What is Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coatings are liquid polymers that are manually applied to the outside of a vehicle. Coatings chemically bond with the vehicle's original factory paint, forming a layer of protection.
With a ceramic coating, the paint of a vehicle is permanently or semi-permanently protected, which means that it does not wash away or wear off, and it does not need to be reapplied every few months.
The most common ceramic coatings contain silicon dioxide, which is derived from natural materials such as quartz and sand. Titanium dioxide is sometimes used as an additional hardening agent in some types and brands. Water-repellent properties are created by the chemical bond between these two ingredients applied to the paint of a car.

Benefits a Ceramic Coating Can Give to Your Car

1. Protection from UV Damage / Oxidization

As a result of frequent exposure to the sun, a vehicle's paint will begin to oxidize, dull, and fade. The ceramic coating protects against the sun's ultraviolet rays, which reduces the amount of oxidization, thereby extending the life of the paint on a vehicle.

2. Protection from Chemical Stains and Etching

You should also be aware of chemical stains on your car caused by naturally acidic contaminants. With ceramic coating, your vehicle's paint will be protected from contaminants bonding to it. Ceramic coatings can provide a chemically resistant surface. Your vehicle will, as a result, be less susceptible to staining and etching, so long as the contaminant has been removed quickly.

3. Easy to Clean

The most distinctive feature of ceramic coatings is that they are hydrophobic, which means they repel water. Water beads on the surface of a vehicle when it has a hydrophobic ceramic coating, allowing it to slide off more easily. When you wash your vehicle, contaminants will be easier to remove because your car's paint will have a more difficult time bonding with mud and grime.

4. Enhanced Gloss

Ceramic coatings are recommended when you desire a glossy finish for your paint. You can improve the depth and clarity of your paint by using a ceramic coating. Ceramic coatings enhance the reflective properties of your car's paint and clear coat.
Adding ceramic Coating to your vehicle will increase its value. Ceramic Coatings is what we specialize in at Luxury Image in San Diego, CA, and the surrounding areas.

The Process of Car Ceramic Coating

1. Car Wash

Using a thorough rinse, we ensure that all of the debris and dirt from the car is removed. Typically, this is accomplished using a pressure washer. Our prewash process involves applying a high-PH foaming soap to the vehicle. Upon rinsing with water, the soap is released from the paint job of the vehicle and binds to positive charge particles.

2. Chemical Decontamination

Tar and iron filings are removed using tar removers and iron filing removers and allowed to sit in the system for five to ten minutes to bind with the particles.

3. Manual Paint Decontamination with a Clay Bar

Our goal is to make up and down and left and right movements with the clay bar lubricant in the form of hashtag or cross-hash movements. If any contaminants remain on the surface of the clear coat layer of your vehicle, we’ll lightly massage the surface to remove them.

4. Polishing the Paint 

We will remove all swirl marks and scratches from the paint before applying the ceramic coating to give the paint job a nice gloss finish. The exterior of the vehicle will be prepared for ceramic coating installation by removing all imperfections.

5. Alcohol Wipe Down

To ensure that any excess polishing oils are removed from the exterior of the paint job that may interfere with the bonding of the ceramic coating, we will wipe down the entire vehicle with Isopropyl Alcohol at least 70% concentration.

6. Ceramic Coating Installation

Using a microsuede applicator cloth and a foam applicator block, ceramic coating silicon dioxide solution will be applied. The silicone solution will be applied by wrapping a foam black around the suede applicator.

7. Seal the Surface with Silica Spray Sealant

Before we apply the silica sealant, we'll wait at least 30 minutes to an hour after you've washed your vehicle. The purpose of this step is to increase the hydrophilic properties of the silicon compound while adding more gloss to improve the appearance of the vehicle.

8. Vehicle Curing

Curing the silicon solution is the mark of completion for the Automotive detailing process. In simple terms, curing is the chemical process that hardens and binds silicon molecules. It usually takes 12 to 24 hours for this process to complete.

Car Ceramic Coating Near Me in San Diego, CA

If you’re looking for the best car ceramic coating services in San Diego, California, and you want to reap the benefits it offers to your most-treasured car, contact us today.
How much does it cost to do ceramic coating on a car?

Our shop offers 3 different packages for ceramic coating 
CC1 $599.00
CC3 $1,000
CC5 $1,350.00
Is ceramic coating good for car?
Yes. Ceramic coating offers a protective layer above the paint on your vehicle. The coating cures and is fully transparent when finished.
How long does it take to put ceramic coating on a car?
Depending on what package you buy, CC1 takes up to 6hrs to cure, CC3 10hrs, CC5 14hrs.
How much is a 5 year ceramic coating?
5 year ceramic coating cost up to $1,350.00
​Can I do ceramic coating myself?
NO, ceramic coating should be applied by a trained technician.