Wax vs. Sealant vs. Ceramic Coating
…and which one is right for me?
I’m sure some of you remember your dad or uncle in the driveway waxing the car on weekends. Trying to get that shine just perfect.
It's almost as iconic American as Big Mac’s and Apple Pie. But what is wax and why do we use it? Well back in the day we all used a substance called carnauba wax which is made from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree, which is native to Brazil. It's the most natural form of protection for car paint. It tends to provide a deep, rich, warmness to the paint and because of this it is still very popular with classic car owners and collector car enthusiasts. It can be applied easily by hand and is great for giving you that glossy wet look. Remeber Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel-san how to “wax on, wax off” Well same stuff.
The problem with carnauba is that because it's organic it tends to break down pretty quickly which is why dad was out there EVERY weekend. (or he just like the solitude LOL) This is where sealants come in. Paint sealants over the last 15 years have become the go-to standard for most professional detailers and enthusiasts alike. They are synthetic products designed to offer improved chemical resistance and Ease of Maintenance over traditional carnauba waxes. While a typical wax will give you 1-2 weeks of protection, a typical high quality paint sealant can last 2, 3, maybe even 6 months depending on how it's maintained. I don't know about you but I can think of plenty of other REALLY important things (Netflix) that to do with time besides waxing my car every weekend. As Shakespeare once wrote, “Ain't nobody got time for that.” Once every 2-3 months I can get behind that!
But Brandon! What if I want even longer protection? Well person I'm having a fake conversation with, that's where Ceramic Coatings come into play. Ceramic Coatings (and graphene) are the ultimate technology in paint protection and offer Superior Durability, Chemical and scratch resistance, and insane hydrophobic properties. coatings they typically come in a spray form and a resin form. The spray versions are easier to apply, lower cost, and give upwards of a year of protection when properly maintained. Ceramic resins cost more but they will often give you 2, 3, maybe even 5 years of protection if properly maintained. Some brands even claim 7 to 10 years but none have been on the market long enough to test those claims. So personally, I take that with a grain of salt. What is true is that applying a ceramic resin to your vehicle is the best thing that you can do to protect your investment. Your resale value will thank you!