How a ceramic coating copes with a winter of salt, grit and wet

Most of the cars I see in March tell the same story. The paint is grey with road film, the lower doors are gritty, and the owner has given up washing it because every attempt left it looking no better. A ceramic coating does not stop any of that landing on the car. What it changes is how easily it comes off again.

I have already written about why winter protection matters and about what Derbyshire roads do to a car. This one is narrower. It is about what a coated car is actually like to live with from November to March, and what washing it feels like compared with bare paint.

Why winter is hard on paint

It is not one thing. It is several things at once, for months, with very few dry days to put it right.

• Road salt gets thrown up off gritted roads and dries into a white crust on the lower half of the car. It holds moisture where you least want it.
• Grit is sharp. Wipe a gritty panel with a dry cloth and you are rubbing fine scratches into the clear coat.
• Wet is constant. Rain, spray and condensation mean the car is rarely properly dry, so dirt is always sitting in a film of water on the paint.
• Dark evenings mean most people only see the car under street lights. Grime builds up without being noticed, and washing after work in the cold and dark is not much fun, so it gets put off.

Put those together and you get a car that is dirty more often, cleaned less often, and cleaned less carefully when it is.

What the coating is doing on the paint

A ceramic coating is a thin, hard layer that bonds to the clear coat. Its surface is smooth and it repels water. On bare paint, water spreads out and sits there, and the salt and dirt in it settle onto the surface. On coated paint, water beads up and runs off, and a lot of the loose grime goes with it.

That is the whole point in winter. The coating gives salt and road film less to hold on to. Some of it still dries on, of course, but it is sitting on top of the coating rather than gripping the paint.

Washing a coated car in winter

This is where people notice the difference. On a coated car, a pre-wash foam and a rinse shift far more of the dirt before I touch it with a mitt. Less dirt left on the panel means less to drag around during the contact wash, and that is how you avoid adding swirls through the winter.

• The wash is quicker, because grime lets go sooner.
• It is gentler, because I need less pressure and fewer passes.
• Drying is easier, because most of the water has already run off.
• The car stays looking cleaner for longer between washes, because dirt does not build up in layers so readily.

You still need to wash it. Salt left on any car for weeks is a bad idea, coated or not. A coating just makes each wash less of a battle. If you want me to take care of that through winter, my valets can be done at your home or at the unit. For mobile work, I will just need you to provide a power socket.

What a coating will not do

I would rather you know this up front. A coating will not stop stone chips. It will not make the car self-cleaning. It does not protect the underside or the inside of the arches, and those still need rinsing through the season. And it is only as good as the paint underneath it, which is why the car is properly decontaminated and, where needed, polished before anything goes on.

How I do it, and where

Ceramic coating and polish work are done at my unit in Glapwell only. Coatings need clean, still air, good lighting and time to cure, and I cannot guarantee any of that on a driveway in October. I trained on UBV's 10k Guarantee ceramic course.

I use Labocosmetica professional coatings, such as HPC Pro. For clients who want a long-duration coating, Reign by Performance People is one option. Which one suits your car depends on the paint, how you use the car and how long you want it to last. You can read more on my ceramic coating page.

If you mainly want to get through this winter, Winter Protection is from £418 and is also done at the Glapwell unit only. I will tell you honestly which of the two makes more sense for you.

Frequently asked questions

Can a ceramic coating be applied at my home?

No. Ceramic coating, polishing and Winter Protection are only done at my Glapwell unit, 8 Blacksmiths Close. Valets can still be mobile or at the unit, and for mobile work I need you to provide a power socket.

Does a ceramic coating mean I do not need to wash the car in winter?

No. The car still gets dirty. The coating means salt and road film let go with less effort, so each wash is quicker and gentler on the paint.

How much is Winter Protection?

Winter Protection is from £418 and is done at the Glapwell unit only.

Which coating will you use on my car?

It depends on the car and how long you want the protection to last. I use Labocosmetica professional coatings such as HPC Pro, and Reign by Performance People is one option for clients who want a long-duration coating. I will talk it through with you before any work starts.

Book in before the worst of it

The earlier in the season the car is coated, the more of the winter it gets the benefit. Call or text +44 7985 215943, or book online here.

Josh
Washy Luxe Limited, 8 Blacksmiths Close, Glapwell, Chesterfield S44 5NS
+44 7985 215943 · https://washy-luxe-limited.detailpilot.com/