Protection & Correction

Protection that bonds to the paint. Not protection that washes off.

A chemically bonded ceramic layer applied over the clear coat. Hydrophobic, gloss-enhancing, and durable — lasting years rather than weeks. Always preceded by correct surface preparation.

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from €750 — Includes decontamination and a preparation polish. Price varies by vehicle size and product tier.

Ceramic Coating at freshcardetail studio

The Service

What Ceramic Coating actually is.

A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied by hand to the vehicle's paint surface. It bonds chemically with the clear coat and creates a semi-permanent protective layer that cannot be washed away by water or soap. Unlike waxes and sealants, which sit on top of the paint and degrade within weeks or months, a ceramic coating bonds at the molecular level and lasts for years with appropriate maintenance.

The ceramic layer provides hydrophobic properties — water sheets off the surface rather than sitting in beads — making the vehicle significantly easier to maintain and reducing the speed at which contamination bonds to the paint.

Is This Right for You?

Is this service right for your car?

Ceramic coating is for any vehicle owner who wants long-term, low-maintenance protection on their paint. It is particularly suited to new or newly corrected vehicles — applying protection at the earliest opportunity maintains the paint in its best condition for the longest time.

If you have had paint correction carried out (at freshcardetail or elsewhere), a ceramic coating locks in the corrected finish and prevents new defects from forming as quickly. If your car is new, applying ceramic before the first swirl mark appears is the most effective way to preserve factory paint quality.

The Process

How Ceramic Coating works.

Decontamination wash

Full chemical and physical decontamination is mandatory before any coating is applied. Iron, tar, and bonded contamination must be fully removed so the coating bonds to clean clear coat, not surface deposits.

Preparation polish

A single-stage machine polish is included to remove any light swirling or polish haze and ensure the paint surface is uniform. We do not apply a coating to paint with existing defects — it would lock those defects in place.

IPA wipe-down

An isopropyl alcohol wipe-down removes all polish oils and residue, leaving the clear coat completely clean and ready to bond with the coating.

Coating application

The ceramic coating is applied panel by panel with an applicator block. Each section is levelled before flash time passes. Application technique and flash time management are critical to the result.

Curing period

Initial cure requires 24 hours in a temperature-controlled environment. Full cure takes 7–14 days. During this period, the vehicle should not be washed and should be kept away from rain where possible.

The Products

Professional-grade products only.

We use the same products on client vehicles that we teach with in the Academy — professional-grade chemicals and tools that perform correctly and consistently. No consumer shortcuts, no mixing brands for margin.

The Work

Before & after — from the studio.

Transparent Pricing

What does Ceramic Coating cost?

Ceramic Coating

from €750

Includes decontamination and a preparation polish. Price varies by vehicle size and product tier.

Full safe wash and chemical decontamination
Single-stage preparation polish
IPA wipe-down
Ceramic coating application (full exterior panels)
Coating on glass (optional — specify when booking)
Post-application inspection
Aftercare instructions

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No obligation. We assess first, quote second.

Common questions

How long does a ceramic coating last?

Depending on the product tier and your maintenance routine, a professional ceramic coating lasts between 2 and 5+ years. Consumer-grade coatings sold online last significantly less. Professional application and an appropriate wash routine are both required to achieve the stated durability.

Does a ceramic coating prevent scratches?

A ceramic coating adds some resistance to very light surface contamination and marring, but it does not prevent deep scratches or stone chips — for that, you need paint protection film. What a ceramic coating does do is keep the surface cleaner for longer (hydrophobic effect reduces contamination bonding) and make the paint significantly easier to maintain without introducing new swirls.

Why is paint correction included before a ceramic coating?

A ceramic coating is semi-permanent. If you apply it over paint with swirl marks or surface defects, those defects are sealed in place. We include a preparation polish in our coating service because we are not willing to lock defects in under a coating — it would produce a poor result and a client who is rightly unhappy six months later.

Do I need to do anything special to maintain a ceramic coated car?

A coated vehicle should be maintained with safe-wash techniques — two-bucket or rinseless wash, pH-neutral shampoo, no automatic washes. The coating does not remove the need for washing; it makes washing easier and more effective. We provide written aftercare instructions with every coating.

How long will my car be at the studio?

A ceramic coating service takes two to three days: day one for decontamination and correction, day two for coating application and initial cure. We ask you to leave the vehicle with us overnight after application for the first cure stage.