Owning a vehicle is more of a necessity today than a thing of some kind of prestige, as we live such a fast-paced way of life that we simply need something to get around the city as fast as possible. Okay, there is also something special about cars that attracts us all, as there isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t have their favorite brand or model. Now, what makes a great car is the level of safety it provides, besides every other characteristic, but we as vehicle owners also have a huge role here, as we also need to take exceptional care of those vehicles in order to prolong their lifespan and make them as safe as possible. One of those things is surely about protectants, and even though waxing or polishing are great, ceramic coatings are even better, so let’s find out why and how long they last.
The main differences
Even though waxing is always highly recommended as it is one of the best and most often used protectants, this new type of coating is getting more and more popular. For starters, it’s much more durable, but that’s just the beginning. Namely, in comparison to waxing, it lasts as much as twice as long, but that’s not all. Yet another thing that makes it a much better solution is the fact that, unlike wax, it creates a chemical bond that can resist UV rays, harsh detergents, heat, environmental contaminants, etc.
Ceramic-based pain protection simply works much better, provides much better results, and lasts much longer than any other “beauty treatment” you can take your auto to. As for whether these two can go together, in simple terms, yes, there is no issue here, but this is not something an expert in this field would suggest as it is not necessary, or to be more precise, it’s redundant. In essence, we all want to protect our vehicles and make them shiny, and this option is the best one for that.
Factors that affect its durability
Many factors can affect its longevity, and it is necessary to know and understand them in order to make it last as long as possible.
Weather conditions
One of the factors we cannot affect but can make that protection coat wear off much faster than we planned is the weather. Weather conditions such as extreme heat or freezing temperatures with snow can easily cause cracks in the coating that sometimes cannot even be seen with the bare eye. These cracks are more dangerous than they look because the water that enters them can cause rust, and fixing them can be pretty expensive. Although we cannot affect the weather conditions, we can keep our vehicle in the garage or at least cover it and lessen the impact of extreme weather conditions.
Polishing
A polished car always looks much better, but it is something we need to avoid if we decide to apply this type of coating. That’s because its main role is to repel water and prevent the exterior of the vehicle from rusting, and by polishing it, we weaken it and make it less effective.
Chemicals
We can find various chemicals on the market specially made for these purposes, but not all of them are a good choice for our vehicles as many of them can do tiny damage and reduce the effectiveness of the ceramic coating. Because of that, it is crucial to find sensitive chemicals like mild soaps and carefully apply them to avoid making scratches on the surface or any causing other damage.
Washing
We can find various car wash stations we can use to clean our vehicle quickly, without making a mess at home. Some of them are automatic, and it is enough just to drive through them, while in some, we get everything we need to do it ourselves, and, at some stations, workers do it for us. Regardless of who washes the vehicle, it’s important to understand that it’s still something that you should avoid. Instead of that, the best solution is to do it at home by using two buckets; one with soap and water and another with clean water to rinse it. By doing it this way, we will reduce the risk of damage, and what we need to be careful with is not doing so in direct sunlight.
How often do you need to apply it?
Okay, let’s start from the basics, as any type of protectant should be the last thing that you apply to the paint. As for how often you should do so well, it all depends on the type and model of the vehicle, your driving skills, habits, whether you have a garage or not, and how great of care you take of your car while on the road. The most common pattern is applying it every three to four months, but, once again, it’s all up to you, as some types of these coatings provide protection for more than a year if stored in ideal conditions. On the other hand, what’s great about these types of protectants is that you can easily notice when the time comes to repeat the whole process because as soon as the paint becomes less shiny, guess what, it’s a clear sign that you should do something about it.
Conclusion
If you are wondering whether the ceramic coating is the best solution for your car, the answer is probably yes, but it is necessary to know that it requires some maintenance in order to last as long as possible. It can last up to five years, and in some cases, it can be even longer, with the proper care and maintenance, but do not be surprised if it needs to be fixed after two years. Of course, it is crucial to find a reliable company to apply it to your vehicle to ensure it will last for a long time and protect your vehicle, so if you are in search of the best possible one, ceramic coating Houston can be the best choice.