What to look for when shopping for a ceramic coating

So, you’ve decided that you want to protect your paint with a ceramic coating that EVERYBODY seems to be talking about!  Your ride is your pride and joy, and you want to protect your investment with the best possible ceramic coating available. 

Now your journey begins, “which coating do I choose?”  The answer to this question is critical. It is easy to become overwhelmed searching the internet for answers, and it very quickly becomes confusing. Having said that, we are so glad you visited our site and we hope this article offers you some insights and guidance to help you in your purchase decision.  

Yes, we would love your business, but more importantly, our goal is to help you learn more about ceramic coatings by sharing our knowledge and experience. 

Together, we will explore topics and factors to consider when researching and comparing ceramic coatings options including:

• Buying online products and the risks of doing it yourself

• Determining if the product is truly ceramic 

• Understanding ‘thickness’ and what is considered ‘superior’ ceramic protection

• Explaining the hardness of ceramic coatings (defining 9H)

• A look at cure-times for ceramic coatings

IS THE PRODUCT REALLY A CERAMIC COATING?

Let's Take A look at ceramic coating properties, ingredients & self-levelling attributes.

We have researched and studied properties in many ceramic coatings and discovered most products do not contain sufficient ceramic material…thereby making it impossible to achieve a 9H hardness. Many brands misrepresent their products as ceramic-quality and mislead customers by selling them less durable coatings Traditional Silica (Si02) materials degrade when heated and are easily destroyed by wash and wear.

Another important feature to look for in a ceramic coating is self-levelling properties.  Many products do not have a self-levelling feature which is absolutely required to achieve a superior finish and a perfected smooth coating. Self-levelling allows the ceramic coating to form along your vehicle’s surface and create continuity without causing high or low spots.

 

Important Warning:
All coatings have ingredients that create some level of permanency, so it is important to have your vehicle paint-corrected prior to ceramic coating applications. Coatings will NOT hide scratches and blemishes in paint. It is a time-consuming process to correctly perfect the paint and will add expense to a ceramic application. Of course, the best time to install a ceramic coating is when your vehicle is brand new, and done by a professionally trained installer.
 

WHAT THICKNESS OF COATING IS CONSIDERED SUPERIOR CERAMIC PROTECTION? 

Does thickness of ceramic coatings really matter?  The straight answer is YES.

Because many brands don’t self-level, installers must be very careful to apply only a very thin layer to avoid high spots or noticeable ridges in the coating. 

Most products provide only 1 or even less microns of thickness per coat and lack the ingredients necessary to offer proper strength in a single layer. 

Because these types of coatings can only offer thin layers of protection, installers have no choice but to apply extra layers to build thickness. Your cost and delivery time keeps rising with each additional layer and adding layers of inferior strength products is of little benefit. 

In your purchasing decision, if you opt to buy only one or two layers of inferior ceramic coatings, you will not get the protection you were expecting.  A thin coating is not durable and if it is not a true ceramic coating it will wear down and a re-application will be necessary.  Some coatings have proven to last for only 3 to 6 months before they have either worn off or washed away by low and high pH chemicals used in touchless washes, not to mention bug removers, tar and tree sap removing type cleaners.

Consumers are persuaded to purchase four to seven, and even up to 10 coats for the vehicle’s ‘lifetime’ warranty. It’s important to read the fine print. Most warranties offer: 1 coat for a one-year warranty; 2 coats for a two-year warranty; 4 coats for a five-year warranty; etc. 

“The RHINO® Difference”

RHINO® has sourced its ceramic coating products from the very best and latest technology available worldwide.  Many of RHIO’S ceramic coating products carry a lifetime warranty.  They provide the thickest layer of TRUE CERAMIC protection and hardness. Along with the addition of unique patented chemistry sets RHINO well above the competition.

By allowing our coatings to level out and harden naturally we are able to provide a stronger and thicker layer of protection with JUST one layer! When the final wipes are done, very little of the coating gets removed.

 

DEFINING HARDNESS OF CERAMIC COATINGS AND WHAT IS 9H?

The hardness of protective coatings is measured according to the pencil scale. The maximum measurable hardness of the pencil test can only be 9H. There is no way of testing higher with this type of test!  A vehicle’s paint has a maximum hardness of 3H. Many brands promote their ceramic coatings to a 9H, but do not have the testing certification to back it up. 

Just a few products available on the worldwide markets are certified and independently awarded with a 9H hardness certificate. Many brands misrepresent their products as ceramic quality and mislead customers by selling them less durable coatings.  Ask your installer for documentation to back their claims.

“The RHINO Difference”:

Our 9H coatings have been tested and certified by TÜV SÜD and other recognized laboratories to achieve the highest possible protection and has surpassed a 9H hardness rating. 

RHINO didn’t stop there! Acid and Alkali tests were also performed by TUV and passed with flying colors.
 

DO CERAMIC COATINGS REQUIRE A CURE TIME? YES! 

It is important to ask your installer about cure times. Certain coatings require cure times of seven to 30 days.  Often, newly coated vehicles are kept indoors at the application shop for a minimum of 24 hours before customers can even pick up their vehicle. Customers are also instructed to leave their vehicle indoors and to refrain from driving it for three days, or more.

Certain coatings do require infrared heat lamps (at 170°F) after the application process to cure the coating. 

“The RHINO Difference”

Our top coatings are 80% cured after one hour of the application. You can take delivery of your vehicle one hour after the installation is complete. You can drive it immediately regardless of outdoor elements; just avoid washing it for 7 days with any types of chemicals or cleaners. And, as tempting as it is, try not to touch it by hand during the 7 days as well. Bird droppings and bug residue can and should still be pressure washed off with only straight (Rinse cycle) water at the car wash.

 

WHY CHOOSE RHINO® 

With its unique chemistry developed in Germany, is proven to be Superior Ceramic Coatings.

• Providing maximum ceramic protection for your vehicle with the patented Polysilazane formula.

• 7- and 10-Year warranty against TOP COAT AND REVO coating fading, peeling yellowing, cracking or washing off.

• LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR PRO, ULTRA and ONYX against coating fading, peeling yellowing, cracking or washing off.

• May require a yearly inspection or re-application to maintain warranty status

• 9H Hardness, Acid and Alkali Certified Permanent Coating

• True Ceramic Coating

• Incomparable Thickness: 

• Self-Levelling

• Superior hydrophobicity

• Superior Gloss