Vehicles go through a lot of abuse year round, especially in climates like we have here in Chicagoland. The paint is constantly exposed to contamination like bird droppings, rail dust and road debris. This results in more embedded contamination, swirl marks appearing sooner and overall gloss of the paint quickly diminishing. While waxes and sealants are still a great option for protecting and preserving the paint, the new nano technology paint coatings are a much better and more durable way of providing great gloss and protection.
These protective coatings act as a thinner secondary clear coat, creating a protective barrier between the outside elements and the vehicle's paint. They create a hydrophobic surface that is easier to clean than factory paint and stays cleaner longer by preventing dirt and other contaminants from easily sticking to the paint. When treated with care, these coatings offer protection anywhere from 1-2 years or more. All this leads to having a vehicle that is easier to care for, stays protected for a longer time and maintains a glossy paint finish.
Features
Unlike waxes and sealants, a paint coating adds a measurable protective layer to the paint surface. Compared to the durability of waxes and sealants, which is measured in months, the durability of coatings is measured in years! The high strength, condensed nano particles create a tough, durable and glossy coat that helps protect paint and other automotive surfaces from UV rays, dirt, tar and all sorts of other environmental contamination. The surface becomes hydrophobic and helps resist dirt, swirl marks and similar defects from tarnishing the finish.
Benefits
The main benefit of a protective paint coating is the ability to preserve the clear coat and keep the vehicle in great shape for longer. This happens by the coating acting as a sacrificial layer which we're hoping absorbs most or all of swirl marks or marring that develop through regular washing over time. Then, when it's time to polish the paint and improve these swirl marks after 1-2 years, we're only slightly if at all leveling the clear coat through the correction process. This way the coating is simply removed, the clear coat stays in tact and the car looks great before the protection process starts again.
In addition to the clear coat preservation the paint coating provides, it also allows for much easier maintenance washing as it keeps the paint cleaner and makes it easier to clean. All this while providing amazing gloss and depth in the paint that gives that "just waxed" look after every wash.
Applications
At LUSTR, we offer three great and simple coating options with different levels of protection and value. While each of these options is a bit different, they all produce one significant result: durable protection with excellent shine. Protective car coatings are not bullet proof and require proper care to maintain the protection and durability. It is very important that clients with a coating applied to their vehicle still keep a regular wash schedule and come see us at least once or twice a year for a decontamination wash if unable to do it at home. A spray wax 2-6 months is highly recommended to further provide swirl mark resistance and extend the coating durability.
We offer ceramic coating applications for cars, motorcycles, any other vehicles or individual parts, such as wheels, glass and engine components. For more information and pricing, please visit our service page for Ceramic Coatings.