Ceramic Coatings FAQs

Can Anyone Install a Ceramic Car Coating?

If you want to have your car to be protected for the longest amount of time, you should get your coating installed by professionals only. The only companies that offer CQuartz Finest and Professional Ceramic Coatings are CarPro Certified detailing businesses.

Because of ceramic coatings hardness, if something goes wrong in the installation, only wet sanding will be able to fix it. Because of the high level of risk, to become a CarPro CQuartz Certified Detailer is quite a process.

To be able to install the protective coat on your car’s paint, detailers need to prove their expertise. Finding the right Detailer is essential in having peace of mind and know that you are in the “right hands”.

Most of the ceramic coating companies have a “prosumer” version of their flagship coating offered to DIY detailers. Even if it seems pretty easy to apply it is still not the best idea to do it yourself.

The thing is that the application is quite tricky and you need a particularly clean environment with perfect lighting to avoid screwing up during the process.

Unless you have plenty of experience with paint correction, we strongly advise you to leave these coatings to professionals only.

Even if the prosumer products are milder in their composition and might not need wet sand to be removed, they might require compounding and polishing in case of leftover high spots.

Always reach out to our professionals for this kind of job, it is not always as easy as it looks and the risks of messing it up are quite high. CQuartz Finest Reserve and CQuartz Professional can be purchased exclusively through a CQuartz Finest Certified Installer.

Can a Ceramic Coating be Installed on a Brand New Car without Paint Correction?

You wished brand new vehicles are without defects when delivered, but sadly, it is not always the case. Sanding marks and holograms in a car’s paint are pretty common even at the dealership.

In some cases, maintenance might be needed after the car leaves the factory due to problems arising during the painting process. However, because of the lack of investment from car companies to properly fix these problems, under certain lighting, the marks will be visible.

Furthermore, when a car sits on a dealer’s lot for a long time, it might have been improperly washed at the dealership, meaning that you might purchase a car with swirl marks. These problems apply to any car company, from Hyundai to Ferrari. Your car’s paint needs to be properly maintained, checked and corrected before it is ready for a coating, no matter if it is new or used.

Is a Ceramic Coating Good for your Car?

Depending on what your goals are, a ceramic coat is good for your vehicle. For example, if you are one of those people dreaming of glossy paint, a perfect looking car without having to spend too much time on maintenance, the ceramic coating is good for your car. Ceramic Coatings provide you with better protection than any wax or sealant and they enhance your car shininess.

What we haven’t talked about yet is that they can last from 1 to 10 years, depending on the type of coating you select and the maintenance you’ll provide your car with. All in all, applying a Ceramic Coating to your car will give your car’s paint protection, gloss, and longevity.

Learn more about the benefits of ceramic coating here.

How Much Does a Ceramic Coating Cost in Raleigh NC or Durham NC?

You want your ceramic coating to be applied by a properly trained and certified professional for your nano-coating to provide enhanced durability, protection, and hydrophobicity to your car’s paint.

In Raleigh NC or Durham NC, you can expect to pay from $999 for entry-level installations and upwards of $2500+ for higher-end and more robust ceramic coatings. The specialized equipment is costly but the results will be more than worth it. The costs of getting your car coated depend on the conditions of your vehicle and its size, but also on the brand and type of coating you choose.

Can a Ceramic Paint Coating Damage my Paint?

Ceramic coating is similar to your clear-coat, so it will not damage your exterior, it will protect it instead. But just like the clear coat, if not properly installed, ceramic paint coating will leave visible residues that create orange-peel, blurriness or mirages.

The residues will not damage the paint but will have an impact on the appearance of your exterior. With proper installation, however, the results will be much better than with clear-coat.

We always recommend getting automotive ceramic coatings installed professionally. Call our team today at (919) 964-05722 to book your next service.

SO HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT FROM ALL THIS INFORMATION?

Before making a decision you should be informed about the different benefits a ceramic coating delivers, and stay aware of outlandish claims. And vetting your coating installers experience and know-how is primordial to successfully purchase a ceramic coating that will perform as per the manufacturers specifications.

Poor installations will cut down by years the durability of any coating. Choose an educated and honest installer and you will know that your coating will be installed according to the manufacturer’s requirement. If you want to get your car protected with the best expert in paint protection in Raleigh, choose Distinctive Detailing and get a quote today!

‍"Ceramic Coatings Protect Against Scratches, Swirl Marks or Rock Chips"

This is a myth. Ceramic Coating can repel small scratches, as we mentioned above in the benefits, however, a coated car will not be completely resistant to the risk of rock chips or parking lot scratches.

Some detailers in Raleigh tend to exaggerate the scratch-resistance properties of Automotive Ceramic Coatings, resulting in many disappointed customers.

Automated touch car washes or car washing techniques that are not appropriate will still create swirl marks on your car’s paint, even with a Ceramic Coating.

Keep in mind that ceramic coating does not eliminate the need to properly wash your car to avoid swirl marks and it is not a substitute for serious scratches or chip protection like Paint Protection Film, also referred to as Clear Bra.

"Eliminate the Risk of Water Spotting"

In Raleigh NC and around the country a drop of water has a certain amount of minerals and dirt in it. When water drops on your car’s external surface and then evaporates on the car’s paint, some minerals are left which gives rise to visible spots. These minerals can work their way into the pores of the paint of time and can even permanently etch themselves into the paint if left long enough.

Although a Ceramic Coating does have hydrophobic properties that can reduce water spots, making water sliding off from the coated surface, it is no magic. There might be some drops on the vehicle that might still cause water spots.

"You'll Never Need to Wash Your Car Again"

We mentioned that Ceramic Coating will ease washing and will require minimal maintenance, but still, a coated vehicle will still need a wash every few weeks instead of every week with a wax or sealant. If you want to maintain a great-looking ceramic coating for years to come, it needs to be maintained.

Especially in Raleigh, your car will get dirty when driving around, let’s be honest. You will still have to regularly wash your car, even when protected by a ceramic coating.

What the ceramic coating will provide you is less time spent in the washing process and will eliminate the need of having to wax your car every few months.

So, even if Ceramic Coating will not eliminate the need to wash, it will make you able to obtain better results with considerably less effort.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CERAMIC CAR COATINGS