Brief overview of paint correction and ceramic coating

Before I start to delve into each of these processes it is important for you to realise the vast difference between the two things

Paint correction is the process of removing all small scratches, swirl marks and other paint imperfections from the upper layers of a vehicle's paint

Ceramic Coating is the application of a polymer based surface sealant that provides a layer of protection on top of the car's paint.

Importance of maintaining your car's appearance

I guess you are searching these phrases so that you are able to maintain your new cars good appearance?

This is of great importance if you desire to have you car looking its best at all times. It is also vital to increase the resale value of your car.

If you follow the process I describe in the this post then you will certainly achieve that.

As you will understand the techniques needed to correct your cars paint job and then seal and protect that perfect look.

Benefits of paint correction and ceramic coating

The benefits of correcting your paint work are:

• A much deeper shine
• Increased resale value
• Reduces depreciation
• 
  

And the benefits of Ceramic Coating are:

• Increased value due to added protection
• Less time needed to clean
• Better overall look

Understanding Paint Correction

The definition of Paint Correction

"The process of removing all surface scratches that could deflect light away from our eyes to give a deep shine"

Common Paint Defects

The paint correction process

1. Washing. The car should be thoroughly washed starting with foam cannon coating and followed by a rinse and a two bucket wash. Keeping human contact to a minimum to minimise risk of light scratches or car wash marring occurring
2. Decontamination. The next step is to decontaminate the surface to remove and oxidation, tree sap, acid rain and bird droppings from the surface of your vehicle. This should be done with a clay bar system
3. Assessing the vehicle's finish. Now is the time to asses how much paint correction is need and which are the areas needing different levels of paint correction on the existing paint. This should be done with the naked eye aided by an inspection light that will further aid detection of surface defects. Once level of paint correction is established and noted move to next stage. This is proper paint correction.
4. Tools for the job. You will need to ideally have all the tools you need ready at hand before you start the process. These include microfiber cloths, polishing compound, finishing polish and light sand paper for wet sanding if needed.
5. Compounding and polishing the surface. You should now begin the paint correction process. Start with the most heavily affected area. Work the Compound Polish into the area and buff off. Repeat if needed. Then use a finishing polish to take out the marks left by the Compound polish. There are many special cutting compound polishes available such as MEGUIARS
6. Final inspection and finishing touches with a polish such as MEGUIARS or CHEMICAL GUYS

Meguiars Diamond Cutting Compound

Chemical Guys Scratch and Swirl Remover

What is Ceramic Coating?

Definition of Ceramic Coating

"Ceramic Coating is a an industrial grade chemical polymer solution that is applied to the exterior of a car to protect from external damage".

Ceramic Coating components

Ceramic Coating is made up of industrial grade chemical polymers. Most of them contain Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide with a mixture of solvents.

This powerful formula creates a hard protective surface that bonds well to the car surface.

The Benefits of Ceramic Coating

1. Improved gloss and depth of colour. The ceramic coating layer creates a real depth to the colour when it is applied to the the clear coat. This immediately gives an improved gloss.
2. UV protection. If your car often spends hours in direct sunlight without any protection the surface can often become damaged with effects like orange peel and general fading. A specialised UV enhanced protection ceramic coating can prevent this happening.
3. Chemical resistance. A good ceramic coating layer will prevent the majority of chemical damage from car exhaust and industrial fumes.
4. Scratch damage. Scratches are less likely on ceramic coated car as the not only is the coating often hard to resist minor scratches and minor imperfections. It also can be the sacrificial layers that will prevent deep scratches reaching the base coat itself. Deeper scratches may also need professional paint repair especially if they have reached the base metal.
5. Enhanced hydrophobic qualities. Many a professional detailer will judge the results of their ceramic coating by the way in which water beads up on the surface of the paint. Most ceramic coatings have this hydrophobic coating quality.
6. Long lasting protection. Possibly the biggest advantage ceramic coatings have over traditional wax protection is that once the car is coated just a good, quick wash will be enough to have it gleaming again!

How to apply ceramic Coating

1. First step, prepare the surface. The only true way to do this correctly you should wash, clay bar, polish and finally apply a surface prep solution or isopropyl alcohol. The car should be a fully corrected vehicle for the best results.
2. Second step, apply the best ceramic coating you can afford or get a professional ceramic coating agent to apply it for you. These are often attached to car dealership or a local paint specialist
3. Allow for Curing. This is called curing time and it is the time needed for the ceramic coating to fully bond to the surface and cure to the hard coating.
4. Levelling and buffing. Once the coating has had sufficient curing time then the whole vehicle paint should be inspected for any high spots where the coating has gathered in excess. These will need to be levelled fine some fine wet sanding before buffing the whole paint sealant area with a machine polisher, da buffer or microfiber towels.

Shine Armor Ceramic Coating

Conclusion

I hope you now fully understand the difference between the process of paint correction and ceramic coating?

You must also consider if you are purchasing a new vehicle then there will be no need for any level of correction as the automotive paint will be brand new and you can then immediately apply a ceramic car coating and lock in that new car look for years!

It can be worth pricing up a ceramic coating package if you are unsure about your skill level in applying the coating. One of the most important things is to apply the coating level and if your car had many rounded surfaces then this could be difficult, just something to consider.

Paint correction services are also available but this does does not require as much skill as apply a coating so much more manageable to do yourself.

So as you can see the two things are two steps in making a car looks at its best. The auto paint correction takes every blemish of paint damage off the car and then this perfect exterior detail is sealed in with a very hard protective coating to ensure it stays in good condition.