There is a certain fixation among car owners about keeping their rides in “showroom condition”.
This is completely understandable since cars are one of the most expensive investments a person makes in his lifetime.
Just like how homeowners decorate their space to appear pleasing and inviting, car owners are just as inclined to ensure that their vehicles are in running smoothly and retains its shine.
Here comes the question: what is the best way of protecting one’s car while making sure it stays glossy and shiny?
This is where protective car coatings come into the picture.
What is Car Coating?
A car coating is an additional layer that is applied on top of a vehicle’s existing paintwork. The coat bonds to the surface of the paint and creates a permanent layer of protection.
Car coatings form a much stronger and harder bond than conventional wax. These can last between six months to 2 years while a normal wax lasts for one to four months.
There are two types of car coating in the market: ceramic coating and glass coating.
Credit: Giphy
Yes, coating basically acts like a form of shield.
Ceramic Coating vs Glass Coating
Ceramic and glass coatings are the latest development in automotive protection technology.
Both ceramic and glass coatings contain silica, a component found in glass. However, the two differ slightly in terms of structure and application. The ceramic coating process involves heat while glass coating adheres to the car’s paintwork immediately when applied.
Both these coatings introduce a hydrophobic or “water beading” effect to applied surfaces. This helps enhance visibility on rainy days and helps decrease the formation of water marks on the car body.
It also offers vehicles a higher resistance to chemicals, UV protection and heat tolerance and reduces swirls and marring.
How is Car Coating applied?
The application of car coatings involve certain specialized tools and long hours due to the preparation time. If the surface preparation is done without proper care, it might lead to an uneven application since this material hardens quickly.
Installers may take between three to eight hours to thoroughly clean and buff the car body before applying the coating. For the preparation process, they use clay bars, car shampoos, sponges and motorized buffers made of lamb’s wool.
Only when the surface is sufficiently clean and smooth will the coating be applied using a sponge specially designed for coating application.
Much like any surface, glass and ceramic coating undergo wear and tear as it acts like a secondary layer of skin. Hence, they require touch-ups after several months and may need to be reapplied after a year or two, depending on the condition of the car and coating used.
Final Thoughts
Car coatings protect your car paint against a wide variety of environmental and chemical aggressors. On top of that, they are a great option when it comes to dialing up a car’s gloss and shine.
Share with us in the comments below what you think is the best paint protection in the market!
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