What Is Ceramic Coating?

If you love your vehicle, do you want to leave it vulnerable to the elements or would you like to keep its fresh factory shine for as long as possible? If the answer is the latter, then you might be interested in getting a ceramic coating to protect your vehicle's paint. But what is ceramic coating anyway?

Before you Google "what is ceramic coating near me," don't worry because all of your answers are right here in this article. Here, you'll discover all the ceramic coating benefits as well as the potential ceramic coatings costs. With the information you'll learn from this article, you'll be able to decide if a ceramic coating is right for you and your vehicle. 

To start off, let's take a look at what ceramic coating is made of and how it can protect your car. 

What Is Car Ceramic Coating

A ceramic coating is made of liquid polymer that is designed to bind to your car's paint after it is applied by hand. You might be wondering what the difference is between a ceramic car coating and car wax. After all, wax is much cheaper and more or less as easy to apply. 

However, the problem with wax is that it lasts only a very short time compared to ceramic coatings. More than that, the main function of wax is to improve the shine of your car's paint job. While some kinds of wax can offer some protection, they usually can't do much when it comes to scratches, mud, and bird droppings. 

You also might be wondering about your car's clear coat. Isn't that enough to protect your car from most types of damage? Not necessarily. 

As time passes, your car will see all sorts of damage. Bird droppings and splattered bugs on the hood of your car may not seem like a big deal as long as you can wash them off. However, these substances harden and once they do, even as you wash them off, they tend to damage the clear coat and paint. 

Your car is also not invincible when it comes to the sun either. You've more than likely seen cars that have been neglected for a long time and left to sit in sunny areas for too long. The paint job on these cars is usually so deteriorated that the clear coat is gone and there is no shine left on the paint. 

This is a car-lovers worst nightmare. While keeping your car out of the sun might slow down the process, your car will inevitably get damaged by the sun and other elements. But your car can avoid this fate.

The Ceramic Coating Benefits

The first benefit of having a ceramic coating is that it protects your car's paint job from UV radiation damage. The sun is able to damage your car's paint and clear coat because, over time, the sun's rays start to break down the chemical structure of your car's paint and clear coat. Once the sun damages your car, it is virtually impossible to restore the paint, especially if the sun damage is serious. 

If your paint is only beginning to fade, there might still be time to apply a ceramic coating to prevent any further damage. A ceramic coating will prevent the sun's rays from penetrating deep into your car's paint job and dulling the paint. This is essential if you don't have an indoor space to keep your car on sunny days. 

Another benefit is that ceramic coatings are highly hydrophobic. You might be thinking, "Isn't my car already resistant to water?" While most cars have some level of water protection for their paint job, most cars aren't highly hydrophobic. 

Because of this, water can stick around and cause water spots. More than that, other materials such as mud and bird droppings tend to stick to your paint more easily. On the other hand, if you opt for a ceramic coating, most of these materials, even mud, tend to fall right off of your car without leaving much of a mark. 

Anything that remains on your ceramic coating can be easily wiped away without any trouble. And, of course, there is the aesthetic benefit of ceramic coatings. When you get the best ceramic coating for you, your car's paint job will be glossier and richer than ever before. 

The Cost of Ceramic Coating

The ceramic coating costs can vary depending on what kind of coating options you choose. For example, you can try applying a ceramic coating to your car on your own. You will need to buy your own coating as well as the application tools such as a sponge.

You will also need to set aside plenty of time to apply the ceramic coating yourself. From start to finish, it might take several days to apply a ceramic coating due to how many layers you might need to apply and how long each layer takes to dry. However, if you don't mind the time investment, you can save some money and likely won't go over $1,000. 

When you hire professionals, the coating will always be of better quality since they have better tools and more experience. You also won't need to worry about the time commitment when you hire professionals. However, the cost of hiring professionals for a ceramic coating can range from $1,000 to $5,000. 

If you have the money, you'll find that the results are worth it. Beyond that, professionally applied ceramic coatings tend to last longer, sometimes up to five years. 

Ceramic Coating Near Me

By the end of this article, you should no longer have to search, "What is a ceramic coating near me?" Instead, you should know all about what a ceramic coating is, how it works, and how it can benefit your vehicle. With this information, you can make better choices when it comes to protecting your vehicle. 

To learn more, visit Xtreme Auto Glass & Window Tint in Addison, Illinois or contact us here.