A ceramic coating is a semi-permanent coating mixed with nanoceramic particles that provide a ton of benefits for your car’s paint job. They’re growing in popularity, too. However, the key term there is semi-permanent. They’re not hard epoxy shells that never wear or don’t come off.
You actually need to do a bit of maintenance work. Some of this can be done on your own, and some of it we highly recommend getting a professional to do.
So what happens if you don’t maintain ceramic coating, though?
Let’s go over it.
1. Dulling
We’re going to start with the little stuff, because the effects of neglect can be pretty bad. One thing you’ll notice first is that your car’s appearance gets a bit dull.
One of the primary aesthetic benefits of a coating is that it makes the car glossy. Well, as your coating goes unmaintained, it gets damaged on a micro scale. You can’t really see it, but as that damage builds up and contaminants enter the surface, that glossy look fades.
This is a lot like getting a shiny new ring and wearing it every day. You don’t notice the micro scratches from grabbing things and moving them around, but that ring eventually gets dull until you polish it. It’s the same thing here.
The paint is still fine most of the time when this is the only issue, but the coating itself has definitely seen better times.
2. Contaminants Might Scratch the Paint
Ceramic coatings do a great job of protecting your car from minor scratches and scrapes, but let’s say a small pebble you can barely see gets knocked onto the hood of your car. The coating stops it, but it gets lodged in the coating.
Without proper maintenance, removing contaminants like that pebble, you might go to hand wash your car, miss that pebble, and drag it all over the hood of your car.
With regular maintenance, that’s not a problem.
3. Unknown Exposure to UV
The primary benefit that everyone boasts about with ceramic coatings is that they protect against extreme heat and UV rays, and that keeps your paint from degrading. Well, let’s say you don’t know that you have to maintain your ceramic coating, you get it done, and you think you’re good forever. Five years go by, you haven’t done any maintenance, and your paint is faded beyond belief by the Carlsbad sun.
That’s a real problem. As the coating degrades, it doesn’t block those UV rays. However, if you don’t know what to look for, you might think that the coating is perfectly fine and not worry about it until it’s too late to just get the coating boosted to fix it.
4. More Expensive Maintenance Requirements
A ceramic coating is a lot like your body. If you start getting aches and pains and go to the doctor, the medical bill to handle that issue early is likely going to be far cheaper than if you let it get out of control and need major work.
Well, it’s pretty cheap to get your coating buffed and boosted when you notice it’s getting a little dull or it’s been a while. In comparison, if you wait three years and it gets extremely worn down and damaged, you’ll need a whole replacement and the work necessary to remove what’s left of the old one. Ceramic coatings aren’t the most expensive thing, but they’re still not cheap. You definitely want to take the preventative route, the same way you do with your body.
5. Water Damage
Just like a worn-out coating can let the UV rays damage your paint, water can get in, too.
This is another of the primary benefits of a ceramic coating, because ceramic coatings are hydrophobic. Water rolls right off instead of settling and corroding the paint. When the coating starts to wear off, and you don’t fix that, water does what it does best.
Without proper protection, it can lead to salt corrosion, especially in coastal areas. When you live in Carlsbad with a lot of salt content in the air from the ocean, it’s even worse.
Maintaining Your Ceramic Coating to Avoid These Problems
Not maintaining your ceramic coating can lead to some costly issues. How do you take care of it, though?
It’s not too difficult, actually.
1. Wash the Car Regularly
You need to wash your car regularly when you get a ceramic coating. This removes debris that can contaminate it and degrade it faster.
We recommend washing the car about every two weeks. That seems like a lot, but it will save you a lot of headaches.
2. Wash the Car by Hand
Unfortunately, we have to make that washing requirement just a little bit harder, too. You really want to use the two-bucket method when washing your car. You want to avoid the chemicals and roughness of a car wash. It takes a little time, but it’s worth it.
3. Regular Booster and Inspection Appointments
About every six months, you want to bring your car in to have it inspected. We go over the car to make sure the coating is in good shape, and most of the time, it just needs a good booster. This is essentially a new topcoat to keep it protected.
4. Avoid DIY Maintenance
Sometimes, it’s tempting to grab a product off the local automotive supplier’s shelf and apply it yourself. You can find booster products at the store, too.
Well, you might think you’ve found a hack to save a tiny amount in exchange for a few hours of work, but it’s risky.
Ceramic coatings are far more complicated than rubbing traditional wax on. Your cost-saving measure might cause more damage that needs more costly professional repair.
Start with the Best Ceramic Coating for Long-Term Results
Keeping your car looking its best is much easier if you follow these simple ceramic coating maintenance tips. Neglecting your coating can lead to dull paint, tiny scratches, UV fading, and even salt damage, but with the right care, all of that can be prevented.
At Finetactic Detailing, we also offer expert mobile detailing and professional paint protection services to help your car continue looking amazing.
Call us or send us an email to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have!