How to Tell If It’s Time to Reapply Your Ceramic Coating

Any online search will return plenty of results about when to reapply ceramic coating. Longevity depends on many things, including whether it’s a DIY or pro install, how well you look after it, etc. If you’ve gone to the effort and expense of protecting your vehicle from the elements, the last thing you want to do is wait until it’s broken down so much that there’s a real risk of paintwork damage.

Once signs become visible, like the appearance of swirls and scratches, or paint chips start to occur, then the product is well on the way to becoming less effective. Being able to spot the early signs that the ceramic coating is fading is key—something that might not be hugely obvious unless you know what to look for.

• What is the expected ceramic coating lifespan? A DIY product can last 1-2 years, but this is dependent on many things. The quality, how well it’s been applied, environmental conditions, and coating care will all play a part. These are mirrored in the longevity of a pro ceramic coating installation, although these will typically last a lot longer (anything from 3-5 years+) with some TLC.
• The first telltale sign: One of the primary advantages of ceramic coating is that it’s hydrophobic. You probably don’t need reminding about how satisfying it is to see those classic (and, we have to say, rather gorgeous) water beads rolling down the surface in tiny translucent marbles. As the coating breaks down, this attribute lessens. It’s very gradual, meaning you should monitor this closely each time you wash your vehicle. Issues with water beading are the very first subtle sign, and one that’s often missed until it becomes more pronounced. 
• That beautiful shine becomes, well, less beautiful: The nanotech in ceramic coating is what gives that to-die-for gloss (or matte depth, if you’ve had a matte-specific coating applied). As the coating degrades, this slowly slowly lessens. Again, the initial signs are very subtle. If you suddenly realize that you’re not going “wow” every time you walk around the corner and see your ride, then this is probably the time to start going full-on detective to see if you can spy any other telltale clues.

It's these early hints that mean you should think about either a new installation or, at the very least, the use of a specialized detail spray to restore some of the protective properties. There are DIY options available to do this. But it’s far better to speak to your installer to ask if they offer interim treatments to eke out the ceramic coating lifespan.

What you absolutely should not do at this point is ignore it. If you do, then more obvious signs that the coating is degrading will soon become apparent. These include:

• Texture changes that can be felt when you run your fingertips over the paintwork.
• More grime, dust, and dirt stick to the vehicle.
• Cleaning becomes an effort.
• Water spots will become harder to remove (or even impossible to get rid of!)

None of these is positive. They are clear indications that the paintwork is no longer effectively protected. This will equal more extensive paint correction before a new coating is installed (AKA, cost you more) or, if allowed to continue, could also devalue the vehicle’s worth.

Even if the coating looks like it’s performing as expected towards the end of its expected lifespan, we don’t recommend that you wait until obvious signs show up. Remember, it’s not just about what it looks like—performance is also essential. Timely intervention with either a longevity treatment or new application is worth every penny, both for peace of mind and to rejuvenate your ride’s external appearance.

Find out more at https://autosupershield.com/ and call today to speak to our expert team.