Ceramic Coating Vs Paintwork Protection Film

Ceramic Coating Vs Paintwork Protection Film – Do they really work? what do they actually do? And which is better?

Ceramic Coating

Have you ever thought about applying a ceramic coating to your vehicle? Do the claims of it preserving your car’s paint job for anywhere from 2 to 8 years hold true? Is it better than waxing and polishing? How does it fare against a paint protection film (PPF)? And finally, is it really worth it, considering its price tag?

First of all we think it will be best to let you know, if you don’t already, what ceramic coating is and the benefits of applying this product to your vehicle; Industry-grade ceramic coating is a chemical polymer solution that is applied to the exterior of a vehicle to protect it from external paint damage. Typically it is applied by hand, it blends with the paint of your car and creates an layer of protection. Due to this chemical bonding and creation of a new layer, the car’s factory paint job remains untouched. 

This new protective layer has many advantages and is not just an expensive way to make your car look shiny, it also;

• Offers crystalline ceramic finish with superior optical purity which can resist micro scratching from washing.
• Is anti-stick: You know how mud and dirt can cling onto a vehicle? This isn’t an issue for cars that possess a ceramic coating, as it is a repellent for both mud and dirt. 
• Improves colour vibrance making the paintwork clearer, richer and making any metallic finish really stand out.
• Gives your paintwork ultra hydrophobic properties which repels water and can therefore eliminate the chance of stains when washing your vehicle, making the whole process easier. 
• Provides a wax look at all times and offers protection for the paintwork against UV rays and oxidation.

There are some things that a ceramic coating can’t do, I wouldn’t necessarily call these disadvantages, maybe, limitations of the product;

• As the saying goes, ‘nothing lasts forever,’ and that’s also the case with ceramic coating. While it can last up to 8 years depending on the product used, how it’s installed and how its maintained, you will need to reapply a coat when the time comes. If you come across a company claiming it will, in fact, “last forever,” keep in mind they will require you to get a top-up application each year.
• It unfortunately doesn’t Protect against scratches and deep swirl marks. Even though some manufacturers will claim differently, a ceramic coating does not make your car resistant to scratches (except from micro scratches which you usually get from washing the car). The same can also be said for deep swirl marks caused by washing.
• I know we all wish this was the case but it doesn’t eliminate the need to wash your car. Unfortunately, and although the frequency is cut down, you will still need to wash your car from time to time.

Paintwork Protection Film

While many car enthusiasts, and even some detailers, believe a ceramic coating to be an alternative to Paint Protection Film (PPF), a ceramic coating is, in reality, an alternative to waxing, but definitely a more superior one. The main idea of ceramic coating is to prevent dirt, grime, and stain marks from appearing on the paint work and ruining the clear coat. 

PPF is in fact a thick “film” that is manually applied to the vehicle, usually to the front end, similar to the way you would apply a vinyl wrap. It isn’t however vinyl but a thermoplastic urethane and even has some self-healing properties. It will protect the vehicle against stone chips, scratches and deep swirl marks, the annoying stuff that a ceramic coating won’t. BUT, there are a few disadvantages to PPF;

• The Installation cost is high, well, higher than ceramic coating.
• The thermoplastic urethane tends to yellow over time (Although some manufacturers claim to have resolved this)
• Self-healing abilities, on some products are sometimes oversold – light scratches & deep swirl marks will self-heal but anything much bigger will not.
• If damaged from debris, the entire damaged section will need to be replaced
• There are case where it has caused damage to paint if left on too long
• Similar to Ceramic Coating, it doesn’t last forever and will needs to be replaced between 5 and 10 years depending on manufacturer and the abuse it takes.
• Usually will look less shiny than unwrapped sections

In addition to the above the product, unlike ceramic coating, is not Hydrophobic. This means an additional coating is required to improve water beading, and what would this coating be? Yes you guessed it, a ceramic coating. I know this may seem strange because this blog is about the comparison of ceramic coat and PPF, but unknown to a lot of people, you can actually apply a specific type of ceramic coating over the top of PPF. Here at TBC detailing we use a product called Halo from the masters at Gtechniq. This is a flexible film coating which acts as a ceramic coat and enhances the performance of Paint Protection Film (PPF), as well as vinyl. The density of the coating and its low surface energy improve dirt and water repellency of PPF or vinyl. It also helps to prevent staining from dirt ingression, as well as reducing yellowing caused by UV rays, Effectively taking away a lot of the disadvantages of PPF (and if it were to be applied by itself.

Now, the only real disadvantage to combining both PPF and Ceramic Coat is that it requires deep pockets. But if you are true lover of your vehicle, would like to protect your investment and are very flexible on your budget, then this seems like an ideal option for you.

So Is Ceramic Coating and PPF worth it?

The short answer is yes. As we have seen in this blog, ceramic coating and PPF both have great benefits, combined and individually, that will add value to your car in the long run. They will make your job of cleaning and maintaining it less tedious. So that you spend more time driving and enjoying your car than thinking about ways to keep it protected. Moreover, weighing the cost of ceramic coating & PPF against that of the yearly maintenance and waxing makes it a no-brainer.

The key to retaining the look of your car is to carry out regular maintenance. But if you are a car fanatic and are as convinced as we are about the wonders of ceramic coating & PPF, and the value it will add to your car, make sure you get a quote from us today.