Ceramics vs. Sealants vs. Wax

Protecting the precious paintwork of your vehicle is no longer a simple choice of which wax to use. Depending on your requirements (and budget) there are now various additional options. Good paint protection involves adding a layer between the factory coating and the elements. Today’s options can be temporary, semi-permanent or permanent and come in the forms of:

  • Car wax (temporary)
  • Car sealant
  • Ceramic coating

There’s also the option of Paint Protection Film (PPF), a valuable installation that can be applied to a complete vehicle or just the parts that are more likely to get damaged, such as the bonnet, bumpers, colour-coded wing mirror etc.

Why Use Paint Protection?

While vehicles leave the production line with a top layer of paint protection, this tends to have limited longevity and is, of course, subjected to various environmental elements. These include:

  • Stone chips
  • Bird droppings
  • Acid rain
  • UV rays
  • Tree sap
  • Scratches
  • Salt and grit

All of these eat through this original protective layer or, in the case of stone chips, crack it entirely. As the upper surface degrades, so the paint below begins to lose its lustre, scratches appear and other paintwork anomalies become apparent.

Adding a good quality paint protection not only elevates the car’s good looks, but it also increases the resale value.

The Pros and Cons of Different Paint Protection Products

As in all walks of life, paint protection comes in different grades. Going for the highest quality you can afford is key – although it might cost a little more to begin with, you’ll reap the monetary benefits over time, plus the aesthetics will be better.

Let’s look at the three options in order of results and longevity.

1.     Car wax

Long the staple of paint protection, car wax remains one of the most popular and effective methods of car care. Wax provides an element of protection to the paintwork below – albeit temporary. It has some hydrophobic properties, helping water (and therefore, dirt) bead and roll away from the surface. Wax also adds a shiny finish.

  • Pros:  The cheapest method of paint protection, easy to apply yourself, readily available to purchase.
  • Cons: Only lasts a few weeks (less if the weather is poor), laborious to apply, easy to use the wrong type.

Find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of car wax.

2.     Car sealant

This uses advanced chemical engineering to add a synthetic protective layer to the vehicle. It adheres well – with good quality sealant lasting anywhere from six months to a year. Sealants are highly resistant to chemical and environmental factors and they dry to a lovely glossy finish. They come in different types, with the most common being polymer and acrylic.

  • Pros: Easy to apply, good longevity, shiny finish. Helps minimise scratching and corrosion. Many have hydrophobic properties. Quicker to apply than car wax and some can be simply sprayed on.
  • Cons: There are many different types on the market – some have an element of ceramic technology, some make the car glossy but do little else, others protect against environmental challenges. It can be challenging to know which is the right one for your needs. Some need to be combined with other products to be wholly effective.

Get the lowdown on detailing and car sealants.

3.     Ceramic coating

Considered by many to be the ultimate in paint protection (and with good reason), installing a ceramic coating provides superior protection and a high-gloss finish for many years. Ceramic coatings use nanotechnology to add an ultra-thin, super-hard topcoat that’s resistant to virtually every type of environmental and chemical attack. The best ones last for many years – typically 5-7 – and provide a deep shine that’s impossible to achieve by any other method.

  • Pros: The best level of paint protection for cars, lasts for many years, is hydrophobic and helps reduce the amount of time needed to keep the car looking good, increases the value and resale price of a vehicle. Can also be applied over car wraps.
  • Cons: The most expensive of all paint protection products, paintwork correction should be carried out prior to installation, and needs to be applied in a semi-sterile and temperature-controlled environment.

Discover the need-to-knows about ceramic coating.

Of course we haven’t even discussed Paint Protection Film (PPF) here, but we’ll leave that for another day and a post all of its own.

Paint Protection: a summary

Car wax, car sealants and ceramic coatings are all viable and effective methods of caring for a vehicle’s paintwork. Wax is the cheapest, followed by sealants, with ceramic coating being the most expensive.

Applying car wax correctly takes a long time – allow at least a day for the correct prep, application and polishing. Car sealants are a step above wax, and there are many (many!) different types of both on the market. These range wildly in price and results, making it complex to decipher which is correct for your needs.. However, it’s essential to use the right ones, especially when detailing classic, sports and supercars, 

DIY care is, of course, possible, but the alternative is to get a professional application carried out by a car detailing company. This will ensure the correct products are used, plus you reclaim your valuable time to do something more enjoyable – because, let’s face it, it’s a pretty messy, long and boring job!

Ceramic coatings offer the highest level of paint protection. This is a permanent installation and requires meticulous paint correction prior to application. It must be applied and allowed to cure at the correct temperature and in a semi-sterile environment. This all means that a professional service is essential, otherwise you run the risk of a less-than-perfect finish, or even ruining the factory paintwork altogether.

Whichever level of paint protection you choose, it’s all about the product and application. The detailing and services on offer from the Radical Autoworks ensure the correct type is used. Whether that’s detailing with a wax, sealant or ceramic coating finish, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your pride and joy benefits from the ultimate paint protection products. Call us today to discuss your requirements.

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Choosing a Car Detailing Company

There’s no better way to ensure that your car looks great (and remains that way) than by utilising the services of a car detailing company. From enhancement to protection, gleaming bodywork comes about through strategic efforts. However, not all service providers are made equal. 

Any vehicle owner should be sure to carry out due diligence before entrusting their precious motor for any aspect of detailing. After all, your car doesn’t only represent a significant investment – it’s also an extension of your personality. The following are essential questions that the savvy driver should ask before he or she hands over the keys (and their hard-earned cash).

Car Detailing Company Checklist

1. Experience

How long has the potential provider been in business? Not only that, what about the experience of the technicians working on your car? Whether they’re applying a ceramic coating or machine polishing the paintwork, it’s comforting to know that the people doing it are at the top of their game. Any provider will be happy to talk you through their years in the business. Plus the best will have a track record of happy customers. 

This leads us neatly onto… 

2. Check out their reviews

While reviews can, of course, be faked, they shouldn’t be disregarded. Ignore those that are OTT or downright terrible – both could be either paid for or deliberate sabotage – and look at the average. View them from multiple sources (Google, Facebook etc) and you should begin to get an idea of the level of satisfied (or otherwise) customers.

3. What’s the cost and what’s included?

You might know the exact work you want to be carried out or you might ask for the company’s professional advice. Either way, you should determine exactly what’s included in the price. A word to the wise… Cheapest is not best in many scenarios, and this definitely applies to choosing a car detailing company.

Not only are you paying for their expertise, but also the calibre of the products they use. So be sure to check that they use proven brand leaders rather than cheap imitations.

4. Ask about their insurance

Should the worst happen (and no company can never say that accidents never occur), then you need to know that the supplier has adequate insurance to pay for any damage. In addition, they need to hold insurance to drive and move their customers’ vehicles, even if any movement will be solely on private land.

5. What are the premises like?

Any car detailing company worth its salt has professional premises from which to work. This allows them the right lighting to be able to view paintwork imperfections in the greatest detail. It also means they can guarantee just the right ambient temperature to apply ceramic coatings. This is vital because a too hot or too cold environment makes for a poor quality finish. The detailer also needs to ensure a clean location in which to best carry out the work, plus be able to store the vehicle during coat applications. Last, but by no means least, it needs to be large enough to allow the car to stand for a period afterwards to ensure good curing and that no water or residue can taint the work for the first 24 hours.

6. Do they offer mobile detailing?

Because that would be really handy, right? Actually – nothing could be further from the truth. While it’s possible to wash and valet a vehicle from a mobile workstation to a very high standard, true car detailing is a far more specialised process. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to carry out paint correction and apply ceramic coatings or PPF to a high standard from anywhere but fixed premises with the right lighting and heat control. 

7. Your gut feeling

What’s your instinct when you talk to a potential car detailing company? Do they fill you with confidence that they know their trade and that your pride and joy will be well looked after? Are their technicians smart – perhaps dressed in the company colours or overalls? Is the premises well lit, with security cameras and an alarm system?

If the answer is yes to all the above then you might have come across a winner. If they fail to make the grade at any level then it’s probably time to look elsewhere.

Finding the Right Car Detailing Company

By far the best recommendation is word of mouth. Failing that, do your homework and make sure you satisfy yourself that all of the above points are covered. Then, and only then, should you seal the deal and hand over your vehicle.  

Once done, settle back, wait the required amount of days and then pick up your showroom-beautiful car. Because, you know, that’s how you roll…Want the best service for detailing your vehicle? Check out our detailing services and get in touch today for a no-obligation chat.


Image by Peter H from Pixabay

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Supercar and Luxury Car Detailing & Protection

Bringing the best out of your classic or supercar with paint correction, PPF, and next level detailing in Dorset and surrounding counties.

Certified Master Detailers by Slims Detailing Academy
IMI (Institute of the Motoring Industry) Certified Detailers

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