Wax lasts weeks. A sealant lasts months. A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that cures into a hard, glass-like layer bonded to the clear coat, and it lasts years. It is the single best thing you can do for a car you intend to keep looking new in a place that salts its roads for five months of the year. Duluth Detail is a certified C6 ceramic installer: the training, the products and the process the manufacturer stands behind.
Packages
Starting prices are for a mid-size car in good condition; larger vehicles and heavier correction are quoted after the free assessment.
Upgrades
| Upgrade | From | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1-step paint correction | $320 | Removes light scratches and swirls, restores depth and shine |
| 2-step paint correction | $640 | Removes moderate defects; compounding then polishing |
| Wheel coating | $200 | Ceramic on the wheel faces so brake dust rinses off |
| Window treatment | $50 | Rain-X on all glass; water sheets off at speed |
Why the paint is corrected first
A coating locks in whatever is under it. Coat a car with swirls and you have shiny swirls for five years. So every package begins with a decontamination wash, a clay treatment to pull the embedded grit out of the clear coat, and machine polishing to remove the defects. Then the coating goes on, panel by panel, and cures. How paint correction works.
The process
- Free paint assessment. We look at the car in person, map the defects, score the paint and tell you which package makes sense. Book the assessment.
- Preparation. Wash, iron and tar decontamination, clay, then the correction your package includes.
- Application. The coating is applied by hand to every painted panel, levelled and checked under lights.
- Curing. The coating needs time to bond: keep the car dry and unwashed for the first few days, which we will walk you through.
- Inspection and guarantee. We inspect the finished coating with you and stand behind the work.
Living with a coated car
A coated car is easier to own, not maintenance-free. Wash it every few weeks with a pH-neutral soap, by hand or touchless, never with brushes. Avoid automatic waxes. Let us do a maintenance wash and a coating top-up once a year and the coating will outlast its rating. Is ceramic coating worth it in Minnesota?
What is ceramic coating, exactly?
A liquid polymer applied to a vehicle's exterior surfaces. After curing it forms a strong protective layer that bonds with the paint, helping protect against environmental contaminants, UV, water spots, oxidation and light surface damage.
Is it the same as wax or a sealant?
No. Wax and sealants sit on top of the paint and wear off in weeks or months. A ceramic coating bonds with the paint and lasts years.
Can it go on glass, wheels and trim?
Yes. Paint is standard; wheels and glass are upgrades, and plastic trim can be coated too.
How long does it take?
One to two days depending on the correction. We can often do it at your home; for a Platinum with two-step correction we prefer our shop so the car stays dry and lit.
Can you coat a boat?
Yes, gel coat takes ceramic very well and it is the best defense against oxidation. Boat detailing.