Are car paints all the same?
The car industry is full of manufacturers worldwide, and different brands usually provide different performances and quality. One thing that most car owners tend to ignore is that the difference in quality is not only related to powerful engines, superior speed, agility, and overall driving experience but also to the quality of the paint. For example, Japanese paints are generally softer than European ones, and it’s no secret that Tesla produces cars with very delicate paint. That’s why more and more people nowadays choose ceramic coating to provide an extra layer of protection to their cars. However, what about old cars? Does car coating work always the same despite the age of the paint? Let’s find it out together.
What to consider before applying coating to an old car?
You can expect that a 10-year-old paint is not the same as a new one. There are several reasons for this, and below we listed some of the most important ones.
Physical damage
The first factor to consider is if there is any visible serious damage to the car paint. For example, depending on the depth, scratches might impact the effectiveness of the coating, if not treated properly. While a light scratch of the clear coat can be easily removed by simple polishing, deeper scratches will require extensive sanding and repainting of the surface to be effectively removed. For obvious reasons, nobody can guarantee that coating will be effective on damaged car paint. Therefore, we suggest you have the damages of your car paint fixed first, and then evaluate with a professional whether to apply a ceramic coating or not.
Contamination from the environment
Even if not damaged during a collision, the car paint might still be affected by contamination caused by other factors. For example, bird droppings or bugs are both known to contain acidic substances that, if not treated promptly, might erode the car paint. Tree sap is also responsible for damaging the paint, as it will be difficult to remove once hardened. In this case, the paint will need a certain degree of polishing to remove the contamination of the clear coat and restore its original shininess. This will cause the consumption of the layer of clear coat, and we suggest applying at least a 4+1 package of ION, to provide effective protection.
Natural deterioration of the clear coat
The clear coat is the outermost layer of the paint and is responsible for its glossiness and clearness. Even though your 10-year-old car was never damaged in any accident, and is always parked indoors, the clear coat might still be not the same as in the beginning. If you ever had your car polished to remove swirl marks and restore the original brightness, chances are that its clear coat is thinner. Moreover, long sun exposure and frequent car washing might weaken the clear coat. Again, we suggest consulting an expert before proceeding with a ceramic coating on a particularly old car. The KubeBond team has several experts globally, who can help you evaluate the condition of your paint and choose the most suitable package.
KubeBond coatings provide timeless protection!
After reading the above, you probably realize how important it is to apply ceramic coating to a car as soon as possible. By doing this, you can minimize the polishing work that the car needs before the application of ceramic coating. Moreover, you can make sure that the protective effects of the coating provide 100% of effectiveness. We don’t discourage you from applying ceramic coating on an old vehicle; we understand that many car owners share a special bond with their cars and don’t want to separate from them. KubeBond suggests you have your vehicle evaluated by a professional, and the paint restored to normal conditions before applying ceramic coating. By following these simple steps, you keep sharing memories with your car for years to come.
Visit one of our centers or contact us online to know more about the condition of your car paint.