Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?

For most owners who plan to keep their car, yes. A ceramic coating gives paint gloss, makes washing quicker and keeps salt, sap and bird droppings from bonding to the clear coat, all for years with proper care. It will not stop stone chips, so whether it is worth it for you depends on what you want protected and how you use the car.

How a ceramic coating works

The coating bonds to the clear coat and cures into a hard, slick layer. Wax and sealants sit on the surface and wear off. A coating becomes part of the surface and keeps working for years with proper care.

That layer is what makes water bead and roll off, and what gives dirt less to hold on to. It is also why a coated car looks cleaner between washes.

What you get from it

Gloss

We correct the paint before coating it, so the coating goes over a surface that is already at its best. The result is depth and shine that wax does not hold for long. Most of the gloss comes from the correction, and the coating keeps it there.

Protection from the weather

Rain, road salt, tree sap and bird droppings have a hard time holding on to a coated surface. They sit on the coating before they reach the clear coat, so the paint is less likely to stain or etch.

Easier washing

Water beads and runs off a coated car. Dirt lets go with less rubbing, and a gentle wash is enough. Less scrubbing also means fewer new swirls.

Who gets the most out of a coating

Some drivers see the benefit right away.

Owners who park outside under trees, in a lot or on the street.
Daily drivers that collect road film and salt all year.
Owners of dark colored cars, which show swirls and sun damage first.
Anyone who is tired of waxing.
Owners who plan to sell later and want the paint to show well.

A coating also suits a garaged weekend car. The paint stays easy to clean and holds its finish.

When a coating is not the right call

A ceramic coating does not make paint scratch proof, and it does not stop stone chips. If your main worry is rock chips on the front of the car, paint protection film is the product built for that. It is a physical layer that takes the hit, and a coating cannot do that job.

If the paint is in rough shape, the coating will not hide it. That is why paint correction comes first, and why we sell the two together. Paint with deep scratches or chips needs honest advice, and we give it when we look at the car.

Ceramic coating compared to wax

Wax is quick and gives a short shine. A coating takes more work to apply, but it lasts much longer, resists more, and does not need to be redone every few weeks. For a car you keep, it saves time.

Wax is a fine choice for someone who enjoys waxing the car every month. If you would rather wash the car and be done, a coating suits you better.

Ceramic coating compared to paint protection film

These do different jobs, and plenty of cars get both. Film stops impacts and keeps the paint from chipping. A coating handles gloss, water and chemical contamination, and it can go over the film. The Beyond Package combines film, coating and tint for owners who want the whole car covered. Our comparison of film, coating and tint covers the choices in more detail.

Coating wheels and glass too

A coating is not limited to paint. Wheel faces, barrels and calipers can be coated, which helps them shed brake dust so the wheels are easier to clean. Glass can be coated as well, and a coated windshield sheds water for better visibility in the rain.

These add-ons are worth asking about if you drive in all weather or own a car with big, detailed wheels. We can quote them with the paint work.

What goes into the price

Every coating is quoted on the car itself. These things change the job.

The size of the car and how much paint it has.
The condition of the paint, which sets how much correction it needs.
Whether you add wheels, glass or coating over film.

We give you a straight number once we know your car.

How we do it at Buff & Beyond

We are a Gyeon Certified Detailer. Our full-time staff applies every coating in house in climate-controlled bays, over paint we have corrected first. We have worked in Millstone since 2008, and our Ocean Township shop is the newer of the two.

Questions about ceramic coating