For most people, waxes and polishes are their choices for paint protection on their vehicles. So, when they start to look into the possibility of getting ceramic car coating in Atlanta, it’s natural to wonder if you will still be able to use those products to provide additional protection for your vehicle.
Ceramic coatings are highly durable and excellent at protecting vehicle paint. They stand up to everything from basic debris to acid rain, and depending on how well you care for them, ceramic coatings can remain fresh for years.
Still, it does wear down over time, and when this becomes visible, you might be tempted to polish over ceramic coating. But is this the right choice?
Polishing Your Car Isn’t Like Shining Your Shoes
Car polishes are designed to tough up and add shine to your car’s paintwork. However, it isn’t meant to work with multiple types of surfaces. Car polish is exclusively for standard vehicle paints and finishes.
Can you polish a ceramic-coated car? Unfortunately, no. Ceramic coatings are not standard finishes for vehicles, so polishes are not formulated to work with them. If you use polish on top of ceramic coating, you will strip the coating off of your vehicle, leaving it patchy and damaged. The only time to use polish on a ceramic-coated car is before the coating is applied or if your goal, for whatever reason, is to remove it yourself (but please don’t do this).
Why Polish and Ceramic Coating Don’t Mix
Although every car polish formula is a little different, they all contain millions of microscopic abrasives. When you don’t have a ceramic coating, these actually help do things like remove light scratches and swirl marks. It is a quick and affordable way to somewhat restore the paint surface.
When used on a ceramic coating, these abrasives strip away the protective layer you invested in, exposing the clear coat.
When Your Ceramic Coating Isn’t Its Best
At this point, you might be wondering what avenues you have once your ceramic coating starts to age. Ultimately, the best course of action is to take your vehicle to the professionals at Glasslife. We can either apply a new ceramic coating or offer alternatives that might appeal to you, such as our paint protection films.
To learn more about our products and services or to schedule pickup for your vehicle, contact Glasslife today..
