Ceramic coating – what is it, and is it worth the money?
Ceramic coating has become one of the biggest topics in modern car care.
You have probably seen videos of water virtually flying off the paintwork. Cars with extreme gloss. Or products that promise several years of protection after a single treatment.
But what actually is ceramic coating?
How long does it last? Does it protect against scratches? Can you apply ceramic coating yourself? And perhaps most importantly of all:
Is ceramic coating worth the money?
In this guide, we walk you through ceramic coating from A to Z – both for those considering professional treatment and those who would like to coat the car themselves.
What is ceramic coating?
Ceramic coating is a liquid paint protection that is applied to the car's surface and, after curing, forms a very thin protective layer.
Unlike traditional wax, which typically has relatively limited durability, a real ceramic coating is developed to bond much more strongly to the surface.
The result is a more long-lasting protection.
Depending on the coating, it can, among other things, provide:
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Strong water repellency
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Increased gloss
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Smoother surface
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Better chemical resistance
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Easier cleaning
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Less adhesion of dirt
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Long-term paint protection
Some coatings are developed for about one year of durability.
Others are developed for 3, 5 years or even longer.
However, the actual durability always depends on the product, the preparation, the driving conditions, and not least how the car is maintained afterwards.
What does ceramic coating do to the paint?
Imagine the car’s clear coat as the surface we want to protect.
When a ceramic coating is applied correctly, it bonds to the surface and forms an extremely thin protective layer.
It changes the characteristics of the surface.
One property, in particular, has become synonymous with ceramic coating:
Hydrophobicity.
That is, the ability to repel water.
On a good ceramic coating, water will typically bead up clearly and move more easily across the surface.
It looks fantastic.
But hydrophobicity is only part of the story.
A good coating should also make the car easier to maintain and protect the surface against the influences the car encounters in everyday life.
Why ceramic coating?
For us, the biggest advantage is not necessarily how the car looks immediately after the treatment.
A freshly polished car can also look fantastic without a coating.
The big advantage shows itself in the months and years after.
A good ceramic coating can make the car significantly easier to keep clean.
Dirt has a harder time bonding to the smooth surface, and during a proper car wash, you will typically find that much of the dirt comes off the car more easily.
This does not mean:
"I never need to wash the car again."
On the contrary.
A coated car still needs to be washed.
But it is often far more satisfying to maintain.
Benefits of ceramic coating
There are several reasons why ceramic coating has become so popular.
1. Long durability
One of the major differences between ceramic coating and traditional wax products is the durability.
Whereas a wax typically needs to be reapplied relatively often, a ceramic coating can protect the paint for several years.
This, of course, depends on the coating.
A coating with a stated five-year durability does not necessarily last exactly five years on every car.
A car that:
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Drives 50,000 km per year
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Parks outside all year round
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Is rarely washed
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Goes through automatic car washes
has completely different conditions than a garage car that is washed gently every two weeks.
Therefore, see the manufacturer's stated durability as an expected maximum or indicative durability under the right conditions – not a guarantee of exactly the same service life on all cars.
2. Fantastic hydrophobic effect
It is the property that looks best on video.
Water gathers into small beads and runs quickly off the surface.
A strong hydrophobic effect is not just visually satisfying.
It also makes the car easier to maintain.
Water and dirt find it more difficult to stay on the surface, and the car can be easier to rinse clean.
3. The car becomes easier to wash
In our opinion, this is one of the biggest practical advantages.
A good coating provides a smooth surface where dirt does not bind in the same way as it does on unprotected paint.
This means that pre-washing and a high-pressure cleaner can often remove a surprisingly large amount of dirt before you even start the contact wash.
And that fits perfectly into our basic philosophy regarding car washing:
Remove as much dirt as possible before you touch the paint.
If you want to learn more about this, you can read our guide to proper car pre-wash.
4. More gloss and depth
A ceramic coating can enhance the gloss and depth of the paint.
This is especially true if the paint has been properly polished before the coating is applied.
On dark colors, the result can be extremely beautiful.
But there is one important detail:
The coating cannot repair bad paint.
If the car is full of wash scratches, oxidation, and polishing errors, they will not disappear because you put a coating on top.
Therefore, preparation before coating is extremely important.
5. Better chemical resistance
A quality coating can give the paint a more resistant surface against various chemical and environmental influences.
This is interesting for a car that is constantly exposed to:
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Traffic film
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Road salt
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Insects
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Bird droppings
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Car care chemicals
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Weather and wind
This does not mean that you can just leave bird droppings on the car for three months.
But you have an extra protective barrier between the impact and the car's clear coat.
Does ceramic coating protect against scratches?
Here we must debunk one of the biggest myths about ceramic coating.
Ceramic coating does not make the car scratch-proof.
You can still create wash scratches in a coated car.
You can still get stone chips.
A branch can still scratch the paint.
And a bad car wash can still leave its mark.
A coating can provide a more resistant surface, but it should not be confused with a physical protection film like PPF.
If your primary goal is protection against stone chips and physical impact, PPF is a different category of paint protection.
Ceramic coating vs. wax
It is a classic question.
Should I choose wax or ceramic coating?
It depends on what you want.
A traditional wax is typically:
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Easy to apply
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Relatively cheap
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Quick to work with
Beautiful in finish
Shorter in durability
A ceramic coating typically requires:
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More thorough preparation
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More precise application
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Longer curing
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More work the first time
In return, you get potentially several years of protection instead of months.
Are you the type who loves to wax the car several times a year?
Then wax is not necessarily wrong.
Do you, on the other hand, want long-lasting protection and easier maintenance?
Then ceramic coating starts to make real sense.
Can you apply ceramic coating yourself?
Yes.
And this is actually an area where coating products have developed enormously.
In the past, ceramic coating was often considered something that should almost exclusively be done by professional detailers.
But modern coatings can be far more user-friendly.
This means that a serious car enthusiast can easily achieve a fantastic result at home in the garage.
But there is one important prerequisite:
You must do the groundwork properly.
Nordic Pro Coatings – ceramic coating does not have to be difficult
At Carfreak.dk, we work with Nordic Pro Coatings, among others, because the philosophy behind the products fits very well with the way we believe modern ceramic coating should be.
High performance does not necessarily mean difficult application.
Nordic Pro Coatings is developed with a great focus on user-friendliness while providing the properties you expect from a quality ceramic coating.
This makes the products interesting for both professional detailers and enthusiasts who would like to coat their own car.
You don't necessarily have to be a certified detailer to get access to a serious ceramic coating.
If you can prepare the paint correctly, work systematically, and follow the instructions, it is absolutely realistic to apply the coating yourself.
Why are Nordic Pro Coatings easier to work with?
One of the things that can make traditional coatings nerve-wracking for the first-time user is the short working time.
You apply the coating.
Wait.
And suddenly you think:
"Should I have wiped it off 30 seconds ago?"
If a coating dries or cures too much before wiping, you can get so-called high spots – areas with excess coating that can be visible in the paint.
Nordic Pro Coatings is developed with a very user-friendly work process.
The coating can have up to about 10 minutes of working time on the paint and still be easy to buff off, depending on the product and working conditions.
This provides much more calm during the application.
You can work panel by panel, check the result, and wipe the coating off properly without feeling like you are racing against the clock.
For the do-it-yourself user, this is a huge advantage.
Only one layer is necessary
Another advantage of Nordic Pro Coatings is that you do not need to build up the treatment with a complicated system of many layers.
One correctly applied layer is enough.
This makes the whole process more manageable.
Wash.
Decontamination.
Polishing as needed.
Degreasing.
Coating.
Finished.
This of course still means that the application must be carried out correctly.
But the coating process itself does not have to take a whole weekend.
Nordic Pro Coatings Graphene Pro 60
Pro 60 is one of the coatings that we especially recommend for those who want long-lasting and versatile protection.
It is developed as a 5-year ceramic coating and combines, among other things:
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Strong hydrophobic effect
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High chemical resistance
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Long durability
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User-friendly application
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Single-layer application
A particularly interesting property of Pro 60 is that it can also be used on matte paint.
This makes it relevant for cars and motorcycles where you want ceramic protection without necessarily changing the character of the matte surface with a large gloss boost.
Nordic Pro Coatings Graphene GX
If Pro 60 is the versatile solution, GX is the coating for those chasing finish.
GX is also developed with up to 5 years of durability, but has a special focus on:
Extreme smoothness, gloss, and a powerful hydrophobic surface.
It is the type of coating we would look at for, for example, a glossy black car, where the goal is maximum depth and a wet-look.
The surface becomes incredibly smooth, and the water repellency is one of the coating's great strengths.
Because of the powerful gloss-enhancing effect, we do not recommend GX for matte paint.
Here, Pro 60 would be the more obvious choice.
Pro 60 or GX – which one should you choose?
It can actually be done relatively simply.
Choose Pro 60 if:
You want an extremely versatile 5-year coating with high chemical resistance and a powerful hydrophobic effect.
It is also our choice if the car has matte paint.
Choose GX if:
You have glossy paint and want maximum:
Gloss + smoothness + wet-look + hydrophobicity.
Both coatings are developed with a focus on high performance and an application that is also realistic for the serious do-it-yourself user.
Can everyone really coat the car themselves?
Yes – but we have to define "everyone".
You do not need to be a professional detailer.
You also don't need to have coated 100 cars previously.
But ceramic coating is also not something we recommend pouring randomly over a dirty car in the parking lot.
It requires:
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Patience
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Good lighting
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Proper preparation
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Clean microfiber cloths
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That you follow the product's instructions
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That you check each panel after wiping
Can you do that?
Then a user-friendly ceramic coating is absolutely a realistic do-it-yourself project.
The preparation is more important than the coating itself
This can almost not be emphasized enough.
The result will never be better than the surface you apply the coating to.
You can buy a fantastic coating.
But if you apply it on top of:
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Tar
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Rail dust/fallout
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Limescale
Oil
Polish residue
Traffic film
you will not get the optimal result.
Therefore, a ceramic coating starts long before the bottle is opened.
How to prepare the car for ceramic coating
A complete preparation will typically consist of:
1. Thorough pre-wash
Remove as much dirt as possible without physical contact.
Read our complete guide to car pre-wash.
2. Hand wash
Wash the car thoroughly with a good car shampoo and clean washing equipment.
You can follow the entire process in our guide to proper car washing.
3. Chemical decontamination
Remove as needed:
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Rail dust/fallout
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Tar
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Limescale
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Other stubborn contaminants
If the car has problems with mineral deposits, you can read our guide to limescale and water spots.
4. Mechanical decontamination as needed
If the paint still feels rough, clay or other mechanical decontamination may be necessary.
5. Polishing
Polishing is not always an absolute requirement for the coating to bond.
But if you want the best possible cosmetic result, it makes sense to correct the defects you do not want to seal under the coating.
The coating does not automatically hide wash scratches.
6. Panel wipe / degreasing
After polishing, the paint must be free of:
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Polishing oils
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Grease
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Residue
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Other substances that can affect the coating's bonding
Therefore, the preparation typically ends with a dedicated panel wipe.
Now the paint is ready.
How to apply ceramic coating
The precise method always depends on the product.
Therefore, follow the manufacturer's current instructions for the specific coating.
A typical process, however, looks like this:
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Ensure the paint is clean, dry, and degreased
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Apply coating to the applicator
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Work on a manageable area
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Spread the coating evenly
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Let the product react as instructed
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Wipe off excess coating with a clean microfiber towel
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Inspect the area in good lighting
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Move on to the next panel
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Allow the coating to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions
Take your time.
It is not a competition.
What are high spots?
High spots are areas where excess coating has not been wiped off properly.
For example, they may appear as:
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Darker areas
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Rainbow-like smears
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Streaks
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Uneven finish
This is why good lighting is extremely important when coating the car.
Look at the panel from different angles after wiping.
If you find a high spot quickly, it can often be corrected relatively easily.
If left to cure completely, it may become necessary to polish the area and reapply the coating.
This is also where a coating with a forgiving working time makes the process significantly more pleasant.
Should a new car be polished before coating?
Not necessarily.
But:
A new car does not automatically mean perfect paint.
A brand-new car may already have:
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Transport marks
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Fine wash scratches
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Glue residue
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Fallout/Rail dust
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Limescale spots
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Preparation errors
Therefore, the paint should always be inspected first.
Is it perfect?
Great.
Then a very light preparation may be sufficient.
Does it have defects that annoy you?
Then the time before coating is the perfect moment to correct them.
Can you coat a used car?
Of course.
In fact, an older car can undergo a massive visual transformation.
Here, the preparation will typically be more extensive.
A used car may require:
Thorough decontamination + machine polishing + degreasing + coating.
It is often the polishing that creates the biggest visual transformation.
The coating then protects the result.
How long does ceramic coating last?
There is no single answer.
You will find coatings with stated durability of:
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1 year
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2 years
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3 years
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5 years
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Even longer
However, the durability depends to a large extent on the life the car leads.
A coating generally lasts best on a car that is:
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Washed correctly
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Maintained regularly
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Not constantly exposed to aggressive chemicals
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Not taken through automated car washes
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Decontaminated as needed
Therefore, maintenance is at least as important as the number on the bottle.
How do you wash a ceramic coated car?
A coated car must still be washed correctly.
The basic process does not actually change:
Pre-wash → rinse → hand wash → rinse → dry.
The difference is that the job often becomes easier.
A good coating helps prevent dirt from bonding so strongly to the paint.
Use a good car shampoo and clean microfiber equipment, and avoid unnecessarily aggressive contact with the paint.
See the entire process in our complete guide to proper car washing.
My ceramic coating no longer beads – is it gone?
Not necessarily.
This is extremely important.
Many judge the condition of the coating solely by water beads.
But over time, the surface can become covered by:
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Traffic film
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Minerals
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Limescale
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Oily dirt
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Other deposits
This can mask the hydrophobic properties of the coating.
Before you conclude that the coating is dead, the car should therefore be cleaned and decontaminated properly.
Mineral deposits, in particular, can affect the surface.
Read more in our guide to limescale spots on the car.
Can ceramic coating get water spots?
Yes.
This is yet another myth we would like to debunk.
Ceramic coating does not mean that water spots become physically impossible.
On the contrary, a hydrophobic coating creates nice water beads.
If mineral-rich water droplets are then allowed to dry in the sun, the minerals can still remain behind.
Therefore, proper drying or the use of lime-free/deionized water is still relevant on a coated car.
Should you use coating shampoo?
Not necessarily.
The most important thing is to use a good car shampoo that suits the way you want to maintain the coating.
You can choose:
A pure shampoo
which focuses primarily on cleaning.
Or:
A shampoo with protective properties
which can simultaneously boost shine and hydrophobicity.
What you prefer depends on the coating and your maintenance routine.
Is ceramic coating worth the money?
For the right car owner:
Yes, absolutely.
But not necessarily for everyone.
If you never wash the car yourself, take it through a car wash every week, and do not care about the condition of the paint, you will not necessarily get the full benefit.
But if you:
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Want to take care of the car
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Wash the car regularly
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Want to make maintenance easier
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Love hydrophobicity
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Want high gloss
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Want long-lasting paint protection
then ceramic coating is, in our opinion, one of the best upgrades you can give the paint.
And especially now, with user-friendly coatings available that you can apply yourself, a serious ceramic treatment does not necessarily have to cost thousands of kroner at a professional detailer.
Professional coating or DIY?
Both solutions have their place.
Professional treatment
Makes very good sense if:
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The paint requires extensive correction
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You do not have a polishing machine
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You do not have suitable working conditions
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You want to leave the entire process to an experienced detailer
DIY coating
Makes very good sense if:
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You love car care
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You can prepare the car yourself
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You have time and patience
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You want to save the cost of professional treatment
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You want the satisfaction of doing the work yourself
With a user-friendly coating like Nordic Pro Coatings, the actual coating part is not something you need to be afraid of.
The most important thing is the preparation.
The biggest mistakes with ceramic coating
1. Poor preparation
Coating must be applied to a completely clean surface.
2. Too much product
More coating does not automatically mean better protection.
3. Incomplete wiping
This can result in high spots.
4. Poor lighting
You might not discover high spots until the next day.
5. Coating on hot paint
Work under the conditions the manufacturer recommends.
6. The car is exposed to water too soon
The coating needs time to cure.
Always follow the product's curing instructions.
7. You expect a scratch-free car
Coating is paint protection – not an invisible suit of armor.
FAQ – Ceramic coating
What is ceramic coating?
Ceramic coating is a liquid paint protection that bonds to the surface and, after curing, forms a very thin, long-lasting protective layer.
How long does ceramic coating last?
It depends on the product and maintenance. There are coatings with a stated durability from about one year to products developed for five years or longer.
Can you apply ceramic coating yourself?
Yes. Modern user-friendly coatings make it possible for car enthusiasts to coat the car themselves. Thorough preparation and correct application are, however, crucial.
Is Nordic Pro Coatings only for professionals?
No. Nordic Pro Coatings is precisely interesting because the products combine high performance with user-friendly application. They can therefore be used by both professionals and serious DIY enthusiasts.
How many layers of Nordic Pro Coating should you use?
Nordic Pro Coatings is developed so that one correctly applied layer is sufficient.
What is the difference between Nordic Pro 60 and GX?
Pro 60 is a versatile 5-year coating and can, among other things, be used on matte paint. GX is also a 5-year coating but focuses specifically on extreme slickness, gloss, wet-look, and hydrophobicity, and is therefore not recommended for matte paint.
Should the car be polished before ceramic coating?
Not always. But the coating does not automatically hide existing wash scratches and paint defects. If you want the best possible result, these should be corrected before coating.
Does ceramic coating protect against scratches?
It can increase the resistance of the surface, but the car will not be scratch-proof. Coating should not be confused with PPF.
Can you wash a ceramic coated car?
Yes – and you should. Proper maintenance washing is crucial to keep the coating clean and maintain its properties.
Can ceramic coating get water spots?
Yes. Mineral-rich water can still leave water spots on top of the coating. Therefore, proper drying or lime-free water is recommended.
Is ceramic coating worth the money?
If you want long-lasting protection, high gloss, hydrophobicity, and easier maintenance, ceramic coating can be a very good investment.
Conclusion – ceramic coating is not just for professionals
Ceramic coating has changed the way we protect car paint.
You get the opportunity for several years of protection, strong hydrophobicity, high gloss, and a surface that generally becomes easier to maintain.
But the biggest misunderstanding is perhaps that ceramic coating necessarily has to be difficult.
It doesn't have to be.
Products like Nordic Pro Coatings Pro 60 and GX are good examples of modern coatings where high performance is combined with a far more user-friendly application.
This means that you do not necessarily have to leave the car with a professional detailer to get serious ceramic paint protection.
Do you have the patience to prepare the paint correctly and follow the instructions?
Then you can definitely coat your car yourself.
And the satisfaction of subsequently standing with the pressure washer and seeing the water fly off a car you have prepared, polished, and coated yourself?
That is hard to beat.
At Carfreak.dk, you will find both ceramic coatings and all the equipment you need for preparation and subsequent maintenance.
If you want to learn even more, we recommend our guides:
How to wash your car correctly – complete guide to car washing
Pre-wash of car – how to do it | Complete guide
Water spots on the car – how to remove them
Then you have both the foundation to apply the coating and to take proper care of it afterwards.
