Lets Discuss Ceramic Coatings Vs Sealants

[lizardrko]

Trying to gather some information on ceramic coatings and sealants and truly how much better a coating is than a spray sealant (including layering products).

For the sake of this post, lets say we are comparing the consumer grade CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0 topped with CarPro Gliss Vs top of the line spray traditional/ceramic sealants (seal N shine, Flex Wax, hybrid ceramic spray coating, etc) including the topper of your choice.

Now the general assumption, to my knowledge, is with ceramic coatings, the pros are:

-UV Ray protection
-Chemical Resistance
-"self cleaning" properties
-Long lasting (~2 years for UK 3.0)
- Little maintenance
-Paint slickness and gloss (especially with Gliss)
-water beading/sheading

Cons:

-Long prep time
-Application can be tricky (might not be applicable to all)
-products are more costly vs sealants (flip side is you only need to buy once per application)

Is the general consensus compared to sealants, that sealants have most of the pros just toned down a bit? Or do they provide close to the performance of a ceramic coating but require more maintence due to their shortened lifespan? Lets assume the paint is fully prepped (clayed, and polished).

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[larr12]

I know ceramic coatings provide gloss and protection to the paint but i feel it will take away from me my therapy. Washing/waxing my cars is like a therapy for me.

 

[Labradog]

I applied CSL + EXOv4 at Christmas and have noticed that the car seems to stay cleaner for longer. The application itself isn't that much different than a sealant or wax, you just wipe off sooner. I did miss one small high spot during removal on the front edge of my passenger door because the lighting in my garage is so bad.

 

[kilobravo]

larr: Giving your favorite vehicle a ceramic coating will not in ANY WAY interfere with your therapy, it will simply make it easier to wash and less prone to stains and minor scratches. You can still wash, wax, re-coat with a ceramic topcoat, whatever you want. Bottom line, your car will stay much cleaner between washes but, that's a good thing, right?

 

[larr12]

larr: Giving your favorite vehicle a ceramic coating will not in ANY WAY interfere with your therapy, it will simply make it easier to wash and less prone to stains and minor scratches. You can still wash, wax, re-coat with a ceramic topcoat, whatever you want. Bottom line, your car will stay much cleaner between washes but, that's a good thing, right?

Yes, you are totally right about that. I've been thinking for a while doing the coating. Let's see..

 

[K4fxd]

I've noticed with ceramic coatings they are more prone to water spotting and are harder to remove. So what I ended up doing was a ceramic coating then a top coat of a good wax. No more spotting even when I don't dry the car.

 

[Labradog]

I've noticed with ceramic coatings they are more prone to water spotting and are harder to remove. So what I ended up doing was a ceramic coating then a top coat of a good wax. No more spotting even when I don't dry the car.

That's not a good idea bro

 

[K4fxd]

Beats the hell out of having to use rubbing compound to remove water spots after a nights rain.

 

[Stage_3]

Ceramic coatings > paint sealants.
Not to say that paint sealants aren't good, they work great. Ceramic coatings go a step further in protecting the paint I feel.

 

[Kristian87]

I think it depends on how keen you are to spend time maintaining a clean Mustang. A ceramic coating will always be the better choice for its protective qualities.

I would love to have a ceramic coating, but for me, even though I'm capable of doing it myself, at the moment don't have a unit or indoor area to facilitate the cure time that some coatings require. Outdoor conditions in the UK are rarely ideal! As above, application can be difficult too - compare to a sealant. I think correcting an issue (water spots, panel damage) is more fuss too.

I see ceramic as a different "family" in terms of protection, i.e. for maintaining that ceramic coating, you'll typically need ceramic friendly products (ceramic spray sealants, ceramic waxes). So for me, that becomes a cost consideration.

I think it's far easier for me to get great results with a good paint sealant and a paste wax, even though I know it will last a few months at best (I do a lot of miles). I enjoy the process too so that suits me as well.

 

[kilobravo]

Yep, not having an indoor location for curing is a deal breaker for ceramic, Kristian. Darn shame, too. But, I got by for decades without ceramic and I'm sure you'll be fine, too. :-)

 

[20ducks]

Hasn't this been discussed to death already?

I believe it is up to YOU not the product you use on the vehicle.

 

[lizardrko]

Hasn't this been discussed to death already?

I believe it is up to YOU not the product you use on the vehicle.

I am just trying to gather some information in terms of exactly how much better a consumer grade ceramic coating is compared to a paint sealant and the pros and cons all consolidated into 1 thread.

 

[lizardrko]

I think it depends on how keen you are to spend time maintaining a clean Mustang. A ceramic coating will always be the better choice for its protective qualities.

I would love to have a ceramic coating, but for me, even though I'm capable of doing it myself, at the moment don't have a unit or indoor area to facilitate the cure time that some coatings require. Outdoor conditions in the UK are rarely ideal! As above, application can be difficult too - compare to a sealant. I think correcting an issue (water spots, panel damage) is more fuss too.

I see ceramic as a different "family" in terms of protection, i.e. for maintaining that ceramic coating, you'll typically need ceramic friendly products (ceramic spray sealants, ceramic waxes). So for me, that becomes a cost consideration.

I think it's far easier for me to get great results with a good paint sealant and a paste wax, even though I know it will last a few months at best (I do a lot of miles). I enjoy the process too so that suits me as well.

That is another con, a garage is necessary for the proper cure time.

 

[lizardrko]

I've noticed with ceramic coatings they are more prone to water spotting and are harder to remove. So what I ended up doing was a ceramic coating then a top coat of a good wax. No more spotting even when I don't dry the car.

Yeah I have heard the same. The new graphene coatings that are coming out are supposed to be better for water spotting, but at least for me they have not been out long enough with some real world data that they are indeed better than ceramic coatings. For ceramic coatings, a good top coat (Gliss, sealant, wax) is probably reccommended

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