Does Ceramic Coating Actually Survive the Las Vegas Sun?

Three things are attacking your paint, not one

Most people think of sun damage as one problem. In the Las Vegas Valley it is three, and they work on different parts of your finish.

• UV radiation breaks down the resins in clear coat, which is what turns a black car chalky and a red car pink.
• Heat cycling takes panels past 150°F in the afternoon and back down overnight, which stresses everything sitting on top of the paint.
• Hard water from sprinklers and quick rinses leaves mineral deposits that etch as they bake on.

What a coating actually does about it

An IGL Kenzo coating bonds to the clear coat and forms a hard, slick layer with strong UV inhibitors. That layer takes the UV hit instead of your paint, sheds water so minerals have less time to sit, and releases dirt so washing does far less damage than it otherwise would.

The practical difference in Las Vegas is that a coated car still looks glossy in year three. An uncoated car parked outside usually does not.

What it does not do

• It does not stop rock chips. Nothing topical does.
• It does not remove existing swirls, which is why correction happens first.
• It does not mean you stop washing. It means washing is easier and safer.

Coating versus sealant

A premium ceramic sealant, which is included in our Revive Exterior at $150, holds up for months and costs a fraction of a coating. A true coating starts at $1,100 for a sedan, includes machine correction, and carries a 5-year warranty.

If you are keeping the car and it lives outside, the coating is the cheaper option over five years. If you change cars often, the sealant makes more sense.

The honest test

Park two identical black cars outside in Henderson, coat one, and look at them in August of year two. That comparison is why most of our coating customers hear about us from a neighbor.