San Diego · Ceramic Coating Specialist
Ceramic coating and paint-protection specialists in San Diego. We don't do quick washes — we prep, correct, and bond a semi-permanent layer of protection to your paint, then cure it under infrared. Mobile assessment, studio application.
Coatings & pricing
Durability ratings describe the coating product class, not a guarantee for every vehicle — real-world life depends on care, climate and wash habits. Final pricing scales with vehicle size, paint condition and correction needed, confirmed after a paint assessment.
1-year sealant
Entry-level protection with a slick, hydrophobic finish.
from $349
1 layer · SiO₂ sealant
3-year ceramic
True ceramic protection for the daily driver you care about.
from $799
2 layers · 9H ceramic
5-year ceramic
Maximum gloss and longevity for show cars and new builds.
from $1,299
3 layers · 9H ceramic + topper
Graphene coating
Our flagship — graphene-infused chemistry, the deepest gloss we offer.
from $1,699
Graphene matrix · multi-layer
Durability is rated by coating class — not a promise. Coverage details and the warranty card are reviewed in person before any work begins.
The process
A ceramic coating locks in whatever surface it bonds to. Get the prep wrong and you seal in the swirls. Here is the exact sequence every vehicle moves through in our studio.
A pH-neutral foam wash strips loose grime, then iron-fallout remover and a clay bar pull bonded contaminants out of the clear coat. Coating only bonds to a chemically clean surface — this step is non-negotiable.
Under controlled studio lighting we measure clear-coat depth and machine-polish away swirls, oxidation and haze. Whatever defects we remove now are locked out for the life of the coating — so we correct before we coat, never after.
Every panel is wiped down to remove polishing oils, then the ceramic is hand-leveled section by section. Each layer is applied, flashed, and inspected at an angle before the next goes on.
Infrared lamps accelerate the cross-link cure so the coating hardens evenly. The vehicle then dwells dust-free in the studio before it sees water or weather — that initial cure is what determines how the coating holds up.
Add-on · Paint correction
Swirl marks and wash haze are micro-scratches in the clear coat that scatter light and flatten gloss. Machine correction levels them out — and because a coating is semi-permanent, correction has to happen first. We always show you a 50/50 test spot before committing to the full panel.
One cutting-and-finishing pass with a machine polisher. Removes light swirl marks, wash haze and minor oxidation to restore gloss and clarity before coating.
A dedicated compounding pass followed by polishing and refining. Cuts deeper into defects to remove heavier swirls, buffer trails and scratch shadows that a single pass leaves behind.
What ceramic actually does
A ceramic coating is not a force field and it won't stop a rock chip. What it does is change how the paint surface behaves — qualitatively, and noticeably. Here is what to actually expect.
Water sheets and beads off a coated surface instead of clinging to it. Rain, sprinklers and wash water carry dirt away rather than baking it onto the paint.
A ceramic layer shields the clear coat from constant San Diego sun, slowing the fading, chalking and oxidation that dull unprotected paint over time.
Because the coating fills and levels the microscopic texture of the clear coat, reflections come back tighter and the color reads with more depth and clarity.
Contaminants get far less grip on a slick coated surface. Routine maintenance washes go faster, with less scrubbing and a lower risk of wash-induced swirls.
A cured coating resists bug acids, bird droppings, tree sap and road film better than bare clear coat — buying you time to remove them before they etch.
Wax sits on top and washes off in weeks. A ceramic coating chemically bonds to the clear coat and is measured in years, not washes. Different product class entirely.
Qualitative descriptions of how a coating behaves — not performance guarantees. A coating reduces maintenance and protects gloss; it does not make paint indestructible.
Book a coating
Send the vehicle and the coating you're considering. Ryan Cole reviews every request personally, then we set a mobile or studio assessment to confirm condition, correction needs and a firm quote before any deposit.
(619) 555-0193
Call or text — Ryan Cole usually replies same day.
Studio appointment · Kearny Mesa
Climate-controlled bay for application & cure.
No surprise pricing.
Your quote is set in person after we inspect the paint. The price you approve is the price you pay — correction and coverage are spelled out before we start.
The finish
Illustrations of the behaviors a coating delivers — beading, sheeting, depth of gloss and the layered structure that makes it work.
Illustrative diagrams — not customer photos. Real before/after work appears here once the studio is live. We don't use stock cars.