Ceramic Coating
Keeping that new shine on your car's surface is hard work, and once you've finally polished it like new, it never lasts long, even with the most expensive wax products on the market. Your car, truck, RV, or boat can cost you a penny or two, and keeping it spotless costs even more time and money than you could spend elsewhere, right?
We know that washing and waxing keeps your paint job clean and nothing will replace it. But that super clean shine can wear off in no time, forcing you to clean and wax again and again. Instead, have us apply a ceramic coat to the exterior of your vehicle and it will keep your car's surface clean and shiny for much, much longer.
Ceramic coating is an industrial grade chemical polymeric solution that you can apply to the exterior of your car to protect your paint and finish from dirt, dust, weather, and chemical wear. Ceramic coating is usually a clear solution that is carefully applied by hand to create a thin hydrophobic layer on the surface of the vehicle.
The ceramic coating adheres to your vehicle's finish and dries smoothly, resulting in a crisp, clear appearance that maintains the original sheen of your paint job. Lasts much longer than wax alone and protects your paint from damage from abrasive particles and chemicals in the environment, resulting in a fresh appearance that lasts longer between cleanings and a more durable coat that resists blemishes and increases aesthetic of your vehicle.
Professional
Dedicated team
Reliable
Praise from our clients
Ceramic Pros
We are San Diego's premier ceramic coating specialists. We have been in the car detailing industry for over 15 years and we have clients all throughout San Diego County.
We know how much our clients value their cars, trucks, RVs, boats, and yes, airplanes. Why do we know this?
Because we enjoy our motorsport toys too. And just like you, we want our toys to always look their best, have the best shine, retain their value over time, and be easy to maintain.
We used to think that was a pipe dream until we began to see ceramic coatings and ceramic protective films hit the market. They have completely changed the game in vehicle maintenance and detailing.
What is a Ceramic Coating?
Today, in the detail industry, the term "ceramic coating" is used flexibly and sometimes incorrectly. Real ceramic is a very solid coating. This means that once applied, it chemically bonds to the surface and increases the hardness of the surface; as a clear coat of the plant on top of the paint. An easy way to explain how a coating works is to imagine it like this ... a coating is a liquid that turns solid. This liquid is applied carefully and then adheres to the surface. This creates a strong, protective or sacrificial coating on your vehicle's paint.
What is the Best Ceramic?
Many products on the market now claim to contain some type of ceramic base. These products are generally high in silica and solvent-based content. Silica is one of the main compounds that make up ceramic coatings. Low-content products are mostly diluted and used for faster, less intensive detailing (such as spray wax). These products are often used alone. Although they are easy to apply and can give quick and brilliant results, they are not considered high in solids and do not adequately protect the car. Ceramic protection done the right way is usually a bit longer and more complex; however, this ensures that the vehicle is protected for years. Most coating companies manufacture maintenance products that are used to help extend the life of the coating after application. Although these products can be used alone for a quick shine or a light protective coat; they do not adequately preserve or protect your vehicle or as long as they are to a fully bonded coating.
Why is Ceramic Coating So Expensive?
To answer this question, we thought we should explain the process of what we do to make sure that you're getting what you pay for.
One of the most important steps, if not the most important of the process, is the prep work. In our case, we first correct the paint situation. Which means we are doing paint corrections. We spend a lot of time improving the condition of the paintwork, even on new factory vehicles. You would be surprised by the number of flaws in factory paint.
The first step is to wash the car and then completely decontaminate it. Then there is the paint correction. After that, we check the entire car, even removing the small blemishes that are often overlooked by the inexperienced eye. After this step, the vehicle is washed again and then cleaned with a solvent to remove any oil or polish residue that may have remained on the surface.
Then comes the ceramic coating. This coating offers the strongest and longest-lasting surface protection available today. Some even as hard as 10h. For reference, most factory paints are from 2h to 3h.
What Types of Ceramic Coatings Are There?
There are several types of ceramic coatings available on the market today, and each has its own advantages that car owners should consider before deciding to hire a professional to apply a ceramic coating to the surface of their vehicle. You do not want to mess up the application of a ceramic coating product because they are very difficult to remove. This is one of the many reasons why you should hire a professional to apply ceramics to your truck, RV, boat, plane, or car.
Quartz Coating
Quartz ceramic coating is less common and slightly more expensive than polymeric ceramic coatings. The trade-off is that the quartz ceramic coating is even harder than the polymer coating, which helps protect the car from even more scratches and debris. Quartz coatings are also more difficult to remove, but they retain an illustrious shine that lasts up to three years at a time. Quartz coating can be applied at home, but it is often a good idea to pay a professional to apply your quartz ceramic coating to make sure the job is done right the first time as it is much more difficult to remove the quartz ceramic coating.
Polymer Coating
Polymeric ceramic coating, or ceramic epoxy coating, is the most common type of ceramic coating for vehicles because it is easy to apply and is ideal for most types of factory paints and finishes that manufacturers apply to RVs, boats, cars, and trucks today. It is also incredibly strong, creating a permanent bond between the paint and the polymer layer that is extremely strong and resistant to damage from harmful particles. However, due to this chemical bond between the paint and the nano-ceramic coating, it can only be removed by polishing the exterior.
Hybrid Coating
Hybrid ceramic coating combines a standard liquid polymer coating with the extremely tough protection of the quartz ceramic coating. Hybrids create a nice, hard shell around the exterior of your vehicle, but there is some controversy about the efficiency of hybrids or even the need for them. After all, a regular quartz ceramic coating already provides the added protection that liquefied quartz glass provides, which means that a hybrid ceramic coating product is not much more than a diluted quartz coating. It is up to you to determine what type of ceramic coating is the best option for your car based on what you drive, where you drive, and how you drive.
What Features Should You Look for in Ceramic Coatings?
Characteristics to look for in ceramic coatings for your vehicle, rv, boat, or airplane. Like any detailing product on the market, any ceramic detailing product will be covered in purported features and benefits as they try to sell you this manufacturer's secret recipe for success. What should you really look for in professional ceramics? What makes them better than the rest and how do you know which ceramic coating to choose for your car? If you value the convenience of not having to wash your car as often, your top priority is better dirt resistance. If you appreciate the brilliant shine of a high-gloss paint job, you will need the ceramic coating kit that offers the most clarity. Here are the top features you'll want to look for to find the best ceramic protection:
Hardness
When it comes to protective coatings, hardness refers to the ceramic coating's ability to resist nicks and scratches. As a general rule of thumb, the harder the coating, the easier it is to remove blemishes. There are different levels of hardness in ceramic and you will often see a 9H rating on most of the best products.
Clarity and shine
Although ceramic coatings are a clear liquid, you must ensure that the ceramic coating that you apply to your car is of high quality, and does not contain adulterants. A low-budget ceramic coating can do a good job protecting paint, but what good is it if it dulls or discolors your paint job in the process?
Resistance to water and dirt
While this is true in harsher climates and dustier locations, our own Southern California ocean and desert climates put a lot of stress on the surface of your car, truck, RV, and boat. You want to protect your car with a ceramic coating that is highly resistant to water (hydrophobic) and dirt. Some ceramic products are designed to shine and protect the paint, but they do not repel dirt or prevent it from sticking to the exterior. And if you're always showing dirt, what's the point in trying to make your car look good in the first place?
