5 Ceramic Coating Myth-Conceptions

Don’t be lead astray – stay on the righ path with Island Detail and Color.

Whenever something hits the market with big promises, myths and misconceptions abound. This is definitely true of automotive ceramic coatings. With viral videos and marketing hype all over our feeds, it’s important to remember that all this attention is guaranteed to result in the spread of false information.

What follows are breakdowns of the 5 most common myths that we encounter at Island Detail. Hopefully we can clear up some misconceptions, and get everyone back to what they want to be doing – driving!

Myth 1: “Ceramic Coatings are Permanent”

To qualify as a true ceramic coating, a product must be fundamentally composed of ceramic nano particles suspended in a resin. When this is properly applied to a surface, the resin will form a molecular bond with that surface.

The bond that is formed is chemically stable and extraordinarily strong, qualifying it as semi-permanent. This myth is easily spread because it is based on true principles: if left alone, the bond will never release. However, the bond is not left alone – it is constantly under attack from the elements and daily wear and tear.

Ceramic coatings last far longer than traditional waxes and sealants, only requiring application every 2 to 3 years. Ceramic coatings may seem like a permanent solution when compared to traditional wax, which needs to be reapplied every couple months, but it is not.

Myth 2: “Ceramic Coatings Eliminate the Need to Wash Your Car”

This myth undoubtedly stems from those videos of dirt and mud being tossed at a treated vehicle and then sliding right off. People need to be careful about what they expect from their coatings, because if you think you’ll never need to wash your car after buying a coating, think again.

Ceramic coatings turn the paint of your vehicle into a hydrophobic layer, meaning water just beads and falls right off. The point of ceramic coatings isn’t to eliminate the need for washing altogether, rather it is to make the process far simpler, easier, faster, and more effective.

Ceramic coatings let you spend less time worrying about washing your vehicle and more time enjoying it.

Myth 3: “Ceramic Coatings Create a High-Gloss Finish”

Make sure you read this one carefully. Ceramic coatings don’t actually create much gloss; what they do is preserve what is underneath. If a coating is applied to an ugly, cloudy, imperfect paint job, the result will be disappointing.

This means that the prep work done to a vehicle before receiving the ceramic coatings is as important as the coating itself. This is why it makes so much sense to come to a place like Island Detail for your ceramic coating. We have decades of experience making cars look perfect, so you can trust us to get that incredible glossy finish that you desire. Check out what we have to offer by clicking here.

Myth 4: “Ceramic Coatings Fully Protect Your Car From All Scratches”

This is probably the myth that is, unfortunately, mostly distributed by sleazy detailers and suppliers of ceramic coatings. Don’t believe it, it’s pure hype. We’ve even heard of salespeople telling customers that their coatings are “100% resistant to rock chips”.

The point of ceramic coatings isn’t to protect your car from major scratches or rock chips. Ceramic coatings will protect your car from minor damage like driving through brush or a bicycle carelessly being left against your car, as well as things like chemical damage and swirl marks.

If you do a lot of highway driving and need protection from rock chips, look into getting a high-quality paint protection film. The good news is that PPF and ceramic coatings can be used together, so you can get the best of both worlds.

Myth 5: “Ceramic Coatings Are Easy to DIY”

Like all pervasive myths, this one is based in truth. There are DIY kits on the market that are simple to use and apply. However, the results you get from these kits is not equal to the finish achieved by professionals in a commercial environment.

As we mentioned earlier in this article, the trick to getting a flawless application of a ceramic coating is in the prep work. If the vehicle is not completely free of tiny scratches, water spots, swirl marks, dings, residue, or blemishes of any kind, the coating will not properly bond to the vehicle’s surface.

Prior to an application of a coating, your car needs to be washed, clayed, and buffed at least. Chances are, we’ll need to do some minor paint correction too, which is no problem for us at Island Detail & Color.