How to Tell If Your Ceramic Coating Is Still Working

High-quality, professionally installed ceramic coating will last many years—but, sadly, not forever. Sun, salt, chemicals, and environmental exposure eventually take their toll, and this is the point that you’ll need to think about a new installation.

There are some ways to check the ceramic coating durability—the early signs are subtle but are there if you know what to look for.

• Water no longer beads: This is one of the biggest clues. The hydrophobic element of the coating means that when water hits the surface it forms tight, round droplets that roll away. If this no longer happens then that’s a huge red flag that the coating is wearing out.
• You notice standing water on the car’s surface: Another aspect of ceramic coating’s hydrophobic abilities is that, when rinsing the paintwork, the water sheets and slides away, leaving very little residue. If you start to see puddles of standing water and/or it doesn’t leave a clean, slick paint surface, then this is another sign of coating wear. You’ll probably notice this and the beading issue occurring at around the same time.
• The paintwork no longer feels soft and smooth: Go on, admit it—you’ve lovingly run your fingers over the soft silkiness of your car’s ceramic coating more times than you can remember… If that smoothness starts to feel slightly rough and/or tacky, it’s time to be thinking about getting it renewed.
• Contaminants become a little tougher to remove: You find that you have to work a bit harder when wiping off dust, grime, bird droppings, etc. 
• It doesn’t have the same “pop” and shine: The gleam starts to fade, and the surface begins to look, well, a bit more normal… The more it wears, the duller the paintwork becomes.

Happily, there are ways you can extend longevity. Good ceramic coating maintenance can really make a difference, adding years to its lifespan.

Apart from keeping your car under cover when possible, the number one thing you can do is wash your car regularly and correctly. This means:

• Never use harsh chemicals—always use a pH-neutral car shampoo.
• Hand wash regularly (the two-bucket method is essential to avoid contaminants scratching the surface).
• Wash dust, dirt, and debris away regularly.

It’s an absolute fallacy that ceramic coating means you’ll never need to wash your car. Yes, it makes it far easier to maintain, but don’t fall for the urban myth that the product somehow miraculously cleans the car all on its own (the car wash fairies do not exist…!)

And please, whatever you do, avoid automatic car washes. But you knew that anyway, didn’t you? You can also apply a silicone-based maintenance spray, although you should check with your installer if they recommend this and, if they do, which one.

While it’s a good idea to check the ceramic coating durability every so often, don’t get too hung up over it. You can do it almost without thinking each time you wash your car. Where you live will also affect how long it lasts. Excessive sunshine, salt, acid rain, and other environmental aspects will speed up the degradation process. But if you live in such an area, that’s half the reason for having a ceramic coating applied in the first place.

Many of South Florida’s best-looking cars have ceramic coating exactly because of this. And Auto SuperShield is proud to be responsible for many of them.

Visit https://autosupershield.com/ to discover why we’re the best at what we do—and call us today to discuss the best option for your ride.