Ceramic Coating

So what is a ceramic coating?

Well to put it simply. It is long term protection that bonds to your vehicles paint.

You should also know that NOT all ceramic coatings are created EQUAL!

Now a days the "term" ceramic coating is being used pretty loosely. There are 2 types on ceramic coatings. There is the over the counter consumer grade ceramic sprays that come in a small spray bottle that cost about $15-20 bucks. Those are NOT genuine ceramic coatings and will NOT provide your vehicle with long term protection. from our testing we have done over the years they will only last a few months at best.

There is also the consumer grade ceramic coatings that are actual ceramic coatings but won't be as durable as the professional grade ceramic coatings and won't come with any sort of warranty or guarantee. Those consumer grade ceramic coatings typically come in a small bottle and cost around $100-150 bucks.

Now let's talk PROFESSIONAL CERAMIC COATINGS!

Professional grade ceramic coatings can not be purchased by just anyone. You have to be well educated in the use of ceramic coatings and be a certified installer by the ceramic coating company you are using. The professional grade ceramic coatings can be much more difficult to work with and install hence the reason needing to be well educated and certified in the use of ceramic coatings. Professional grade ceramic coatings will typically come with a warranty or a guarantee. The Owners Pride professional grade ceramic coatings we use and offer our clients are one of the very few companies out there who actually have a compliant warranty. 

Also when having a certified professional detailer install a ceramic coating on your vehicle you are much more likely to have a proper installation job done. Here at Cruising California Auto Detailing and Ceramic Coating we have done countless ceramic coating jobs over the last 10+ years and are very knowledgable in the use and proper installation of ceramic coatings.

If you would like to learn more about the professional ceramic coatings we offer or the benefits of them or have questions that have not been answered here feel free to give us a call. We are always happy to help.

YES! Whether you have a new to you car or a brand new car "NOW" is the best time to get it ceramic coated and protected.

Ceramic coatings will not only provide your vehicle with great long term protection but they will also enhance the gloss and shine of your vehicle as well as making washing and maintenance very easy due to the amazing hydrophobic properties of the ceramic coating.

Getting your vehicle protected early on is the best way to keep your vehicle looking good for years to come and to avoid paint fading and paint failure. 

Yes, ceramic coatings are one of the best protections for your vehicle.

Ceramic coatings can be applied to all surfaces of your vehicle including both exterior and interior.

If you would like to learn more about ceramic coating feel free to call, text, or e-mail us. Will be happy to answer any of your questions.

When choosing a ceramic coating there are a few things to consider...

How long will you be keeping the car?

How will you be keeping the car garage kept or outside?

How will you be maintaining the vehicle?

We offer premium ceramic coatings ranging from 1 year to a 7 year compliant warranty. Depending on the above questions will determine which ceramic coating we would typically recommend. 

Also when choosing a ceramic coating we highly recommend having it done professionally as installing a ceramic coating is not a simple wax on wax off type of process.

If you have any questions about choosing the right ceramic coating for your vehicle feel free to call, text, or e-mail us. We are always happy to help. 

The cost to ceramic coat your vehicle can vary depending on a few factors..

-Size of the vehicle

-Condition of vehicle

-Will paint polishing be done

-What ceramic coating is being used to protect the vehicle

-Are multiple areas being ceramic coated such as wheels? glass? interior?

Here at Cruising California Auto Detailing and Ceramic Coating we have ceramic coatings that start at just $395 and go up from there.

If you would like to know exactly how much it will cost to ceramic coat your car feel free to give us a call or schedule an appointment with us to stop by in person for a free inspection and quote for your vehicle. Will be happy to go over the different options and help you pick the right ceramic coating for you.

Once your vehicle has been ceramic coated we typically recommend once every 6 months or once a year we perform an inspection which will include a hand wash, paint decontaminated, ceramic sealant applied, etc...

At this time we will see how the ceramic coating is holding up and performing.

Typically on well maintained cars that are daily driven you can expect to see at a minimum of 2-3 years protection all the way up to 5-7 years.

A few factors that will play into how long a ceramic coating will last is...

-How often the vehicle is washed?

-Is the vehicle being properly washed?

-Garage kept or kept outside?

-Color of the vehicle? Darker color cars will attract more heat from the sun's UV rays and will deteriorate the ceramic coating faster

-Lastly which ceramic coating was installed on your vehicle?

If you have any more questions about how often you need to have your vehicle ceramic coated feel free to call, text, or e-mail us. 

There are a few factors that goes into how long a ceramic coating will last.

-How often the vehicle is being washed?

-Is the vehicle being properly washed?

-Garage kept or kept outside?

-Color of the vehicle? Darker color vehicles will attract more heat from the sun's UV rays and will deteriorate the ceramic coating fast

-Lastly which ceramic coating was installed on your vehicle?

In general you can expect to see around 2-7 years of actual good protection from a quality professional grade ceramic coating.

Does my paint need to be polished before having my vehicle ceramic coated?

The answer...

It depends.

If our client is happy with how their vehicles paint looks and wants to save some money we are happy to ceramic coat their vehicle without polishing it. However we still wash and prep the paint before applying the ceramic coating.

If our client is unsure and would like our professional opinion about their vehicles paint we are happy to inspect it and make suggestions and recommendations.

What we have seen over the years is even brand new vehicles will have some level of paint defects, imperfections, flaws, blemishes, and even swirls and scratches. The swirls and scratches we see on brand new vehicles is mostly likely from the dealerships lack of knowledge or care in the washing and prep of a new vehicle for their client.

Ceramic coating warranties can vary from detailer to detailer depending on the products they are using.

For example... All of our professional grade ceramic coatings come with a compliant warranty. That means if you purchased our 7 year professional grade ceramic coating it will cover bird dropping damage, tree sap, hard water spots, loss of gloss and tree sap just to name a few for a FULL 7 YEARS! There is no deductible you will have to pay and you're not required to bring it in for annual maintenance.

We are one of the few companies out there who actually has a compliant ceramic coating warranty.

There are some companies out there who offer a ceramic coating warranty but they will require you to bring in your vehicle for annual servicing typically costing you around $300-500. If you fail to do so they will void your warranty. Some may even charge you a deductible if you file a claim.

Yes you can ceramic coat your car yourself. 

However... We typically don't recommend it unless you have a bit of experience ceramic coating cars. Ceramic coatings are not like wax. It's not wax on, wax off.

Also if you are applying a ceramic coating yourself you are likely buying a consumer grade ceramic coating meaning they are not going to be as durable as a professional grade ceramic coating and they are also not going to come with any kind of warranty.

A proper ceramic coating application install can take some time to learn. But the results will be very rewarding. The GOOD NEWS is if you do want to do the ceramic coating install yourself we are happy to work with you on the proper application of the ceramic coating.

If you would like to learn more about this be sure to call, text or e-mail us.

The short answer sadly is no.

Now yes there are LIFETIME WARRANTY ceramic coatings out there but they are not permanent and will require you to bring your vehicle in for yearly maintenance that will typically cost around $300-500.

No matter how many layers of ceramic coating are applied you're NEVER going to protect your paint against rock chips. If you’re looking for protection against rock chips contact us about our clear bra services we offer that will provide protect against rock chips.

Unfortunately there are no ceramic coating on the market that will stop swirls and scratches from happening. 

However... Ceramic coating will greatly reduce the chance of swirls and scratches from happening due to their amazing hydrophobic properties. Just simply rinsing off the vehicle will remove most of the dirt from the vehicle.

The Ceramic coatings we offer here at Cruising California Auto Detailing and Ceramic Coating will NOT yellow, discolor, or flake off over time.

It is not recommended waxing your vehicle after it is coated as that will limit the anti-static characteristics of the coating.

Applying a wax or a sealant will actually attract more dust and dirt to your vehicle.

What we suggest is using a dedicated ceramic spray sealant every few months if you want to boost and prolong the life of the coating.

Typically the way we determine if a ceramic coating is still there is when you’re rinsing down the vehicle after washing you should see the water on your paint beading up. Over time the coating will start to break down and you will noticed the water beading action is not like it once was. Then you will know its time to have your vehicle ceramic coated again.

Ceramic Coatings VS PPF Paint Protection Film

PPF Paint Protection Film is a thin layer of film that get applied to your vehicles paint that will protection against rock chips, and scratches to your vehicles paint.

PPF Paint protection film can be costly. Ranging from around $1,750 to do the front end of a vehicle all the way up to $8,000+ to have an entire vehicle protected.

Ceramic Coatings are an incredibly clear glossy layer of protection. They will bond to your vehicles paint and won't yellow, discolor, or flake off overtime.

Ceramic coatings create an incredibly strong and hydrophobic layer of protection that is designed to last for years!

Ceramic coatings are also MUCH CHEAPER that PPF Paint Protection Film. The professional grade ceramic coatings we offer our clients start at just $495.

Feel free to call, text, or e-mail us with any questions you may have or to book an appointment with us.

Some ceramic coatings will be more durable than others.

The professional grade ceramic coatings we use and offer here at Cruising California Auto Detailing and Ceramic Coating are very durable and come with an industry leading compliant warranty!

The only way to remove a ceramic coating is over the years the suns UV rays breaking down the ceramic coating or some sort of mechanical abrasion.

Like with anything in life how long something will last will determine how you take care and maintain it. It's no different with ceramic coatings. 

Now let's touch on the point where some ceramic coatings will be better and more durable than others. There are quick ceramic sprays out there claiming to be a ceramic coating when in reality they are NOT a true ceramic coating. They usually cost around $15-20 bucks and will only give a few months protection at best. 

Next we have consumer grade actual ceramic coatings which typically come in a small bottle and will cost around $100-150 bucks. They typically are not as durable as professional grade ceramic coatings and will not come with any warranty.

Lastly we have professional grade ceramic coatings. These will be the MOST DURABLE and will likely come with a warranty. These types of ceramic coatings are not available for consumers to buy. A consumer wanting to get a professional grade ceramic coating will have to have a professional detailer who is well trained, educated and certified by a ceramic coating company to have one of these installed on their vehicle. 

Here at Cruising California Auto Detailing and Ceramic Coating we use and offer our clients industry leading ceramic coatings with a compliant warranty.

If you would like to learn more about the ceramic coatings we use and offer be sure to call, text or e-mail us.

9H refers to the hardness test of the ceramic coating once it has cured. Some detailers and ceramic coating coatings refer to this as how scratch resistant a ceramic coating is. 

Some detailers who offer and sell ceramic coating misinform or mislead their clients into thinking that 9H means that once they apply a ceramic coating to their vehicle it can’t get swirls or scratches anymore or it will be very hard to get swirls and scratches.

Unfortunately this is not the case. However there is good news! A proper install of a ceramic coating whether it is 9H or not it can and will defiantly reduce the chance of getting swirls and scratches with proper washing and maintenance. 

What we have seen and from our experience 9H is more of a buzz word and marketing hype that has no real benefit from all the testing we have done with “rated” 9H ceramic coatings over the last 10+ years.

If you would like to learn more about the ceramic coatings we use and offer be sure to give us a call, text, e-mail, or book an appointment to stop by our shop.