Wax, sealant, and ceramic coating. What do they have in common?
These three things are the major products that give car paint the protection it needs. For car owners and enthusiasts, it is important to know the difference between the three. After knowing all these three types of paint protection, you can know which is the best paint protection for your cars.
WAX
First up is wax. Car enthusiasts have been using wax as a car protection product for years. Typically, wax is a combination of carnauba wax, natural oils, beeswax, and petroleum distillates. Before the rise of advanced technology, wax was the go-to product for achieving a glossy finish on a car. It creates a thin layer of oil on the car that gives it a brand new look.
It does not offer protection against UV rays, chemicals, and scuff marks. Due to its oily nature, it can become a dust magnet and create a thin layer of dust on the car. Moreover, it does not last as long as the latest products in the market and only protects a car for one or two washes.
- PROS - .
- Affordable and easy to apply
- Wax contained filler and oil It is great for making a car look brand new with its gloss and shine finish,
- It can prevent some dirt and grimes for sort time.
- CONS
- Oily and become dust magnet
- No U.V protection, no chemicals, and scuff marks protection.
- Only last for several washes
At Car Studios, we recommend Meguiar's Liquid Wax
SEALANT
A sealant is a synthetic product made of a medical-grade resin and is similar to composite, or white filling material for when patients have cavities filled. The big difference about sealant material is its runny nature.
PROS - A sealant can be beneficial for car owners who want to protect their vehicle’s paint against sap, chemicals, and the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. As it bonds with the paint it also lasts longer than most wax.
It gives a solid three to six months of protection for a car for only a cheap price. Though more expensive than wax, it is still cheaper than ceramic coating products.
CONS - However, its effectiveness depends on how often a car is washed. Moreover, the chemicals used in the product affect its strength too. Like wax, a sealant can be removed with a detergent.
We recommend using a ceramic maintenance coat Ceramic Queen rather than a sealant for paint protection.
PROFESSIONAL CERAMIC COAT
A Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer that is applied to the car’s exterior surfaces. It is mostly made of silicon dioxide or most commonly known as Silica that is found in elements like Quartz.
Unlike the sealant and wax, the good quality ceramic coating truly bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint after application. Then, it creates a layer of protection and a hydrophobic surface.
There are many types of ceramic coating in the market today. There are Teflon-based spray, SiO boost sprays, PTFE-Based Ceramic Spray. These various products also differ in hardness - 9H and 10H.
PROS - Because of its hydrophobic properties, it is harder for contaminants to bond with a car’s paint. As a result, it protects a vehicle from dirt, grimes, different contaminants, chemicals, and even different weather that could destroy car paint.
Moreover, it lasts longer than Wax and Sealants. Some products even create 5-year protection. Furthermore, it does not wash off easily. But, it makes the cleaning of the car easier as the dirt slides of fast.
CONS - There are too many misconceptions about Ceramic Coating which can be really confusing for consumers.
Preparation: This is because the surface needs to be prepared and cleaned as thoroughly as possible to allow the Ceramic coating to bond with the paint. It takes longer than the others.
Application: Not all products in the market are created the same, therefore applications are different too. It needs to be applied by trained professionals. If applied too much on a certain spot, it could damage the paint.
The problem with using ceramic coating is it needs to be a good one as, what trained professionals at Car Studios have experienced. If a mediocre product is applied, it attracts dust more than ever, and then those dust particles will stick to the car because of the static it created.
PROTECTION FILM
Last but definitely not the least is paint protection film. It is made from specialized elastomeric polymers that have a natural, self-healing property. They can be disfigured but they will return to their original property after being scratched and stretched out.
PROS - paint protection film lasts the longest among the list. More importantly, it is able to take rock chips, small scratches, swirl marks, and hard water spots without being permanently disfigured.
CONS - Unlike a ceramic coating, this one peels off the clear coat and dust gets stuck on the edges of the cut. Also, there are times that it is hard to peel off.
Moreover, it is not as sleek as a clear coat with a ceramic coating. Lastly, it is very expensive to install, the most expensive of the four. That is why not many people opt for this type.
A vehicle’s longevity would mostly rely on its protection from the different contaminants and chemicals it faces every day. Good thing that the technology and the market offer these products for their cars and their protection.
Contact us to know more about ceramic coating and what it could provide for your car!