C8 Ceramic coating
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 92
I agree
Having mucked about with a variety of coatings on nearly identical vehicles, some do indeed elicit a different look it seems. Some coatings seem to have a thicker, molten-glass type of gloss (22ple HPC), some a deeper, warmer wax-like glow (Kamikaze ISM 1.0), some a near-sealant/Zaino type brilliance (Feynlab Ceramic), many a candy-like gloss (Gyeon CanCoat) and some appear more ‘shiny’ than outright glossy (Gtechniq CSL and Gyeon Mohs) if that makes any sense. 
Given that experience, I can understand your impressions of what you see with Kenzo, which I haven’t used. Interesting to hear you mention the lightening of the paintwork as coatings often have a tendency to darken the paint a bit, some more than others it seems (a reason that ‘spot-fixes’ on cured coatings don’t often work so well). There could also be a slight brightening of the paintwork from the prep & polishing that was likely done prior to coating application so that may add a bit to the change; even with factory fresh paint I’ve seen some improvement in brilliance and clarity after such prepwork.
Regardless of it all as long as you’re pleased with the results overall, that’s what really matters. There are some coating maintenance products out there that could visually alter the looks a bit; a bit more reflectivity, a bit more gloss…stuff like that although with a pro-applied coating, especially if a warranty is involved, you’ll want to tread lightly in getting too far away from recommended maintenance as dictated by installer.
Coatings are neat and work well for me but do have a different look than waxes and sealants to some eyes; many eschewed the Zaino look as being somewhat akin to Saran Wrap-ish while others found it pleasing so beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.
As for the mentions of actual coating thickness and functionality, I have no personal experience in measured thickness vs longevity/durability but perhaps 1 + 1 does not always equal 2?
Coating Thickness: https://youtu.be/AvtZHM5lfTY
Although I have heard of someone doing the reverse here on the forum and having no issues, generally the PPF goes down first and the coating is applied on top of the PPF. That's how they did our C7 and most of the PPF/coatings installs I have heard of. Never say 'always' and never say 'never' I guess. Mfg's (including PPF mfg's) actually make coatings designed for application on top of PPF so I'd say that's the prevailing school of thought.
Given that experience, I can understand your impressions of what you see with Kenzo, which I haven’t used. Interesting to hear you mention the lightening of the paintwork as coatings often have a tendency to darken the paint a bit, some more than others it seems (a reason that ‘spot-fixes’ on cured coatings don’t often work so well). There could also be a slight brightening of the paintwork from the prep & polishing that was likely done prior to coating application so that may add a bit to the change; even with factory fresh paint I’ve seen some improvement in brilliance and clarity after such prepwork.
Regardless of it all as long as you’re pleased with the results overall, that’s what really matters. There are some coating maintenance products out there that could visually alter the looks a bit; a bit more reflectivity, a bit more gloss…stuff like that although with a pro-applied coating, especially if a warranty is involved, you’ll want to tread lightly in getting too far away from recommended maintenance as dictated by installer.
Coatings are neat and work well for me but do have a different look than waxes and sealants to some eyes; many eschewed the Zaino look as being somewhat akin to Saran Wrap-ish while others found it pleasing so beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.
As for the mentions of actual coating thickness and functionality, I have no personal experience in measured thickness vs longevity/durability but perhaps 1 + 1 does not always equal 2?
Coating Thickness: https://youtu.be/AvtZHM5lfTY
Although I have heard of someone doing the reverse here on the forum and having no issues, generally the PPF goes down first and the coating is applied on top of the PPF. That's how they did our C7 and most of the PPF/coatings installs I have heard of. Never say 'always' and never say 'never' I guess. Mfg's (including PPF mfg's) actually make coatings designed for application on top of PPF so I'd say that's the prevailing school of thought.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 3,658
Likes: 1,939
Dunno how it works, but it does 
Coatings are somewhat flexible when cured, maybe that has something to do with it?
IGL Quartz: https://youtu.be/Iqsn5EhemO0
Cured coating flexing: https://youtu.be/b-sztH9s2Xc
Coatings are somewhat flexible when cured, maybe that has something to do with it?
IGL Quartz: https://youtu.be/Iqsn5EhemO0
Cured coating flexing: https://youtu.be/b-sztH9s2Xc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 1,088
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Coatings are somewhat flexible when cured, maybe that has something to do with it?
IGL Quartz:
NV Nova EVO:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 1,088
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Coatings really aren't that hard, highly overmarketed with all of that 'eleventy billion h hardness' stuff; end of the day, a cotton bath towel can mark em up.
Coatings have to flex a little as panels flex, expand and contract w temperature changes and such. Again, science not my strong suit, i just accept 'what is'...it's just easier
Some ramblings about hardness, both mine and links to coating mfg articles: https://budgetplan1.wordpress.com/gl...ating_Hardness
Coatings have to flex a little as panels flex, expand and contract w temperature changes and such. Again, science not my strong suit, i just accept 'what is'...it's just easier
Some ramblings about hardness, both mine and links to coating mfg articles: https://budgetplan1.wordpress.com/gl...ating_Hardness
