If you
have ever noticed red cars turning pink or black cars turning
grey, this
is due to oxidation.
By sealing the paint, the
coating prevents oxygen to attack the clear coat and
make it dull over time.
What does this all mean for you as a car owner?
- Coatings offer incredible shine to the paint that will
last for years.
- Cleaning your vehicle will be easier and you will have
to do it less often.
- Your paint will be protected from both chemical and
physical damage.
- You will not be forced to wax the vehicle once a month
to have it protected and looking good saving you both
time and money on the long run.
Are there
things coatings cannot do?
Yes. Some company, in the
hope of selling more products overhype coatings as a magical force
field that makes the car invulnerable to
damage and completely maintenance free for the rest of time.
This is not the case (sorry!).
Still need to wash
It is true that maintenance will be
much easier, but you will still need to wash the car.
The method of washing will also be
important to keep the coating in good condition.
Coatings do not prevent water spots
Water spots are formed by water
drying on the vehicle and leaving behind a layer of minerals.
The coating cannot prevent this.
Water spots should be easier to remove on a coated car.
Coatings cannot prevent rock chips or deep scratches in your paint
The coating is not a replacement
for a paint protection film. It is a replacement for the wax.
As such, things that normally
damage a waxed car will also damage a coated one.
The only scratch protection a
coating can give is for very light scratches from things like
washing or drying the car or
from snow removal in some cases.
But if you rub the car against something while parking, don't expect
the bumper to be safe.
Are there
differences between the various coating brands and products?
At the moment, most companies that
produce car care products has at least one coating in it's offering.
So that means there are
dozens of products on the market.
If we do not count the cheap coating copies coming out of China for
pennies, most of the products
on the market are good. There
as some minor differences in the properties of the coatings but they
are all made using the same principles
of having Silicon Dioxide in a
resin that binds to the paint.
What properties are you talking about?
Making a coating is a balancing
act. If you want more gloss, you might have to reduce
durability a little.
If you want more scratch
resistance, maybe you have to reduce the hydrophobic aspect a
little.
So companies dial in the products
they make according to what they think customers will like most.
But overall, all the coatings are
similar and provide excellent protection to the paint of the vehicle
(except the Chinese ones I mentioned).
Why do some companies advertize 2 years and others say it's good for
7 years?
There are two categories of
coatings on the market at the moment. Regular coatings, also
called consumer grades and pro coatings.
Regular coatings are sold as is by
the manufacturer. Pro coatings come with a warranty.
The main difference is that pro
coatings will usually have a warranty against failure ranging from 5
to 9 years. More on this bellow.
All coatings are permanent.
The coating will remain on the vehicle until it is removed by doing
a paint correction (compound).
Coatings can be damaged by using
abrasives such as a clay bar, polish or scrub pads.
Unless you do that, they will stay
on the vehicle even if they loose some of their benefits
(the first ones to go are usually
the hydrophobic effect and that is what the durability rating is
usually based upon).
Why are coating so expensive compared to waxes and
sealants?
Because the coating is a permanent product, think of it
as a second paint layer, we have to insure the paint it
will be protecting is as perfect as possible.
Any issue
with the paint would be locked in under the coating and
could only be addressed by removing the coating.
Also, in order to insure a perfect bond of the product
with your paint, we have to spend a lot of time
preparing
the surface to insure no grease, oils, dirt or
dust are present.
The product itself is also very
expensive at the moment, this may change with time
but the typical
bottle of coating for a vehicle usually cost between 100$ to 250$.
Application of a coating requires
the use of items that must be discarded afterwards. Such as
applicators and many microfiber towels.
Coatings require training
to apply correctly. Any error in the preparation or
application steps can cause the coating to fail prematurely.
Finally, coating application is
both time and technique specific and varies from brand to brand.
This is why most detailer try to offer specific products instead of
applying anything the client wants.
Some coatings are more appropriate to apply in certain situations,
and it takes time to master the application of each coating.
Are you ready to set aside the
wax bottle and start enjoying
a better protected, easier to maintain
vehicle?
We have coating options for all
your needs. simply
click here have a look at our exterior details
packages to choose the coating you want.
