Paint Protection Film vs Ceramic Coating

Do you care about your car? Do you care about the appearance of your car’s exterior? If so, you probably have done some research on how to protect your car and came across those two products: Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coatings. What’s the difference between them? What will they accomplish for your car? Let’s dive into those questions.

What is a paint protection film?

Paint Protection Film is a transparent material that can be applied to your exterior’s painted surface on your vehicle. In short, it will preserve the quality of your car’s paint by reducing the risk of multiple damages, such as:

• Chips and scratches
• Swirl marks 
• Chemical stains
• Chemical etch marks
• Hard water spots
• Oxidation – fading from UV exposure

What is a ceramic coating?

Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer that is also applied to the exterior of your car. After application, it chemically bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint. In this way, it will establish a layer of protection and a hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic properties of ceramic coating make it harder for contaminants to bond with the car’s paint. This has two main benefits for you as an owner.

• It will keep the car cleaner for longer.
• It will make it easier to clean when the wash time comes

A Ceramic Coating will also help reduce the risk of certain kinds of damages…

• Chemical stains
• Chemical etch marks
• Oxidation – fading from UV exposure

How are paint protection and ceramic coatings similar?

As you can see, both products serve the purpose of keeping your car newer for longer. That is done by protecting and preserving your car’s paint.

In addition to this central aim, both products have some overlapping features. Specifically, they help by reducing damage from UV exposure and acidic pollutants.

In the end, whatever you choose to purchase, Paint Protection Film or a Ceramic Coating you definitely will be adding value to your car.

How are paint protection and ceramic coatings different?

Despite these similarities, paint protection films and ceramic coatings do have significant differences and purposes. 

Paint Protection Films are thicker than ceramic coatings. Moreover, paint protection film, regarding its chemical composition has the ability to self-heal. It will return to its original state after receiving an abrasion. These qualities make paint protection film able to absorb rock chips, swirls marks, small scratches, and water spots without being disfigured.

A ceramic coating doesn’t have that ability. Despite the fact that it will definitely help in reducing the risk, it does not eliminate permanently the risk of scratches or rock chips.

However, Ceramic Coatings do have their strength, especially in terms of the hydrophobic surface they create. Some paint protection films are equipped with it, but often they do not perform at the same level as a full ceramic coating. Moreover, when you apply a ceramic coating to your vehicle you get the benefits of hydrophobic on every surface without having to apply paint protection to the whole car.

What’s the best solution?

Here is the good news. You don’t have to choose between them. They can be both applied to the same car. This dynamic duo of paint protection film and a ceramic coating is the ultimate form of protection for your car.

The paint protection film is applied first to the portions of your vehicle that can be most susceptible to scratches or rock chips. Since a ceramic coating does not guarantee 100% efficiency to those kinds of damages, it is important to apply paint protection film to these areas. 

This includes the front bumper, hood, fenders, side mirrors, rocker panels, and the rear wheel arch.

Once the most vulnerable areas are protected with paint protection film, the whole car can receive a ceramic coating. The coating will bond to both the protection film and the factory paint. When the coating is applied at the top of the film, it will provide an additional layer of protection from chemical stains and etching. 

Whether protected by film or not, the ceramic coating will thwart oxidation and chemical etch marks and stains. The smooth surface of the ceramic coating will also boost the gloss of your car’s paint. 

Together these two products will preserve your car’s paint over the long term.

Why choose us?

Cavalli Stables Mobile Unit offers a revolutionary way to clean. With the use of steam vapour, we are able to powerfully clean, sanitize, and disinfect a variety of different things. We are able to safely, effectively, and naturally disinfect anything that is exposed to bacteria, all in the comfort of your home, office, or business. Feel free to contact us here. Feel free to contact us here. Don’t hesitate to call us and provide yourself with the best ceramic coating services near you.