Question re ceramic coating durability
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Fullyield (05-25-2024)
#33
The Targa was professionally done a little over two years ago. The guy has, literally, a national customer base. Collectors ship cars to him for details. Paint correction & five base layers to start. Except for one incident on the road requiring a drive through, it has been hand washed. After a wash today, it definitely needs a refresh. This is my first ceramic, so really did not know what to expect. Now I know!
A “lifetime” warranty from the Pro, so we will see how this evolves :-)
A “lifetime” warranty from the Pro, so we will see how this evolves :-)
#35
Yes, I know I can do it myself, I've watched a lot of videos, my question is, can a non-pro/non-dealer buy Ceramic Pro? I went on their website and it appears to be only for retailers/dealers, etc. Thanks.
#36
I'm not sure if it's snake oil but the prices shops charge are insane. I use a spray on wax $30 for a gallon 3-4x a year and my car is super hydrophobic. After a rain it just beads and flies off when I start driving. Super easy to wash as well. Might try the spray on ceramic stuff but I can't see how it would be that much better.
#37
The real work is paint prep. If your experienced in this area, you can buy several brands of ceramic coating retail.
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Fullyield (05-25-2024)
#41
My experience with professionally applied ceramic coatings has been less than ideal, to the point that I now feel that they are Snake Oil. I have been informed via other detailers that the preparation prior to application is vital.
Edit: I now use Gyeon Wet Coat which accomplishes nearly the same results as a ceramic coating, cost substantially less, and will last for approximately 3-6 Months depending on how often the vehicle is garaged as well as subjected to elements. On a former vehicle that was garage-kept 24/7 and never driven in the rain, Wet Coat lasted for 12+ months.
https://youtu.be/1W8ZfyuMScY?si=UTaIByQkKHNqVz8K
Edit: I now use Gyeon Wet Coat which accomplishes nearly the same results as a ceramic coating, cost substantially less, and will last for approximately 3-6 Months depending on how often the vehicle is garaged as well as subjected to elements. On a former vehicle that was garage-kept 24/7 and never driven in the rain, Wet Coat lasted for 12+ months.
https://youtu.be/1W8ZfyuMScY?si=UTaIByQkKHNqVz8K
I like Gyeon. I have the wet coat as well as the quick detailer. I use it over my ceramic coat after a wash. I also like Kamikaze products, which I use. And the YouTuber you linked (Pan The Organizer) is a treasure trove of great information. I've had Kenzo coating on both my 911s and it is really very good. It's a professional coating and cost me $1500 for the car. A lot of that cost goes into the prep (color correction, etc.).
#42
No. Must be an approved dealer- installer. But you can get Crystal Serum Lite and EXO or DIY Detail products which are both known for easy consumer application.
Last edited by Fullyield; 05-25-2024 at 07:57 AM.
#43
I'm not sure if it's snake oil but the prices shops charge are insane. I use a spray on wax $30 for a gallon 3-4x a year and my car is super hydrophobic. After a rain it just beads and flies off when I start driving. Super easy to wash as well. Might try the spray on ceramic stuff but I can't see how it would be that much better.
Last edited by Fullyield; 05-25-2024 at 07:56 AM.
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Fullyield (05-25-2024)
#45
The price is for labor, not so much the product applied. Why? As others have mentioned, proper surface prep is the key to a good coating. It takes all day for me to coat my vehicles from start to finish. Actually applying the coating is one of the the easiest and last step. Prepping the paint takes time. The difference is longevity. Spray wax lasts 3-6 months. Properly applied ceramic lasts 3-5 years. If I had a show car, I would use hand wax only.