I have no personal experience with that brand. However, there are quite a few user friendly ceramic coatings you can do yourself. If you can wax a car you can apply many ceramics. It’s not as scary as most people think. Polishing is very simple too.
It's scary if you don't paint correct or get all the swirls, scuffs, and other crap out of the top/clearcoat. If you don't, you're sealing all of that in permanently.
Considering a ceramic coating will last years, compared to a few months for a wax, yes, it's important to get the car polished and corrected before application. But coatings are not permanent, so at the very least, you are locking the paint for 2 to 3 years.
One thing to remember is you nor will anyone get a cars paint 100% swirl/marring/scratch free with a few exceptions. I’ve only seen a handful of cars that I couldn’t see a flaw and those paint jobs were probably as expensive as some cars I’ve owned over the years and had multiple layers of clear coat applied and then buffed and polished to perfection. There will always be a flaw or flaws some where. Factory clear coat is too thin to get 100% award winning paint. You can make it look really great but at what cost to your clear coat thickness. As mentioned above, go with a good wax or spray sealant.
Of course not. But 95% or 98% correction is far better than 0% correction before applying a ceramic coat that locks those imperfections and damage in for many, many years.
You are correct on waxes not equivalent to ceramics. Some waxes are infused with UV inhibitors, graphene and ceramics which are more protective than regular paste wax.
I specifically asked the installer about "graphene". You know what he told me? When it comes to thin automotive coatings, "graphene" is a marketing term, just like "military grade".
Long ago, I decided that, if I could make the money in the same amount of time it would take me to do it myself, I'm going to pay someone else do it (provided they are reputable).
If your car is ceramic coated, you don't have to take it to someone for maintenance or washings. No idea who told you that. You simply have to use the correct product to wash (one that won't break down the ceramic coating) and keep your car clean (i.e., don't let dirt, mud, or other contaminant remain on the vehicle). Wash every couple of weeks or so, that's it. The only thing my installer told me was to bring it back once a year (during the warranty period) just so he can inspect it to make sure something isn't going wrong. This way, they can address it before it gets bad.
Graphene forms water molecules into a tighter bond to help shed water. It’s just another form of ceramic but it’s a little harder. You’ll notice it on the same panel in a side by side comparison.
My understanding, and per that article I linked to from Feynlab (developer and manufacturer of product used for enhancing and protecting auto, marine, aircraft, and industrial finishes), graphene requires a THICK layer (~100 microns) to incorporate it, which is why a thin, hand applied coating has no real graphene protection. It is often used as an additive to a base, but you're not getting the protection that graphene COULD provide in a proper thickness when it comes to thin automotive application.
I can't tell you. All I can tell you is he said he will sell (or ID) the correct products to use and wants to see it once a year. They are a very reputable shop in our area, and the product has a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
You won’t get the proper protection of anything on a thinner application whether it’s graphene or ceramic. It’s been proven by plenty of tests that it does add benefits to whatever you are adding it too. Do companies use it as marketing, sure, because we really don’t need it. We really don’t need ceramic coating either. Wax is plenty for 99% of people. The ceramic just aids is easier washings, a little better protection against chemical attacks and some slickness.
Wax vs ceramic coating: There is a difference. Even you admitted it a few posts ago "You are correct on waxes not equivalent to ceramics." Wax does not bond molecularly, while ceramic does. That's like the difference between laying a piece of paper over something versus gluing it to the surface - far less chance something compromises or comes between the two if using the latter process.
Ceramic != graphene. If ceramic did nothing, they would not use it.
Graphene in a thin automotive application does nothing. It's all marketing. I've provided my citation from a developer and manufacturer of coatings. I don't know what else to say.
I use F11 Topcoat on my pro streeter (has a 27 year old paint job on it). It works well to shine up the paint before car shows, but doesn’t last long. I had my new Mustang ceramic coated (Ceramic Pro). As everyone is saying, the paint prep is crucial!!
