Ceramic Coating in Portland, OR
A bonded ceramic layer over your clear coat that adds gloss, resists staining, and makes washing the car faster.
A ceramic coating is not a wax and it does not sit on top of your paint the way a wax does. It bonds to the clear coat at a molecular level, which is why the surface prep before application matters more than the coating itself. The car gets washed, decontaminated, clayed, and in most cases polished before a drop of coating goes on, because anything trapped under that layer, a swirl mark, a water spot, a bit of grit, gets sealed in permanently.
This is also why the work happens indoors in a controlled space. Coating needs a clean, dust free, temperature stable environment to flash and cure correctly. Do this in a driveway on a damp Portland afternoon and you risk dust nibs in the finish or a coating that never fully hardens.
The 5 year and 9 year options differ in resin thickness and the number of layers applied, not just the label. The 9 year option holds up to more washing cycles and UV exposure before it needs to be topped up or reapplied.
Ceramic Coating in the studio
How a ceramic coating job runs
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Wash and decontaminate
The car is washed with products that strip old wax, sealant, and road film so the clear coat is bare.
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Inspect and correct
Paint is checked under direct lighting and corrected if swirl marks or oxidation would otherwise get locked under the coating.
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Clay the surface
A clay bar pass pulls out anything bonded to the paint that washing alone will not remove.
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Apply the coating
Coating is laid on panel by panel and leveled by hand before it starts to flash.
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Cure in the bay
The car sits in the controlled space for the coating to harden before it goes back out on wet Oregon roads.
Questions we get asked
How long will the coating actually last on my car?
That depends on how the car is washed and stored, but the 5 year and 9 year labels reflect the resin thickness and number of layers applied. Regular washing with pH neutral soap and parking out of constant sun helps either option hold up closer to its full range.
Can I wash the car right after the coating is done?
No. The coating needs time to cure fully before it sees water or contact, and that curing window is part of why the work is done indoors where the timeline can be controlled.
Does ceramic coating stop rock chips?
It does not. Ceramic coating protects against chemical staining, oxidation, and makes the surface easier to clean, but it will not stop a rock chip or a deep scratch from impact.
How long does a ceramic coating last?
We offer a 5 year and a 9 year ceramic coating package. How long yours actually lasts comes down to how the car is washed and looked after once the coating is on.
What does a ceramic coating do?
It bonds to your clear coat and adds a hard, water repelling layer. It protects against UV, dirt, road grime and water spots, it deepens the gloss, and it makes the car much easier to wash.