Most car lovers are willing to go to great lengths to protect their vehicle’s paint job, such as investing their time and money, for a good reason: to maintain its showroom appearance while retaining its resale value.
While you can still wash your car every weekend and get it waxed every few months, your vehicle will still wind up with scratches, chips, fading, and stains over time. That is unless you invest in paint protection solutions such as ceramic coatings and paint protection films.
These paint protection solutions provide a protective layer for your car’s exterior. However, there are some differences between them, and the one that’s best for your vehicle will depend on what you’re looking for paint protection in Singapore.
In this article, we explore how paint protection films and ceramic coatings can protect your car’s paint job and what makes the two different from each other.
What is a Paint Protection Film?
A Paint Protection Film (PPF) is a clear film that is applied to the surface of a vehicle’s paint. It is a polyurethane-based film that forms a transparent protective layer when properly applied to your car.
With high resistance to acidic contaminants and corrosion, paint protection films can protect your vehicle’s exterior surfaces from dirt, water spots, and other common wear and tear such as scratches or paint chips from rocks or bugs hitting the car’s windshield.
The films also help to lower the paint’s oxidation rate due to excessive exposure to the sun or UV light. So, they can be applied to the entire vehicle or just the front and back bumpers.
What is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are a type of clear coat that is applied to your vehicle. They are made up of ceramic particles which are suspended in a solvent or polymer resin. This creates an extremely hard and glossy finish which can be applied to any surface with relative ease.
Ceramic coatings are also much more durable and long-lasting than paint protection films as they offer superior resistance against heat, abrasion, chemicals, water, and impact. This is due to its silica base, which is derived from quartz crystals and sand.
When applied to your car’s paintwork, the inorganic compounds will bond with the car paint to form a crystal-clear shell, which becomes semi-permanent over time. It can also create a permanent hydrophobic surface on the vehicle’s exterior surfaces, making it easy to wash.
How are Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings Similar?
While paint protection films and ceramic coatings have different properties, they share a similar purpose: they provide a protective layer for your vehicle’s exterior surfaces to protect against various wear and tear, heat, scratches, and environmental factors.
Both are clear coatings applied to your car’s surface to keep it looking as if it’s fresh off the lot for many years to come. At the same time, both can help in retaining your vehicle’s resale value.
Other than this similarity, paint protection films and ceramic coatings are so different that you may have a difficult time deciding between the two. You may even add both to your vehicle to enhance the paint protection.
How are Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings Different?
Although paint protection films and ceramic coatings have a shared purpose: to protect your vehicle’s paintwork, they are still two different types of paint protection solutions.
The main difference between these two products is that one is a film while the other is a coating. Ceramic coating can cover more surfaces than a paint protection film because the coating can be applied on every surface of your car exterior.
Another difference is that paint protection films need to be reapplied every few years, while ceramic coatings can last up to 10 years. As technology evolves, ceramic coating has a higher durability compared to paint protection film, making the latter less durable than ceramic coatings.
Ceramic coatings also offer a glossy finish and water-repellent properties compared to paint protection films, which are generally transparent and do not affect your vehicle’s finish. But, it is also not water-repellent.
Lastly, ceramic coatings can make your car a lot easier to clean, thanks to their hydrophobic nature that keeps dust, dirt, and grime from clinging onto your car’s paintwork. Meanwhile, paint protection films cannot repel water, so cleaning your vehicle requires the same effort before the film is installed.
Which One Should You Choose?
Deciding between paint protection films and ceramic coatings will be a matter of your preference. Ask yourself what you are looking to protect your car from and how much effort you can commit to.
If you want to keep your car looking sleek and shiny at a more affordable price, which may be the most significant factor to consider for many when choosing a paint protection solution for your car, ceramic coating is the way to go!
Protect your car’s paintwork at Lambency Detailing
Choosing the right paint protection solution for your vehicle will require a lot of consideration but it can be simplified with the help of a professional car grooming centre in Singapore like Lambency Detailing.
As a one-stop automotive centre for all your car needs, we offer comprehensive car paint protection solutions that use only 100% genuine SONAX products from Germany to ensure the quality of your car’s surface.
Find out more about Lambency Detailing’s different products and services here. Book an appointment with us to get your car paint protected now! WhatsApp: (65) 9658 5808 Email: lambency@quantum-globe.com
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