Ceramic Coating in Cardiff

What is Ceramic Coating?

A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer which contains a high percentage of silicon dioxide (Si02) that can be applied to the exterior surfaces of a vehicle. Once cured, it forms a hard layer of protection which typically lasts up to 5 years.

There are different types of coatings available which are formulated for use on the paintwork, wheels, glass, and plastics; meaning all the hard exterior surfaces can be treated with this form of protection.

Benefits of a Ceramic Coating

Having a car ceramic coated offers the following key advantages:

• Leaves an extremely hydrophobic and slick surface
• Helps to keep the car cleaner for longer
• UV protection
• Protects against light scratches and wash marring
• Up to 5 years of protection
• Leaves a high gloss finish

Ultra High Level of Protection

Ceramic coatings form an invisible and very hard layer of protection over the top of the car’s exterior surfaces. This helps to shield the vehicle from the environment including:

• UV-rays
• Dirt and traffic film
• Contaminants such as tar, iron fallout and mineral deposits

Over time, the paintwork on a car is susceptible to fading particularly if stored outside as it is constantly exposed to UV-rays. Ceramic coatings offer UV protection to shield the paintwork underneath. This gives them a huge advantage over waxes and sealants which typically offer very limited protection against UV damage. 

A coating will also help to keep the car looking cleaner for longer as it leaves an extremely slick and hydrophobic surface so dirt and traffic film has a much harder time of sticking to it. This also prevents bonded contaminants from damaging the paintwork underneath.

Ceramic coatings cure very hard, and are actually 4-5 times harder than conventional clear coat paint. This provides them with some degree of resistance against light scratches which can typically be inflicted during the wash process.

However, it’s important to note that ceramic coatings are not scratch-proof and the paint can still get stone chips. If you want to have the highest degree of protection against abrasion then you should consider Paint Protection Film (PPF) which is a service we also offer here at Rinse Detailing. 

Lasts for Years (Not Months)

Another huge benefit of having your car ceramic coated is that it will remain protected for years to come. Traditional waxes and sealants last for 3-6 months, whereas ceramic coatings can last for up to 5 years.

There are various different coatings available which are designed to last for different lengths of time in order to suit many budgets and requirements.

For example, at Rinse Detailing we offer the full range of Pyramid Car Care ceramic coatings:

• Pyramid Premium Ceramic Coating: 2 years
• Pyramid New Era Ceramic Coating: 3 years
• Pyramid Professional Ceramic Coating: 5 years

Leaves a high-gloss finish

A ceramic coated car looks stunning, due to the characteristics of the coating itself, and due to the preparation steps involved prior to coating the vehicle. A fully detailed and coated car is easy to recognise due to its exceptionally shiny and reflective finish.

Here at Rinse Detailing we offer a range of high-gloss coatings from leading brands including Gyeon, Gtechniq and Pyramid Car Care which are well regarded as some of the best-looking coatings available.

Ceramic Coating Process

Ceramic coatings offer many benefits over traditional waxes and sealants, however they involve a more labour-intensive preparation and application process which typically takes 1-2 days to perform. 

This is why coatings are generally applied by experienced professional detailers.

Here are the steps involved in our ceramic coating packages:

• The car is first pre-washed to remove as much dirt as possible prior to making contact with the paintwork.
• The paintwork is washed using high-quality shampoo and wash mitts.
• A chemical decontamination process is undertaken using iron fallout and tar removers.
• A physical decontamination process is completed using clay to ensure the surface is completely smooth and free from bonded contaminants.
• The car is then dried and prepared for machine polishing.
• The paintwork is corrected and refined by using machine polishing processes.
• The surfaces are treated with a panel wipe solution to remove any remaining oils and residues from the polishing process which would otherwise prevent the coating from bonding.
• The ceramic coating is applied and allowed to cure.

The paint correction stages are performed to remove clear coat imperfections such as scratches and swirl marks so that the vehicle is left with a mirror-finish. It is not advisable to apply the coating on top of uncorrected paintwork as it will otherwise lock in those imperfections.

The paint must also be completely clean and free from contaminants, as well as invisible oils and residues prior to applying the coating otherwise it will not bond properly and ultimately fail. 

At Rinse Detailing we have extensive experience in the process of applying, and preparing the vehicle for a ceramic coating which means we are able to achieve the best possible finish and coating performance.

Ceramic Coating Maintenance

To achieve maximal coating performance for years to come, the car should be regularly maintained using the appropriate techniques and chemicals.

This involves using safe-wash practices to ensure the coating is not damaged or marred throughout the process, as well as using high-quality pre-wash chemicals and car shampoo.

It is also advisable to have the coating deep cleaned at least annually which involves chemical decontamination steps to ensure the coating retains its hydrophobic and slick properties.

We offer a maintenance wash scheme to our clients so they can get the most out of their ceramic coated car which can be delivered at your home or place of work.

Ceramic Coating Packages at Rinse Detailing

At Rinse Detailing you have the choice of having your car ceramic coated using our highly convenient mobile service, or the option to bring your car to our fully equipped studio in Cardiff.

We offer a range of ceramic coatings for the paintwork, wheels and glass from leading brands including Pyramid Car Care, Gyeon and Gtechniq to suit various budgets and requirements.

If you are interested in having your car ceramic coated to the highest standard, please call 07572 261849 or email info@rinse-detailing.co.uk