Question for the coating experts...

[Paul A.]

I am real close to biting the bullet and putting a coating on my DD. I currently use BF sealant and enjoy reapplying it about every 2-3 months or so. About once a year i take everything down by doing a cut and polish to remove the minor surface scratches and marring i have accumulated over the past 10-14 months. Again, this is my DD and is black to boot!

For those that are solely using a coating, do you get any marring you would like to correct before the life of the coating has been reached. In other words, say over the course of the first year of a 2 year durable coating, have you collected anything (swirls, scratches, water spots etc.) you want to cut down and polish out and either don't because the coating is still strong or do, then reapply the coating to the corrected areas?

Just curious what your paint correction schedule looks like with a coating.

[Billy Baldone]

I have done this yes. Not a big deal to re apply a small area

[Paul A.]

Thanks Billy. Yeah, even before asking the gang here i figured i wouldn't be able to delay even a mild cut down to remove what i can't stand in my paint! Just curious what others do. Thanks again.

[cardaddy]

I can't imagine leaving a coating alone for what.... 1, 2 or God forbid... THREE years. :rolleyes: :laughing:

OTOH, on a DD... we have to learn not to be so OCD. So in that sense, I love coating my wife's Denali. I still end up doing a light polish to the upper portions and putting more coating on here and there, but I can ignore the thing for much longer with a coating than I can when I was running nothing more than a sealant.

FWIW... I also tend to top various coatings with whatever I feel like after washing(s), and especially after a couple months have passed. For instance, 156 or 951. Although with PBL you can use the 'booster', same difference I reckon.

Although about now.... neither of us are washing DIDDLY! Have no idea when she'll get to use her right arm again, and it'll be another week plus before I even get the MRI on this shoulder/torn bicep thing. :rolleyes:

In the words of Yoda; Not looking good that one is.:(

[GenesisCoupe]

I re-apply my coating every year..just because..i use CQUK. i do not occur any marring or swirls in that time frame.

[JSFM35x]

I go about 24 on an application on a coating. I don't really get any maring on he coating it's pretty durable. I 2 bucket wash and am careful how I touch the paint. If I did it easy to correct and recoat. No harder than the actual application initially.

[Every_detail]

I was also thinking of coating my DD. I was going to try BulletProof.

[kevincwelch]

I refresh every year... Mostly because I like to try different types of coatings, but some of that is due to having kids with backpacks, carpooling and my own impatience in the winter!

[Paul A.]

Thanks guys for offering your experience and perspectives. Because I am contemplating going the coating route on my black DD I inevitably pick up the occasional light scratch here and there. They are never from anything I do from washing and drying and more of what simply happens to touch my paint occassionally. An example of that is just last week when my son was helping me carry groceries into the house and he managed to brush up against my car in the garage.

Because i am using BFWD i find it easy to simply break out my 3" pads, some light polish and gone. Then just reapply BF to that area. I think i was dwelling on the more meticulous application of a coating and thinking it wouldn't be as easy as what i am currently doing. Sounds like once i start using a coating product i'll find it just as easy.

I also like the fact that my vehicle is a testament to my quality of work when i go assess what a new customer wants. They see my black DD and it's 90% flawless. I'd like a coating so i may not have to mess with it as often.

[kevincwelch]

That's exactly what I do.

For example, my wife bumped up against my fender and there was a nice scratch there. Did some spot polishing and reapplied C1 and hydro2. Looks great again.

[Paul A.]

Thanks Kevin. Again, confirms others use my same approach by correcting small sections and just reapply.

[kevincwelch]

I feel that there is some inevitable overlap between the freshly polished area and areas surrounding it that are already coated or perhaps have some sealant or wax or other fallout etc. when you apply the coating in this situation. The coating that covers the overlap obviously won't last, but in the area that is freshly polished and prepped, I see no reason why a coating reapplication to that area wouldn't work.

[GenesisCoupe]

and hydro2. Looks great again.

Isn't Hydro2 AWESOME!!!??? I have like 3 bottles of the 500ml size LOL

[Paul A.]

I think my apprehension for shifting over to a coating on MY CAR goes back many years ago when i starting using Zaino (sorry for bringing up the Z word). I was mystified a bit by the science and the fact it goes on so thin, mixing the ZFX accelerator, having to wait for a cure time yada yada yada! Coatings seem to be a bit more finicky and you have to get used to the somewhat delicate application, leveling high spots etc.

I will admit to having used the Z product for a few years...yup, before i found Autogeek...and settled in to a familiarity with it's use and maintenance. Shoot! Durability of maybe 3-5 months in the FL sun? Now i'm liking the thought of maybe 1-2 years durability and the beauty shots some of you folks are posting up of these new coatings has me convinced they look incredible.

Ok, ok, i'm a dinosaur but i have always found things i like and have stuck to 'em. Time to step forward into the new age before extinction!

On second thought, maybe the wife's car is ready for a coating...

[cardaddy]

Isn't Hydro2 AWESOME!!!??? I have like 3 bottles of the 500ml size LOL

WOW!!!! You have THAT much Hydr02?
You REALLY DO love it! :D
(BOGO perhaps?) ;) :dunno:

I just never fell in love with it. Not that I hate it, just that it's a bit finicky.

Sure... it has better durability than a cheap spray wax, and.... it looks good (with a pretty big) IF.

Thats,
IF you get it on in a small enough area.
IF you don't let it sit too long.
IF you don't let the sun hit it.
IF you rinse it (the first time) quickly enough.
IF the wind isn't blowing. (And fighting your application.)
IF you rinse it (the second time) hard *and* thoroughly enough.
IF you use proper sheeting method (on that final rinse).
IF your water doesn't spot.
IF it doesn't haze.
And.... IF you dry it properly without swirling. (Helps to go back to that sheeting method there.) ;)

Does add considerably more cost though to the "waxing" end of things.

I'm extremely lucky here that county water is soft enough and has decent pH (and has saved me a ton from buying a water treatment system). In that respect, I don't have to worry about spotting. Just seems to take too long going on (and off), too much water, and end up drying (after the fact) without much lubricity.

But again... Looks fine 'IF'. ;)

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