The Gift of Gloss – Ceramic Coating That Lasts Beyond Christmas
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The First 30 Days After Ceramic Coating: What to Do, Avoid & Expect
Congratulations on making one of the best decisions regarding your car, putting a professional ceramic coating on it! The first thing you’ll notice is the candy-like gloss and slick smoothness of your paint! Your car has never looked better, and now it is protected with a strong (semi-permanent) layer of protection.
Unfortunately, you are not out of the woods just yet! The first 30 days after the application is a very important curing time when your coating is fully hardening and bonding itself to your car’s clear coat. Everything you do to your car during this time is going to affect how long and the performance of the coating you put on it.
The "Hands-Off" Curing Phase
The most crucial window for your new coating is now. When you pick it up, although it may be dry to the touch, it will still be in the first stage of the curing process and is fragile.
#1 What to avoid: The first 1 or 2 days are pretty simple to remember. Avoid all contact.
#2 Avoid any washes Yes, your vehicle can get wet after receiving a ceramic coating. However, we strongly recommend avoiding any washes – especially those involving harsh chemicals for the first two weeks. While rain or light moisture won’t harm the coating, it’s important to prevent water spots from drying and baking into the surface, as they can cure along with the coating and become more difficult to remove.
#3 No touching: Seriously, do not touch it or feel how nice that finished surface is. Oils from your skin are also just an annoyance for the curing process to occur.
#4 No contaminants: Avoid parking under trees (bird debris, sap, bird droppings, and pollen) because these can all fall onto the car. Many of the contaminants are acidic and will etch into the soft layer, curing at that time.
Your Guide to Early Maintenance
A lot of the curing process (after the first 48-hour hands-off period) is about patience combined with procedure. The most important rule for the first 1 or 2 weeks is not to wash the car. Introducing any chemicals or committing any aggressive physical contact during this wash-free time could disturb the coating’s chemical bonding process, and de-strengthen the coating before it is fully cured and cross-linked. This is a critical first step in preventative car maintenance.
You must follow the correct procedure for washing. These initial car maintenance tips will establish your baseline for every wash going forward:
- Wash in the Shade: Don’t wash where the sun will hit the vehicle, as the heat from it will remove both soap and water before you’re done washing and cause spotting.
- Use the Two-Bucket Method: Have a bucket with the pH-neutral car soap solution, and one bucket with just water to rinse your wash mitt. This prevents you from reapplying dirt and grit onto the paint.
- Use Quality Materials: Use a clean, plush microfiber wash mitt. Don’t use brushes or rough sponges.
- Dry Carefully: You can use a high-quality, clean microfiber drying towel to dry the vehicle gently, or you can use a leaf blower/car dryer and not touch the paint at all.
Think of this process as your DIY auto maintenance guide, adding these steps to your regular vehicle upkeep checklist will prevent wash-induced swirls and scratches.
Maximizing Your Investment
After 30 days, the ceramic coating has fully cured and reached its highest hardness and chemical resistance. You are now moving from curing to maintenance, which is quite simple. You can continue to wash the vehicle safely as described above every few weeks. This procedure creates a base level of long-term vehicle protection.
These types of products “top up” a coating’s slickness and hydrophobic attributes, applying the same core principles found in professional marine & automotive care. But these will just turn into your average seasonal vehicle care tips with regard to the elements you want to protect against, from summer love bugs to winter filth from the roads.
Conclusion
The first 30 days after your ceramic coating application are a small but crucial investment of care and patience. Adhering to some simple steps will guarantee that the coating cures correctly, that it holds up into the future, and that you’re getting the greatest protective and value benefit for many future years down the road. Consider it the last step of securing the awesome benefits of your new coating.
For a specific schedule and more product-specific recommendations regarding your new finish, always reference the official Ceramic Pro maintenance guide for Daytona & Ormond Beach, given to you by your certified installer. They are your best reference to keeping your vehicle looking better than new.
Tags:
- Auto body protection
- Automotive detailing
- Automotive protection film
- Car exterior protection
- Clear bra benefits
- Door edge guards
- Paint protection film advantages
- Paint protection film benefits
- PPF coverage areas
- PPF for high impact areas
- PPF maintenance
- Rocker panel protection
- Splash guard PPF
- Vehicle impact protection
- Vehicle maintenance tips
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