Coating Farm Swindon - Accredited Ceramic Detailer.
WHY APPLY A CERAMIC COATING?
Is there any value in have a ceramic coating on your car?
THE SHORT ANSWER IS - YES.
Here is the longer answer.
First a little history.
The history of detailing and polishing your car can be traced back to the 1800’s when the first wax was developed using animal fats to protect the “paint” applied to horse carriages.
In 1888 a range of solid, liquid and paste polishing compounds were developed and further developed by Frank Meguiar Jr in 1901 who founded a small furniture polishing laboratory and today are recognized as the leaders in the auto finishing and detailing market.
There were many developments of wax’s over the years and in 1944 the first bottled wax was invented and produced by Ben Hirsch and renamed as Turtle Wax® for its hard-shell finish.
By the 1970’s Japan and Europe were using metallic based paints with a clear coat system producing outstanding hardness, gloss and long lasting colour despite many issues with clear coat failures.
Since then there has been many re-incarnations of auto wax’s with improvements ongoing however around 2001 there were still some who were dissatisfied with the performance of paint protection products. A quantum physicist named Drew Gill in the UK released the first known about ceramic coating in 2007 called C1 Crystal Lacquer.
Bilt Hamber launched their first range of products in 2011 including their initial range of Quartz ceramic coatings in 2012.
We now have a market leader of development and manufacture of quality ceramic products in Coating Farms who offer the next generation of ceramic products for the auto industry. Ceramic coatings have been one of the biggest innovations in the industry providing the end user with incredibly tough, highly effective and long lasting protection.
Their products offer long lasting 9H hardness with drying times from just 30 minutes in a temperature range between 3° to 35° and a durability that ranges from one to 7 years.
Ceramic coatings are primarily composed of silica and titanium dioxide, these two substances together form a covalent bond that is hydrophobic (hates water) in nature and forms a nano-ceramic shield above the vehicle's clear coat. Ceramic coating is typically composed of silicon dioxide (silica, Si02), which is sourced from natural materials such as quartz and sand. Some types and brands also use titanium dioxide (titania, Ti02) as an additional hardening agent. When applied to a car's paint, the two create a chemical bond with hydrophobic, aka water-repellent, properties. Ceramic coatings are in constant development with improvements in hardness and durability.
These coatings protect the vehicles paint and clear coat from blemishes, shielding the bodywork from harmful UV rays with intense water beading and dirt run-off that maintains its shine and factory finish.
The prime time to Ceramic coat your car is when it is new as it will not have developed any wear and tear from daily use. Your car could be contaminated with a water residue from cleaning with either dirty water or hard water, water droplets, when left for a long period of time, can affect the paintwork of your car, stain chrome and even ruin reclining hoods on convertibles.
The list of contaminants that can have a detrimental effect on the bodywork is not endless however is quite extensive:
Atmospheric fall out are iron particles that are found on your cars bodywork and wheels, iron particles that become airborne can embed onto vehicles, as they are very sharp (on a microscopic level), they will embed themselves into the paintwork and then oxidise, however this is not the end of the story, there are many other contaminants that will impact of the factory finish.
The only time your vehicle is fully contaminant free is when it leaves the manufacturer’s spray shop, from this point onwards the bodywork is subject to air-born contamination, even when on the low loader or train transport from the factory to the dealers. Not all dealers will carry out a correct vehicle clean before it is delivered to you.
Some of the contaminants that will have an impact on the cars bodywork are:
Brake Fluid.
Brake dust..
Tree sap
Drinks – some drinks are quite acidic.
Bird droppings what are also acidic.
Diesel and petrol fumes and residue
Tar
Salt
SO WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES & BENEFITS OF A CERAMIC COATING
UV protection
Over time the Sun’s UV light will damage the paintwork and a Ceramic coating will protect your car’s paint from oxidizing, preventing it from fading and wearing a dull look. This is absolutely critical if you park your car outside.
Protection from Chemical Stains
Acidic contaminants from chemical stains arising from in the air is another potential damage to your car. A coating will prevent these contaminants from bonding into the paint. With air pollution a big issue in the city, ceramic coating can be a huge relief.
Hydrophobic Nature, Ease of Cleaning
When it comes to waxing and other types of detailing, washing your car becomes a headache. With ceramic coating, you don’t have to worry about the polymer wearing off. (Incidentally, removing it completely requires another process involving a polishing and wet-sanding.) The cleaning process becomes a simple process and especially if a regular cleaning schedule is carried out by a professional detailer will keep your vehicle’s body work in prime condition
Not only does it “blend” with your car’s paint but also repels water. This means that all water-based dirt and grime will bead on the surface and eventually slide off. A quick jet wash afterward and you have yourself a spotless, ageless car.
Mirror like Gloss
A ceramic coating adds a gloss and depth into your car’s paint back to the point where it has just left the spray shop at the manufacturers.. It will give your car a high glossy look, bringing the best out of the original paint job.
Is Ceramic Coating worth it?
The simple answer is yes. Ceramic coating has great benefits that will add value to your car in the long run. It will make your job of cleaning and maintaining it less tedious. So that you spend more time driving and enjoying your car than thinking about ways to keep it protected. Remember that there is no coating that will offer you a full one-stop solution offering full protection indefinitely.
The balance between regular maintenance and waxing and a Ceramic coating that offers so many advantages is a no-brainer – Ceramic coatings every time.
