The Professional Touch: Why Ceramic Coating Should Always Be Applied By Experts

Ceramic coating has become increasingly popular among car owners seeking to protect their vehicle's paintwork and enhance its appearance. While the concept of ceramic coating may seem straightforward, applying it correctly requires skill, knowledge, and experience. Ceramic coating is a highly advanced process that requires specialized knowledge and equipment to apply correctly. Professional installation reduces the potential for scratching by using compressed air-filtered equipment to air-dry the vehicle, preventing contaminants from settling on the surface. Additionally, professional-grade ceramic coatings require extensive preparation work and application time, as well as paint correction, to achieve optimal results. Investing in professional-grade ceramic coating ensures longer-lasting results, making it a better value in the long run. In this blog post, we'll discuss the advantages of hiring experts to apply ceramic coating and why this is a good idea.

Examining Professional Ceramic Coating Applications

Ceramic coatings have become increasingly popular in recent times, and for good reason. They offer a range of benefits that go beyond just protecting the car's paintwork. Many car owners are looking to take advantage of these benefits and protect their vehicles with a ceramic coating. However, as with any specialized service, it is essential to hire professional experts instead of attempting the application yourself. Here are some reasons why you should consider a professional ceramic coating application:

• Experience is critical when it comes to applying ceramic coatings. A professional installer has years of experience working with various types of ceramic coatings, surfaces, and conditions. They know which products work best for different situations and can provide an accurate assessment of the surface preparation required before the application.
• Not all surfaces are suitable for ceramic coating applications; this is where the importance of having expert knowledge comes into play. A professional installer can inspect your car's existing paintwork to determine its condition and recommend the necessary preparation work to ensure optimal results.
• Professional-grade ceramic coating requires detailed preparation work, which includes washing and claying your vehicle several times, polishing it, removing swirls, minor scratches, and defects, and masking any plastic trims. It may involve using specialized tools and techniques that experienced installers possess to achieve proper surface preparation.

Beyond Skillset: Tools and Techniques

It is not just skill level alone, but also tools that play an essential role in professional ceramic coating applications. Compared to DIY products, professional-grade coatings contain higher levels of silicon dioxide (SiO2). The current application process is a lot more complex and requires specialized equipment and tools.

Some argue that DIY kits are sufficient. However, there's a considerable difference in the level of quality produced between a DIY kit and an expert installation. Different brands have different variations regarding surface preparation, prep solutions, polishes, and curing times.

DIY kits lack the necessary precision that expert installers offer while using specialized tools like infrared curing lamps to facilitate glue activation. These procedures require hours of meticulous detailing and careful handling to avoid mistakes, dust particles, and unevenly coated surfaces.

Another typical professional technique is to use foam applicators rather than traditional towels because they offer better coverage and reduce the likelihood of swirls and scratches appearing on the end. For example, a dual-action polisher can be utilized to carefully apply primer polish and remove any existing contaminants, allowing for stronger coat adhesion. Additionally, professionals utilize compressed air-filtered equipment that helps attenuate air pressure. This helps dry your vehicle after washing it without creating condensation on the surface to ensure no contaminants exist while applying coatings; otherwise, it may lead to irregularities in the final coating finish.

Durability and Quality Assurance

When it comes to durability and quality assurance, nothing can beat the experience of a professional ceramic coating applicator. As mentioned earlier, ceramic coatings are highly refined products that require proper application to provide their expected benefits.

If we take the example of a DIY ceramic coating job, there is always a risk that the product might not bond correctly with the surface, leading to premature failure. Quality control cannot be guaranteed when using off-the-shelf store-bought products versus professional-grade manufacturers. Additionally, improper usage of tools also leads to the risk of scratches and swirl marks, which are one hundred times harder to remove after a ceramic coating has been added. A professional-grade ceramic coating is intended for long-lasting results while being rigorously tested for quality assurance.

The Downside of DIY Ceramic Coatings

DIY products come with promises of simplifying the application process while offering similar results to professional-grade coatings. Unfortunately, this is not always accurate.

Though the claims about their durability are true, what they fail to mention is that their lifespan may vary due to multiple factors such as unforeseen factory errors, climate, environmental conditions, or even the improper application method. The chances of widespread coating deterioration are high without expert help.

Besides this, trying to apply DIY coatings without specialized knowledge can be an arduous task. DIY kits typically come with a limited set of instructions that may not provide helpful insights into surface preparation or product usage.

Improperly applied coatings can lead to further wear and tear on your vehicle. It can cause contamination, which ruins the bond between the paintwork and the ceramic coating, resulting in reduced durability over time. If done properly by experts, it provides unparalleled benefits such as water-repelling hydrophobic properties, scratch and swirl resistance, and a mirror-like shine that exceeds any DIY product's expected performance.

The Plight of Inexperience

DIY Ceramic coatings may seem like a cost-efficient way of protecting your car's paintwork, but doing so without enough training and knowledge may lead to unforeseen problems. Here are just a few downsides that come with attempting such things on your own:

1. Many DIY ceramic coatings aren't as strong as professional-grade coatings due to the lower levels and concentrations of SiO2 used in the mixing formula. They might work for weeks or months initially but fail quickly after. Furthermore, some DIY coatings experience bonding issues under adverse weather conditions. For example, if a ceramic coating is applied at high levels of humidity or low temperatures, it is more likely to react badly with moisture on the surface, leading to poor bonding and failure after application.
2. DIY ceramic coating products often lack quality assurance and reliability. If something goes wrong or is unexpected during the application process, there are no professionals to consult and guide you through issues that will lead to disappointing and unsatisfactory results.
3. Most of these products aren't customizable from one car model to another, thus resulting in two cars looking alike if two people use the same DIY kit. In comparison, a professional applicator can tailor the coating according to your car’s specific needs, giving it that edge over off-the-shelf products.

Comparing Application Outcomes: DIY vs. Professionals

While there are noticeable similarities in surface protection between both types of coatings, there are notable differences when it comes to quality.

Professional-grade coatings often deliver superior outcomes compared to DIY versions. The higher SiO2 concentration prevents damage, leaving no trace of damaged paint on the car surface while maintaining its glossy appearance.

Washing your car after applying a professional-grade ceramic coating is a breeze; you need only use clean water as most contaminants get washed away without using soap, with waxed finishes lasting longer than traditional wax protection.

Many argue about the cost-effectiveness of DIY ceramic coatings but overlook the benefits that come with professional-grade coatings. While it may be more expensive initially, it provides long-lasting performance and can be treated as an investment to safeguard your vehicle's surface finish.

Making an Informed Decision: Expertise vs. Costs

The availability of many DIY ceramic coating kits on the market can be tempting for car owners. However, a lack of experience and the required skill set to carry out an effective application can lead to significant problems in the long run. DIY ceramic coating applications always come with some level of risk, especially if you have no prior knowledge of the subject.

For instance, imagine a vehicle owner who bought a DIY kit and applied it to their vehicle without proper preparation or knowledge. This person may have thought that they saved money by avoiding professional help. However, six months down the line, they started noticing cracks and peels on the surface of their vehicle's ceramic coating. This could have been avoided if they had consulted professionals who have years of experience in carrying out such applications.

Ceramic coatings require careful preparation before the actual application process begins. Removing contaminants like wax, grease, and dirt from your car's surface is essential to ensuring maximum bonding and durability.

Some car owners argue that it is possible to apply ceramic coatings to their vehicles without professional help since it only requires following simple instructions given in DIY kits. While this is true to some extent, mistakes can be made during the application process that can result in time-consuming repairs. Additionally, most DIY kits do not provide enough training to adequately prepare car surfaces before application, nor do they offer customer service support or warranty coverage if something goes wrong.

Contact EuroCars Detail for expert ceramic coating services.

Ready to give your car the ultimate protection and breathtaking shine it deserves? Look no further than EuroCars Detail, the leading name for Ceramic Coating Services. Our team of skilled professionals is committed to delivering outstanding results that will exceed your expectations. Take the next step in protecting and enhancing your vehicle's appearance. Contact EuroCars Detail today!