Coatings vs. Sealants

Coatings vs. Sealants

The performance of ceramic coatings is simply unparalleled in the automotive detailing industry. Nothing else on the market combines incredible protection from chemical damage, UV degradation, and minor scuffs while also providing deep gloss and hydrophobic performance like ceramic coatings. Although a traditional sealant will never come close to outperforming a ceramic coating, there are still reasons why it might make more sense for you to choose a sealant, rather than a coating.

Below we’ll compare and contrast sealants with ceramic coatings keeping in mind a few key principles.

Expense

The most common objection to ceramic coatings is cost. Even a professionally applied sealant will be much less expensive than a ceramic coating. Furthermore, sealants are a reasonable DIY project for most people, meaning you can save even more. Ceramic coatings should NOT be a driveway job, there are numerous reasons why it is imperative to get a ceramic coating professionally applied (read about those reasons right here).

Damage

Neither technology can fully protect your vehicle from rock chips or other high-impact damage – only PPF can do that. Repairing a damaged sealant is typically easier than repairing a coating. If a vehicle with a traditional sealant experiences a rock chip, the area surrounding the chip can usually be buffed, repaired, and resealed. 

On the other hand, spot treatments are often more difficult on ceramic coatings than on sealants. More often than not, the shop would have to polish the coating away and re-coat the entire body panel once the damage is fixed.

Maintenance

The hydrophobic characteristics of ceramic coatings will revolutionize your maintenance routine. You will be amazed every time you watch mud, dirt, and grit simply fall off your vehicle as if gravity had been turned up 100x. As the crud falls away, that beautiful gloss will shine through every single time.

However, some people mistakingly believe (or are told by bad salespeople) that a coated vehicle requires no maintenance at all. This is false, and a coated vehicle that is neglected for a long period of time will experience problems.

Vehicles treated with a traditional sealant or a ceramic coating all require regular washing, and the coating/sealant can be damaged if neglected. A damaged sealant isn’t too bad to deal with – you’ll simply use a strong soap to strip the sealant away and apply a new one. A damaged coating is a bit more work, mostly because coatings form such a strong bond (which is one of their main advantages). 

Ceramic coatings don’t eliminate the need for washing, they simply make the process easier and more rewarding. This is why we only recommend coatings for people who are enthusiastic about their vehicles and are likely to continue caring for them.

With a ceramic coating, your vehicle will stay cleaner between washes, be invulnerable to UV degradation, and be protected from chemical damage (common sources of chemical damage include bird droppings, acid rain, industrial fallout, and tree sap).

Why Go Ceramic?

After reading everything written above, you might find yourself wondering why anyone would choose a ceramic coating! While it’s true that they have a relatively high upfront cost, are difficult to repair, and require basic maintenance; they also last far longer than anything else on the market (over 7 years, in some cases) and offer out-of-this-world performance that is unmatched by any sealant you can buy.

With a ceramic coating, your vehicle will stay cleaner between washes, be invulnerable to UV degradation, and be protected from chemical damage (common sources of chemical damage include bird droppings, acid rain, industrial fallout, and tree sap).

Trust an Expert

There are undeniably pros and cons to both technologies. One of the main reasons to talk to a ceramic coating expert is to get help deciding if a ceramic coating is right for you – think of it from our perspective: we want to make sure that every customer we work with is happy and every vehicle we coat is well taken care of, it’s in our best interest to make sure that our clients are getting the right product for their specific needs, rather than to push for a sale that isn’t necessary.

To talk to your local experts in Victoria, BC, just click right here.