So you’re looking to get a ceramic coating applied to your vehicle, but you find out you will have to pay extra for paint correction services! You may be thinking “why on earth do I have to pay for this and is it even necessary? After all, my paint is in good condition and I am just trying to protect it to a higher degree!”
There are a few reasons that you will need to correct your car’s paint before having a ceramic coating applied.
The first reason is the ceramic coating has to be applied to a completely even and contamination-free surface.
The second reason is that the ceramic coating seals the current condition of the paint, meaning that you want it to be as perfect as possible before applying.
Ceramic Coatings Must Bond To A Completely Even And Perfectly Clean Surface
Most people don’t know this, but washing your car does not remove all of the contamination from the paint. This is where the paint correction step called clay bar treatment comes into play, removing all of the embedded contaminants that you cannot see.
More often than not, it does not end here, the clear coat is also uneven due to some areas being parked in different areas with different contaminants or sides facing the sun. When the compounding and polish correction steps in, this is also solved.
The ceramic coating must be applied to a completely even and clean surface or it will not bond properly, leading to failure, unevenness, or ineffectiveness.
Ceramic Coatings Seal And Protect The Current State Of Your Paint
You will want your paint to be in the best condition before applying a ceramic coating that lasts for years. Many times, there are micro swirls, blemishes, and unevenness of color across your vehicle’s paint. Though the paint looks fine to the untrained eye or at specific angles, the paint looks fine.
Does This Apply To New Or Pampered Vehicles?
Nine out of ten times, even new and pampered vehicles will need to undergo proper preparation before the ceramic coating is applied to the car. This is because cars are often scratched and contaminated before the vehicle is driven off of the lot. The same goes for cars that have a regular detailing regime.
That being said, cars in these two categories will need a lesser degree of preparation and in turn, will lead to a cheaper service cost total.
The Verdict
The ultimate answer to the question of whether paint correction and preparation are necessary is a definite yes.
The paint of your car must be smooth, even, decontaminated, and in the best condition possible to achieve the desired effect and results provided by a car paint protection or ceramic coating.
