Two add-ons people often pair with film
Ceramic coatings and window tint are often sold alongside a wrap or paint protection film. Neither is required, and both are worth understanding before you add them to an estimate.
What a ceramic coating does
A ceramic coating is a liquid coating, often silica-based, applied to paint (or to film) that cures into a thin, hard, slick layer. Its main benefits are water beading, easier washing and some resistance to staining from things like bird droppings and water spots. It's much thinner than paint protection film and doesn't stop stone chips. Claims of "permanent" protection or "scratch-proof" paint aren't realistic; coatings wear and need maintenance.
Coating over vinyl or PPF
Coatings are made for paint, for vinyl, for film, or for more than one. Vinyl and paint protection film have different surfaces than paint, and some films have their own coated topcoats. The film maker's care instructions and warranty may say which coatings can be used. Before adding a ceramic coating over film, ask the shop whether the coating is meant for that film, and whether it affects the film's warranty. Get the answer in writing.
Paint prep for coatings
Like film, a coating locks in whatever is underneath it. Most shops wash and decontaminate the paint, and often polish it, before coating. Ask what prep is included and how long the coating needs to cure before the car gets wet or washed.
Window tint
Window films reduce glare and the heat that comes through glass, and many block most ultraviolet light. Basic dyed films mainly darken; ceramic and other infrared-rejecting films are designed to reduce heat without having to be as dark. Manufacturers publish performance figures for each film, such as visible light transmission and heat rejection; ask the shop for the data sheet of the film they'll install.
Tint and the law
Each state sets its own legal limits for how dark tint can be on each window, and the rules for the windshield, front side windows and rear windows differ. A shop in your area should know the current limits. Ask what's legal in your state before choosing a shade, and keep any documentation the shop gives you. Medical exemptions, where a state allows them, have their own process.
Installation and cure
Window film is applied to the inside of the glass with a solution that has to dry out. Haze or small water pockets are normal at first and clear as the film cures; how long that takes depends on the film and the weather. Ask how long to keep windows rolled up and when you can clean the glass.
Maintenance
Coatings still need regular washing, and many need a periodic topper or refresh product to keep beading. Ask the shop what maintenance its coating needs and how often.
Questions to ask
- Which coating will you use, and is it meant for my paint or film?
- Will a coating over film affect the film's warranty?
- What prep is included, and how long before I can wash the car?
- Which tint film will you use, and what does its data sheet say?
- What tint is legal on each window in my state?