When it comes to adding a protective layer over your car paint, ceramic coating generally trumps car wax. This is the best defense against not just UV rays, bird droppings, and tree sap. It also works against road and sea salt, and other airborne pollutants and chemicals.
Its water-sheeting properties makes it much easier to clean the car, and it doesn’t hurt that ceramic coating makes a car look gorgeous. What’s more, the layer of ceramic coating can actually endure for years.
But not all ceramic coating options are equal. Some may require a longer time and more effort to apply, and they don’t all last as long. The local Car Spa Car Wash might be a good choice for car wax jobs and detailing, but for ceramic coating, you might have to pay premium bucks or do the job yourself.
With hundreds of ceramic coating options to pick from, this list should make it easier for you to make a good choice:
CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 Kit
This ceramic coating features 70% silicon dioxide, with a purity level of 99%. It doesn’t just provide the long-term protection you’d expect, but it also blesses your car with just about the deepest “wet look” sheen you might ever encounter in person.
This is a pro-grade ceramic coating, but unlike others of its kind, it’s not all that hard to apply (relatively speaking). Other serum-type ceramic coatings might be a lot stricter regarding the needed air temperature for proper application, but this gives you more leeway. As long as that air temperature is between 40- and 100-degrees F, you’re good to go.
It takes a while for the ceramic coating to start hardening, but that gives you more time to spread the ceramic coating. And it also fully cures in an hour. You can add more than one layer of ceramic coating on your car, and each layer can last 18 to 24 months.
Mothers CMX Ceramic Spray Coating
If you’re new to ceramic coating DIY application, this might be the best choice for you. It’s comparatively affordable, plus it’s a bit easier to apply.
In fact, it’s downright simple. Spray the ceramic coating on your applicator pad and spread it evenly. Wait for about 5 minutes for it to set, and then use a microfiber towel to buff it gently. Then let it cure for about 24 hours, and you’re done.
This will still last for about a year, with just a single layer. You can also add multiple layers, but you still have to wait 24 hours for the curing time for each layer.
Sure, this may not be as good as the premium ceramic coating, but it’s still better than most car wax options. And with its price, durability, and ease of application, you really get your money’s worth.
Nasiol ZR53 Nano Ceramic Coating Kit
If your detailing skills rival that of the local pros, then this might be the best option for you. The ceramic coating offers a memorable shine and fantastic protection, and it even lasts for 3 years. This kit also gets you everything you need, as it comes with gloves, application pads, a couple of microfiber cloths, and more.
But it’s a bit more complicated to apply, so you need to make sure you know what you’re doing. It has to be spread thin and evenly, and it begins to harden in as little as 20 seconds. Buff it before it dries, or else you might leave streaks or uneven clouds.
It’s also bothersome to get off without damaging the paint underneath. So, if you pick this ceramic coating, you better be darn sure you have the skill, and that you really want it!