Is Ceramic Coating worth it?

I have many mixed feeling about ceramic coating. It looks good but it's not the be all end all paint protection that many people think it is. The paint will still scratch and get swirl marks if you don't take care of it and wash correctly. Personally for me the cost, which around here is about $1700 for full paint correction and two coats, is not worth it. I can get full paint correction done for $300 and just add a couple of coats of Zanio myself and have similar results. I could do that twice a year for three years for about the same cost of ceramic coating. Which lasts about as long.

I also have mixed feelings about it.

You can wax your car 2 - 4 times a year or you can ceramic coat your vehicle every 1 - 3 years. The issue is wax is dirt cheap and very forgiving, while ceramic coating is... well... not. Thus far I've been a wax guy—actually enjoy the process of detailing my vehicle. But I was contemplating switching over to ceramic coating for the Bronco. Haven't decided yet.

Griots garage makes a great DIY ceramic coating system. I've been using on my 2020 Honda Accord. It keeps the car very clean and makes cleaning it very easy. I will be doing it to the Bronco once the weather warms up a bit around here.

Bad7MT

Griots garage makes a great DIY ceramic coating system. I've been using on my 2020 Honda Accord. It keeps the car very clean and makes cleaning it very easy. I will be doing it to the Bronco once the weather warms up a bit around here.

See I don't buy into the DIY ceramic coatings. They definitely do not have the 9H hardness rating that professionally applied ceramic coatings have. I use Zaino paint polish. It keeps the paint very clean and easy to wash as well. The more coats you apply the deeper the shine. But it will surely not offer the protection that professionally applied ceramic coating will.

Garemlin

See I don't buy into the DIY ceramic coatings. They definitely do not have the 9H hardness rating that professionally applied ceramic coatings have. I use Zaino paint polish. It keeps the paint very clean and easy to wash as well. The more coats you apply the deeper the shine. But it will surely not offer the protection that professionally applied ceramic coating will.

Yea its not at as good as the pro coating but also substantially cheaper. The Griots ceramic coating has been tested by a few youtubers and seems to be the best when it comes to water beeding and protection.

I did not want to spend the big bucks on professional ceramic coating. I've always been a wax guy but tried DIY ceramic coating (Gtechniq - CSL) which I got on Amazon for $115 and it was fairly easy application process. I washed the Bronco for the first time today and was impressed on the beading of the water and how easily it cleaned off.

Bad7MT

Yea its not at as good as the pro coating but also substantially cheaper. The Griots ceramic coating has been tested by a few youtubers and seems to be the best when it comes to water beeding and protection.

I understand their claims and the reviews. But I get unbelievable water beading from Zainos. It can be layered without wait time. You can apply it in cooler weather or direct sunlight. And it makes the paint have extreme depth. The biggest thing with true professionally applied ceramic coating is the protection from contaminants. Which the DIY stuff doesn't offer.

Garemlin

I understand their claims and the reviews. But I get unbelievable water beading from Zainos. It can be layered without wait time. You can apply it in cooler weather or direct sunlight. And it makes the paint have extreme depth. The biggest thing with true professionally applied ceramic coating is the protection from contaminants. Which the DIY stuff doesn't offer.

Yea I don't know. I've been a Griots Garage fan boys for many years now and if applied properly this ceramic coating is incredible.

Bad7MT

Yea I don't know. I've been a Griots Garage fan boys for many years now and if applied properly this ceramic coating is incredible.

As long as it works for you and you are happy with the results that's all that matters.

Bad7MT

Yea I don't know. I've been a Griots Garage fan boys for many years now and if applied properly this ceramic coating is incredible.

Going to check it out. Seems like it's worth a look. I've looked at Gtechniq stuff before but that's about it.

I guess what I should really do is just try to apply the ceramic coating on my Focus (current daily driver). That thing is nearly a decade old and the paint isn't in the best shape so it would probably make a good learning platform on how to do this ceramic stuff. Professionally applied ceramic coatings are too pricey for me, but if I can apply it myself (even if it's not exactly the same level of quality) it may be worth it.

RagnarKon

Going to check it out. Seems like it's worth a look. I've looked at Gtechniq stuff before but that's about it.

I guess what I should really do is just try to apply the ceramic coating on my Focus (current daily driver). That thing is nearly a decade old and the paint isn't in the best shape so it would probably make a good learning platform on how to do this ceramic stuff. Professionally applied ceramic coatings are too pricey for me, but if I can apply it myself (even if it's not exactly the same level of quality) it may be worth it.

I would consider the DYI ceramic coatings more of a paint sealant than a paint protectant. Not like that's a bad thing. They work great for repelling water and light contaminants. But it just won't have the 9H harness protecting abilities as professionally applied ceramic coatings. Which are too pricey for me as well.

Check out Zaino products. I have been using them since 2001. Top shelf stuff. They were originally created to use on the show car circuit.

zainostore.com

To answer the original question - YES, I think ceramic coating is worth it. 100%

I am a bit obsessed about my car cleaning activities and I am a HUGE fan of properly & correctly applied professional ceramic coating. Not all ceramic coating products are the same and not all provide the same level of protection.

For best results, you should have the paint color corrected prior to ceramic coating.

I have used Zaino and it’s a terrific DIY product and with several coats of their specific formulations, provides a very nice Level of protection but on my opinion, and also agreed by @Garemlin it is not as good as professional ceramic.

Bschurr

I have used Zaino and it’s a terrific DIY product and with several coats of their specific formulations, provides a very nice Level of protection but on my opinion, is not as good as ceramic.

No DIY will ever be as good as professionally applied ceramic coating. Hence the major price difference. Zaino is mind blowing in the water repelling properties and paint depth that it offers. Especially with multiple coats. I used it on my Harleys when I rode. Bug guts would just rinse right off the fairing. The ZFX accelerator was really nice to be able to apply multiple coats with no wait time in between.

I would also like to point out that the DIY Griots ceramic coating I use isn't just a spray on and buff in. There is a whole process before you apply. Once I had some good weather, I did the complete process on my brand-new Accord. Clean car with a paint prep chemical to remove all pre-existing waxes, wash car normally, clay complete car, polish complete car with a polish that fits how damaged or undamaged your paint is, my Accord was new, so I used fine polish but was still able to work a lot of dirt out of the paint. I then wash the car again and add one to two coats of wax. Then the ceramic coating is a applied with the second coat being applied after 24 hours.

What about the matte black decals on the truck, do they tape those off or ceramic coat over top of them?

Yes

Vito

What about the matte black decals on the truck, do they tape those off or ceramic coat over top of them?

IceSoldier88

Yes

:ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

corringtonwheeler

Took the OBX to fix small paint imperfections from the factory. Finished off with Ceramic Coating, a 0.2 mils Cured Thickness. My Bronco sits outside all the time because we have no garage, road conditions near DC are trash, and it's our daily driver. I think it was expensive but worth it.

I had my raptor(F150 not Bronco) coated for $1100 5 years ago including the windshield and the rims. This included a "refresh" each 6 months for 6 years. I bring it in for about 3 hours and they clean the entire truck inside and out, reapply ceramic and it is completely worth it. They even take out the floor pads and I swear they ceramic coat them also they are so clean. The truck repels water like oil and I can rinse it off and dry it with a leaf blower with nary a water mark.

Sounds like I was away from the detail game too long. Ceramic coating sounds pretty cool at all levels for different price points. @Garemlin - you had me at Harley. Wasn't even thinking of my Breakout for this. Can you apply Zaino with an orbital buffer (not high speed), by hand or both?