What Is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that chemically bonds to your vehicle's clear coat when applied and cured. Unlike wax or paint sealant, which sit on top of the paint and wear off within weeks to months, ceramic coating becomes part of the surface itself. The result is a semi-permanent layer of protection that is significantly harder than clear coat alone, highly hydrophobic, and resistant to UV radiation, oxidation, bird droppings, tree sap, road chemicals, and water spots.
The hydrophobic property is what most people notice first in daily use. Water beads and sheets off the surface rather than sitting on it and evaporating into mineral deposits. Dirt and grime have much less to bond to, so the car stays cleaner between washes and washes off more easily when it does get dirty. Over a multi-year ownership period that difference is substantial.
For Florida vehicles specifically, ceramic coating is one of the most practical investments you can make. The UV index in Central Florida is among the highest in the country. Clear coats that go unprotected begin to oxidize and fade within a few years. A quality ceramic coating is the most effective barrier available against that process.
What's Included
Thorough hand wash followed by iron remover and clay bar treatment. All bonded surface contamination removed before any correction or coating work begins. Paint must be completely clean for the coating to bond properly.
At minimum a single-stage machine polish to remove swirl marks and light defects. Ceramic coating locks in whatever the paint looks like at time of application. Correction is not optional. Andrew will not coat paint that has not been properly prepared.
All panels wiped with isopropyl alcohol solution after polishing to remove polish oils and residue. Coating will not bond correctly to paint that has not been stripped of all surface contamination and oils.
Professional-grade SiO2 ceramic coating applied panel by panel using applicator blocks and suede cloth. Each panel leveled before moving to the next. No rushing this stage.
Andrew will walk you through the cure requirements: typically 24 hours before any moisture exposure and 7 to 14 days before a full wash. Following the cure protocol is what determines how long the coating holds up.
Guidance on how to wash and maintain a coated vehicle to maximize coating life. A coated car washed incorrectly still degrades faster than it should. Simple adjustments to your wash routine make a significant difference.
Our Process
Paint Assessment
Andrew inspects the paint under proper lighting to identify the level of correction needed before coating. The assessment determines how much polishing work is required and sets the total time expectation for the job.
Full Decontamination
Hand wash, iron remover, and clay bar on all painted surfaces. Wheels and glass decontaminated as well. No coating can bond correctly to contaminated paint. This stage cannot be skipped or abbreviated.
Paint Correction
Machine polish to remove swirl marks, water etching, and oxidation. Level of correction matched to paint condition. Since the coating will preserve whatever the paint looks like underneath, getting the paint right first is the most important part of the whole job.
IPA Wipe Down
All painted panels wiped with isopropyl alcohol to remove any remaining polish oils or residue. Paint inspected one final time under lighting before coating begins. If anything is not right, it gets addressed here.
Ceramic Coating Application
Coating applied panel by panel. Each section worked in small areas, allowed to flash, then leveled with a clean suede cloth. Work proceeds in a logical order across the entire vehicle. No panel is rushed.
Final Inspection and Cure Briefing
Vehicle inspected under lighting for any high spots or missed areas before Andrew leaves. Cure instructions reviewed with the customer so the coating bonds and performs as intended.
Ceramic Coating vs. Wax vs. Sealant
"Amazing! I have had my truck for 7 years and had multiple professional details done over the years. Andrew is by far the best. I feel like I just bought a new truck." - Chris C
Wax is the traditional paint protection option. It is easy to apply, produces a warm glow, and costs very little. It also lasts 4 to 8 weeks before needing to be reapplied. In Florida heat it breaks down even faster. It provides minimal UV protection and zero chemical resistance.
Paint sealant is a synthetic version of wax that lasts longer, typically 3 to 6 months, and bonds slightly better to the paint surface. It is a reasonable option for someone who wants to maintain protection with periodic reapplication. It still wears off and still provides far less UV resistance than a ceramic coating.
Ceramic coating chemically bonds to the clear coat and does not wash off or wear away through normal use. A properly applied coating lasts 2 to 5 years. It is significantly harder than clear coat alone, rates 9H on the hardness scale, and provides the strongest UV resistance of any consumer paint protection product available. The hydrophobic properties are also dramatically stronger than wax or sealant. Water contact angles on a properly coated surface cause water to sheet off rather than sitting and evaporating into water spots.
The tradeoff is cost and preparation. Ceramic coating is more expensive than wax and requires proper paint correction before application. But spread over the years it lasts, the cost per month of protection is lower than continual waxing, and the level of protection is incomparable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ceramic Coating by City
We apply ceramic coatings across all of our service areas. Click your city for location-specific information.