Ceramic Coating Application in St. Louis
Real paint protection. Real shine. Real easy to clean.
So this guy from Fenton brings me his black Dodge Charger. Paint looked nice, but he goes, “Man, every time I wash it, it’s covered in swirls. Water spots too. And I’m washing it like twice a week.”
I asked him if he ever had ceramic coating on it. He goes, “Nah, what’s that even mean?” I showed him one of our shop cars that’s been coated for over a year—still beads water like crazy. No swirls. Bugs wipe off with a towel. His jaw kinda dropped. He booked a ceramic coating application right there.
This is what we do every day. And folks love the results.
What Is Ceramic Coating?
Alright—simple talk. Ceramic coating is a clear liquid we apply to your car’s paint that hardens into a shell. Not thick like paint or wax, but more like a candy coating. Once it cures, it sticks tight and acts like a shield.
Rain, mud, bugs, salt, bird mess—stuff still hits your car, but it doesn’t stick. It wipes off way easier. Water beads up and rolls right off. Sunlight doesn’t fade your paint as fast. It’s like putting a raincoat on your whole car.
What’s Included in a Ceramic Coating Application?
This part matters. You can’t just slap ceramic on a dirty car. That’s not how it works.
Here’s what we actually do:
1. Wash & Decontaminate
We wash the car by hand. We use a clay bar to pull off bonded stuff like tar, iron, sap—stuff you can’t see but you’d feel if you ran your hand over the paint.
2. Paint Correction (if needed)
If your paint has swirls or scratches, we polish it. Light correction for most cars, but heavy stuff if the paint’s rough. Why? Because once the coating goes on, it locks that finish in. So we want it looking as good as it can.
3. Wipe Down & Prep
We clean the surface again with panel wipe. That gets all the oils and leftover polish off so the ceramic can bond strong.
4. Ceramic Coating Application
We apply the coating by hand with a pad. It flashes, we level it out, then it cures. It takes some time. We do it panel by panel. Then we let it cure overnight indoors. Can’t wait that long? Ask us if you qualify for same day delivery.
5. Final Wipe & Curing
Next morning, we check for high spots and give it a final wipe. It needs a couple days to fully cure. After that—it’s ready for the road.
What Surfaces Can You Coat?
Most people get the paint done. But we can coat more than that:
Paint
Wheels
Glass
Headlights
Black plastic trim
Interior leather or vinyl
Engine bay plastic
Guy from South City had us coat his brand new Tacoma. Said he wanted to keep it nice ‘cause it was his first new truck ever. We did the paint, glass, and wheels. Two weeks later, he sends me a photo—mud slid right off after driving through Castlewood. He was pumped.
What’s the Benefit of Ceramic Coating?
Here’s the stuff people really notice:
Paint stays cleaner way longer
You don’t have to wash your car as much
Washing takes less time
No need to wax again
Less water spots
Less fading from sun
Easier bug removal
Paint feels slick
It’s not magic. But it works. It’s one of those things you don’t fully get until you wash your car for the first time after. The water beads. The towel just glides. It’s crazy.
How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last?
That depends on the product we use and how the car is cared for. Some coatings last a year. Some go up to 5+ years. We have different packages:
3-Year Coating – good balance of cost + protection
5-Year Coating – premium cars or garage-kept vehicles
7+ Year Pro Coatings – show cars, high-end stuff
If you get it washed right (no drive-thrus) and don’t use harsh soaps, it can last a long time. We’ll walk you through aftercare. Even offer maintenance washes.
Short answer: yes.
Wax wears off fast. Couple weeks, maybe a month. Ceramic sticks for years. It’s harder, stronger, and protects better. You won’t need to reapply it every season.
Plus, wax melts off in hot weather. Summer in St. Louis? That stuff’s gone by July. Ceramic doesn’t care if it’s hot or cold.
Is It Better Than Wax?
Is It Worth It?
I’ll be honest—ceramic coating ain’t cheap. It takes time, and the materials cost more than wax. But if you care about your car? If you want to keep it looking good? Totally worth it.
We had a lady from Kirkwood who drove a black Honda Pilot. She was always dealing with water spots and tree sap ‘cause she parks under a big oak. We coated the whole thing, even the windshield and trim. She texted me a month later like, “I don’t even hate washing my car anymore.” That’s the goal.
Do You Need Paint Correction Before Ceramic Coating?
Most cars do. Unless it’s brand new or already perfect, you’ll see swirls and haze under the coating if you skip correction.
We inspect the car first. If it’s light stuff, we’ll do a polish. If it’s rough—deep scratches, oxidation—we’ll quote for full correction.
We won’t coat over bad paint. That’s just sealing in problems.
How Long Does It Take?
A typical ceramic coating application takes 1 to 2 days, depending on:
Size of the vehicle
Condition of the paint
Number of layers or surfaces coated
We’ll let you know when you drop it off. You’ll get it back looking shiny, slick, and sealed tight.
Can You Drive It Right Away?
After it cures overnight, yep. You can drive it home.
Just don’t wash it for about a week while the coating fully hardens. No soap, no pressure washers, no drive-thrus. We’ll give you instructions to follow.
After that—it’s low maintenance.
Does Ceramic Coating Protect Against Scratches?
Kinda. It’s not bulletproof. But it’s more scratch-resistant than bare paint.
It helps block light swirls, wash scratches, and stuff like shopping bags or cat paws. Big deep gouges? It won’t stop those. But it does keep the clear coat safe.
What About Interior Coating?
Yep—we can do that too.
Interior ceramic keeps leather or vinyl from staining. Spills wipe off easier. Dog drool, coffee, sunscreen—all that stuff won’t soak in. Good for families or folks with pets.
Had a customer from Webster Groves with two golden retrievers and cloth seats. We coated the seats and cargo area. Now dog hair brushes right off. No more soaked-in wet-dog smell either.
How to Care for Your Coated Car
It’s easy, but you still gotta wash it right.
Use a pH-neutral soap
Wash by hand or with foam
Dry with a microfiber towel
Avoid automatic car washes
We offer aftercare kits and maintenance washes to keep it going strong.
Why Ceramic Coating Makes Sense in St. Louis
Between the salt in winter, humidity in summer, and tree junk in spring—it’s rough here.
We get rain, road tar, pollen, bugs, and sun all in the same week. If your car sits outside in St. Louis, it needs help. Ceramic helps block all that.
And for folks driving around Soulard, South County, or Brentwood—where trees drop sap and birds sit overhead—it really helps.
Final Thoughts
Ceramic coating isn’t just for show cars. It’s for daily drivers, work trucks, family SUVs—anything you want to keep clean and protected.
It won’t make your car invincible. But it’ll make it way easier to care for, and it’ll look way better for longer.
Serving all of St. Louis and the surrounding areas. From Arnold to Wildwood, Chesterfield to Mehlville—we keep your paint looking like new.
Book online, call or text us now.
Book your Ceramic Coating Application with Arch City Detail
314-252-8950
info@archcitydetail.com