Old School Detailing
I used to detail cars after graduating high school at a car dealership. We focused on cleaning up used cars for the lot and prepping new vehicles after they were sold - basically, pulling protective plastic off of the inside and outside and giving it a wash.
Occasionally when we sold a vehicle we would have a customer opt for the “sealant” package upgrade and only the detailing manager could come out and apply this magical sealant to make the paint extra shiny and add some extra protection to the vehicle’s exterior.
It seemed nice but unnecessary. We were still in the world of mainly sealants and waxes. Ceramic coatings were available but not readily.
After leaving the industry for some time and coming back, I had some catching up to do. Ceramic coatings had become more popular for long term protection and waxes and sealants were no longer the go to.
Dealership Protection Packages
When I was back in the game I had a friend of mine say that they were quoted $1,000 for a paint protection package at the dealership. This was before I was educated on long-term, Silicon Carbide ceramic coating protection. All I was used to were waxes and short term sealants. I was also blown away by the price! I told them I could do a ceramic sealant for much less.
As I learned more about ceramic coatings, I learned about how they can offer amazing protection for your paint against Midwestern road salt, harsh chemicals, UV damage, light scratches and scuffs, and organic threats like bird droppings, bugs, tar, and more for years - not weeks or months like traditional waxes and sealants.
Make sure you know what you’re getting
Years of protection? Sign me up. When you wash your car after getting it ceramic coated, you never need to wax it ever again. It preserves your new look for the long haul. So, is this what dealerships are offering?
Unfortunately, not every coating is made equally. Just because you hear the word ceramic doesn’t mean you’re getting Silicon Carbide ceramic coating protection. You may hear words like ceramic sealant, covalent bond, 7-year, 8-year warranty. But if it isn’t Silicon Carbide (SiC) then at best you can expect their protection package to last 2-3 years (SiO2 ceramic) and at worst a month (non-ceramic wax/sealant).
Your paint is thin and fragile
Detailing has changed over the years and so has your paint. Factory clear coat is made thinner and thinner over time. If you don’t get protection early on, you’re risking unrepairable damage. There’s only so much UV protection in your paint. There’s only so much margin for error if you get scratches. Back in the day paint could be buffed and polished very aggressively. Now, not so much. The goal is preserving what you have. Without ceramic coating protection your paint is very exposed to the elements - of which we have many in the Midwest!
Get your money’s worth
My friend was right. $1,000 for a short-term sealant? Not worth it. But what have we learned? True ceramic coating protection that lasts beyond warranty terms? Worth it. Make sure you get something high quality like Opti-Coat Pro to give you peace of mind with your new ride.
Reach out today with any questions you might have about ceramic coatings. You can call or text 5632050150