Cars don’t come cheap and buying one, whether it is brand new or second-hand, is a huge investment. As a car owner, you’d want to make your car last longer – from the engine, interior, up to its exterior. The exterior part of the car is prone to weather elements and other factors that cause regular wear especially when you drive your car every day.
To make your car’s paint job last longer and look brand new for a long time, regular cleaning is not enough. There are some procedures that help protect the paint job of your car – ceramic coating and paint protection film. Although these two offer similar benefits in protecting your car’s paint, they still have some differences in them. Read along to learn more about these two procedures and help you decide better on what to use in your car.
Material
Basically, ceramic coating and paint protection film are greatly different when it comes to the material used. A ceramic coating is a liquid product while a paint protection film is a sheet of polymer or vinyl material. Ceramic coating can be easily applied into the surface of a car using a sponge. Simply pour the product into the applicator sponge, apply into the car’s surface, dry it, and buff it off to create a shiny finish.
On the other hand, a paint protection film or PPF is usually applied by professionals. A sheet of vinyl material is laid into the surface of the car, smoothened out to remove the air bubbles, and is heated to make the film adhere into the paint surface. Unless if you have all the tools and the expertise in installing a PPF, it is best to entrust this on companies offering professional PPF installation services such as Liquid R.
Level of Protection
These two also differ in the level of protection they provide to your car’s exterior. A ceramic coating basically creates a glossy, hydrophobic surface on top of the paint, making it slippery and shinier. It makes cleaning and washing a lot easier since the dirt can’t adhere much on the slippery surface.
A PPF is thicker than a ceramic coat, thus providing better paint protection for your car. Aside from improving your car’s appearance, it also protects the paint job from scratches, pebbles, dust, and other debris that could damage the paint. Once scratched or scarred, you can fix the PPF easily by applying hot air, especially when the damage didn’t penetrate into the paint job.
Appearance
A ceramic coating leaves a shiny and glossy appearance on your car’s exterior. On the other hand, a PPF looks a bit blurry or fuzzy when applied and is not much hydrophobic compared to a ceramic coat.
Deciding which one to choose greatly depends on your budget and the type of protection your car needs. If you want to improve the aesthetics of your car and reduce washing frequency, a ceramic coating will do. However, if you want more protection from road debris and other damaging factors, a PPF is what you need.