Maintenance Schedule
What to Do and When
| Interval | Task | Where | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every 2 weeks | pH-neutral hand wash | At home | Prevents contamination build-up |
| Every 3–4 months | Ceramic boost spray (SiO₂) | At home post-wash | Maintains hydrophobic performance |
| Every 12 months | Iron decontamination + inspection | Studio service | Removes bonded fallout, checks coating condition |
| 18–24 months | Maintenance layer reapplication | Studio service | Extends total protection life |
| At warranty expiry | Full condition assessment + recoat option | Studio service | Maintain protection continuity |
03
Maintenance Principles
pH-Neutral Wash Only
After ceramic application, only pH-neutral car wash shampoos should be used. Alkaline or acidic products degrade the coating's hydrophobic layer from the top. pH-neutral products clean without attacking the Si-O bond that forms the ceramic matrix.
Avoid Automatic Car Washes
Rotating brushes in automatic car washes introduce surface marring — micro-scratches in the clear coat that accumulate over repeated washes. Hand washing with ceramic-safe shampoo and a quality wash mitt removes this risk entirely and preserves coating performance.
Annual Coating Inspection
We recommend an annual condition check — hydrophobic performance test, visual inspection under studio lighting, and topcoat boost if required. Catching early degradation and applying a maintenance layer extends overall coating life at a fraction of recoat cost.
Ceramic Boost Spray
Between full maintenance services, a ceramic spray booster applied after washing every 3–4 months adds a sacrificial hydrophobic layer on top of the base coat. This maintains beading performance and reduces contamination adhesion without requiring studio reapplication.
Decontamination Service
Brisbane's industrial corridor around the southern suburbs deposits iron and tar contamination that bonds to paint over time. An annual iron fallout treatment and tar removal keeps the surface chemically clean and prevents contamination build-up from degrading the coating from underneath.
Correct Timing Extends Life by Years
A coating maintained annually with correct products and a boost layer at 18–24 months will consistently outlast its rated durability by 20–40%. A coating that receives no maintenance, or is washed with incorrect products, often degrades before the warranty period ends.
FAQ
Ceramic Maintenance Questions
Ceramic coating requires: pH-neutral hand wash only (no automatic car washes), a ceramic boost spray every 3–4 months, an annual inspection and decontamination, and a maintenance layer application at 18–24 months for coatings with longer warranty periods. These steps cost a small fraction of recoat pricing and consistently extend total protection life beyond the rated duration.
We recommend against it. Rotating brush automatic washes introduce swirl marks and surface marring that accumulate over repeat visits — in ceramic coated or uncoated paint. Touchless automatic washes are less damaging but use high-alkalinity detergents that degrade the hydrophobic surface layer. Hand washing with pH-neutral product is the correct approach.
For our Protection package (3-year warranty) and Elite package (5-year warranty), we recommend an inspection and maintenance layer at 18 months. For the Signature package (7-year warranty), a maintenance service at 24–30 months maintains peak performance. Annual decontamination is recommended for all tiers. Between services, ceramic boost spray used at home every 3–4 months maintains surface performance.
At home, use: pH-neutral ceramic-safe shampoo (Gyeon Q²M Bathe, Koch Chemie GSF, or similar), a quality lambswool or microfibre wash mitt, microfibre drying towels, and a SiO₂-based ceramic spray booster. Avoid waxes, all-in-one polishes, and any product marketed as "gloss enhancing" — these leave residue that interferes with the ceramic surface performance.
Yes — Brisbane's high UV index (11–13) means vehicles parked outdoors accumulate UV exposure faster than southern cities. While ceramic provides UV blocking, parking under cover extends coating life. Brisbane's industrial contamination (brake dust, iron fallout, industrial particulate from the southern corridor) means an iron decontamination treatment annually is particularly relevant for Acacia Ridge, Rocklea, and surrounds.
Without maintenance, contamination builds up on and below the coating surface. The coating's hydrophobic performance degrades as the surface layer is consumed by contamination and incorrect wash products. Coatings without any maintenance typically perform noticeably below rated duration — water beading reduces, surface appearance dulls, and the protective barrier thins. Correct maintenance is a condition of our warranty.