Ceramic Coating is the hottest-selling paint protection product in the world right now!
Whether you are a detailer, an aspiring detailing professional, or a DIY car enthusiast looking to apply a ceramic coating on your car, this step-by-step guide will help you install nano ceramic coatings correctly.
If you want to know more about ceramic coatings and how they protect your vehicle, we have a detailed guide with all the information you need.
Before you start applying the ceramic coating on your car, ensure to follow all the instructions given by the ceramic product manufacturer. You may choose to watch this video to learn in brief how to apply the ceramic coating on the car.
Step 1: The Prep Work
We can’t stress this enough. Applying a ceramic coating, wax, sealant, or even PPF starts at the Prep Work stage. As a general understanding, prep work includes:
- Wash the vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, debris, and any other surface contaminants.
- Use a clay bar, clay mitt or clay towel to remove contaminants that are stuck on the paint.
- Paint correction & polishing:
One of the biggest myths about ceramic coatings is that they improve the paint surface by removing swirls, scratches, or faded paint. That is a completely false statement. Ceramic coatings are paint protectants, meaning they protect the existing paint surface. If the paint is full of scratches & swirls, a ceramic coating will actually amplify or magnify them. Hence, it is always recommended to do paint correction before applying the ceramic coating.
If you want to know more about paint correction, this article will shed some light on it.
Step 2: Nano-based IPA cleaning
IPA stands for Isopropyl alcohol. It is an effective solution to wipe all polishing oil and chemicals from the car’s body. It is not the usual IPA found in medical stores; it is a special nano-based IPA solvent with a degreaser.
Since ceramic coatings are based on nanotechnology, nano-based IPA cleaners should be used which will help in removing all polishing oils for effective bonding of the ceramic coating.
Step 3: Application area and conditions
Once the prep work and pre-wipe cleaning are done, you can start applying the ceramic product. However, before proceeding certain application areas and conditions must be discussed.
First of all, ceramic coating MUST be applied in a dust-free bay. If even a small amount of dirt sticks to the paint while you are applying the ceramic coating, it will bind in with the coat.
Secondly, the ideal temperature should be around 21- 28 degrees centigrade and the humidity below 50%.
Also, be sure to buy ceramic coating products in India of top quality to receive quality and long-lasting results.
Step 4: Applying a Ceramic Coating
Let’s come to the actual application. Follow these steps:
- Shake the bottle well before use.
- Wrap the suede cloth around the applicator sponge.
- Pour a few drops on the sponge.
- Spread the coating across the paint in a 2ft X 2ft area. Make sure you don’t leave out any area so apply in a criss-cross pattern (first apply horizontally, then apply vertically)
- Wait for 30 to 60 seconds (depending upon temperature) until you start seeing bubbles.
- Gently remove the excess and level up the surface using a microfiber.
- Use a separate microfiber and buff to shine.
Tips: Go section by section, inspecting each section of the vehicle. Use separate microfiber towels for levelling and buffing. And, keep flipping the microfibers over different sides as you go along the vehicle.
Now that you have applied the ceramic coating, let the vehicle sit indoors for a few hours. It is important to avoid exposure to water and chemicals for a few days. The ceramic coating undergoes a process of crystallization. Once fully cured, it provides amazing features like hydrophobicity, shine & lustre, and protects against UV rays, colour fading, and other environmental hazards.
