DIY ceramic? Difficult?
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Banned Scam/Spammer
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DIY ceramic? Difficult?
A place near me wants to charge $1500 to ceramic coat my car. I have a magnetic red c6. Is this difficult to do correctly or is it easy to ruin it?
Can I just go get some stuff myself and do a good job really easily? If recommended for diy what brand should I buy?
Can I just go get some stuff myself and do a good job really easily? If recommended for diy what brand should I buy?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
A guide that gives a nice overview of the process: https://blog.esotericcarcare.com/gui...g-application/
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Its easy to do yourself, $1500 is not a terrible price though. I would ask what product they're using.
The work is in the paint correction step, not the application of the product. I just did my 4Runner and will be redoing the vette before I bring it out for spring with Kamikaze Miyabi and ISM coat. Miyabi is easy, the ISM needs more attention.
The work is in the paint correction step, not the application of the product. I just did my 4Runner and will be redoing the vette before I bring it out for spring with Kamikaze Miyabi and ISM coat. Miyabi is easy, the ISM needs more attention.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
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From: Woodland CA
I don’t think applying ceramic coating itself if overly difficult, but it is all the prep work before that takes a lot of time. The washing, decontamination, polishing, paint correction, etc. If you already know how to do all that, applying the coating should not be hard for you. I currently have Ceramic Pro 9H on my corvette. https://ceramicpro.com/products/
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,011
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From: South Florida
It's all in the prep, and coatings can vary drastically from one to the next and can also vary depending on the conditions when you're applying (temperature and humidity). After getting quotes for my car, I invested some time learning how to do the process and eventually bought two different size polishers, pads, and everything else you can think of. The first coating I ever used was a pro coating which you're supposed to be certified to apply. It was very difficult to apply and I had a ton of high spots which I had to go back and fix. The car turned out amazing. I have since done multiple cars with different ceramics, most of which were much easier to install. I would practice on a beater car, or go to a body shop or junk yard and get a hood to practice on. Don't chase perfection if youre doing it yourself. And most corvette have extremely hard paint which requires more aggressive pads and/or compounds.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,100
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
As others have said, "It is all in the surface prep". The surface that you apply the ceramic over must be scratch and swirl free. When the ceramic or PPF is applied you lock in any surface imperfections that may be present. Depending on the condition of your paint $1500. may not be too far out of line. Check on what high end detailers would charge just for the paint correction and use that as a base for the $1500.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2024
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I’ve done a few of my cars myself. It’s a lot wasier
of you have the tools. I did a bunch of research before I bought my products. Check out Scott HD on YouTube. He has tons of comparison videos and you can see the results.
of you have the tools. I did a bunch of research before I bought my products. Check out Scott HD on YouTube. He has tons of comparison videos and you can see the results.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2018
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From: Wauconda Il
Like said the prep is the key for success. Some products may be harder to work with than others. Most of them are novice friendly. You definitely could do it yourself. I highly recommend polishing before coating. The ceramic locks and protects everything in place so it’s critical you like your preb work before you ceramic coat it. The preb and the polishing makes it look like mirrors and glass Not The Coating!! Preb/polishing=gloss,shine and perfection Coating= protection durability
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,863
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From: Woodland CA
No, You want paint free of any oils or residue. One of the steps for 'surface prep' is to use an IPA solution after you have done all your polishing/paint corrections and right before applying ceramic coating. If you apply wax first, then that wax will be a layer on top of your paint and will not allow the ceramic coating to bond to the actual paint surface.
And while you can wax AFTER the ceramic coating (once it is completely cured), there is no point in this. It is best to just use a ceramic based car shampoo and follow that up with a ceramic booster spray. I literally clean my ceramic coated cars once a year now.
And while you can wax AFTER the ceramic coating (once it is completely cured), there is no point in this. It is best to just use a ceramic based car shampoo and follow that up with a ceramic booster spray. I literally clean my ceramic coated cars once a year now.
