Paint protection film vs. ceramic coating can be a confusing topic if you haven't looked into the topic of paint protection at all. However, even if you've looked into pain protection packages and other options, most providers aren't clear about what you can expect in terms of car paint protection.
What Is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coating is a chemical polymer solution that is applied to a vehicle's exterior to protect the external paint from damage. It's usually applied by hand and blends with your vehicle's paint to create an additional hydrophobic layer of protection.
What you should know is that ceramic coating is more like waxing your car than it is to getting paint protection film on your vehicle. Meaning ceramic coating is much less protection than paint protection film.
What Is Paint Protection Film?
Paint protection film, unlike ceramic coating, is a thick layer of transparent urethane that is applied to your vehicle to become a kind of second skin.
Urethan is a widely-used polymer in the auto industry, but it's also very popular in other industries as well because it is so good at its job. You'll see it more in modern cars, and that's because it gives you higher quality than some of the materials previously used in vehicles.
Pros & Cons of Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating has its place in the industry, but you shouldn't think you're comparing apples to apples when you compare it to paint protection film. However, we are going to go into the pros and cons of ceramic coating so you're educated on the matter.
Pros
Deep glossy look
Easy to maintain
Resists stains and scratches
Cons
Repels but doesn't remove water
No self-healing factor
Pricey for what it offers
I don't know about you, but if I'm going to put out a pretty penny on my vehicle, I want to make sure I'm getting the best bang for my buck. And, I personally just don't think that is ceramic coating.
Pros & Cons Paint Protection Film
Obviously, I think paint protection film is amazing, but you should know the pros and cons of paint protection film. Nothing is perfect, but this comes pretty close.
Pros
Avoid a peppered paint job look
Protects your investment for a long time
Gives you the glossy car show shine
Cons
It's noticeable
Maintenance
Honestly, the cons are debatable. I love the way the paint protection film makes vehicles look. This sacrificial layer of skin will help protect your vehicle from scratches and dings, but it also looks amazing when you're driving down the road.
The maintenance might take a bit longer since you are not going through automatic car washes anymore. Those things are nightmares anyway, though, so stop going through them immediately.
When it comes to the pros of paint protection film, they are outweighed by any perceived cons. You don't have to worry about your vehicle being peppered with little rock chips. It just gets to look amazing all of the time.
Paint protection film also has a self-healing property that allows the film to go back to smoother than paint would if it got hit with a rock or other debris.
Is Ceramic Coating or Paint Protection Film Best for You?
Before you pull out your wallet, let me tell you that paint protection film is worth every penny. If you've got it in your budget at all, I would highly recommend that you schedule an appointment and get your paint protection film installed ASAP.
Ceramic coating is more like glorified wax and likely won't give you the effect you want if you're looking into paint protection.
Maintenance Tips for Ceramic Coating
It's not too difficult to maintain ceramic coating if you do decide to go that way. You have to wash and dry your vehicle regularly, apply the ceramic coating maintenance spray, and stay away from harsh chemicals and automatic car washes, and you're good to go.
Maintenance Tips for Paint Protection Film
Similar to the maintenance tips for ceramic coating, you need to stay away from automatic car washes and make sure you wash and dry your vehicle with non-abrasive towels. However, you also need to be careful around the edges so you don't pull anything up. It's unlikely this will happen, but it's best to be careful.
Be kind to your paint protection film, and it will be kind to you. That means investing in high-quality cleaning products so your vehicle looks its best.
Paint Protection Film Vs. Ceramic Coating - Conclusion
Now you know the difference between paint protection film vs. ceramic coating. If you want the best protection, you're going with paint protection film. If you don't care as much about the protection but you just want to do the best you can with your budget, then the ceramic coating might be the way to go.
Give me a call when you're ready to give your car the best protection with paint protection film installation.
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