A ceramic layer withstands significant damage before visible damage begins to appear.

Improves Your Car’s Cleanliness

Autos with ceramic layers on the top alter how dirt and debris work on the car. Typically, dirt and debris will get stuck in the tiny pockets found within the vehicle’s body.

On the other hand, ceramic coating is impervious, meaning that anything that hits your car will simply roll off the surface. That applies to water, dirt, and mud. If you live in parts of the country where dust storms and extreme weather are common or reside in a rural area, this benefit of ceramic coating is a huge plus.

If you hate cleaning your car weekly, ceramic coatings reduce the need for regular washing. That doesn’t mean it will never need to be cleaned, but it becomes far easier to remove that dirt even when it does.

Long-Lasting Paint Protection Methods

For as long as cars have existed, the automotive industry has constantly looked for more advanced methods of protecting the paint. Wax has always been the go-to treatment option for protecting vehicles, but it typically must be done and redone twice per year.

Ceramic coatings are designed to last for years without wearing away due to weather exposure, atmospheric factors, and bird droppings.

If you want a paint protection method designed to last, ceramic coatings are the way to go.

The Cost-Effective Way to Go

Vehicle owners may look at the cost of ceramic coating and decide that it’s too expensive for them to justify. At first glance, it’s easy to view ceramic coating as a luxury addon designed for more expensive vehicles.

There’s no doubt that it requires a sizeable upfront investment, especially if deciding on the permanent option, but it will cost you less in the long term.

Cars with ceramic coatings don’t need to be washed, waxed, or detailed as often as cars that don’t. It’s essentially a permanent solution, meaning it’s an investment that will pay itself off in the years to come.

Make sure you shop around for the best deal. With so many autobody shops around the country providing this service, you’re bound to find the right price for you.

Your Car Will Look New for Longer

Everyone loves the way a new car looks, especially when the light reflects off it. Most luxury vehicles already have a ceramic coating as standard. Owners of these vehicles want their vehicles to continue to shine even after they have aged.

Maintaining a new-looking vehicle requires you to spend time on maintenance. It’s also strongly recommended that you have a garage to store your car when it’s not being used.

A ceramic coating overcomes many of the problems associated with regular exterior car maintenance, leaving you with a vehicle that looks new for longer.

Conclusion

Ceramic coating is an option you can take advantage of with your local mechanic. Most auto dealerships and medium-sized garages will have different ceramic coating options available.

Speak to a professional to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each ceramic coating option.

Opting for ceramic coating is an option that’s well worth it in the long run.