Detailing: The layer of truth

By CARSIFU | 26 November 2013

A-correctly-detailed-vehicle-with-a-protective-coating-system
A correctly detailed vehicle with a protective coating system.


Paintwork coatings are usually described in superlatives and we’ve been bombarded by a plethora of marketing taglines and the thinly-veiled promise of indestructibility for your car’s paintwork.


But do they really work as advertised or are they more hyped-up than they should be?


Certain service-providers claim that their brand of coating systems are able to outlast the ownership duration of the car, while others trump the ever-popular “never polish and wax again” phrase proudly.


Just how do you sift through the distractions and decide which coating works and which one is vapourware?


In the first of a multi-part series, we’ll take you through several key points for your consideration. Let’s start with the first:


Sacrificial Protection - The most important key to deciphering which product is suitable for you is understanding that any coating is intrinsically a sacrificial layer protecting the paintwork from a range of environmental damages such as watermarks, oxidation, tar, tree-sap, birdlime and more.


It is designed to be the first level of protection against the elements.


A quality coating system allows for relatively maintenance-free care via weekly washes for any vehicle.


It can preserve a well-detailed vehicle in a remarkably good condition but it is not impervious to the laws of nature.


Coatings treated onto vehicles that are parked in the shade will almost always last significantly longer and look better than on a vehicle that is parked under the sun for extended periods of time.


Coatings are not a miracle, just science at work. Which means that it is perishable and will degrade over time. It is NOT a one-off treatment, even if it is usually marketed irresponsibly as such.


We’ve been pioneering the field of paintwork protective coatings in Malaysia for many years before even the mainstream coatings become locally available or distributed.


A-gloss-meter-instruments-used-to-conduct-periodical-tests-at-AutoDetailer-Studio-Petaling-Jaya
A gloss-meter instruments used to conduct periodical tests at AutoDetailer Studio, Petaling Jaya.


The first thing we did was to conduct extensive all-weather testings on them.


There were no shortcuts during this process where we directly exposed a half-dozen bonnets to our local sun, rain and contaminants, half-on-half with treated and untreated sections.


Some panels were layered with multiple coatings separated by 24-hour curing times in between treatments to measure surface reactivity differences and as a control point.


These panels were washed twice a week and tested for surface smoothness, watermarks, gloss-levels and hazing.


Coincidentally, it was also through these testing procedures that we noted the durability of carnauba waxes and synthetic sealants.


The definitive conclusion was simple.


Layering waxes, synthetic sealants and coatings generally allow for consistent finish and work up to a maximum of three layers, depending on product and application technique, but after that are subject to the laws of diminishing returns.


In layperson terms, 12 layers will work just the same as two.


Layering will also not multiply the durability of any coating except through periodical reapplication which could introduce contaminants between treatments if no surface maintenance is carried-out.


Traditional carnauba waxes, regardless of the number of layers, generally last up to three weeks in our humid tropical weather.


Synthetic sealants will usually last twice as long as carnauba waxes.


Coating systems which can range from the most basic fluorine-based coatings to the more advanced silicate (often referred to as glasscoatings based on their molecular underpinnings) will vary in their durability from three

months to a little over a year.


No coating based on our real-world testings have exceeded those stated timelines.


As a sacrificial protective layer, you’ll need to send your vehicle at least once a year for maintenance and re-coating. This will ensure that your vehicle’s paintwork will remain pristine year-after-year under the responsible care of a skilled detailer.


Next month, we’ll look at how surface preparation becomes the most important element for an effective coating system to work.