Ceramic Coating vs. Wax Overview
Are you after protecting your car from the weather elements, giving it a deep shine, and increasing its value when it’s time to sell? Detailing can help you achieve all these, while also intermediating a quality bonding time with your precious ride. But when it comes to paint protection, what’s the difference between ceramic coating vs. wax? And which product is actually more suitable for you?
These questions get asked a lot, and the confusion around this subject is perfectly understandable. Even among experienced car owners there are still a few which believe that wax and ceramic are one and the same, and no matter which one you use the results are all the same. What you should know though is that car waxes and ceramic coatings have distinct advantages, and are specifically suited for different applications. But although they have their differences, they both perform the same task: protecting your vehicle’s exterior surfaces from sun exposure, moisture and environmental pollution.
And since many of you have contacted us with questions like “Should you wax before applying ceramic coating?”, “Can you ceramic coat over wax?”, or “How long does ceramic wax last?”, we’ll try to answer all of them and more, in this post about ceramic coating vs. wax. So join us today as we uncover all the differences between the two, and help you pick the best one for your vehicle.
Is Ceramic Coating Better Than Wax?
To help you understand the differences between ceramic coating vs. wax, we’ll first look into how these products are manufactured, what ingredients they are made of, and how each one of them functions in terms of paint protection.
Car wax can be derived from a diverse range of materials, from natural substances to synthetical ones. In the automotive space, the most commonly used are montan, paraffin and carnauba wax. As a substance which changes form from solid to a liquid at ambient or slightly elevated temperatures, traditional wax serves as a protective barrier between your vehicle’s paint and the environment.
Ceramic coatings on the other hand are made of inorganic ingredients such as silica, quartz, and silicon dioxide (also known as SiO2) which means that they are formed under much higher temperatures during their manufacturing process. This leads to higher durability for day to day usage, and easier maintenance in the long run when comparing ceramic coating vs. wax. Ceramic protectants are better than wax at resisting heat, UV rays, bird droppings, environmental pollution & road grime. On the other hand, wax is safer (even when not applied properly) both to you and to your car’s paint job, while also being less harmful to the environment. The downside is that it will require more prep work, and will be more difficult to apply.
As to whether it is okay to apply ceramic coating and wax together, the answer is “yes”… but not many people choose to do it. That’s because the process is not only time consuming, but also because ceramic-based protectants are quite slick, so once they cure, the wax will have trouble adhering to the surface anyway. The better alternative is to choose a high quality product which performs well enough to cover the work of both a ceramic coating and a wax.
In case you are looking for a recommendation, Nexgen Ceramic spray has one of the highest percentages of silicon dioxide then any other similar product designated for commercial use. And if you didn’t know this by now, the more SiO2 a ceramic coating spray has, the stronger the layer of protection that will form on your vehicle’s surface will be. Its hydrophobic properties are not only best at preventing water spots from forming, but also at keeping your car safe from water, acid rain, salt, pollen, and even UVs from direct sunlight. The high SiO2 content makes Nexgen a better paint sealant than its competitors, and provides a longer lasting shine which doesn’t require the use of waxing afterwards. On top of that, Nexgen Ceramic Spray has an incredibly fast application time, and starts working immediately after you apply it. You can get it for 40% off here.
Final Thoughts On Ceramic Coating vs. Wax
The end note is that a daily-driven car that spends a lot of time outside will benefit from any form of detailing, whether in the form of waxing or ceramic coating. Since both of them are better than nothing, your end choice depends on a number of factors: the harshness of the environment in your area, the time you want to dedicate to detailing, or whether you prefer a more natural product over a synthetic one.
Hopefully our post helped clarify some of the confusion that surrounds the use of ceramic coating vs. wax. But if you have more questions that we may have missed, or you are looking for professional help, why not drop us a line through our contact form. And if you are looking for more car care reviews and recommendations, keep following our blog and product reviews.
