As a car owner in San Diego, you want to keep your car exterior in pristine condition. But cars are subjected to all types of environmental hazards, especially living in San Diego, such as UV rays, acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap, and many more. 

This is where SD Auto Style’s Ceramic Coating comes in. Ceramic Coating protects your car’s paint shine and ensures it doesn’t fade away. Furthermore, it also simplifies upkeep for every car owner later on. We’ve put together a guide on the process of this (ceramic coating) nanotechnology and its benefits.

So, Wonder How to Prep Your Car for Ceramic Coating?

You wouldn’t wear a new suit after playing in the mud, eat off a soiled surface, or go off-roading shortly after washing your vehicle. Therefore, why would you ever apply a ceramic coating before ensuring the surface is thoroughly cleaned and looks its best? The finish must be flawless and well-prepared before applying any ceramic coating, spray coating, or sealer. It’s easier to set up the conditions for coating application to achieve the best bonding and longest-lasting effects.

The prep process may differ slightly depending on the type of ceramic coating used. Check the instructions and recommendations on the ceramic coating package every time. Let’s begin. The basic process will include the following steps. 

• Hand wash your vehicle
• Spray Iron Remover
• Clay bar
• Paint Touch-Up
• Polish
• Wipe

Hand wash your vehicle

Start by thoroughly cleaning your car. We advise using a gloss and wax free soap. It will also remove any last-minute glazes, coatings, or waxes. Your ceramic coating will be able to adhere fully to your paintwork once the surface is residue-free. Suppose the residue is left on the surface. In that case, it will be a barrier between the paintwork and ceramic coating, preventing a solid bond and proper adherence.

Spray Iron Remover

While the car is still wet, spray Iron Decon on the whole car, including the glass, paint, and wheels. Don’t spray directly on plastics because they can change color. Wait around five minutes. The product will get to the iron, which will turn purple. No iron contamination on the surface of the water did not become purple. After 5 minutes, give your car a complete rinse so no product is left on it.

Clay bar

A clay bar is just what it sounds like a bar made of clay. Many clay bars also include car shampoo, which aids in the removal of tiny debris and other pollutants that may have remained on your vehicle after the wash. Rub the clay bar across the surface of your car.

The clay bar will enter the paint’s tiny pores and remove debris. It also fills those pores with clay, producing a perfectly smooth layer over the paint. Your vehicle’s ceramic coating will stick better to the surface if you do this first.

Paint Touch Up

If your car has any paint chips or scratches, you must immediately repair them. Ceramic coatings endure roughly two years once you apply it, so you won’t be able to touch up the paint after you apply it. 

Remember, a ceramic coating will protect your existing paintwork. It does not correct minor paint imperfections. 

Polish

Your car may require polishing and paint repair even if it is brand new. It is critical to polish paint to fix defects and perfect the finish. Once applied, the ceramic coating will seal those scratches and swirls under the coating, and you will not be able to remove them without first removing your ceramic coating. Nobody wants a permanent eyesore.

Wipe

After properly washing, cleaning, and refining the surface, the next step before the coating process is a wipe-down to remove any leftover oils, waxes, or silicones. To prepare the surface for coating, we recommend utilizing Wipe Out to remove any remaining and leftover waxes, sealants, or glazes. For better results, use a clean, lint-free quality microfiber towel. You can apply your ceramic coating to the spotless and residue-free surface.

Installation of the Ceramic Coating

Before applying the ceramic coating:

• Park your car in a safe or secure location, such as a garage.
• While working, keep it out of direct sunlight and away from dirt or dust.
• If you don’t have a garage, park it somewhere shaded.

Check the car’s exterior temperature. It could be necessary for the vehicle to “cool down” for a few hours if you wash it outside in the heat. 

Ensure you have all supplies before starting. The items you’ll need are listed below:

• Gloves 
• Ceramic coating
• Asponge (or multiple sponges), 
• Microfiber cloth
• Silica spray (which ought to be included in the ceramic coating box).

You can start the installation once you have acquired these materials and your vehicle is prepared. following are the steps of applying the ceramic coating 

• Coating on the Car’s Exterior
• Let the coating sit
• Wipe the Coating
• Apply the Silica Spray
• Keep the Car in Garage

Coating on the Car’s Exterior 

Make sure you’re wearing gloves before soaking your sponge in the ceramic coating solution. Now apply the solution to the vehicle. 

Vertebrate and lateral swipes should be used when painting the ceramic coating on the vehicle. This will give you an even coating and guarantee that you don’t miss any areas. 

Replace your sponge with a new one if the solution starts to dry and becomes harder on it. Otherwise, your application can turn up shoddy.

Let the coating sit

Let it sit on the car exterior for about five minutes. The wait time depends on your ceramic coating solution, so read the recommended time in the instructions. But don not wait too long. If you wait longer, the solution will dry and harden before you finish the next step.

Wipe the Coating 

Once you’ve waited the right amount of time, wipe down the coating with your microfiber cloth. Wiping the coating  will give it a smooth and glossy finish. Stay calm if the solution still feels slightly wet. This is normal. Coatings might be damaged if it’s too dry. 

Apply the Silica Spray

The silica spray will add a protective and water-resistant layer over the ceramic coating. As a result, the solution seems even more glossy and the surface is shielded from water marks. 

Wait about an hour before you apply the silica spray, and don’t spray it directly on the vehicle. Instead, spray some on a microfiber cloth and wipe the car by hand.

Keep the Car in Garage

Let your car sit in the garage for at least one full day after completing the application. This will allow the coating to finish adhering to the surface and setting.

Allow the coating to cure

The ceramic coating takes two to three weeks to cure, depending on the external temperature and humidity levels. You can still drive your car during this time, but also take caution. Refraining from leaving your car parked outside or exposed to sunlight for extended periods is recommended. And wait to wash your car until the curing process is finished. 

Pros of Ceramic coating

Ceramic coatings’ popularity is justified for a good reason. Ceramic coatings provide various pros. When you choose Ceramic Coating Services in San Diego, there are many benefits you can get some of them are mentioned below.

Long lasting Protection

Wax and other traditional paint coatings degrade significantly more quickly than ceramic coatings. Prolong protection is one of the benefits of ceramic coats. Once sprayed, they can withstand difficult conditions including UV rays, bird droppings, dirt, and chemicals for a considerable amount of time. Your car’s paint will be protected for many years by the coating, which forms a strong shield.

If you choose a ceramic coating from SD Auto Style, you expect it to remain intact for many years despite exposure to environmental elements, airborne pollutants, bird droppings, or other potential contaminants.

Protect from Environmental Factors

San Diego’s climate can be unforgiving, with intense sun exposure and salt air near the coast. Excellent resistance to UV radiation, oxidation, and chemical deterioration brought on by salt and contaminants is provided by ceramic coatings. Ceramic coating shield protects your car’s paint and body from corrosion.

Candy-Like Gloss

All vehicle owners love the attractiveness of their car. Just like car bras, ceramic coatings provide a deep gloss and shine to your car’s paintwork. Ceramic glossy coating gives the car a nice lustre and improves its appearance.

Increase Resale Value

Adding a ceramic coating increases the value of your car if you ever decide to sell it. Vehicles with ceramic coating are thought to be well-kept, which will draw interest from purchasers and raise the resale value.

Final Verdict

Applying a ceramic coating to your car is tricky, and if done incorrectly, you may come up with messy results. Make sure you follow the steps in this article to get the best result if you plan to try this on your own at home. 

If you don’t have experience with ceramic coating, leave it to the professionals.

Not sure who to get in touch with? SD Auto Style has got all your ceramic coating needs covered. Contact us now!