Ceramic Coating Vs. Waxing: the pros, cons and differences explained – Jalopnik

Are you tired of waxing your car every few weeks? Are you thinking about putting a ceramic coating on your car? Since a ceramic layer lasts two to five years, this is a good way to avoid having to wax your car. And it is better than wax to protect your car from the sun, rain and snow. It’s a pretty durable product that might last until you decide to trade in or sell your car.

However, it’s not all cut-and-dried. The cost of having a ceramic coating professionally applied is quite high and can amount to thousands of dollars in some cases. If you wax your car yourself, it’s hard to justify the cost of a ceramic coating compared to buying a $6 or $7 jar of Turtle Wax every now and then. On the other hand, it may make financial sense to switch to a ceramic coating if you regularly have your car professionally washed and waxed, depending on what you usually pay for it, especially if you calculate the cost over five years. Or you may personally find enough value in the extra protection the ceramic coating provides that it is worth the cost.

Ceramic coating obviously requires some maintenance. It will need occasional touch-ups and regular washing. Speaking of washing, washing your coated car may be less convenient if you’re used to running through the local automatic car wash with the big rollers and brushes.

Ceramic coating is also quite a durable product. Even though it adheres directly to the car paint instead of sitting on top of it, it is still much thicker than wax. It also holds up very well to the elements, even when left in the sun day in and day out, thanks to the high level of UV protection it provides. That’s good news for your car’s paint, especially if you don’t have access to a garage or carport. Bird droppings, snow and road salt are not that threatening to a car with a high-quality ceramic coating.

Ceramic coating is very hydrophobic (btw, here’s the science behind hydrophobic coatings). This means that the water will drip right on top and flow right off at the slightest slope. This is especially important when it comes to acid rain. It is also highly resistant to heat and can withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit before melting. Of course, the toughness of a ceramic coating is not that surprising, since it is derived from quartz or sand.

And while it may sound appealing not to have to wax your car multiple times a year, ceramic coating is not exactly maintenance-free. Toppers should be applied occasionally. And you can’t just drive it through any car wash. Make sure that the car wash only uses pH neutral soaps and that no brushes are used, which can damage the coating. Even certain mitts should not be used when washing a car with a ceramic coating, due to their abrasive nature.

It would also be a mistake to consider ceramic coating as an impermeable armor layer for your car. It provides some protection against minor damage, but is not invulnerable to scratches and dents.

Car wax is more forgiving than ceramic coating. If you don’t like the result of waxing, it’s not that difficult to remove the wax and start over. This brings another advantage: most people can learn to wax their car themselves. Application is quite simple. Just wipe it off, let it haze a bit, polish it and it will harden in a few hours. There are plenty of instructional videos – like ‘Karate Kid’ for example – that show you how to do it. There are even combination cleaners and waxes so you can wash and wax in one step (though it won’t make your car as shiny). There are few things as satisfying as seeing the shine on your car after you’ve given it a good wax.

And of course car wax is also relatively cheap. You can even find name brand car washes for under $10 if you know where to look. That’s quite economical, since these containers last several washes. Even a professional waxing is not that expensive relatively speaking, ranging from $50 to $100.

As with ceramic coatings, car washes are not always friendly to laundry applications. However, this can easily be repaired with a touch-up wax or another complete waxing job. Wax provides a much thinner, softer layer than ceramic coatings, so it offers even less protection against scratches. Speaking of water: wax is less hydrophobic than ceramic coating. After the first application, water will continue to drip for a while, but this will stop after a few washes.

Wax also melts at a lower temperature than ceramic coating – 180 degrees Fahrenheit. However, wax will soften long before it reaches 180 degrees, making it less durable and protective.

Is your car parked in the elements most of the time? Is it exposed to a lot of harsh weather conditions? You get better, longer protection with a ceramic clear coat. But if you leave your car parked in the garage most of the time, and the weather in your wooded area is relatively mild, your car will probably be fine with regular waxing. This also applies if you own a classic car that is parked indoors most of the time and then taken outside for shows. It’s also easier to get that classic show car shine from carnauba wax than from a ceramic coating.

There are pros and cons to both car wax and ceramic coating. Which is better depends on your circumstances.