Dirt, pollution, chemicals, and weather elements damage your car’s paint, making it difficult to keep your vehicle looking new like the day it came out of the showroom. A ceramic coating can help you maintain your paint job for an extended period by protecting it from harmful elements. However, you need to apply the ceramic coating correctly for it to work to its full potential.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to applying ceramic coating on your car correctly.
Step # 1: Prep your car
Whether you are applying a ceramic coating, a sealant, or wax on your car, the standard rule is to prep your car thoroughly. Prepping your vehicle includes washing it to remove any dirt, grime, and chemicals from the surface.
After you clean and dry your car, rub clay on the car to remove any contaminants that did not wash away.
Step #2: Paint correct and polishing
Once you have prepped your car, the next thing is to remove any swirl marks, minor scratches, and faded paint from your vehicle. Many people believe that ceramic coating is healing in nature and can fix minor marks and scratches on their car.
However, it is not true. The ceramic coating acts as a paint protectant, which means it only protects the paint in its current condition. So if you apply it to your car when it is full of swirl marks, it will only amplify them.
Therefore, removing these marks and scratches with paint correction is essential before applying the ceramic coating.
Step #3: IPA cleaning
Isopropyl alcohol or IPA is a cleaning solution to remove any polish remains from your car after paint correction. However, instead of using the basic IPA found in medical stores, use nano-based IPA cleaners that come with a degreaser to clean the surface so that your car is ready for absorbing the ceramic coating.
Step #4: Prepare the application area
Before applying the coating, you need to ensure that your car is in a protected environment. Your car’s temperature should not be not too high or too low. Ideally, it should be around 21-28 degrees centigrade, and the humidity should be less than 50%. You should also ensure that there is no dust in your garage or the bay where you will apply the coating.
Step #5: Apply the coating
Shake the bottle containing the applicant, then pour a liberal amount onto an applicator and spread it on a two-by-two feet area of your car. Apply the same in a criss-cross pattern similarly on your entire car’s paint surface. Wait for a few seconds till you see bubbles on the surface. Remove any access using a microfiber cloth.
The coating will take several hours to cure, depending on the room temperature. Ideally, wait at least 48 hours after applying the layer before taking your car outside for the best results.
Ruddick’s Detail
Ruddick’s Detail should be your one-stop destination if you need a professional ceramic coating in the Cocoa, Florida region. A family-owned company based out of central Florida since 2015, we specialize in exotic, classic, high-value, and luxury vehicle detailing. We offer a wide range of services, including state-of-the-art detailing, paint enhancements, ceramic coating, window tinting, paint protection film, and complete luxury vehicle care and customization. You can call us at 321-607-1606 to book an appointment or email us at info@ruddicksdetail.com. You can also try filling out our online contact form for more information.