Car Coating: How to Keep Your Paint Looking Brand New

Cosmetic and exterior mods to your car do different things. Body kit parts like bumpers, spoilers and splitters improve aerodynamics and add a performance boost, ceramic coatings and paint protection films prolong showroom sheen by shielding from external contaminants, and tinted windows enhance privacy and reduce glare. All modifications change the look of your car, but also go beyond plain appearances.

Basics of Car Coatings

Cars are an investment requiring regular maintenance and upkeep. Car coatings are the often overlooked element in keeping that investment clean, scratch-free and protected. They’re specially formulated protective layers applied to the car exterior with the main aim of protecting the paint and other surfaces from harmful environmental factors such as UV radiation, dirt, road debris and rain. And when applied by a professional car coating service, they provide lasting protection, preventing fading, flaking or chipping paint, while adding a glossy, water-resistant finish that’s bound to turn heads.

Common Coating Types

Coatings differ in chemical composition, how they’re applied and the level of protection they provide. Three common types are a car ceramic coating, paint protection film, and conventional waxes and sealants.

Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic coatings are polymer-based liquids added to the car exterior. Their protective properties start once the liquid has cured and chemically bonds with the paint. They consist mostly of naturally occurring Silicon dioxide derived from quartz and sand for protection, and titanium dioxide and additives for durability and improved adhesion. How long ceramic coating lasts depends on the quantity and concentration of diluted oxides, they’re curing times and how well they’re applied. For cars that have seen better days, a ceramic coating provides:

• Chemical and corrosion resistance: rusting and deteriorating paint is a common occurrence caused by birdlime, road debris, liquids, humidity, acid rain and other environmental factors. Coatings act as barriers to minimise these threats.
• Protection against UV radiation, fading and stains – reduce fading, discolouration and paint damage from piercing UV rays and prolonged exposure to heat and direct sunlight.
• Hydrophobic and electrostatic protection – ceramic coatings are self-cleaning, meaning your car remains cleaner for longer between washes. This saves drivers time and unnecessary expenses. Moreover, they prevent teh formation of water streaks and resist the accumulation of dust particles.
• Self-healing properties – concentrated formulas help the paint heal from marks and scratches sustained in everyday driving.
• Clean, gloss finish – get the sheen your car deserves without having to apply wax. The additives in ceramic coatings also restore the vehicle’s original colour.

Protective Paint Film (PPF)

This is a transparent, durable and long-lasting polymer film added to the car exterior. It goes beyond regular coatings in adding a more durable protective barrier, shielding the car and paint from chipping, scratches and dents, and providing more comprehensive resistance to heat, chemicals, debris and other contaminants. Thermoplastic polyurethanes are the most common type, with the ability to repair minor paint damage, while maintaining the original paint colour, and enhancing colour depth and vibrancy.

The main difference between ceramic coatings and protective paint films is longevity. Both are effective against common road contaminants and external factors like heat, sunlight and chemicals, but PPF goes one up by lasting much longer, usually between 5 and 10 years (compared to 1 to 2 for most ceramic coats). Granted, this means more attention to application and more maintenance to ensure films provide the best possible paint protection. Most drivers combine both a car coating with protective film. Films are usually reserved for more exposed car parts like the bumpers, hood and fenders, while cheaper coatings cover the whole vehicle for additional protection.

Waxes and Sealants

These are the cheapest protective options, often added to the car exterior as part of thorough car detailing. Car wax is based on natural oils like carnauba wax, which adds a deep, natural sheen and good protection against UV rays, birdlime, tree sap and other contaminants. While waxes don’t chemically bond with paint (they sit on the top coat), they offer good protection. The only difference is that they last a few months at a time, so you’ll be waxing the car at least twice a year.

Sealants are based on synthetic materials, some of which bond to the paint to provide better protection than waxes. Like less-expensive ceramic coatings, sealants are hydrophobic, meaning they wick away water and dust to offer a lasting sheen. Often, both waxes and sealants are used in combination to greater effect.

Why Professional Application is Paramount

Many coatings, films, waxes and sealants are advertised as DIY-friendly. However, for a clean, flawless finish, look to the expert application that only a professional coating service can provide. Experienced applicators use specialised tools in dealing with blemishes in the paint before thoroughly detailing the car, applying the required coat thickness, and ensuring proper curing times for each product. This not only provides lasting protection, but also gets the clean, shining results all cars deserve.