How Much Does Ceramic Coating Process Cost? | Ringgold Auto Detail

Looking for ways to help protect your paint and considering a ceramic coating, one of the common questions asked is HOW MUCH?

When it comes to ceramic coating cost in Chattanooga, TN, the prices vary vastly. This is true across the nation as well. On average, service technicians charge between $1000 to over $4000. So how do you decide when everyone says they have "the best ceramic coating in Chattanooga" and pricing widely varies? At Ringgold Auto Detail (RAD) we believe you start with asking around! Call a few shops in the area and ask about their process. What steps are they taking before installation, are they performing paint correction or just a basic paint enhancement? Is it possible they are just prepping the surface with a decontamination detail and then installing? Don't be afraid to ask a few leading questions such as "what sets your shop apart from others in the area?" This helps give you a feel for the shops mentality...i.e. are they a sales first shop, an enthusiast studio with a love and passion for all things automotive, or a general charlatan trying to make a quick buck. Generally speaking, you can knock a few shops off your list fairly quickly this way.

    Some major factors in pricing is overhead and material costs. This is true for most things in the business world; the bigger the shop, the higher the expenses, the more they need to charge. The mobile ceramic coating operations may charge a lot less than the environmentally climate controlled shops, but the performance and longevity of the coating may suffer due to excessive heat or cold during the installation. The nano-coating cost alone varies greatly with the price of a single bottle ranging from $50 to more than $500. At RAD, we average between $300-$350 in supplies and material cost on our coating installation alone. In addition to the coating costs, there are additional costs for the detail work, paintwork correction supplies, and materials averaging $50-$150; with an average total expense, not including labor or overhead, of $400-$500.

    Be on the lookout for a future article! Ceramic coatings themselves can be an overwhelming topic. From the wild cost variances, different formulas, or how to pick the right coating for you, RAD is planning a future article with more in depth coverage. Amidst this complexity, it's vital to note that a higher price doesn't necessarily denote superior quality.

    Now that we've covered median install prices, let us cover those additional material costs starting with the detail work. Of note, this is where we at RAD diverge from the norm. We have a much different and significantly more involved approach, for this article however we'll keep it generalized. At minimum the vehicle needs a clean, contaminate free, virgin paint surface before application of any coating. This begins with the wash process utilizing various chemicals and manual processes to remove bonded contaminants, waxes, and greases. Once cleaned and dried again a paint surface prep is utilized to ensure that it is ready to accept the chemical reactions ensuring a strong bond with the nano coating resins. Once the ceramic coater has completed the install process a majority of shops then finalize the detail work by dressing the tires and other various detail related works. A fair exterior decontamination wash detail on a well kept vehicle should take between 2-3hrs, occasionally longer depending on the condition, age, exposure, and vehicle type.