Home > Services and Upgrades > Auto Detailing Services & Supplies > Paint Sealants & Ceramic Coatings
    heroimage

    PAINT SEALANTS & CERAMIC COATINGS

    HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? SCHEDULE SERVICE
    image

    CENTRAL OHIO'S CERAMIC COATING EXPERTS

    A paint sealant or ceramic coating is only as good as the surface it's applied to. That's the part most people don't tell you. Applying a ceramic coating to paint that hasn't been decontaminated and corrected seals in whatever imperfections are already there, and the coating won't bond as well to a contaminated surface.

    At Pickups Plus Cars, we've been applying protective coatings in Central Ohio for over 25 years. We prepare the surface properly before any product goes on: wash, clay bar decontamination, and paint correction if needed. If your paint needs correction or any proper detailing first, our full detailing services cover that as part of the same visit. We choose the right product for the vehicle's use case: a daily driver that sits outside needs different protection than a weekend vehicle stored in a garage. All services are quote-based. Come into our Lewis Center or Hilliard location, and we'll walk you through the options.

    PAINT SEALANT & COATING SERVICES WE OFFER

    We apply synthetic paint sealants and professional-grade ceramic coatings to protect your vehicle's clear coat from UV damage, water spots, road contaminants, and daily wear. Surface preparation is included. We don't skip steps.

    Synthetic Paint Sealant

    A polymer paint sealant bonds to your clear coat and creates a durable, hydrophobic layer that repels water, resists UV fading, and makes the surface easier to clean. A professional sealant application lasts 6 to 12 months with proper maintenance. Sealants are a strong choice for vehicles that see regular use and need consistent, easy-to-maintain protection without the investment of a ceramic coating.

    Ceramic Coating Application

    Professional ceramic coatings use silicon dioxide (SiO2) chemistry to bond to the clear coat at a molecular level, creating a semi-permanent protective layer that can last 2 to 5 years depending on the product and maintenance. The coating hardens on the surface, provides strong UV resistance and hydrophobic water beading, and significantly reduces how often contaminants stick to the paint. Proper surface preparation, including paint correction, is required before application.

    Surface Preparation

    Proper preparation is what separates a professional coating application from a DIY one. Before any sealant or coating goes on, we perform a thorough wash, clay bar decontamination to remove bonded contaminants, and paint correction if the surface has visible defects. A coating applied over contaminated or defective paint locks in imperfections and won't adhere correctly. We do the prep work because it determines the quality and longevity of the result.

    Maintenance Guidance

    A ceramic coating doesn't eliminate the need for washing. It makes washing easier and reduces how often contamination bonds to the paint. We provide specific maintenance guidance for whichever product we apply: what soaps are safe to use, when to avoid automated car washes (always, for coated vehicles), and how to apply a spray topper to extend the coating's life. Following the right maintenance protocol is what makes a ceramic coating worth the investment.

    YOU NEED THIS IF:

    • Your paint is in good condition and you want to protect it before it takes damage
    • You've just had paint correction done and want to preserve the results
    • You're tired of waxing every few months and want longer-lasting, lower-maintenance protection
    • Your vehicle sits outside year-round and is exposed to Ohio sun, road salt, and environmental fallout
    • You have a new vehicle and want to protect the factory paint from day one
    Talk to Our Experts

    PAINT SEALANT & COATING QUESTIONS

    • What's the difference between a paint sealant, a wax, and a ceramic coating?

      These products do the same basic job of protecting the paint, but they differ significantly in durability, application, and chemistry. Traditional carnauba wax sits on the surface and lasts 1 to 3 months. It's easy to apply and buff, provides a warm finish, but requires frequent reapplication. A synthetic polymer sealant bonds to the clear coat more aggressively and lasts 6 to 12 months. A professional ceramic coating uses SiO2 chemistry to form a semi-permanent bond with the clear coat and can last 2 to 5 years. Ceramic coatings also provide a harder surface layer that resists minor scratching and makes contamination much easier to wash off. For vehicles that need long-term, low-maintenance protection, a ceramic coating is the most cost-effective option over time, even though it's a larger upfront investment.

    • How is a ceramic coating different from paint protection film (PPF)?

      Ceramic coatings and PPF (also called clear bra) are both protective products, but they work differently and serve different purposes. A ceramic coating is a liquid that bonds to and hardens on the clear coat, providing UV protection, hydrophobic properties, and easier cleaning, but it does not provide significant impact protection. PPF (paint protection film) is a physical clear urethane film that absorbs rock chips, scratches, and physical impacts, protecting the paint underneath from damage. PPF is installed through our Exterior services. It's a separate process from detailing. Many customers use both: ceramic coating over PPF to make the film easier to clean and maintain. We can walk you through which combination makes sense for how you use your vehicle.

    • Does my paint need to be corrected before a ceramic coating?

      It doesn't have to be, but it should be. A ceramic coating bonds to whatever surface it's applied to. If that surface has swirl marks, scratches, or oxidation, the coating preserves them. We've seen vehicles come in with expensive ceramic coatings applied over heavily swirled paint, and the owner paid for protection that locked in the problem rather than solving it. If your paint has visible defects, paint correction before coating produces a dramatically better result. We assess the paint condition at the start of every appointment and let you know whether correction is worth doing before we coat.

    • How long does a ceramic coating application take?

      A full ceramic coating application, including surface preparation and paint correction if needed, typically requires a full day, sometimes two days for vehicles that need significant correction work. The coating itself needs cure time before the vehicle is exposed to water or contaminants. We'll give you a specific timeline when we assess your vehicle. All coating services are quote-based because the prep work required varies significantly by vehicle condition.

    More Questions?

    Speak to an Expert
    form image

    Reviews

    Review Lewis Center Review Hilliard
    Top