How Long Does A Ceramic Coating Last?

What Is A Ceramic Coating?

A ceramic coating is a thin, clear layer of a liquid polymer that is applied to the exterior of a vehicle or other surfaces to protect it from damage and enhance its appearance. It is called a "ceramic" coating because it contains microscopic particles of ceramic, which provide an additional layer of protection.

Ceramic coatings are highly durable and can provide long-lasting protection against scratches, UV damage, and other types of wear and tear. They also make surfaces easier to clean, and can even enhance their gloss and shine.

Ceramic coatings are often used on vehicles, including cars, boats, and motorcycles, but they can also be applied to other surfaces, such as glass, metal, and plastic. They are typically applied by professionals, but some DIY kits are also available for those who want to apply the coating themselves.

How Long Does A Ceramic Coating Last?

With proper maintenance, most ceramic coatings will last 2 to 5 years or 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Usually 1 coating will last up to 3 years (weakened hydrophobic effects after about 1.5 years). There are basically no 5 year coatings when applied with only one coat. This is because the one coat is more fragile and only serves as one layer of protection against the elements it comes in contact with. We generally recommend 2 coatings to qualify for 3 to 5 years of protection. Another factor that determines how long the coating lasts is if the vehicle had paint correction performed.

Paint Correction Is An Important Factor To Ceramic Coating Lifetime

A vehicle that has paint correction will allow for a smoother surface that the coating can bond to more effectively. When a vehicle has scratches left in the clear coat, the coating will just fill in the gaps to some extent, but will not be able to bond to the rest of the coating as easily, especially with only 1 coating. Imagine each molecule of the ceramic coating is a person holding out it’s arms and hands reaching for another ceramic molecule. If you put the person down in a little valley (the scratch) they have to stretch really far to hold on, and this weakens the integrity of the coating and makes it last for a much shorter period of time. We recommend only doing a coating without paint correction for newer vehicles that don’t need correction.

Ceramic Coating Preperation With Iron Remover Is Very Important.

Iron remover is an important part of prepping a car for ceramic coating because it helps to remove a type of contamination called "iron fallout." Iron fallout occurs when iron particles from brake dust, industrial fallout, or other sources embed themselves in the surface of the car's paint, wheels, or other areas.

Iron fallout can be difficult to remove with normal washing and detailing techniques, and if it's not removed before applying a ceramic coating, it can prevent the coating from properly bonding to the surface of the car. This can result in the coating failing sooner, and require the coating to be reapplied.

Iron remover is specifically designed to dissolve and remove iron fallout from the surface of the car, making it an essential step in the prepping process. It works by chemically bonding with the iron particles and breaking them down so they can be rinsed away.

We also recommend clay barring a vehicle to remove any remaining contaminants from the clear coat. Perform the clay bar after using the iron remover so that you can remove contaminants more easily and not mar the paint as much as you would by doing the clay bar before iron remover.

How Long Should I Expect A Ceramic Coating To Last?

• 1 coating without paint correction: up to 3 years depending on paint condition and environment.

• 1 coating with paint correction: 2 to 3 years depending on paint condition and environment.

• 2 coatings without paint correction: 3 to 5 years depending on paint condition and environment.

• 2 coatings with paint correction: 3 to 5+ years depending on paint condition and environment.

• 5+ years if topper coating applied every 12 months, hand-washed, and garaged

A coating will not last over 5 years by itself.

Ceramic coatings that advertise this are usually backed by a lifetime warranty or advertised as a 7 year or 10 year coating. Their warranty is often voided if you don’t take certain steps to maintain the coating.

Dishonesty In The Ceramic Coating Industry

I believe many people in this industry are dishonest when it comes to how long their ceramic coating will last. That’s why for us we give a more realistic expectation of 3-5 years with paint correction and proper prep and proper care of their vehicle. In addition, the coating will last a much longer time if garaged.

The Bottom Line…

We advertise 3-5 years because that’s realistically how long a proper coating on a daily driver car that is hand washed will last.

I hope that this was educational and if you would like to book with us, go to book.claritycarwashing.com or download our free app for iOS and Android at book.claritycarwashing.com/app today!

Stay Shining San Diego!