What's the best protection
for my car?

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Waxes, Paint Sealants, Ceramic Coatings... How do I know what's right for me?

The detailing and paint protection industry has grown tremendously in recent years, we now have hundreds of carnauba waxes, paint sealants and ceramic coatings to choose from, but how do we know which one is the right choice?

We hope at the end of this article, you will understand the difference between waxes, sealants and ceramic coatings, and maybe even get your vehicle protected!

What paint protection options do I have?

When it comes to exterior protection and maintenance, we have 3 main options.  We start with a commonly known carnauba wax, which you have most likely heard of or used yourself before.  You can find car wax at almost any automotive store and the application process is very straight forward, wax on, wax off, right?  Although wax will only hold up for about 2 weeks before it needs to be re applied.

The next level of protection we have available is the paint sealant.  This is one you may not have heard of before.  A good quality paint sealant will last you anywhere from 3 – 12 months, depending on quality, region you drive in and what conditions you put your vehicle through.  A quality 3 month sealant is our go to, easy to use protection at The Final Detail.

Now, what is the best form of protection for your vehicle?  Excluding paint protection film, ceramic coatings are the latest and greatest paint protection technology.  You can purchase ceramic coatings online and many are very user friendly, but unlike waxes and sealants, ceramic coating hardens like glass, making coating removal tricky.  For this reason, a professional installation is always recommended to avoid high spots, haze and streaking during the application process.   A high quality, professionally Ceramic Pro coating at The Final Detail will last you 3 – 7 years with proper maintenance.  The best part is, you never have to wax again!  That’s right, WAX IS DEAD!

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What does good paint protection include?

Now you have an idea of the kinds of paint protection products available today, you may even know which form of protection your looking for.  Now comes the hard part, which brand and product do we pick?

When picking the best protection for your vehicle there are 3 things we need to look for.

  • Longevity of the product
  • Appearance and gloss 
  • Hydrophobics
 
Before picking your wax, sealant or ceramic coating, do some research on the product and brand.  Since there are so many rebranded products on the market, it can be hard to pick a good quality product.  Make sure to choose companies who spend time researching and creating their own chemicals in house.  Many products on the market advertise, 12 months protection and it fails within the first month!  So be careful and don’t get fooled!

Waxes

Waxing your vehicle is the most common form of paint protection.  As a kid you probably washed and waxed your car at home with your dad or grand father.  Wax hasn’t changed much since then, it’s basically still the same Carnauba wax as it was then.  Carnauba wax comes from a certain kind of palm tree and is blended with other oils and waxes to create car wax that is so commonly used every day.

Although car wax might not last as other sealants and ceramic coatings on the market, it creates a beautiful, slick finish on your vehicle’s surface while adding some minor protection and hydrophobics.

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Sealants

Paint sealants are the next step up from your weekly, Sunday hand wax.  Unlike wax, sealants are synthetically made and offer much more longevity and hydrophobics than a Carnauba wax would.

In recent years, paint sealants have evolved and are becoming the go to for at home vehicle paint protection.  Their ease of use, high gloss and longer term protection is a game changer in the paint protection world. 

Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic coatings are the best form of paint protection for your vehicle or electric vehicle.  A high quality, professionally installed coating combines the 3 things we look for when it comes to paint protection.  Longevity of the product, Appearance and gloss, and hydrophobics.

Professional ceramic coatings, like Ceramic Pro, offer incredible forms of protection compared to wax and sealant products.  Ceramic Pro’s 9H coating raises your clear coat level from 2H all the way to 9H.  That’s 4x as thick as your normal clear coat!

This glass barrier is extremely durable and will last you 5+ years with proper maintenance.  Once your vehicle is ceramic coated, you will notice the super slick finish and hydrophobics when washing your vehicle.  Because the surface is so slick and hydrophobic, washing and drying your vehicle takes no time at all!

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WHY CERAMIC PRO
ON MY VEHICLE?

GOOD INVESTMENT

The coating will permanently protect the vehicle’s exterior and interior from deteriorating.  The resale market value of your vehicle will be higher as not only will the coating have tangible benefits for the new owner, but the warranty is transferrable too.

LOOKING NEW ALL THE TIME

Once the coating is pplied you will see ultimate gloss and color depth, incomparable to any other wax, sealant or coating.  Properly maintained, the vehicle’s finish will hold its unmatched gloss for years to come.

LESS MAINTENANCE

The slickness of the coated surface does not allow dirt, brake dust and tar to stick to your vehicle’s paint, wheels or glass.  The coating is so slick and resistant to chemicals that contaminates can be removed with less aggressive and damaging wash methods.  Washing the vehicle becomes less labor intensive and needed less frequently.  Waxing is now obsolete.

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HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

PRESERVATION OF ORIGINAL FACTORY PAINT

Once cured, Ceramic Pro is measured to have a hardness above 9H.  Normal clear coat has a hardness between 2H-4H.  The glass shield prevents minor scratches to your clear-coat and acts as a sacrificial layer.  Any scratches to the coating are easily removed, without compromising the integrity of the original clear coat, with light polishing.

With Ceramic Pro the paint will not fade or age due to the UV and anti-oxidization protection.

GLOSSY, SLICK AND SELF-CLEANING

The complex nanotechnology used in the Ceramic Pro product range allows the ceramic nanoparticles to fill the smallest pores in the paint making the coated surface shiny, smooth and extremely slick or hydrophobic.

Ceramic Pro dramatically lowers the surface tension preventing environmental contaminates such as bird droppings, bugs, dirt, tar and graffiti paint from bonding to the surface.

Water easily removes dirt from the surface by encapsulating it into water beads that rolls off the surface.  This is called the self-cleaning effect.

PERMANENT PROTECTION

Ceramic Pro 9H is a one-time application if maintained correctly.  Once the Ceramic Pro glass shield has cured it can only be removed through abrasion like wet sanding.  This puts Ceramic Pro in a category by itself, compared to sealants or waxes that degrade quickly with normal washing and can easily be stripped away with mild chemicals.

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Contact The Final Detail Chicago

If you are looking for premier paint protect services and would like to schedule an interior / exterior detail or ceramic coating in Glenview, Illinois you can contact The Final Detail at the information below.

 

2010 Lehigh Ave, Unit B, Glenview, Illinois, 60026

847-510-8314

[email protected]

or schedule below