Ceramic coating overview

The durability numbers are simply a baseline. With the right maintenance they can last much longer.  

Maintenance is of course key, and that maintenance is simply keeping it clean, and decontamination when required. No toppers or re-application needed.

Coatings loose performance over time for 2 main reasons, first is abrasion. Abrasion can be avoided using good wash techniques. There are cars that are 50 years or older driving around with original paint, just as there are 5 years old cars with failing paint. Again, maintaining anything properly will extend its lifetime. Buy a new car with a 5 year warranty, don’t change the oil, and chances are it will fail before the 5 years, follow the recommended maintenance and the engine will greatly outlast the warranty period. 

The second reason is fracturing. A good coating forms a strong bond with the underlying surface, but the surface itself is susceptible to fracturing. Fracturing is caused primarily by hot/ cold cycles. Let’s say a coating “fails” after 3 years, the coating is still on the surface, but the surface of the coating is fractured, reducing gloss and hydrophobics to the point that it appears that the coating is no longer present. 

You will need to wait 7 for the coating to fully cure. You can drive your car as normal after the installation but the longer you can avoid water the better the curing.  

We do not offer ceramic coatings at your home location. Ceramic coatings need to be applied in a controlled environment. Our shop is temperature controlled and protected from the elements. 

Think of ceramic coating as an additional layer of clear coat. Anything on the surface prior to coating will be sealed under the coating. 

It depends on the condition of your paint. Most scratches or micro-marring caused by incorrect washing are shallow and can be removed with a light to medium correction and polish. Paint correction does not actually remove scratches but instead it removes the clear coat around the scratch to match the depth of the scratch. Trying to repair deeper scratches can lead to burning through the clear coat and risking paint damage. If your car is deeply scratched (to bare metal) we recommend exploring repainting options.

For maximum durability and length of protection we highly recommend opting for a hand wash. FineDetailing offers maintenance washes however, if you you want to use your local car wash it's very important to opt for a hand wash or a touch-less wash.

In short, no. Think of ceramic coating as an extra layer of clear coat on your vehicle. This will protect your paint from UV rays, contaminants, bird droppings, water spots, traffic film and micro-marring. If you are looking for defect protection from things like rock chips then you may want to explore PPF (paint protection film). 

Yes! We are more than willing to make it right if the product fails under appropriate maintenance conditions. If the vehicle has excessive swirls and scratches and evidence of excessive commercial car washing is present we will not be able to warranty your coating. Please remember that longevity of ceramic coatings are dependent on how well you maintain it. We will provide with the right maintenance steps to keep your vehicle looking it's best.