Difference between Ceramic Coating & Paint Protection Film in Silicon Valley

Does the waning shine of your four-wheel keep you up? Learn how you can restore and protect your vehicle’s paintwork through a combination of auto surface care methods. If your vehicle is long due for a car wash or detail, we recommend using a steam detailing approach to gently decontaminate your car inside out, clearing out pollutants and debris. For post-cleaning, paint restoration and protection are the two major areas that follow and go hand-in-hand. Paint restoration will bring your vehicle’s existing paintwork back to the most pristine conditions possible while paint protection will protect (and potentially lock in ) the paintwork of your vehicle by serving as the outermost sacrificial layer between the paintwork and environment. The customization really depends on how much protection you want. Whether it’s for the long or short term, you can effectively cut down your trips and expenses for a car wash or detail and also do away with the regular waxing routine by having permanent gloss. If you’ve dug into the paint protection space, you might have been familiarized with ceramic coating and paint protection film (PPF a.k.a. clear bra) by now. Both have their strengths and can be leveraged in different ways.

Read on to learn more or reach out to our authorized installers to inquire directly on ceramic coating and paint protection film in Silicon Valley.

Paint protection film (PPF) – is it worth it?

Paint protection film in Silicon Valley hints at a transparent and urethane material, which can be applied to the painted surface of a vehicle's exterior. As per the auto-detailing experts, a PPF or paint protection film aims at preserving the quality of a vehicle's paintwork by minimizing the risks of different damages like scratch marks caused by rocks, swirl marks caused by washing, chemical stains created by acidic contaminants, oxidation, et al. When applied properly, PPF appears like an invisible shield on the exterior surface of the vehicle. PPF is often applied to the front bumper of the vehicle since that is the most exposed area to road debris. In other cases, some people prefer to get full coverage on the entire vehicle so they can be rest assured that all external areas of the vehicle are protected.

What’s the hype about ceramic coating?

As per the professional ceramic coating experts in Santa Clara, this auto surface care process refers to a liquid polymer that is applied to the exterior surfaces of a vehicle. Once it's applied impeccably, it produces a chemical bond with a car's factory paint, establishing a thick layer of protection as well as a super-hydrophobic surface. The super-hydrophobic properties of ceramic coating make it extremely hard for the contaminants to bond with a vehicle's paintwork due to the increased surface contact angle that promotes liquid or droplet rolloff. If you’re new to the auto surface care practices, you might have heard of Rain-X (which is hydrophobic). Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that carries a much higher surface contact angle than Rain-X, enabling liquids to bead and roll off more easily when they comes in contact with a ceramic coated surface. Rain-X can may temporarily do the job but if you want permanent and superior results, this is when ceramic coating becomes the leading option. It features superior water repellency (making it easier for windshield wipers to push off water, provides three times stronger protection than traditional clear coat, protects both interior and exterior surfaces, and significantly reduces your overall auto surface care efforts. Ceramic coating also makes your paintwork much glossier, enhancing your vehicle’s overall luster.

How is ceramic coating different from PPF?

According to the professional ceramic coating experts in Santa Clara, PPF is a tad bit thicker than ceramic coating. Being made up of high quality materials, PPF has self-healing features, allowing it to absorb rock chips, swirl marks, scratches, and water spots. It is only applied to the exterior surface of the vehicle. While it doesn’t pr

ovide the extra degree of superior gloss and water repellency like ceramic coating, it serves as a robust invisible shield for your car.

Which one is the most suitable option for your car?

PPF is generally applied to the portions of your four-wheel, which are highly susceptible to scratch marks or rock chips from road debris. Once the vulnerable areas of your car are safeguarded with PPF, you can apply ceramic coating on it. When applied impeccably on the top of a paint protection film, ceramic coating will create a strong layer of protection from the chemical etching and environmental fallout. Because ceramic coating makes it harder for contaminants to bond with a car, it helps keep the paintwork cleaner for a longer time. In addition, ceramic coating enhances the paintwork, giving it an extra boost in the luster of your vehicle’s paintwork.

Both ceramic coating and paint protection film have their fair share of benefits. By reaping such beneficial impacts, you can give your car an enviable showroom shine with greater ease.

Happy reading!