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If it were me, I would clay bar the entire car before you apply any of these ceramic coatings. The last thing you want to do is apply ceramic coating to a surface that has any grit, stains or environmental pollutants on the existing paint.
As Pandaroo stated, the real work in detailing the car is in the prep work - decon, clay bar, paint correction, polish. Those are the steps that take additional knowledge, skill and time. Just wiping on and off a coating isn't going to give you the desired look. If you don't have the knowledge or time to do it right, then spending the money to have someone else do it is fine. Also know that you will have to do maintenance on the coating, its not going to last 7+ years if you do nothing.
I have detailed my cars myself and I have paid to have them done. Just depends on how much time I have and how soon I want it done.
Ceramic coating works best if you maintain it frequently. This means detail your car frequently. People hear "7 years! this means i don't have to wash my car for 7 years?!" Also a ceramic coating offers not "full protection" but rather, chemical resistance. Big. Difference. You'll still get etching from bird droppings, you'll still get water spots, acid rain will still eat away. It's just it will resist those things better... if you maintain the coating. It wont stop rock chips, it won't stop scratches, it won't really resist scratches.
As a 25+ year detailer, I still have not seen any reason to use or install a dedicated multi year ceramic coating. Instead, i use regular sealants applied regularly on top of a decent base layer. It works very well and is super slick to the touch.
If you do do it, DIY. Do NOT pay someone to do it. It's super easy to do yourself and it will cost you 1/20th of the cost. You basically wipe on wipe off. You can do it yourself for $100. Easier on a new car. more involved on an older car with stuff on the paint.
How can you be a pro detailer and say this? Firstly, applying the ceramic coating is the last step everything before that takes many many hours. Wipe on wipe off get real. A legit ceramic coating seals in all your hard work and lasts FAR longer than spray on detail products. What you're saying here is flat out bad information the only downside to a ceramic coating is cost, or labour if you do the entire process yourself.
Thoughts on Ceramic Coating ? I was quoted $1300 Cad for my 2023 nx350 they use Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Coating claims to be 7+ years of protection.
Trying to figure out if it's worth the money
Thanks
Just me... Never put any coatings on and never had any problems. One stays outdoors... I hardly wash it and the paint looks great when I do.Paints are better than ever. 5-8 years later and still look great. Consider does it have to be reapplied... What happens after a fender bender. If I constantly parked under trees then I would consider it...otherwise not for me.
I paid $1000 for 3-year ceramic protection (System X) and regret it. Of course, I regularly washed the car and noticed it was easier to clean but that only lasted about 6 months.
Paint is better than ever? We are living in the upside down, modern paint is terrible compared to a Toyota 25 years ago. Paint on my Lexus for example is highly resistant to scratching and chips, now Lexus paint is super soft.
I have never ever had any of my cars ceramic coated. To me I washed it regularly, every 2-3 weeks. Spray wax it after each wash, whole car wax every 6 months. The paint on my 17 ES still look great, which is park on my driveway 24/7/365. Again to me regular wash/wax is the key.
From dealership at time of purchase directly to my home garage then a coat of AvalonKing Armour Shield IX (it was on sale at 2 for one to Club Lexus members) So far so good. Bird droppings and bugs come off quickly with just a damp cloth. I will quick-wash when necessary with any reputable ph neutral ceramic coating compatible shampoo before coating again with the second bottle in two years. The forthright tech at my dealership recommended this approach instead of paying the detailers $1000. Before applying, I did find the Lexus paint job to be flawless.
From dealership at time of purchase directly to my home garage then a coat of AvalonKing Armour Shield IX (it was on sale at 2 for one to Club Lexus members) So far so good. Bird droppings and bugs come off quickly with just a damp cloth. I will quick-wash when necessary with any reputable ph neutral ceramic coating compatible shampoo before coating again with the second bottle in two years. The forthright tech at my dealership recommended this approach instead of paying the detailers $1000. Before applying, I did find the Lexus paint job to be flawless.