Ceramic coating prices change based on the quality of the coat and its longevity.

And the keyword here is longevity. Because I can promise you, the more you pay generally speaking the longer the ceramic will last.
And the less you pay the shorter it will last.

We have ceramics that will last just a couple of weeks. And we have long-term ceramic coating options that will last upwards of seven years. What’s the difference?

To understand ceramic coatings and how they differ from traditional wax, let’s start with a little history

In the 50s, they painted your car with one coat of paint. That paint color was whatever your paint color was. So if you had a red car, you had red paint.

But by the late 60s and early 70s, many cars had faded so badly that the paint was compromised. So auto manufacturers started putting a second coat of paint on your car called clearcoat.

The clearcoat is exactly what it sounds like: a chemical-resistant clear coat of paint. It was designed to help with UV protection against the color coat of your car and keep it from oxidizing, fading, or peeling. It also led to better paint correction because trying to correct the paint on a one-coat vehicle was extremely difficult.

But as time went on and technology increased, we started to realize that the clearcoat also was being attacked by the sun, and the sun’s harmful UV rays were compromising the clearcoat.

This eventually led to the use of ceramic coatings, which come with several advantages:

• Durability: Ceramic coating provides a semi-permanent layer of protection that can last for several years, whereas traditional waxes and sealants typically last only a few months.
• Protection: Ceramic coating offers superior resistance to UV rays, chemical stains, and water spots, which can significantly damage a vehicle’s paint over time.
• Maintenance: Unlike traditional wax, which requires frequent reapplication, ceramic coating reduces the need for constant upkeep, making it a more convenient option for car owners.

It can be. But again, I’ve seen vehicles that are brand new come in with marks or oxidized.

So it just depends. We put full ceramics on cars that are upwards of five and seven-year-olds vehicles, we put them on vehicles that are brand new. It really depends on many variables that are better discussed over the phone than just put down in words here.

With ceramics we’re not only talking about just the car either. Often times we’ll coat wheels, glass, and windshields.

Some detailers have even gone to putting ceramic on the interior of the vehicle. At Splash, I’m not completely sold on this yet.

There are four of them.

1. Road Grime: Road grime is a buildup of grime on your vehicle. The best example I can give is like tartar on your teeth. The moment you leave the hygienist office, your teeth start to build up tartar or plaque again. Well the moment your vehicle drives off a lot. It starts building up road Grime. It’s definitely an enemy of wax.
2. Extreme Temperature Change: Extreme temperature changes difficult on a car because it causes expansion and contraction. It’s very hard on a wax.
3. The Sun: Here in Colorado we have about the strongest sun in the world. In fact, we have the second largest reported cases of malignant melanomas in the world only behind Australia.
4. Soap: Soap is acidic. Even pH balance soap is acidic. It has acidic properties that immediately to break down your wax. So I never recommend using soap on a vehicle.

Maintaining a ceramic-coated vehicle is straightforward but requires some specific care for the best results. By following these maintenance tips, you can ensure that your ceramic coating continues to protect and enhance your vehicle’s paint for years to come:

• Avoid Harsh Conditions: Try to avoid parking the vehicle in direct sunlight or exposing it to extreme temperatures. These can affect the coating’s durability.
• Periodic Waxing: To keep the high-gloss finish, it’s recommended to wax the vehicle periodically. This preserves the smooth surface and helps the coating protect your car.