Ceramic coating is a coating that forms a protective layer around surfaces. Ceramic coating is typically applied to protect new paint jobs in cars. However, the ceramic coating has been applied to various surfaces with varying levels of success. But what about using ceramic coatings to seal glass?
Ceramic coating can be used to seal glass. Ceramic coating is perfectly safe to apply to glass, and it has numerous benefits. Ceramic coatings keep glass clear while providing it with added protection against scratches and general wear.
Keep reading to learn more in detail about using ceramic coatings with glass. I will explore the ways ceramic coating can be used on glass, the benefits of choosing a ceramic coating, and how you can maintain ceramic coatings on glass.
Can Ceramic Coating Be Used on Glass?
Ceramic coating is most commonly applied to car paint. Ceramic coatings offer excellent protection for new paint jobs due to their robust nature. However, ceramic coating is often used to protect other building materials. But what about glass? Can the ceramic coating be used to coat glass?
Ceramic coating can be used on glass. Ceramic coating is highly effective when applied to glass, and here are some of the benefits you receive after applying a ceramic coating to glass:
Ceramic coating is an excellent addition to glass. The ceramic coating enhances visibility which is ideal for use in windscreens and car windows. On top of this, the scratch-resistant nature of ceramic coating prevents some nasty cracks from appearing in your glass.
Furthermore, ceramic coatings are smooth and aesthetically pleasing. This can provide your vehicle with a smooth and clean finish that makes a lasting impression. The finish can potentially last for years with a well-installed ceramic coating.
Ceramic coating is also an incredibly water-resistant material. This means water is passed off the surface with ease. As a result, muck and dust fail to cling to the ceramic coatings, which makes keeping the glass clean a much less time-consuming task. To clean glass that has been coated with ceramic windows, all you need is a garden hose.
Adding a ceramic coating to your glass surfaces can save you a considerable amount of time on maintenance and cleaning in the future. However, ceramic coating can be expensive, and, in some cases, the ceramic coating may be even more valuable than the glass it’s protecting.
Should I Ceramic Coat Glass?
Now that you know you can use ceramic coatings on glass, it’s time to determine whether or not it’s worth it for you to put a ceramic coating on the glass. After all, ceramic coatings can be expensive, and it’s not an intelligent move to waste them. So should you put ceramic coatings in glass, or should you choose an alternative method?
You should put a ceramic coat on glass because it’s highly effective. However, ceramic coatings are expensive and it may not be a feasible investment to ceramic coat glass surfaces. This is why ceramic coating is mainly used as a protective layer around the paint job.
Ceramic coating isn’t the only way of protecting glass windows and surfaces. Some cat owners install glass coatings in their cars, while others apply car wax to maintain aesthetics. Continue reading to break down the best materials to use to protect the glass in your car.
See the table below for details about which variety of coating works best for glass. You can see three categories that the materials are judged on; durability, price, worth. Price is indicated using the ‘$,’ on a scale of ‘$-$$$.’
| Glass Coating | Ceramic Coating | Car Wax | |
| Durability | Very Durable | Very Durable | Not Very Durable |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $ |
| Worth It? | Sometimes | Yes | Yes |
As you can see in the table above, both ceramic and glass coatings are incredibly durable as well as robust. However, glass costing offers more protection against scratches and UV rays while being slightly more durable. Unlike ceramic and glass coatings, car wax isn’t very durable and won’t last as long because it fails to find the surface underneath.
However, car wax is the cheapest option out of the three. Car wax costs a fraction of what good-quality ceramic coating costs. Even then, ceramic coating is much more affordable than glass coatings which is an expensive layer of protection to add to a glass surface.
Car wax is worth investing in as it’s relatively inexpensive and doesn’t harm your car’s paint finish. However, as I said, it won’t last long, and it can become quite costly to frequently reapply.
On the other hand, while more expensive, ceramic coatings are much more durable. But the consensus is that you do get your money’s worth with ceramic coating.
Glass coatings, however, aren’t typically worth the investment. In fact, they’re so expensive to install that it is often cheaper to replace the glass when it breaks rather than investing in protecting it. However, if the glass in your vehicle is expensive to repair or replace, then it may be a worthwhile investment for you to consider.
What Surfaces Can You Ceramic Coat?
Ceramic coatings are a versatile finish that you can apply to various materials and surfaces. I’ve already mentioned that ceramic coatings are commonly used to cost paint and are effective when applied to glass. But are there any other surfaces that ceramic coating can be applied to?
Surfaces you can use a ceramic coat include:
Ceramic coatings are often used across vehicles to ensure durability and to protect the aesthetics of the car.
Let’s look at the benefits of adding ceramic coatings to some of these most common areas.
Paint
The most common surface that ceramic coatings are applied to is paint. Ceramic coatings are fantastic for applying to new paint jobs as they strengthen the paint and provide it with additional security.
Ceramic coatings can also remove minor scratches from paint and eliminate minor scratches from appearing in the future. In addition, ceramic coatings protect your paint job from UV ray damage which can cause discoloration and deterioration in the finish without the necessary protection in place.
Wheels
You can also install ceramic coatings onto the wheels of your car. The hydrophobic nature of the coating will cause water to bead up and fall off the wheels. This makes keeping your wheels clean a much more straightforward task.
Installing ceramic coating onto your car wheels will also provide them with a deep shine. This unique finish can certainly help your car stand out from the crowd when you’re out cruising. Ceramic coatings also protect your wheels against chips and scratches, which are common occurrences for wheels.
Wraps
Vinyl wraps are another common feature on cars that ceramic coatings can benefit from. While ceramic coatings do offer scratch resistance and protection for vinyl wraps, the best advantage to adding coating to wraps is the fact that ceramic will stop them from drying.
When vinyl wraps dry out, they start to crack and peel. This can make your car look old and neglected. To prevent this from happening, invest in some high-quality ceramic coating after your car has been wrapped.
Adding ceramic coatings to wraps can even extend their lifespan, as the ceramic coating is such an effective layer of protection. As a result, installing a ceramic coating onto your vinyl wraps could save you a fortune over time on repairs and replacing damaged wraps with new ones.
Exterior Plastic Parts
People often add a ceramic coating to the exterior plastic components. One of the significant advantages of adding a ceramic coating is the shiny effects when dried. This provides the car with a modern and well-designed aesthetic. Ceramic costing is a stylish addition to wing mirrors and other plastic components.
Ceramic coating also protects plastic components from scratches as well as weather damage. As a result, adding ceramic coatings to the exterior plastic parts of your car can save you money on potential repairs in the future.
Can You Use Ceramic Coating on Headlights?
Ceramic coating is regularly applied to pretty much any surface in your car. Ceramic coating binds to the material underneath, forming a protective shield around it. But what about the headlights? Do ceramic coatings interfere with a car’s headlights?
You can use ceramic coatings on car headlights since ceramic coatings don’t interfere with the light being emitted. Instead, the ceramic coating prevents damages from occurring to the headlights. When adequately installed, ceramic coatings can protect your headlights for up to 5 years.
Ceramic coating is an excellent addition to a car’s headlights to improve visibility and ensure that your headlights stand firm for the foreseeable future. Improving visibility from your headlights may be able to provide you with some extra light. Ultimately, this can make traveling down dark country roads much safer.
How To Maintain Ceramic Coatings on Glass
Once your ceramic coating has been applied to the glass on your car, and it has adequately cured, your car glass will require very little maintenance. The characteristics of ceramic coatings only require a few straightforward tasks on your part to keep it working and looking its best.
Here are some critical steps in maintaining your ceramic coated glass:
It’s recommended to wash your ceramic coated glass about once every two weeks. This prevents dirt from accumulating and causing harm to the ceramic coatings. If your ceramic coatings aren’t regularly washed, then they’ll begin to deteriorate and lose durability.
This can result in extensive repairs and replacements, as the ceramic coating isn’t a cheap material. Therefore taking the time to wash your ceramic coatings properly is essential in increasing their lifespan, saving you a fortune in potential repairs.
Once you’ve washed off your ceramic coating, you may want to leave it in the sun to dry. This will prevent the water beads from remaining on the glass, leading to stains and watermarks. After the car has thoroughly dried, it’s ready to use, and it won’t need a wash again for another two weeks.
How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last on Glass?
I have already mentioned that ceramic coating is a solid and durable material. However, I have yet to discuss in detail how long ceramic coatings can last after they’ve been applied to a glass surface. Does ceramic coating last as long when applied to glass as to paint?
Ceramic coatings will last for up to five years on glass when applied correctly. How long the ceramic coating ultimately lasts depends on a few factors, including maintenance, the quality of the ceramic costing used, and how effectively the coating was installed.
Ceramic coating lasts for about the same amount of time when applied to either glass or paints. Ceramic coatings typically last between two and five years on paint, whereas they last up to five years on glass. As a result, you could get your whole car covered with ceramic coating, and then you won’t have to worry as much about maintenance for another five years.
If your ceramic coating doesn’t receive the correct maintenance, then it won’t last for the full five years, especially when using chemicals like polish on the ceramic coating. Polish strips away the coating and causes it to fall off. This will require extensive repairs and replacements to restore your ceramic coatings’ aesthetics, appeal, and functionality.
Key Takeaways
Here are the essential points to remember from this article:
