FAQs

The price of a ceramic or graphene coating can range from $10 to $800 for the product, not including installation and preparation costs. It depends on factors such as warranty, materials used, and the coating's water and dirt repellency. Generally, higher-end products are only able to be purchased by licenced installers.

It depends on your car’s condition and the coating type.

• New cars usually take about 3–4 hours.
• Used or older cars may take longer due to extra prep work (like fixing scratches or worn paint).

Once applied, the coating needs time to become water-resistant (known as "waterfast"). Some coatings set in as little as 2 hours, while others take up to 12 hours.

Most coatings come with a 2-year, 5-year, or longer warranty, but real-world results depend on how the car is driven, cleaned, and stored.

A 2-year coating on a well-maintained, garaged car can sometimes outlast a 5-year coating on a car parked outside all the time.

Additionally, not all coatings with the same warranty perform equally well. That’s why it’s best to talk to professionals like our team at Brisbane Ceramic Coatings to choose the right one for your needs.

Ceramic and Graphene coatings go through two curing stages:

Waterfast Stage:

• Occurs within 2 to 12 hours, depending on the brand and weather conditions
• Once waterfast, the coating is safe to get wet without damage

Full Cure Stage:

• Takes about 10 days
• The coating fully hardens and gains maximum shine and protection
• Avoid washing or touching the car during this period to prevent micro-scratches that can permanently affect gloss and water repellency.

It’s possible, but not recommended. DIY coating needs skill, the right conditions, and perfect timing. Mistakes, such as missed spots or uneven layers, can leave permanent marks. For best results, have a professional installer, like our team at Brisbane Ceramic Coatings, do the job properly. 

Once the coating is properly installed and cured, it’s very easy to maintain. It helps repel water, dirt, and grime, so your car stays cleaner for longer, and washing it becomes much quicker and easier. If you prefer automatic car washes, opt for touchless or laser washes, as traditional brush systems can scratch the coating and reduce its effectiveness. 

Not exactly. The coating is extremely thin—about 1/100 the thickness of a human hair—so it won't stop major scratches or impacts.

What it can do is:

• Protect against micro-scratches during hand washing
• Block UV rays to prevent paint fading

Some graphene coatings are even self-healing, which means minor scratches can disappear with heat. Ask our team if you're interested in these advanced options.

Yes, but you need special formulas made for plastic or glass. These usually last up to 2 years, but they don’t carry the same warranties as paint coatings.

Regular ceramic coatings should not be used on plastic or glass as they can cause fading or wear out quickly.

Unlike paint coatings, these are designed to properly bond with plastic and glass. Using regular ceramic coatings on plastic can cause them to turn chalky after a few months, and on glass, they tend to break down faster than the dedicated coatings.

Some specialist ceramic coatings can also restore faded plastics by blackening them while protecting the surface. Glass coatings generally last about 2 years or up to 60,000 km before they need reapplying.

No. The coating is extremely thin—only a few nanometers thick—so it can’t flatten the surface like spray paint can. Coatings are about 2 microns thick, while spray paint is around 100 microns.

The coating can make the surface feel smooth and slick, but the clear coat underneath still has texture that you can feel when touching it.

It depends on how much water is on the surface, the angle of that surface, and the type of coating used.

Graphene coatings have a lower water interaction angle than ceramic coatings, so water slips off more easily on graphene coatings. This is especially true on flat or horizontal surfaces, such as the roof and bonnet.

On vertical surfaces like car doors, the angle doesn’t make much difference, so water may bead or sheet similarly on both coatings.

Water sheets when there’s a larger amount of water because water molecules stick to each other more than to the surface, causing it to flow off. Water beads form when there’s less water, pulling into small droplets due to surface tension. If you apply water, it will generally sheet across the 

Maintaining a coating is simple but requires some care to keep it working well.

It’s a good idea to keep a small spray bottle of quick detailer and a microfiber cloth in your car—your boot is a perfect spot. These help you remove bird or bat droppings safely. Spray the dried dropping a few times to soften them, then gently wipe them away. Avoid wiping or washing off dry droppings, as this can damage the coating.

Regular washing helps keep the coating clean and fresh. It’s also essential to have the coating professionally decontaminated at least once a year, or every six months if your car frequently gets very wet. While coatings are easy to maintain, leaving droppings on the surface for days can cause acid etching that damages the coating.

Hydrophobic means water-repellent, and hydrophilic means water-attracting. Ceramic and Graphene coatings are hydrophobic, designed to repel water.

Hydrophilic coatings are useful inside car glass to prevent fogging. They absorb moisture from breath, stopping the glass from fogging up.

Hydrophilic coatings also work well on outside rear-view mirrors. Since mirrors have little airflow, hydrophobic coatings don’t disperse water beads well, causing buildup. Hydrophilic coatings absorb these water beads, keeping the mirrors clear and fog-free.

Ceramic and Graphene coatings can be very durable—some can last up to 25 years (lifetime)—but they are not truly permanent. Over time, all coatings will eventually begin to break down.

Think of a coating like the surface of a lake bed. When freshly applied, it looks smooth and slick. But as time passes, it starts to crack and form plate-like patterns. This is similar to what happens when a coating begins to degrade. While some properties of the coating may still remain, its performance is reduced, and it may no longer function effectively.

Some coating manufacturers use different structural technologies to delay this breakdown. These are often found in more expensive coatings due to higher production costs.

If needed, all coatings can be removed through machine polishing.

Waxes are commonly used in the car industry and by dealerships to cover up imperfections in paint, such as scratches. It’s a quick way to make a car look better before selling it, and waxes do a great job at this.

However, the downside is durability—standard waxes usually wear off within a few months. Some modern waxes include ceramic additives, which can extend their life up to 12 months, but that’s still far less than what Ceramic or Graphene Coatings offer.

Ceramic and Graphene coatings don’t hide scratches. In fact, any scratches must be removed before applying the coating. However, once applied, these coatings last significantly longer and provide superior protection compared to wax.

Each option has its own advantages, depending on what you're trying to achieve—quick shine and scratch coverage, or long-term protection and performance.

The simple answer is NO.

Some dealerships do this, but it’s a poor installation practice that causes the coatings to fail much sooner than their intended lifespan or warranty.

Ceramic and Graphene Coatings need to bond directly to clean, bare paint surfaces. If applied over wax, the coating can't adhere properly, which can lead to premature failure.

For the best performance and durability, the surface must be properly prepared and kept clean, not clogged.

No. A proper decontamination product should be all that’s needed to keep the coating clean and working effectively. When used along with regular washing, there should be no need to use a clay bar on a coated surface.

Yes. A good quality microfiber towel is perfect for drying a coated car, especially if you don’t have a blow dryer. However, if you do have a blow dryer, that’s the preferred option as it eliminates direct contact with the surface.

Single-layer coatings can be as thin as 3 microns, while multi-layer coatings can be up to 15 microns thick.

The ceramic compound is suspended in a liquid solution that begins to evaporate when exposed to air. A glass bottle prevents evaporation and protects the coating until it's ready to be applied to the vehicle. The clear glass also allows installers to check for any air leaks or defects before opening the bottle—important, as using a compromised coating can lead to poor results.

Yes, there are specific ceramic coatings made for leather. However, we do not recommend using them on car leather that is less than 3 years old, as newer leather already has a factory protective coating. Ceramic coatings can also change the appearance of leather—some may make it look shinier—so it’s important to choose a high-quality product and be sure you like the finish it gives.

Yes, absolutely. Applying ceramic coating to your wheels helps keep them cleaner for longer and makes cleaning much easier. It reduces brake dust buildup, and in most cases, standard car wash detergents are enough to remove the dust—no need for harsh cleaners.

The best time to ceramic coat your wheels is when they’re brand new and spotless. It’s the most cost-effective and straightforward time to complete the job.

The term SCAM applies when a coating's capabilities are misrepresented. Ceramic spray coatings are meant for quick application and typically last 3–12 months. If you're promised more, that’s misleading. A common dealership scam involves selling a full ceramic coating but applying only a spray coating—often over wax used to mask transport scratches. This shortcut avoids proper prep and reduces durability, sometimes halving the lifespan of the spray coating. Dealerships may also encourage automatic car washes, which add wax and further obscure the coating’s failure. The goal is quick turnaround and extra profit, with little regard for long-term results. Spray ceramic coatings are not a scam if they're honestly marketed as short-term solutions.