Wild Coating Claims

One of the most notable changes in the detailing world is the popularity of nano coating products. Consumers are always interested in products that make their lives easier, and a coating can do just that.  A paint coating will make vehicles easier to clean, keep them looking better for longer periods of time, and will reduce the time spent on maintenance as there is no need to use traditional waxes or sealants several times a year after a coating is applied.  Best of all, these benefits can last for years rather than just weeks or months.  Sounds great, right? Not quite.

The market is flooded with coatings. Open Facebook or other social media and you will see ads for some form of car coating that promises to eliminate the need to car washes. Unfortunately, Some companies and some detailers have resorted to unethical methods to help sell their products and/or services.  These methods often involve “stretching the truth”, to put it lightly, in order to gain sales. Let me clear up some of the nonsense to help consumers better understand what coatings can actually do for them.

claim: You never have to wash again

This should just sound fishy from the beginning, yet many consumers still fall for this claim and are forced to pay for it later when their car is dull, faded and covered water spots, bug splatter, bird bombs, etc.

Nano coatings do provide a more durable layer of protection, and do not require as much maintenance as an uncoated vehicle, but this does not mean the car is maintenance free.  Actually, many of the best coating features rely on the fact that the car is kept clean and is properly washed on a regular basis.  I wash my vehicles at least twice a month, and more frequently if the vehicle is particularly dirty.

Claim: 9H Hardness will resist scratches

Many companies like to dwell on the hardness rating, such as 9H.  Some even include it in their product’s name to draw attention to it.  What most of them are not advertising is what 9H actually means.  The test I am aware of is known as the “Pencil Hardness Test”.  As I understand it, a pencil is used to mark a line on the surface that is being tested, and if no scratch is visible, the test is repeated with a harder pencil until the surface is scratched.  A coating with a hardness of 9H does not show a scratch with the hardest pencil.

This is far different than the MOHS Mineral Hardness scale in which minerals are rated on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest.  In the past, I have seen coating companies advertising products with a 9H MOHS hardness, however this is simply not feasible.  If a coating had a mineral hardness of 9H, the only substance that would be able to scratch the surface would be one with a hardness of 10H or greater.  For reference, a diamond, one of the hardest substances on earth, is rated at 10H.  With that in mind, if a coating was truly 9H mineral hardness, it would not be possible to scratch the car with a key and you certainly would not be able to make swirl marks with a dirty towel (unless you’re smashing up diamonds and sprinkling them onto your towels).

Once a coating is applied, it can be scratched and swirled just the same as bare paint, so do not read too far into the hardness claims that are listed with any particular coating.  In my opinion, they are nothing more than marketing hype.

Claim: Never Polish you car again

Say goodbye to swirls and scratches! … I wish.

Unfortunately, this is another completely false claim that is being used to lure customers in.  While paint coatings may theoretically provide some small amount of resistance to fine marring, they are certainly not scratch proof or swirl proof, and improper washing and drying will absolutely lead to swirls and scratches on a coated vehicle.  A well maintained vehicle should only require very light polishing, never true correction, regardless of what type of protection has been applied.

Claim: No Need for Paint Protection Films/clear bra

Again, I wish!  Paint coatings are far too thin to have any chance of holding up against an impact. On the other hand, if you’ve ever held a piece of clear bra, it is a pretty hefty layer of material.  Clear bra and paint coatings serve entirely different roles in the paint protection market, and one cannot replace the other, but they do complement each other quite nicely.

Clear bra is the best choice for providing protection against flying debris and small impacts.  Paint coatings provide protection from environmental contamination.  I recommend applying a paint coating on top of a clear bra so you can experience the benefits of both worlds.  A base layer for rock chip protection covered with a coating for added beauty and easier maintenance.

Hopefully it is easy to see that these types of claims are doing nothing but harming the detailing industry.  Detailers trust manufacturers, and customers trust their detailers to provide factual information about the products and services they offer.  When false information is spread, it creates expectations which no product will ever live up to.

Whether it is a paint coating, paint correction, or even a tire shine – make sure you’re aware of the abilities of the products you use, and be sure to ask questions when discussing the abilities of those products with your detailer.