Signs Your Ceramic Coating Needs Maintenance
Your ceramic coating was slick, glossy, and beading water like crazy—until it wasn’t. If things are starting to fade, it doesn’t always mean your coating failed. Most of the time, it just needs maintenance. Here's how to tell.
1. Water Stops Beading or Sheeting
Beading is the most obvious sign of a healthy ceramic surface. When that goes away, it doesn’t always mean the coating failed—it might just be clogged with minerals, road film, or residue.
Solution: Use The Decon Bundle to strip buildup and restore surface tension without removing the coating.
2. Paint Feels Rough or Grabby
Ceramic should feel slick. If it feels textured, grabby, or gritty, it’s likely contaminated with brake dust, hard water spots, or embedded grime.
Fix it: Decon foam the surface, then use a clay mitt to gently remove the contaminants before rinsing and reapplying protection.
3. The Surface Looks Dull
Lost that deep gloss and sharp reflections? Contaminants and UV wear can reduce the optical clarity of a coating.
Bring it back: After decontamination, apply Tough As Shell to restore gloss and add hydrophobicity.
4. It Gets Dirty Too Fast
When ceramic is working, dirt and water roll off easily. If you’re noticing the paint staying dirty longer or water sticking instead of sliding, that’s a sign the coating isn’t performing.
Use: A maintenance wash with The Super Soaper followed by a light ceramic spray top-up.
5. Washes Take More Effort
If your wash mitt drags or the foam doesn’t break dirt loose like it used to, your surface may be bonded with grime that’s clogging the coating’s pores.
Pro tip: Decon foam + clay + recoat = smooth, easy maintenance again.
What to Use for Ceramic Maintenance
- The Decon Bundle – Remove buildup, prep for maintenance
- Tough As Shell – Refresh gloss and water beading in one spray
- The Super Soaper – Touchless-safe ceramic wash soap
Does This Mean Your Coating Failed?
No. Most of the time, ceramic coatings just need cleaning and a fresh top-up. Total failure is rare unless the surface wasn’t prepped properly or harsh chemicals were used.
Conclusion: Know the Signs, Stay Protected
Don’t wait until your coating looks trashed. Watch for these early signs, and restore performance fast with a simple 1-2 punch: Decon + Tough As Shell.
