Paintwork Protection Kit - Caramics Ceramic Coating

Yes. Glisten Spray Wax is the perfect product for use on previously-applied protection layers, and that includes waxes, sealants and ceramic coatings. In all cases it will add a quick and easy top up of protection during routine maintenance along with a whole load of extra shine. However, Glisten is a product that installs wax-based protection, and while it will extend the life of all coatings by adding an extra layer of protection, it has been specifically developed to install stand-alone protection, or to work at its best by bonding with previously-applied wax layers to extend their life and return the vehicle to the same hard wax finish. Wax protection can be applied over fully-cured silica-based (Si02) ceramic coatings without any problems due to the fact that waxes physically bond to surfaces. Ceramic coatings cannot be applied over the top of waxes because the wax layer will block the chemical-bonding needed between a coating and the vehicle surface. So, if you’re looking to top up a coating with more ceramic protection in the future, or aiming to extend the life and performance of your ceramic coating, we’d recommend using an Si02-based product such as Caramics Gloss Enhancer, Ceramic Spray Wax or Lavish Ceramic Foam, which will chemically bond to the original coating, essentially becoming part of the same layer. For more information on maintaining vehicles with Ceramic coatings, see our guide – Maintain and Enhance Your Ceramic Coatings In Under An Hour.

You can use the Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit on any paint type such as wrapped and matte.

You can use the Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit on any painted parts of your motorbike.

We would recommend following these steps before applying the Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit.Step one: Pre-cleaner - Citrus Power.Step two: Snow foam - Avalanche.Step three: The all-important two-bucket method contact wash - Lather.Step Five: Drying. Step Six: multi-stage decontaminationDecontamination stage 1: iron dissolver - Iron Out.Decontamination stage 2: solvent tar remover.  - ObliTARateDecontamination stage 3: Clay Bar. Step Seven: Rinse and dryStep Eight: PolishingNow you are ready to protect your vehicle!

You can use a wax over the top of your ceramic coating on your maintenance washes however it will not benefit the durability, it will offer extra gloss.It may be worth looking at our Caramics Gloss Enhancer which will boost both the shine of your vehicle and the protection on your maintenance washes.

We recommend washing your vehicle regularly.Step one: Pre-cleaner - Citrus Power.Step two: Snow foam - Avalanche.Step three: The all-important two-bucket method contact wash - Caramics Enhancing ShampooStep five: Drying. Step six: Adding shine - Caramics Gloss EnhancerWith regards to decontaminating your vehicle, we do not recommend using any decontamination products over your ceramic coating as it will affect the durability.As well as this we do not recommend polishing your vehicle once it has been ceramic coated as it will remove the coating.

The main difference comes in the way these protection layers bond to surfaces. A wax (like those in our Signature Wax Collection, along with Radiance Carnauba Creme and Mint Rims Wheel Wax), will physically hold on to the top layer, creating a strong bond and leaving a layer of wax protection that’s separate to the paintwork. Waxes can be durable from a few months, right up to 8-months or so, depending to the content of hard wax and other ingredients in the blend. A ceramic coating however, will chemically bond to the surface, essentially becoming an integral part of the top layer, and this is the reason why coatings tend to have more durability – because these molecular bonds are more resilient to chemicals and abrasion, making them more difficult to remove. The Si02-based coating in our Paintwork Protection Kit for example has a durability of up to 12-months for exactly this reason. It’s also explains why a ceramic coating cannot be applied over the top of a wax layer, because the wax will block the chemical bonding process, but a wax can be applied over a (fully cured) ceramic coating, because it will happily bond to almost any surface. Both types of protection layer are impermeable to moisture, make your paintwork appear deeper and shiner, and ensure that the vehicle is easier to clean the next time around – simply because the grime won’t stick. When it comes to choosing between the two, Waxes tend to be slightly easier to apply, and ceramic coatings tend to offer more hardy protection for daily drivers, but the truth is that, for the most part, it’s all down to personal preference… especially when it comes to looks. Ceramic coatings are man-made and engineered to be perfectly clear, allowing light to pass through and back to the eye completely uniformly. Hard waxes have a certain amount of natural impurities that bend and soften the light as it comes back to your eye – this is what gives them their trademark warm glow.

All silica or quartz-based ceramic coatings (such as those found in our products Ceramic Spray Wax, Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid, Lavish Ceramic Foam, Caramics Gloss Enhancer, Caramics Enhancing Shampoo, Wash 'n' Gloss, and our flagship Caramics Protection Kits), use a layer of chemically bonded silicon dioxide (SiO2) to create a barrier between the surface and the elements that’s impermeable to water and only possible to remove by abrasion. In all their forms, and regardless of their durability, ceramic coatings are intended to add the hardiest protection to surfaces and, although they’re also designed to level the optical finish of paintwork and vinyl (including paint and powdercoat on wheels) - allowing light to bounce back to the eye more uniformly to make the finish appear deeper and glossier - the glass-like layer they install is not intended to hide underlying paint defects. So, when it comes to full paint decontamination and paint correction, the application of coating will still be effective with regards to physical protection, gloss and water beading without carrying out these processes, but you will not correct or obscure any defects already in the paintwork. This is why we always recommend carrying out any swirl mark or other defect removal, along with surface cleansing, prior to application of any protection layer (ceramic, wax or sealant) if you’re not completely happy with the condition of your paintwork. Especially when using a product intended for the most extreme durability such as our Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit, which installs a coating that lasts for up to a year. For maintenance washes, where SiO2 products are used to top up previously applied ceramic protection, we would assume that any paint correction necessary would have been carried out before the initial application of the coating. For preparing the surface for your coating, it's essential to use a product that doesn't contain waxes or fillers that will block the adhesion of the coating, such as our Revitalise System V2 Compounds and One Step All-in-One Compound. For the full rundown on the science of ceramic coatings and how they work see our article – What Difference Does A Ceramic Coating Actually Make.

No. Tripple has been developed as an all-in-one polish and intended to clean, enhance and protect paintwork in a single application. For this reason, it not only contains advanced abrasives, but the formula is also made up of a certain proportion of glazing oils and carnauba wax. Silica-based (SiO2) ceramic coatings, like those that you’ll find in our Caramics Paintwork Protection Kit, and other products such as Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid, Ceramic Spray Wax and Lavish Ceramic Foam are used to add hardy protection via a glass-like barrier to the elements. To do this effectively they must be allowed to chemically bond to top of the paintwork/lacquer layer to essentially become part of that layer, making them particularly difficult to remove and giving the maximum possible durability in terms of protection. A wax however physically bonds, which means that it clings to the top surface as a separate, smooth layer, and this wax layer will block the chemical bonding of any ceramic layer applied over the top. You can however add a wax layer over the top of a fully cured ceramic coating because it will already be a part of the paintwork, and this is useful if you prefer the trademark warm glow offered by a hard wax. So, to remove swirl marks and other paint defects before application of any ceramic coating, we recommend polishing compounds that do not contain waxes or glazes, that will give a true paint finish. Our Revitalise System V2 Compounds, and One Step All-in-One Compound are suitable for this task. For more on all polishes, how they work and which are best for use with different types of protection, see our full article – All Car Polishes Explained.

The great thing about silica-based (SiO2) ceramic coatings is that they’re specifically developed to help your vehicle look better for longer. The hardy protection layer they install is essentially chemically bonded silicon dioxide, which is like glass, so it smooths the surfaces enough to prevent water molecules and grime from bonding. Regardless of application to paint, glass, vinyl or any other exterior surface, this is why they bead to the extreme and offer the longest lasting protection of any product. What’s most important here is that grime will sit on top of the ceramic layer rather than sticking, and this makes cleaning easier. But it’s still important to carry out safe maintenance to stop heavy grit and grime from being rubbed in and abrading the coating and the paintwork, causing the infliction of defects. Using coating-friendly pre-wash products, such as Citrus Power Bug and Grime Remover and Avalanche Snow Foam will also prevent damage to coatings because they don’t contain harsh acidic or alkaline cleaning agents that may etch into the top layer. It’s the same story for the shampoo you use in your two-bucket wash. Lather Car Shampoo is a great choice as it will never damage previously-applied coatings, but alternatively you can use Wash 'N' Gloss Car Shampoo or our Caramics Enhancing Shampoo to actively top-up and prolong the life and performance of your SiO2 coating as you wash paintwork, glass and all other exterior surfaces. Other products that are great for topping up during routine maintenance include Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid, Lavish Ceramic Foam, Caramics Gloss Enhancer, Caramics Glass Cleaner and Ceramic Spray Wax. When it comes to paint correction, all you have to remember is that Si02 coatings have to be allowed to chemically bond to the topcoat or lacquer layer, so it’s crucial to use a compound or a polish that doesn’t contain any waxes or fillers, because these extra layers will block the chemical bonding process. For paint correction, polishing and refinement before adding a coating, we’d recommend using products that only reveal a true finish, such as One Step All-in-One Compound, or our Revitalise System V2 Compounds (which are also available separately). Don’t forget that SiO2 coatings are extremely durable and can only be fully removed through abrasion, this means that polishing your vehicle using any abrasive after applying a ceramic coating will remove the Si02 layer, meaning that reapplication of protection will be required after you polish. For more on how to prepare a car for a ceramic coating, see our guide – Detailing and Ceramic Coating a New Car.