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Ceramic coatings are probably the strongest form of paint protection available for cars. Like a screen protection plan, getting your car ceramic coated is one way to protect the paintwork and maintain its gleam for years to come.
However, failure to maintain your ceramic coated car can lead to loss of shine, reduced hydrophobic effect, and eventually, wear out the paintwork of your car. For many car owners in Singapore, it’s the worst-case scenario for their car. Once the original paintwork is damaged, your car will never look the same again.
To prevent such a thing from happening to your ceramic coated car, we’ve come up with an overview of ceramic coating and ways for you to maintain your ceramic coated car at home.
Car Ceramic Coating – An Overview
A ceramic coating for cars is generally a silicon dioxide or silica (SiO2) based solution that’s applied to the exterior of your car to protect against external paint damage. It’s typically applied by hand to ensure that the solution blends well with the paintwork of your car and creates an additional hydrophobic layer of protection.
Thanks to the chemical bonding and creation of a new layer, the original paintwork of your car remains untouched. In fact, it provides an alternative to traditional car waxing, giving your car a crystal-clear paint protection film against dirt, grime, and stain marks.
Benefits of Ceramic Coating
Due to its chemical properties, the ceramic coating is both permanent and allows for easier cleaning once applied to the car. Aside from the obvious, here are some of the reasons to apply it to your car:
Protection from harmful UV rays
Imagine how much damage your skin suffers from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The same goes for your car’s paintwork, especially when you park your car outside. Ceramic coating your car will protect the paint from oxidising, thus preventing it from fading.
Protection from chemical stains
Chemical stains arising from acidic contaminants such as bird droppings are another potential damage to your car. Ceramic coating your car will prevent the contaminants from bonding into the paint.
Ease of cleaning
When it comes to waxing and other types of detailing, washing your car can be a headache. But with ceramic coating, you don’t have to worry about the polymer wearing off from the paintwork of your car. Also, thanks to its hydrophobic nature, the coating helps to repel water which means all water-based dirt and grim will slide off during a car wash.
Candy-like shine
As an alternative to car waxing, ceramic coating your car will add some gloss and depth to your car’s paintwork. With a glossy appearance, it’ll bring out the best of your car’s original paintwork.
Aside from the benefits, there are some things that car owners like you should bear in mind when it comes to ceramic coating. Some of the common things that ceramic coating can’t do are listed below.
Disadvantages of Ceramic Coating
Everything has its pros and cons. Whether they’re deal-breakers or not is for you to decide. These are just some of the things that ceramic coating can’t do.
Protection from all types of scratches and swirl marks
Ceramic coating can’t protect your car from the common threats of scratches, swirl marks, and rock chips. Regardless of its blending properties, it still retains the characteristics of paint.
Protection from water spotting
While the hydrophobic nature of ceramic coating helps to repel water, they still contain minerals and soluble particles that will stay on the surface after the water has evaporated. This means the removal of water spots will require a hands-on approach.
Stop the need for car wash
Much like keeping your house clean, you still need to wash your car regularly. A layer of ceramic coating won’t give your car the ability to clean itself unless you’ve got a car that can transform itself (Transformers).
Now that you’ve gotten an overview of ceramic coating, it’s time to learn the proper methods in maintaining your ceramic coated car.
Methods for Maintaining Ceramic Coated Car
A ceramic coating acts as a crystal-clear paint protection work for cars. Its resilient properties offer strong paint protection when it cures. However, a ceramic coated car still requires routine maintenance to help extend the lifespan and improve the brilliance of your car paint. Ahead, we’re sharing some of the methods to maintain your car.
Wash your car regularly
Whether you use a car cover or park them under the shade, giving your ceramic coated car a regular wash will help to avoid excessive build-up of contaminants. Also, dust and dirt can accumulate at microscopic levels, giving you the impression that your car is clean but it isn’t.
Don’t wash your car under direct sunlight
Notice how car washes are conducted under shaded areas? That’s because washing a car under direct sunlight creates heat – the ultimate enemy of professional coatings. For the best results of your car washing effort, make sure to wash your car under the shade. Also, it’s best to wash the car early in the morning or evening as the sun will be at its lowest.
Use the two-bucket washing method
This method is proven to reduce swirl marks and produce the best wash results. It’s basically using one bucket to soak your washcloth while the other is used to clean the washcloth after you clean each section of the car.
Use ceramic coating specific car soap/shampoo
When it comes to maintaining your car’s ceramic coating, try to use a specific type of car soap or shampoo. That’s because automotive-specific products don’t contain harsh abrasives, chemical agents or other contaminants. Also, make sure to use the previous method for the best washing result.
Use separate wash buckets, cloths for wheels
The tires and wheels generally collect dust which is microscopic pieces of metal shavings. Now imagine washing your car surfaces with the same piece of cloth that you used to clean the tires. You may end up damaging your car’s ceramic coating. Hence, it’s best to use separate materials to wash the wheels.
With these methods, you can maintain your ceramic coated car with ease. Consider the weather and give your ceramic coated car proper maintenance for long-lasting shine.
Get your car professionally polished and waxed at Lambency Detailing
Giving your car occasional polish and waxing is your best bet at keeping it looking fresh out of the showroom.
Looking for a professional Car Ceramic Coating in Singapore? Lambency Detailing is a one-stop automotive centre for all your car needs. We offer comprehensive car exterior detailing packages as well as SONAX Coating Maintenance Packages that use only 100% genuine SONAX products from Germany to ensure the quality of your car.
Find out more about Lambency Detailing’s different products and services here. Book an appointment with us to get your car interior detailing now! Tel: (65) 6810 9918 WhatsApp: (65) 9658 5808 Email: lambency@quantum-globe.com
