How to Maintain Long-Term Paint Protection to Your Car?

Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra) or Ceramic Coating is a familiar term among car owners these days. If you're wondering, Ceramic Coating is a clear coat that includes a liquid polymer that forms a chemical bonding with the factory paint. While PPF is a thin layer of flexible material places over a car. Both are a genius low-maintenance way of keeping your car's exterior in top condition!

Which one suits you the “best”?

Both are ideal for your car. However, if you want optimal protection for your car against scratches and rock chip damages, you should get a PPF. For cleaning ease, glossiness and hydrophobicity, a Ceramic Coating will work! For maximum protection, applying Ceramic Coating on top of your Paint Protection Film is advisable!

Even though we say that these are "low-maintenance", there are still some guidelines which you need to do if you want your Permanent Protection Film and Ceramic Coating to last a lifetime!

Guidelines to Follow for Long-Term Paint Protection of Car

If you follow these guidelines, you're investing not just on Ceramic Coating and PPF but to lifetime commitment as well!

Refrain from washing your car within 7 days of application

Allow the Pain Protection Film and Ceramic Coating to fully cure your vehicle otherwise, washing your vehicle may inhibit the curing process.

Keep a safe distance from film edges when using a pressure washer

Always keep a safe distance of 8-12 inches away from your vehicle when using a pressure washer (or, it depends upon your preference). It is also safe to note that you should avoid at all costs washing the edges of the film as it may cause the edges to lift which can damage your car and shorten the span of your coating.

Hydration is a must

When wiping your vehicle, make sure that the surface is hydrated. This could prevent your car from scratches or dirt residue.

Thou shall not use a powered buffer on paint protection film

This is one of the commandments of car cleaning that many people still try to commit. Please, avoid it. Or better yet, do not even dare try using it.

Be gentle with films and coatings

Prohibit using aggressive chemicals like bug and tar removers off your film coating to avoid damages. Always be gentle with your film or coating just like how you'd be gentle with factory paint.

Keep a keen eye with bug-spatter, bird dropping, or tree sap

Always keep a keen eye with dirt such as bird-dropping, bug-splatter, or even tree sap. The quicker you remove these stains the safer it is for your PFF or coating. In addition, always bring a quick detailer with you in case of dirt emergencies to minimize scratches and swirls.

Noteworthy Proper Car Washing Techniques

Even if you coat your car with PPF and Ceramic Coating it will not guarantee to keep your car well-protected and shiny for a long period of time if you don't know the proper washing techniques!

Regular Washing

Yes, regular washing is still needed and a must even if your car is now covered with Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coating, or BOTH. Make it a point to frequently wash your paint exterior!

Do not wash your vehicle under direct sunlight

It is highly advisable to wash your car under a shed and not under direct sunlight to avoid water-spotting and reduce the effectiveness of the car wash chemicals.

Use only car wash product

Household detergents and other cleaning agents can possibly damage your finish. It is best to use products dedicated to car washing to loosen debris.

Premium wash media

This depends on your choice. You can either use a microfiber mitt or anything you can find on the market as long as you make sure it is CLEAN before using it.

The two-bucket method

The two-bucket method comes with two buckets one with car wash soap, and one with pure rinse water. This idea keeps the dirt on your mitt off the car wash solution by rinsing your mitt using pure water.

First, the wheels

The wheels are usually the dirtiest part of your vehicle! Cleaning them first is essential.

Wash one section at a time

To wash your car thoroughly, make it one section at a time. This will also reduce the possibility of getting debris in your mitt.

Avoid dry air

Air dry will result in water-spotting. Choose other alternatives in drying your cars such as a waffle-weave towel or an air-blower.

How Ceramic Coating Paint Protection And Glass Coating Paint Protection Works For Your Car

Paint coatings are relatively new and are one of the up and coming leaders to car detailing in the automobile industry. It serves as an all in one protective layer to a car’s paintwork and UV ray protection is included in its specifications along with many others. It is able to keep your car’s paint looking polished, comparable to that of a showroom standard car and the best thing is that no re-application is required at all as it is highly durable.

So for those of you who treats their car like a prized possession, you may wanna look into paint coating and consider investing in it. There are different kinds of paint coatings but in this article we will talk about ceramic coating and glass coating. This may help you understand this kind of detailing and find that you favor one or the other depending on your car and your needs.

Glass Coating Paint Protection

Glass coating may be best for you if you drive a lot and take your vehicle to a lot of different locations. Though glass coating is pricier compared to ceramic, it is highly durable and shiny. So, even though cost is a huge factor when car owners are seeking car paint protection, you should consider what’s best for your car with your existing lifestyle because it may actually save you more money in the long run.  

1. Longevity

Although no specific time frame has been allotted for glass coating, users and manufacturers claim that it can last anywhere from six months to two years, depending upon natural and man-made conditions. This, they say, reduces, if not entirely eliminates car waxing.

2. Protection

While ceramic coating paint protection and glass coating products may look the same, their structural compositions usually differ. This results to varying characteristics when done to your car. But since both procedure can be performed based on nanotechnology, glass and ceramic coating can properly blend into the paint job, creating a strong and lasting layer of protective shield to the paintwork and surfaces of your car exterior. This also results to better insulation of the paintwork from effects of harsh chemicals and other elements of damage in the environment.

3. Beauty And Convenience

Other people assume that glass coating is the use of material like car windows or windshield, but it’s important to know that it’s not. Glass coating is a form of paint protection. It is performed using a sticky substance made from randomly arranged and transparent compounds. However, unlike ceramic coating, glass coating often bonds to the paintwork quickly. Glass coating is quite strong and easy to apply. Users profess that this product has enhanced the appearance of their vehicles. The superb shine that glass coating provides. This means, not only that it looks better for your car, it also won’t take that much time for the installer to finish so you can enjoy a brand new looking car without too much waiting period.

Ceramic Coating Paint Protection

Ceramic coating is cheaper and takes less time to perform but doesn't last as long. But if your car isn’t used often or isn’t exposed to harsh environment, ceramic coating may do.

1. You’re Guaranteed A Minimum Of 5 Years In Car Paint Protection

Car detailing can be expensive but if it can protect your car for a minimum of 5 years, at least, like ceramic coating can do then it’s worth the money. Ceramic coatings’ key characteristics that makes it so durable are hardness, smoothness and wear resistance. With this kind of protection, then you can keep your car exterior in pristine condition without having to get this same procedure done too often.

2. You Can DIY It

The process of applying ceramic coating to the paint is not a complicated one, and it can be divided into 5 steps. So if you’re a little short on cash, you can save a little on labor fee by doing this yourself. Remember to apply the coating in a dry room or shaded area, at an ambient temperature of 10°C to 35°C.

3. You’ll Get That Mirror Finish That We Can’t Help But Love

It’s one thing to keep your car clean looking and it’s another to make it look like it just got out of the showroom. With ceramic coating you know you’re always driving a sleek and shiny car. Because admit it, there’s something about that mirror finish that just exudes high-end, well-maintained and just overall coolness of the vehicle and you the owner.

4. It Can Even Repel Dirt

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean.  Having said that, one of the cool things about ceramic coating is that it is hydrophobic which means it is able to repel water molecules and dirt from the protected surface of your car. Now as a result, there’s less dirt on your car which keeps you from having to take it to car wash too often.

5. It Can Also Be Applied To Other Surfaces Of The Car

If the hydrophobicity didn't impress you, ceramic coating still got more. Aside from your paint job, it can also be applied to and protect other surfaces of your vehicle like windows, gasket, rims, plastics, chromed elements and headlights! Isn't that amazing? You can now basically protect majority of your car exterior which lessens damages on those surfaces resulting to less repairs and saved money.

ALSO READ:

Top 5 Benefits Of Investing In Ceramic Coating For Your Car

Top 5 Benefits Of Investing In Ceramic Coating For Your Car

Nowadays, there are a lot of ways to protect your car exterior, and one of them is ceramic coating. This is a liquid polymer that is applied to the vehicle surface. It creates a chemical bond with the paint and establishes a protection and hydrophobic surface. The properties of ceramic coating makes it harder for any contaminants to damage the car paint. Paint coatings are relatively new and are one of the up and coming leaders to car detailing in the automobile industry. It serves as an all in one protective layer to a car’s paintwork and UV ray protection is included in its specifications along with many others. It is able to keep your car’s paint looking polished, comparable to that of a showroom standard car and the best thing is that no re-application is required at all as it is highly durable. With this paint coating in place, you will not need to go through the regular hassle of consistently finding sheltered parking lots or frequent waxing sessions for your car. 

1. You’re Guaranteed A Minimum Of 5 Years In Car Paint Protection

Car detailing can be expensive but if it can protect your car for a minimum of 5 years, at least, like ceramic coating can do then it’s worth the money. Ceramic coatings’ key characteristics that makes it so durable are hardness, smoothness and wear resistance. With this kind of protection, then you can keep your car exterior in pristine condition without having to get this same procedure done too often.

2. You Can DIY It

The process of applying ceramic coating to the paint is not a complicated one, and it can be divided into 5 steps. So if you’re a little short on cash, you can save a little on labor fee by doing this yourself. Remember to apply the coating in a dry room or shaded area, at an ambient temperature of 10°C to 35°C.

Applying ceramic coating to the paint:

Step 1: Before you apply ceramic coating, it is important to carefully degrease the surface.

Step 2: Shake the bottle of degrease product and apply 6-8 drops to a dry satin microfiber wrapped on the applicator. Remember to moisten the microfiber abundantly the first time.

Step 3: Apply the coating crosswise and only once to surfaces no larger than 50×50 cm. Of course, the 50×50 cm is a conventional value. It is important to apply the coating once to a small portion of the surface. This way, we will avoid problems with polishing, which could occur when applying the product to larger elements.

Step 4: The next step is to observe the coating. After about 2 minutes from the application (at about 20°C) its color should begin to change.

The most important task is not to miss the moment when the coating begins to sparkle with colors, the coating should take on the colors of the rainbow. At this moment we can start to polish the surfaces with microfibers (higher temperature shortens the drying time, lower temperature lengthens it). WARNING! Do not allow the coating to dry on the paint.

Step 5: After applying and polishing the first layer, wait for at least 1 hour and repeat steps 2 to 5 (for maximum durability, you should apply 3 layers).

3. You’ll Get That Mirror Finish That We Can’t Help But Love

It’s one thing to keep your car clean looking and it’s another to make it look like it just got out of the showroom. With ceramic coating you know you’re always driving a sleek and shiny car. Because admit it, there’s something about that mirror finish that just exudes high-end, well-maintained and just overall coolness of the vehicle and you the owner.

4. It Can Even Repel Dirt

People don’t just seek car servicing in Singapore due to engine problems, more often than not it’s due to exterior damage from different kinds of dirt like grease, grime, and bird poop. When left unattended for extended period of time, they can cause serious paint damage on your car. Avoid the stress and unnecessary expenses by keeping your vehicle clean.  Having said that, one of the cool things about ceramic coating is that it is hydrophobic which means it is able to repel water molecules and dirt from the protected surface of your car. Now as a result, there’s less dirt on your car which keeps you from having to take it to car wash too often.

5. It Can Also Be Applied To Other Surfaces Of The Car

If the hydrophobicity didn't impress you, ceramic coating still got more. Aside from your paint job, it can also be applied to and protect other surfaces of your vehicle like windows, gasket, rims, plastics, chromed elements and headlights! Isn't that amazing? You can now basically protect majority of your car exterior which lessens damages on those surfaces resulting to less repairs and saved money.

We can’t really help the kind of weather you’ll have in the place you live. Whether you have four seasons or two extreme weathers, all you can do is take extra step to protect your car from these. Paint protection in Singapore’s tropical weather will prevent your paint job from fading fast, it also keeps it from expanding and contracting which results to cracking where water or moist can seep through the cracks and create rust. When it comes to paint protection, there are different ways to do that. You may wanna see if ceramic coating is suitable for your car in your daily lifestyle.

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Why Regular Car Wash Is Important For Your Vehicle