+ Ceramic Coating Aftercare +
Congratulations on taking active measures in protecting your vehicle with SB3 Ceramic Coatings. This advanced technology helps protect your vehicle's factory clear coat, and it is extremely effective at doing so. However, this coating IS NOT bulletproof and will require routine aftercare to maintain the integrity of the coating.
By following our manufacture recommended procedures, your vehicle will be eligible for warranties and ultimately, the coating will hold up to its guaranteed length.
Things You Must Avoid During the Two-Week Curing Process
Curing time for our Ceramic Coating packages is 24-48 Hours based upon environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature. Make sure to avoid the following during this time period.
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Exposure to water and or rain. The coating requires time to cure. Exposure to rain, sprinklers, water or even fog (moisture) can impact the durability of the coating, leading to weakening or failure after application.
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Do NOT wash a vehicle for at least two-weeks after receiving delivery of your ceramic coated vehicle.
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Avoid parking under trees: Tree sap, leaves, branches and other various contaminants falling from so can etch and scratch the coating.
Avoid allowing bird droppings, bug splatter, sap, or pollen to sit on the vehicle for more than a few days. If your vehicle is exposed to these contaminants, use a Detail Spray to spot clean areas with a clean microfiber towel we’ve provided in your care pack.
What to Do and What Not to Do
Ceramic Coating Do’s
Car Washes:
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Self Wash - Using the Two Bucket Method
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Touch-less Washing - foaming & rinsing the vehicle
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Use a Detail Spray between maintenance washes
Home Washing:
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We recommend washing with a PH balanced soap and for those with PPF (paint protection film) use a rinseless wash with no wax or SI02 additives.
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Use a ceramic detail spray as a drying aid after self-washes. *Use while the vehicle is still wet.
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Use multiple microfiber wash mitts or towels to thoroughly wash and dry the vehicle. Compressed air or a drying towel is acceptable.
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Wash the vehicle in the shade, a garage or covered areas - early morning or late afternoon when the air temp is comfortable.
Ceramic Coating Don'ts
Car Washes:
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Avoid automatic car washes using brushes, contaminated mitts or other material that could potentially void the warrantied coating.
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Do NOT wash a ceramic coated vehicle in the direct sunlight, especially when the surface is hot to touch.
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Do NOT use any car shampoos with wax and other additives, or a PH under 5.0 or above 9.0.
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Do NOT use a wax or paint sealant after washing the vehicle.
Washing Your Vehicle at Home
When the coating is cured, extreme durability is in place producing hydrophobic properties allowing most debris to not bond with the coated surface. However, if residue such as sap, bird droppings or bug guts, is left to dwell in direct sunlight, contamination is highly likely to affect the protected surface. We recommend using a Detail Spray. Spray onto a clean microfiber towel to spot clean areas of the vehicle that have been contaminated with debris.
If you do not have this product, simply use two microfiber towels. Saturate one with water to remove contamination, while using the second to dry the surface.
Washing Schedule
For best results, the vehicle should be washed every two weeks to avoid excessive contamination build up. While it is appropriate to use a foam cannon with a high-pressure hose, we highly recommend a two-bucket contact wash to be implemented every 2 months.
Washing Methods
Step 1: Gather supplies including (2), 3–5-gallonlon buckets, Grit guards for each bucket (prevents grime from sticking to wash mitt), PH balanced pure shampoo, DI water hose or high-pressure hose with foam cannon, (2) microfiber wash mitts or microfibers, and the dedicated drying towel that we've provided.
Step 2: Pre-rinse the vehicle with a high-pressure nozzle to release dirt, mud, debris and other solidified contamination. If foam cannon is available, use soap as pre-wash by adding 2-4oz.
Step 3: Start with pre-rinsing all brake dust and debris on the tires, rims and wheel wells. Use 1 wash mitt and bucket dedicated for doing separate from the paint to prevent cross contamination.
Once all 4 areas are properly cleaned, pre rinse the vehicle removing the brake dust/debris that could have possibly stuck to the vehicle during previous steps.
*Do not reuse the same wash mitt/bucket for paint as this will likely scratch the coated surfaces of the vehicle.
Step 4: Fill bucket that was not used for wheels adding 2-4oz of PH balanced pure shampoo. Agitate water in the bucket with wash microfiber or (pressured water for immense suds/lubricity).
Step 5: Using multiple microfibers dedicated for cleaning paint, wash each panel (top - bottom), using 1-2 sides of the microfiber, saving the other 6 for other panels around the vehicle. Make sure to dip microfiber into the bucket for more soap/slickness to prevent any harm. Rinse off each panel of the vehicle (top-bottom) with deionized/fresh water after completing the prior process.
Step 6: Dry the vehicle using the dedicated microfiber drying towel we have provided in your coating bundle or high-pressure air from leaf blower/car dryer. Make note to dry the vehicle as soon as you are completed with the rinsing process.
Step 7: With a microfiber towel that you don't mind throwing away, use SB3 Money as a drying aid for all 4 rims. With a separate clean microfiber towel, use SB3 Maintain to boost the ceramic coating currently applied to your vehicle's paint.
DO NOT use detail sprays containing wax because they can cause the surface to attract dust which alters the self-cleaning effects of the coating.
Interior Maintenance
- For the best results, clean all leather, trim, vinyl components weekly-Bi-weekly
- Vacuum carpets, seating, and trunk area on a regular basis
- When spills have occurred, immediately wipe down/soak up substance to prevent worse outcomes