The paint job on an automobile is arguably the single most important visual feature on the exterior.  Protecting it on a regular basis can mean the difference between a paint job that looks great for years, or one that slowly deteriorates.  Appearance enhancement is an added benefit to regular paint protection.

There are several options for protecting the paint, ranging from simple spray-on/wipe-off treatments, to the application of traditional waxes and sealants, and all the way on to the relatively complex world of high-durability ceramic coatings.  In this month’s blog entry, we will cover the different options for paint protection.

The Important Prep Work

Before we can even consider which type of paint protection to use, we must make sure that the paint is ready to receive the protection.  It starts with a proper car wash, covered in the previous blog entry entitled “Wash Basics”.  Next, if the paint surface has contamination that does not come off during the normal wash—things like tar, environmental fall-out, and water spots—these items must be removed before adding protection, or we are simply coating the contaminants!  The previous blog entry “Surface Contamination” covers this topic.

Should the paint suffer from subsurface damage like scratches or oxidation, removal prior to adding protection is really at the discretion of the vehicle owner.  Any kind of polishing removes small amounts of paint, so sometimes it’s just better to “make the scratches shiny” by adding protection over them.  And, some waxes and sealants actually help hide minor scratches by partially and temporarily filling them in.

Paint Protection Basics

Beyond the washing, drying, and surface decontamination of the paint, there are some basics that will help yield better results when followed.  First, it is ideal to apply paint protection out of direct sunlight, and in moderate temperatures.  This may not always be possible, and the ambient conditions may determine the type of protection that is used.

Second, all paint protection procedures utilize towels.  Ideally, these towels are in great condition, cleaned before each application, high quality, and dedicated to use only for paint protection application and removal.  Thus, you don’t want to use your interior cleaning towels or those used to wipe up grungy messes from the exterior.  Proje has a great selection of microfiber towels that can be used just for the painted surfaces, like any of those from the “PRO” series.  If you don’t have fresh, clean towels, it’s best to invest in some new ones and dedicate them to painted panel work.

“Spray and Wipe” Protection Products

These types of chemicals are literally as described:  you simply spray the product onto the paint surface and wipe off the excess.  It is about the easiest way to add protection to the vehicle paint.  Proje offers several options in this area.

If you are going to rely solely on a spray-and-wipe product for paint protection, then Express Spray Wax is probably your best bet.  It combines the best of polymer paint sealant and carnauba protection.

For quick touch-ups between washes, Proje’s SiO2 Quick Coat is a great product.  It is technically designed as a waterless wash, so it is rich in ingredients that emulsify dust and dirt so that these can be wiped away without water and without scratching the paint.  And since SiO2 Quick Coat is infused with ceramic nanoparticles, it leaves behind a layer of protection.  This particular spray-and-wipe product is especially great to use if your car already has a ceramic coating applied.

Another excellent between-wash product is Proje’s Show Shine, which adds gloss while removing light dust and fingerprints. 

For matte finishes, the recommended Proje spray-and-wipe product is Surge Quick Detailer, although it can be used on any painted surface.  This product contains ingredients that add protection to the paint, but it does not contain heavy glazes or other ingredients that might create streaking issues while trying to wipe off the product from a matte finish.

An important benefit of all Proje spray-and-wipe product is the anti-static ingredients that help repel dust between washes.  This also makes it easier to wash the car, as it is less likely for dust and dirt to stick to the car.  And if it does, the dust and dirt is stuck to the protective layer, not the paint.

Waxes and Sealants

Let’s start this discussion by clarifying terms that are sometimes inappropriately interchanged.  An automotive paint “polish” is a product that is designed to clean and shine the paint using mild abrasives in a solvent base.  A polish, in it’s true form, will not protect the paint—it will only make the paint look shinier. 

Contrast this to automotive paint “wax”, which, in its pure form, is a protective product designed to add a layer of protection between the paint and the environment.  Now, it is true that wax can add gloss and depth, but it does so by filling in imperfections instead of removing or reducing them.  Waxes typically contain natural resins (like carnauba) and synthetic resins.

For the die-hard traditionalist that enjoys hand-applying thick wax with a pad, Proje offers Old School Paste Wax, which has a high concentration of true Brazilian carnauba resin for that old school deep shine and hard finish.

Then there is the world of polymer paint sealants, which contain synthetic polymer resins (including ceramic).  The polymers are made up of complex long-chain molecules that, upon wiping on the paint surface, grab onto each other, forming an impervious “net” across the paint surface.  Additionally, the polymer molecules also bond to the paint surface itself.  These factors allow a polymer paint sealant to provide better and longer-lasting protection than traditional wax products.

Proje offers the perfect combination of polymer paint sealant and carnauba wax with its Hybrid Wax Sealant, which contains both synthetic polymer resins and natural carnauba resin.

Serum-style Ceramic Coating

Curable ceramic coatings, like Proje’s 9H Ceramic Coating, are a serum like clear liquid that typically comes in a small glass bottle and are carefully applied to the pre-prepped paint surface using a specific application process.  Ceramic coatings contain complicated nanomolecular solids in a specialized liquid resin.  Once applied, the resin evaporates and the ceramic molecules cross-link, producing a super-hard microscopic crystalline-like layer that is virtually impervious to chemicals.

The final result of proper application of a ceramic coating is a noticeably deeper shine and gloss with protection that is far superior to what any wax or sealant can provide.  The protection will last a long time, given proper maintenance.  Ceramic coating application procedures are covered in previous blog entries.

Summary

After the wash, and following any necessary prep work, automotive paint protection can be achieved with many options.  A simple weekly spray-and-wipe application can go a long way to protecting automotive paint.  More durable protection is afforded by waxes and sealants.  And for the best protection, there is nothing like a ceramic coating.

By Prentice St. Clair, CD-SV, RIT

Prentice St. Clair, CD-SV, RIT has been providing training and consulting for the professional automotive detailing industry since 1999, as well as providing detailing services to the motoring public many more years than that.  Prentice holds many certifications within the detailing industry, and is a Recognized Industry Trainer through the International Detailing Association.  Considered one of the industry’s leading experts, Prentice has been inducted to the IDA Detailer’s Hall of Fame.