How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last?

The coating is touch-safe within hours, but full chemical cure takes 1–2 weeks. During the first 7 days: no washing, no rain exposure if avoidable in the first 24–48 hours, and no abrasive contact. We install, walk you through the cure window, and register your warranty before we leave.

• Automatic car washes with brushes — the #1 coating killer; they micro-abrade the surface
• Skipping washes for months — contamination builds up and bonds even to coated paint
• Harsh degreasers and cheap wash chemicals strip sacrificial layers
• Bird droppings and sap left baking for weeks
• Bad installation: no decontamination, no correction, rushed cure

• Hand wash or touchless only — never brush tunnels
• Use pH-neutral car shampoo; skip wax-added products
• Two-bucket method or rinseless wash with clean microfiber
• Dry with a clean microfiber towel or blower — water spots etch even coated paint
• An annual professional decontamination + inspection keeps the warranty tiers on track

Yes — gradually, not all at once. You'll notice water stops beading tightly and the surface loses its slickness. On a 2–3 year coating in SF conditions, that typically starts in year two. A maintenance inspection can often revive performance with a topper; once hydrophobics are truly gone, the paint needs re-coating.