Ceramic Coatings, also called Glass Coatings or Quartz Coatings, are the most capable form of protection from UV and Chemical Damage we can utilize. The bonding molecule that provides the protection is SiO2, or Silicon Dioxide. A solvent carrier is used to apply the SiO2 to the paint and other surfaces. The solvent evaporates out and leaves the SiO2 behind to cure and bond to the surface.

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The chemical makeup of Ceramic Coatings does three very important things differently than that of a wax or sealant. Firstly, it is capable of bonding to the surface underneath for a matter of years where we see a few months out of most waxes or sealants. Secondly, the chemical makeup of the Ceramic Coating is able to withstand penetration of UV and harmful environmental contaminants to keep your paints finish from degrading over time due to exposure. Thirdly, the Coating produces a highly repellent surface, where dirt and contaminant is rejected instead of absorbed in to the surface. This keeps the surfaces cleaner longer and makes regular wash maintenance very easy and safe.

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Unfortunately there is a bit of irresponsible marketing in the Coating world. Coatings are not thick enough nor hard enough to withstand scratches from say a dirty wash mitt, a key, or a rock chip. They do produce a slightly harder surface than the paint itself, but not enough to withstand this type of damage. The 9h Hardness measure that is used describes the Coating’s “vertical hardness”, or its ability to withstand penetration from UV and chemical damage and keep it from reaching the paints finish. That is what we are asking Coatings to do. We coat cars so that they still look good years down the road, and do not suffer from the slow roll of UV and environmental contamination that degrades the finish. Where a Coating can play in to scratch resistance is by producing and extremely repellent and slick surface, so that the surface lets go of loose dirt that you would otherwise move across the paint when washing and minimize the friction between the dirt, your wash mitt, and the paint.

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The durability of any Ceramic Coating is directly related to two things. First, how and where the vehicle in question lives its life. Is it a California car that sees perfect weather or a Colorado car that will see all four seasons? Is it a weekend toy or is it a daily driver? Where the car lives and the environment it is exposed to plays heavily in to any Coatings durability. The more intense the environment it is exposed to the less durability we can expect. The kinder the environment the more durability we can expect. Secondly, is the maintenance program the car enjoys. All Ceramic Paint Coatings require a bit of maintenance. If the car is kept clean where dirt and contaminant is not able to build up on the surface over several weeks or months and the Coating is kept healthy then we will see extended durability. There is no one size fits all and there are no permanent coatings.