Have you just had a ceramic coat applied to your car and been caught in some rain? This article will provide you with the information that you need to know about how to care for the ceramic coat on your car and what to do if it does get wet during its drying and curing stage.
Avoid the rain and do not get your car wet after having a ceramic coat applied to your car. The coating needs time to harden and cure before it can become an efficient and protective layer on your car. You must keep your recently ceramic-coated car in a garage or a dry area to avoid the failure and inefficiency of the ceramic coating.
Getting your newly ceramic-coated car wet is not a good idea if you want the car to look great and offer a long-lasting and protective shield to your car. Let’s explore what happens to your car if it gets wet after a ceramic coating has been applied and how to care for your car.
What Happens if It Rains After Ceramic Car Coating?
It is recommended that you do not get your car wet within 24 hours after it has had its ceramic coating applied. It is important to give the coating time and space to properly meld with the surface of the car. The coating can dry after 24 hours but for it to fully cure it can take one or two weeks depending on the environment it is in.
As well as avoiding rain after the ceramic coating has been applied, you also want to stay away from an environment that has dew, precipitation, and mist as this will slow the curing process and not be conducive to a successful drying environment.
It is important to remember that ceramic coating is water-resistant but not waterproof. Do not try to test the hydrophobic qualities of the ceramic coating before it is ready and fully integrated into the surface of the car, give it time to dry, harden and cure.
Do not wash your newly ceramic-coated car until at the very least 7 days after the ceramic coating has been applied to ensure you get the best possible results. As it may take one to two weeks to fully cure, it is a great idea to wait until after this time to wash it if you can.
If your car’s fresh ceramic coat does get wet in the rain, the coating will have failed as the cross-link bonds between the coating and the clear coat will not be able to fuse together. This may cause water spots on the surface of the car and not give you the results that you wanted from the application.
How Can I Fix My Car if It Got Rained on After Having a Ceramic Coat Applied?
If your car does get caught in the rain, the best thing to do would be to use a blow dryer to get the car dry as soon as possible. You would want to call the company that you took your car to, to get their advice on what to do next. They may advise you to get the ceramic coating redone or recommend a product for you to use.
Ultimately, you want to prevent getting your newly ceramic-coated car wet as much as possible, especially as it can be expensive to get done, and it is time-consuming if you do it yourself. If you want your car to have a successful coating, then you must ensure that you do everything you can to keep it dry and treat it with care.
The first day and week after having the ceramic coating applied to your car is the most important time and will determine its longevity, efficiency, and appearance of it going forward.
How to Avoid Getting Your Car Wet After It Has Been Ceramic Coated
Some key things you can do to avoid getting your car wet after the ceramic coating has been applied is to get the ceramic coating on your car done in the summer or when the weather is nice to avoid being caught in the rain.
If you or someone you know has an enclosed car trailer, you could pick your car up from your ceramic coating appointment with the trailer, so it stays dry on the journey home in case it does rain. You can also keep your car in a garage or covered area so if it rains it can’t get wet.
Final Words
Overall, if your car has just had a ceramic coat applied, it is imperative that it does not get rained on as the coating will not harden and cure properly. Therefore, the ceramic coating will not provide the protection or appearance that you are after.