Frequently Asked Questions

A ceramic coating is a semi permanent form of protection that, if applied properly, lasts several years.  Think wax on steroids. The main benefit to having a ceramic coating on your vehicle is the ease of future maintenance.  Bird bombs, bugs, dirt, salt, road debris will all wash off FAR easier than a vehicle that doesn't have protection.  This in turn leads to a better looking vehicle because the wash process is less aggressive, reducing the chance of marring and swirling the paint.  There are hundreds of different types of coatings on the market but I use Gyeon coatings as I find them to be of excellent quality and produce fantastic results.

As with anything worth buying, you get what you pay for.  In order for you to reap the benefits of a ceramic coating, it must be applied to a properly prepped surface.  A simple wash isn't nearly sufficient enough so a significant amount of time goes into the preparation for a ceramic coating application.  The labor involved to wash, dry, decontaminate, and polish the paint is quite extensive and necessary to achieve optimum results.  

When you hear the term 'decontaminate' or 'decon' in the detailing world, that refers to the removal of contaminants on the surface of the paint or glass.  This could include iron deposits, industrial fallout, rail dust, tar, tree sap, bird bombs, bugs, or anything that's on top of the surface that isn't supposed to be there.  Most of these cannot be removed simply by washing so another step or two must be taken to remove them.  By removing these contaminants, you're left with a smooth surface onto which a form of protection can strongly bond and cure properly.

Clay bar or claying is a term used to remove contaminants.  This is a mechanical form of decontamination that can result in marring of the paint so it's best to be used prior to polishing the paint.

Swirls in your paint (clearcoat) occur from improper washing.  When you see a swirl or light scratch (spider webbing), that means something abrasive has been dragged across the paint and is reflected back to you when the light hits it.  If you have a bucket full of soap and water with a sponge and you use that same sponge across the entire vehicle (and wheels), then you're re-introducing dirt and debris onto the paint with each swipe of the sponge, creating swirls.    

The best way to swirl up your paint is to go through the automatic car washes. Regardless what the wash costs or what the operators say, you'll receive hundreds if not thousands of tiny scratches and swirls from just one pass through any tunnel wash.  If you truly care for your paint, then AVOID TUNNEL WASHES!