It doesn’t matter how careful you are about your car’s paint; there are uncontrollable external factors like dust, grime, someone scratching your car, minor touch-ups, etc., which can ruin the paint of your car.
One obvious solution is to apply a protective film on your vehicle.
Every car guy has this question on their mind: should they go with ceramic or glass coating, or regular wax is fine. How long will each last on the car’s surface? Many people don’t even know the differences, pros and cons, as these terms are often used interchangeably.
This blog focuses on which coating you should get and their advantages and disadvantages.
What is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are made from SiC (Silicon and Carbon). It’s a reactive substance that’s much more resistant and harder than regular glass coating or wax coating. When washing a car, you have to worry least about scratches and after-effects of alkaline or acidic soaps.
Ceramic coating directly bonds with the car’s paint, and it’s applied in layers. Usually, three ceramic layers are applied, with each one having its thickness and resistance. The life of ceramic coating depends upon the hardness levels and the package you purchase.
The hardness of ceramic coatings is often expressed as 9H, 8H, etc. Irrespective of the hardness level and years of protection guaranteed by car care experts, it’s hard to retain the same quality and detailing after 3 to 5 years of application.
The original paint stays locked since it’s applied directly to the paint. Therefore, it’s advised to apply ceramic coating when the car is in brand new condition or you have got the paint job done. Many car experts do paint correction before applying the ceramic coating. It makes more sense to lock the freshness of the paint when the car is in genuine condition.
Ceramic coating starts at around Rs.8000 to 30,000, depending on the size of the vehicle and material of choice. You can find ceramic coating services on OLX Classifieds.
Is Graphene coating any better?
You might have heard about graphene and car experts advertising it as a better option. It might be better since it’s based on the latest technology. However, it’s only beneficial if you intend to keep the car for a longer period. Graphene’s hardness level is 10H, that’s higher than conventional ceramic coating. Here are the few distinctive characteristics that make graphene a better choice over traditional ceramic coatings:
- Dust resistance
- Less water spots
- Slightly longer life than ceramic coating
Now let’s hover over the potential pros and cons of the ceramic coating.
Pros of Ceramic Coating:
- Most ceramic coatings are self-healing, so the coating will heal itself if your car gets minor scratches, and the scratch will be hardly noticeable
- Protection against extreme temperatures and UV radiations that can fade the original paint of your car
- Ceramic coatings are hydrophobic, so the water spots are less likely to form
- These coatings leave a glossy finish that needs minor maintenance
- The original quality of the paint stays locked for a couple of years.
Cons of Ceramic Coating:
- Ceramic coatings are expensive, and that’s the main reason why people look for cheaper substitutes
- These coatings are not scratch resistant, and if the gash is deep enough, it can still damage the original paint
- Ceramic coatings are time taking, and you might have to leave your car at car care for at least a few days. Not sure how many trust car specialists by handing over their vehicle to them
- Only a few know how to correctly apply ceramic coatings. As it’s a fairly difficult process.
What is Glass Coating?
What do you expect from a coating having glass in its name? Yes, it’s liquid glass that hardens upon contact with air. Glass coatings are made from Si02 or silica, the main ingredient in glass. It’s glossy and super shiny but at a much lower price than a ceramic coating.
Like every other coating, the basic purpose of glass coating is to protect the car’s paint. However, unlike ceramic coatings, this isn’t applied directly to the paint. A resin substance acts as a medium between paint and the glass surface.
Though cheaper, glass coatings can cost you as much as ceramic coating. It depends upon the material quality and size of the car. You can find glass coating services on OLX Classifieds.
Here are some pros and cons of glass coating:
Pros of Glass Coating:
- This coating is known for higher UV and temperature resistance
- Glossy finish
- Having glass properties in it, it’s also resistant to chemicals
- Glass coatings usually last around 8 to 10 years.
Cons of Glass coating:
- It gives a matte finish to the surface, which may be subjective to your liking
- Glass coated surface still needs to be clean to deliver that perfect shine
- Even after completely polished, the surface isn’t as smooth as the ceramic coating.
What is Car Wax?
Car wax is a synthetic compound consisting of carnauba wax, natural oils, petroleum derivatives and beeswax. It can be in liquid as well as paste form. Car wax is a thin layer applied directly to the car’s paint to keep it fresh and shiny.
Unlike ceramic and glass coating that preserves the original car paint for years, wax can only retain the shine and glossiness for a couple of months at best. Car wax can be done at home, all you have to do is make sure there is no dust or grime on the car.
Apply the product and gently keep moving the pads in a circular motion. Once the surface absorbs the wax, it appears dull. Take a clean microfibre towel and polish the surface. Keep buffing until the shiny surface appears.
Wax is a cheaper substitute for conventional coating services. Find a huge variety of car wax on OLX Classifieds.
Note: Wax is a thin layer which can be removed in 3-5 car washes. It’s advised not to wash your car frequently after applying car wax to prolong its life.
Pros of Car Wax:
- Easy to apply
- Cheaper than any other application on the list
- Protects paint from dust, grime and direct sunlight
Cons of Car Wax:
- Car wax is only good enough for a couple of months at best
- It’s not comparable to ceramic or glass coating in terms of reliability and durability
All of the coatings listed above have some inherent advantages and disadvantages. We have tried to clear the differences among all, so you can choose what’s best for your car.
Which protective coating do you prefer and why? Let us know in the comments below.
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