Ceramic coatings can be DIY or professionally applied. Proper prep is essential—surfaces must be clean and polished to ensure strong bonding.
Key Benefits of Ceramic Coating
- UV Protection: Shields paint from harmful UV rays, helping prevent oxidation and fading to keep your vehicle looking newer, longer.
- Hydrophobic Effect: Water beads and rolls off, making it harder for rain, mud, and grime to stick — easier cleaning, fewer water spots.
- Scratch Resistance: Increases resistance to light scratches and swirl marks (though not fully scratch-proof).
- Chemical Protection: Defends against acidic contaminants like bird droppings, tree sap, and road salts that can stain or damage paint.
- Gloss Enhancement: Adds a deeper, more reflective shine that boosts overall appearance.
How It Works
Ceramic coatings use silica- or siloxane-based compounds that chemically bond to the paint, forming a hard, transparent layer. This barrier resists contaminants, enhances durability, and makes cleaning easier.
Application
Duration
Average ceramic coatings typically last 1–5 years. Our unique coating formula creates a permanent bond and doesn’t degrade over time with proper care.
Maintenance
Regular cleaning is still important to remove surface contaminants and preserve performance.
Top-ups
Our coating does not require reapplication as long as it’s maintained properly. Opti-Coat is built for automotive surfaces, providing long-term protection and a lasting shine.
Professional-Grade
Opti-Coat Products
We proudly use the Opti-Coat line of professional-grade ceramic coatings, known for their durability, advanced protection, and high-gloss finish.
Opti-Coat Pro / Pro+
- Professional-only ceramic coating (must be applied by authorized installers).
- Forms a permanent bond with the paint (unlike waxes or sealants that wear off).
- Adds a thick, hydrophobic layer that resists chemical etching, oxidation, UV damage, and minor scratches.
- Pro+ offers even more gloss and slickness compared to the standard Pro.
Opti-Coat Ultra-Shine
- A less durable version of the coating.
- Designed for easier application with moderate protection benefits.
Maintenance Products
- Opti-Coat Hyper Seal: A ceramic-based spray sealant used to boost and maintain existing coatings.
- Opti-Coat No Rinse (ONR): A popular rinseless wash that’s gentle on ceramic coatings.
The Opti-Coat
Advantage
- Durability: Pro versions are known to last 5+ years. The formula is not affected by cleaning chemicals!
- Protection: Shields against UV rays, bird droppings, bug etching, and road salts.
- Hydrophobicity: Water beads and sheets off easily, reducing dirt adhesion.
- Gloss: Enhances paint depth and clarity for a showroom-like finish.
- Warranty: Opti-Coat typically comes with a 5-10-year warranty when installed by a certified professional.
What is a ceramic coating?
Our ceramic coatings are durable, long-lasting, clear liquid ceramic coatings (silicon carbide or titanium dioxide) that chemically bond with and protect a vehicle’s paint and other surfaces from stains, scratches, scuffs, chemical and environmental damage, color fading, etc.
What body parts can be protected with a ceramic coating?
Painted, clear bra, and vinyl-wrapped surfaces and metal, wheels, brake calipers, exhaust tips, plastic and rubber trim, and glass. A ceramic coating makes the wheels (and calipers) easier to clean, they stay clean for longer and slightly enhance the wheels’ finish.
Ceramic coating does not protect against dents, dings, rock chips, deep scratches, fire, vicious animal attacks, car accidents, crazy ex-friends, or the scary disgruntled old guy “courtesy washing” your vehicle behind the dealership with a dirty broom.
How are ceramic coatings applied?
- The vehicle is carefully washed, decontaminated, and hand-dried.
- The vehicle is then thoroughly inspected for compromised paint (swirls, scratches, water spots, etc.) and addressed. Depending on the vehicle’s paint condition, we will advise if a multi-stage paint correction is required.
- After vehicle preparation, the entire surface is wiped with a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water to ensure all wax, grease, or polish residues are removed.
- The ceramic coating, a clear liquid, is applied to the vehicle’s painted surfaces, chrome and plastic pieces, and any clear bra or vinyl-wrapped surfaces. It can also be applied to all metal surfaces (wheels, brake calipers, etc.) and glass.
- After applying the ceramic coating to a small surface, the technician pauses, allowing the product to level and properly flash away. Any remaining extra product is quickly removed.
- The technician continues installing in small sections until all vehicle surfaces are coated.
- Once fully coated, the vehicle is closely examined for any coating unevenness or “high spots”. These will usually appear as dark streaks and are easiest to resolve while the coating is fresh.
- If additional layers or a “top coat” has been selected, they are applied over the base coat using the same procedure as noted in steps 4, 5 and 6.
- If possible, the vehicle is stored overnight, allowing the ceramic coating to cure.
What is the advantage of a ceramic coating vs. traditional paint sealants and waxes?
Ceramic Coatings have superior durability, thickness and UV protection and scratch, chemical and mar resistance. They are also more hydrophobic and have better dirt release properties over traditional protectants.
What does that actually mean? It means ceramic-coated surfaces are easier to wash and stay clean longer. They are more resistant to scratches and wash swirls and less prone to fading over time. Ceramic Coatings protect against UV damage and permanent etching from water spots, bird droppings, bug splatter, tree sap, etc.
How does one care for a ceramic-coated vehicle?
A ceramic-coated vehicle should be washed just like any other vehicle. We recommend a periodic hand wash and hand dry, ideally every few weeks. As with any vehicle surface, a ceramic-coated vehicle will periodically need its surfaces decontaminated. This can usually be achieved with a clay bar treatment.
Is there a warranty with these ceramic coatings?
Depending on the product and coverages, warranties are 3 years, 5 years, or 7 years. Warranties are limited to 2 years on vehicles that are 6 to 10 years old at the time of application.
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at Accutint Bellevue Now!
With over 20 years of experience, our expert team has seen, and restored, it all. From everyday drivers to high-end showpieces, we deliver unmatched service, precision craftsmanship, and results you can trust.
