What is Ceramic?
Ceramic Coatings are composed of Silicone Dioxide (Silica/SiO2). SiO2 found in nature is Quartz. It has the characteristics of being water repellent and extremely hard. SiO2 bonds with itself and on the surface of your paint intensely, creating a large amount of surface tension. This surface tension prevents water from bonding to the surface. Instead, the water will bond with itself, creating water beads. Ceramic Coatings are applied in liquid form then as the ceramic cures it hardens and creates a barrier that provides that sought after gloss, depth, and clarity. It also adds protection to your paint and makes maintenance much easier. A lot of modern clear coats  from the vehicle manufacturer are thin and "soft" meaning they scratch, swirl and damage easily, especially when they are not properly maintained. 

Why does Cost vary between detailers and shops?
Some shops/detailers have high overhead costs, some have different processes before applying a coating, some use consumer grade products, some use professional grade/detailer only products. I can not speak for other shops or detailers but I use professional grade/detailer only ceramic on all vehicles. At GOAT Shine Co I do not apply any coating without a decontamination, polish/paint correction, and a surface prep. Yes ceramic can be applied by skipping steps, but since it is a semi-permanent coating you will be sealing all of the defects and imperfections underneath the coating. Also, if there are defects/imperfections/impurities on the paint it is more difficult for the ceramic to bond. In turn, it will leave weak spots and the ceramic coating may ultimately fail. Beware of anyone charging a premium price for a Ceramic Wax, Ceramic Spray, ceramic infused chemical, or Ceramic Sealant as these products only last a few days to a few months, these products are flooding the market! Be sure you know what you are getting!! Ask the detailer or shop specifically what they use and make sure it is a true 9h/10h hardness ceramic coating.

What is the process?
Ceramic Coatings can usually be installed in a full days work, some cases require a second day. This is an in depth process which involves removing any contaminants on the paint with chemicals then a clay bar treatment. Then, any scratches, swirls, or defects are removed with a machine polisher, following this a pre-coat treatment is applied to remove any oils or residue left over from the polish. Finally, the ceramic is applied in small sections with an applicator pad then leveled out. If areas are not leveled out properly the ceramic will cure and leave a dull finish that will most likely need to be sanded off. It is important to note that every step of this process is crucial to ensure the integrity of your ceramic coating. If steps are skipped or a process is not followed you will more than likely have a ceramic coating that fails and lasts just a few months instead of 5-7 years..

Does my vehicle really need all the prep work? (Polish/Paint Correction)
At GOAT Shine Co, yes. It does need the prep work. I am not in the business of taking peoples money only for you to have frustrations and buyers remorse. Whether your vehicle is brand new or a vintage vehicle the surface is likely going to have some defects in it.  Dealerships are not too worried about preserving paint. They are in the business of moving cars as fast as possible, this means their process is about speed not care. I have yet to see a vehicle come in that does not need a paint correction/polish. 

How do I maintain my ceramic?
The best way to maintain your coating is by hand washing following proper wash techniques (YouTube has thousands of videos on this). You can have GOAT Shine Co maintain it for you or hand wash it yourself. If you do love the convenience of a car wash, please please please use a touchless/brushless one!! Ceramic Coatings are amazing but they are not bulletproof. If you choose to go through a brush wash you will end up getting scratches and swirls in your coating. This will also void any warranty the ceramic coating may have. There is no longer a need for wax when you have a ceramic coating installed. Although, there are many ceramic rejuvenation chemicals out there to help maintain your vehicle after a coating.

Remember This:
As you shop around for a ceramic coating service on your vehicle be sure to ask questions about processes, ask what product they use, and find an installer that you trust and will support you and your vehicle long term.