What Is Ceramic Coating?

So let’s say you just spent all weekend cleaning your car. Washed it, dried it, even broke out the wax. Next morning? It's covered in dust, or maybe bird stuff, or it's raining again. Now it looks like you never touched it.

Yeah. That used to happen to us too.

That’s why we started learning about ceramic coating. Not from a blog or YouTube guy in California. We took our hard learned lessons — from detailing real cars here in St. Louis, dealing with salt, humidity, pollen, and all the junk this city throws at your paint and got trained by industry experts.

Now it’s one of the main things we do at Arch City Detail. And a lot of folks around High Ridge, Arnold, and Fenton keep asking us the same question:

“What exactly is ceramic coating, and is it worth it?”

Let’s break it down.

Ceramic Coating: The Basic Idea

Ceramic coating is a liquid that goes on your car's paint. When it cures, it turns into a solid layer that sticks to the surface like glue. You can’t see it, but it’s there — kind of like armor for your clear coat.

It's not wax. It’s not a wrap. It’s something else. It bonds to your paint on a chemical level. Once it’s on there, it ain’t coming off easy.

We’re not talking about that spray stuff at the gas station either. That stuff wears off fast. Real ceramic coating lasts years. You wash the car, and water just slides off. Dust doesn’t stick. Bugs wipe off easier. Paint stays glossier longer.

And yeah — it does work. Especially around St. Louis, where weather and roads can wreck your finish.

What Does It Actually Do?

Here’s the stuff it helps with:

  • Keeps your paint from fading
    That STL sun gets hot in the summer. Ceramic coating protects your clear coat so that it can block UV rays.

  • Helps prevent water spots
    Water beads up and rolls off. Less time drying. Less chance for spots.  Got hard water?  You need this.

  • Makes washing easier
    Dirt, bugs, pollen… they don’t cling like they used to.

  • Protects against road salt and grime
    Especially important in winter around St. Louis County where they love to dump salt and Jefferson County where they love to drop tons of sand.

  • Looks really, really shiny
    Like crazy shiny. The paint stays deep and glossy without needing wax every month.

How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last?

Depends on the product. The ones we use last anywhere from 2 to 10 years.  We even have an available Lifetime warranty!

We’ve had cars come back in after a year and they still look like they just left the shop. Water still beads up. Paint still looks wet.

It isn’t magic. But it works.

Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?

Alright — real talk. This isn’t a cheap job. You’re not getting out for $100. It takes time and skill to prep the paint, fix swirls, and apply the coating right.

But here’s why people around here think it’s worth it:

1. Less time washing
You don’t have to baby the car. A rinse and towel dry does the job most days.

2. Less money on detailing
Once you’ve got coating, you don’t need wax, polish, or sealant all the time.

3. Looks better longer
If you care about how your ride looks, coating makes a big difference.

One of our customers from Oakville brought in his white Mercedes-AMG GLE 53. Said he was spending hours washing it to keep it from looking dusty. We did a 5-year coating. Now he washes it once a month, tops. Said it’s the best money he spent on his SUV.

What Ceramic Coating Doesn’t Do

Let’s be real — it’s not a shield from everything. Here’s what it doesn’t fix:

  • Won’t stop rock chips
    You’ll need PPF (paint protection film) for that. Coating won’t stop gravel on I-270.

  • Won’t fix bad paint
    It won’t cover scratches or swirl marks. We gotta fix those first with paint correction.

  • Won’t last forever if you never wash your car
    You still gotta take care of it. It just makes care way easier.

How We Do It at Arch City Detail

We don’t cut corners. Coating isn’t something we slap on in 30 minutes. We spend time on the prep because prep is everything.

Our Process:

  1. Hand wash

  2. Decontamination (gets rid of stuff wax won’t touch)

  3. Paint polishing or correction (buffing out swirls, scratches, haze)

  4. Ceramic application

  5. Cure time — your car stays in the shop to set up right

Takes about a day or two depending on the car and the level of correction needed.  If you are in a rush, ask us about options for same-day delivery.

We use pro-grade products from Opti-Coat — real ceramic coatings rated for St. Louis heat and cold. Nothing off the shelf at Wal-Mart or Amazon.

We keep it simple. Here’s what we offer:

  • 2-Year Ceramic Coating — good entry-level protection

  • 5-Year Ceramic Coating — best balance of cost and longevity

  • 7-Year Ceramic Coating — max durability, especially for trucks and daily drivers

  • 10-Year Ceramic Coating – protection for the life of your vehicle.  Maximum shine and durability.  Ask us how this can be a Lifetime coating!

We also do:

  • Glass Coating — makes rain slide right off your windshield

  • Wheel Coating — helps brake dust wipe off

  • Trim Coating — keeps black plastic from fading to gray

Want to coat your whole ride top to bottom? We can do that too.

Different Packages We Offer

What Customers Around St. Louis Are Saying

We’ve coated everything from brand new Trucks in Fenton, to 10-year-old convertibles in South County. People are usually shocked at how good their cars look when they come back.

One guy with a black GMC Sierra said his neighbor thought he bought a new car. He didn’t. It was just clean, corrected, and ceramic’d.

Another customer from Mehlville drove through a storm right after his coating was done. Sent us a video — the water just danced off the hood. No towels. No soap. Just clean.

Is Ceramic Coating Right for You?

Look — not everybody needs it. But if you:

  • Hate washing your car all the time

  • Care how your paint looks

  • Want to protect your car for the long haul

… then yeah, it’s probably a good call.

We get a lot of folks with new cars who want to protect their investment before winter hits. Especially around here where the salt starts flying early. Coating your car before the first snow can save you a lot of headaches later.

Call us. Text us. Come by the shop in High Ridge to see it in action. We’re happy to show you real cars with real coatings.

We’ll give you straight answers. No sales junk. Just real talk about what’s best for your car.

Got Questions About Ceramic Coating?

314-252-8950

info@archcitydetail.com