Paint sealing guide

Paint sealants are a relatively new product in the world of car care, but still well known to many. You'll see them go by many names such as nano-coating, glass coating, paint sealant, quartz, etc. Ceramic coating, or paint sealant, is a liquid product that is applied to the paintwork, intended to provide an extra layer of protection to your paintwork. Unlike waxes and quick seals, ceramic paint sealants are designed to bond to the paint and last significantly longer. Once hardened, it can be compared to a super-thin layer of clear coat. Most treatments last at least one year, and some up to 3 years or more, before they need to be reapplied.

Most sealants are made of resin or quartz. These nanoparticles are typically mixed in a mixture that evaporates or dries when applied thinly to your paintwork. Ceramic paint sealer is normally supplied in a bottle along with application equipment and is then applied by spreading it evenly over the paint and then wiping off any excess product.

Ceramic paint sealant is applied by applying a thin layer to the paint and then wiping off excess product as the product's solvent evaporates. The thin layer hardens and bonds to the paint, becoming a hard, durable protective layer. This provides hydrophobic properties, chemical resistance, UV resistance, higher gloss and acts as a buffer against swirls/micro scratches.

Of these three, wax normally has the shortest shelf life. Wax is also more forgiving in terms of preparation and time spent. Wax usually gives the paint a soft, warm, glossy finish.

Synthetic sealants are designed to last longer than most waxes and in some cases are easier to apply. Synthetic sealer is based on polymer, but then a much smaller amount of polymer that is used in Coating, and usually adds gloss, protection and a deep wet-look to the paint.

Ceramic sealing is the most demanding in terms of application, but lasts the longest. Surface preparation is the key to a coating lasting as promised by the manufacturer. That said, applying a coating is by no means difficult. The gloss is often extreme and the benefits are many.

Benefits of ceramic paint sealing include longer duration of protection. Depending on the brand and version, it can last from a year to 3 years or more.

Coating provides properties such as water repellency, chemical resistance, resistance to UV, and acts as a protective coating against things like limescale/water stains, insect remains, bird droppings and very light scratches. You'll also find that your car stays cleaner for longer. This is because dirt and contaminants don't adhere as easily to the coating as they do to untreated paintwork. Rain and water splashes bounce off and prevent dirt and grime from sticking to the paint.

Ceramic paint sealers also significantly improve the appearance of the paint. Most ceramic paint sealers provide a sharp, glossy surface, as opposed to the soft, warm surface provided by traditional wax products.

The main disadvantages of ceramic paint sealing are the cost and preparatory work required before applying the coating. Coating prices vary greatly. Some "do-it-yourself" coatings can be very affordable, for example CARPRO CQUARTZ Lite, which costs approx. 240,- per application (one bottle covers several cars). Some coatings are applied professionally and last a very long time, such as CARPRO CQUARTZ Professional and can cost a couple of thousand kroner.

However, all coatings require good preparation of the paint. This usually consists of polishing and removing unwanted scratches, as well as removing any previous paint seals, dirt and grime. If you're not willing to do that, we recommend that you stick to wax and quick seals.

Epoxy, nano, ceramic coating, glass, quartz, silicone. There are a lot of marketing names out there, but the truth is that there are two common classifications of coating, or quartz.

Nano is simply a term used to describe the technology used in all modern coatings. Don't let the word "nano" in a product name influence you. Polymer (also called epoxy) is designed to cross-link with your clear coat and form a permanent bond.

Quartz, also called ceramic, glass or silicon dioxide (Si02) is designed to be harder than traditional clear coat to add durability. Some coatings are even a combination of the two, promising the best of both worlds, although we've yet to see any difference between them.

We would also like to point out that the application method has no relation to the type of coating. Both spray and traditional coatings can be polymer and quartz. In modern coatings, the name or composition is not as important as ease of application and guaranteed lifetime. Typical cheap coatings will have a shorter lifetime, while premium professional coatings will have a longer lifetime and guarantee.

Most ceramic paint seals are applied either via a spray, a paint sprayer or with an applicator and distributed evenly over the paint. Some ceramic coatings require a waiting time of 1-5 minutes for the liquid in the coating to evaporate/haze before you can wipe away the excess (called high spots).

Of course, the best thing to do is to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct method of application, but in most cases it looks like this:

1. Prepare the paint by cleaning and polishing away unwanted scratches/swirls
2. Wipe the car with a wipe down to remove waxes and oils. For example. CARPRO Eraser
3. Apply a very small amount of ceramic paint sealant to your applicator
4. Work on one panel at a time, maximum 60 x 60 cm. Apply up, down, back and forth until evenly distributed.
5. Wait for the product to dry (if required)
6. Wipe away any excess product with a soft microfibre cloth until you don't see any streaks or "mist" (usually called high spots).
7. Allow the vehicle to cure indoors according to the manufacturer's instructions. In most cases, this is a minimum of 24 hours.

Less is more. If you apply too thick a layer, you're more prone to high spots that are harder to buff away. Apply the coating in a place with ventilation/air opportunities. Most coatings emit gases. Use suitable application equipment, such as an applicator and suede cloth. The coating will be applied more easily and will not soak into the applicator (less waste).

The most effective way to remove a coating is by rubbing or polishing. A good coating is bonded to the surface of the paint, so it cannot be washed away, even with soaps and strong chemicals.