Ceramic Coatings Take Time.

One of the most common questions we get is:
“How long will my ceramic coating take?”

The short answer?
Anywhere from 1 to 4 days.

The longer answer?
It’s going to depend on the size of the vehicle, the level of and amount of paint refinishing work involved, and the coating option we go with. Our coatings take a little longer due to our strengthening process, HD Bond™. But it’s worth the wait.

A Proper Coating Starts Long Before the Coating Itself

Applying the ceramic coating is only a part of the job. What takes time, and what really matters, is everything that comes before it. Here’s why:

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1. Thorough Wash & Chemical Decontamination

Before we even think about polishing or applying our products, the vehicle is washed and fully decontaminated. That means:

• Decontamination Hand Wash
• Mechanical Decontamination (clay treatment)
• Chemical Decontamination (various solvent rinses to remove tar, bugs, mineral deposits, fall out, iron\brakedust deposits, tree sap, bonded road grime, construction chemicals, etc)
• A second wash and final rinse

This stage alone can take half the day, especially if the vehicle hasn’t been cleaned properly in a while or has heavily embedded contaminants.

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2. Paint Correction – Where The Transformation Takes Place

Every ceramic coating we install begins with the preparation step and moves into the paint correction phase. There is some debate, typically from detailers who don’t know better, as to whether paint correction is required for coatings. It is. There is no debate.

Even brand-new cars need it. Transport grime, light scratches, dealer-installed swirl marks. They’re all more common than most realize. Plus, with today’s modern water based clear coats, the paints are softer and more pliable than ever. They swell with heat, constrict with cold. They hold onto dust, grime, etc UNDER the surface as the contaminants work their way in with the swelling and contracting. The high pH detergents used in most automated car washes also wreak havoc on the clear coat systems more than ever. Paint correction ensures we’re getting a fresh, clean, ready to bond with, surface from the paintwork, and it brings out the best possible gloss before the coating ever touches your paint.

Depending on the condition of your vehicle and the level of correction needed, this step alone can take 8 to 20+ hours of refinishing and polishing work.

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3. HD Bond™ – Where The Magic Happens

Once the paint correction is complete, we start our HD Bond™ process:

• We first completely decontaminate the surface again, removing oils, waxes, residues from the polishing compounds.
• We apply our HD Bond Coat™ and HD Strong Coat™ to the vehicle’s exterior surfaces that are to be ceramic coated
• We apply our World-Class ceramic coatings by IGL Coatings
• Inspect everything, ensure everything is looking and feeling exactly how it should
• We allow our coating layers to cohesively cure

Our coating take a little longer because we’re not just installing a coating, we’re multiplying the installation steps as we also instill our HD Bond™ layers.

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4. Cure Time Matters

Once the coating is installed and we’re happy with how everything is sitting, it’s cure time. We prefer a 12-24 hour cure time, and typically hold the vehicle over night one final time and deliver the next day.

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So, Why 1 to 4 Days?

It all depends on:

• The size of the vehicle
• The level of paint correction required
• How many surfaces are being coated (paint, wheels, trim, glass, etc.)
• Whether it’s a single-layer or multi-layer coating
• Cure time

We don’t rush the process. We don’t cut corners. And we won’t send your vehicle out until we’re confident it’s at its absolute best, with a coating that will truly last.

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What You Get in Return

This isn’t a car wash. This isn’t a weekend wax. This is a long-term investment in your vehicle’s finish, and we treat it as such.

When you pick up your car, truck, or motorcycle, you’ll see the difference immediately and you’ll feel it every time you clean it, every time it rains, and every time the sun hits it just right.

📍 Serving Merrillville, Crown Point, Valparaiso, Schererville, St. John, and the surrounding Northwest Indiana region.
🔗 Learn more about our coatings
📝 Request a quote

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