Ceramic coating at our Sonipat studio
A hard, slick layer that keeps dust, hard water and bird droppings from bonding to your paint. Here is what it does, what it does not do and which grade makes sense for your car.
What a ceramic coating actually is
A ceramic coating is a liquid that we spread over the clear coat panel by panel. Within hours it reacts with the air and hardens into a thin, glass-like layer that bonds to the paint. It is far thinner than a sheet of paper, but it is much harder and more slippery than the clear coat underneath.
That slickness is the whole point. Construction dust, the grey film winter fog leaves overnight and white rings from borewell water all struggle to grip a coated panel, so most of it comes off with a rinse.
It also adds depth to the colour, especially on black, red and dark blue cars once the paint below has been polished.
What it does and what it does not do
Most disappointment with coatings comes from expecting something they were never meant to do, so here is the straight version.
It does resist chemical damage
Bird droppings, tree sap and acid rain sit on top of the coating instead of eating into the clear coat, as long as you clean them off within a day or two.
It does make washing easier
Water beads and runs off, carrying loose dirt and monsoon mud with it.
It does slow down fading
The layer filters UV, so paint parked in open summer sun oxidises more slowly.
It is not scratch-proof
The 9H figure is a pencil hardness test, not armour. A key, a branch or a gritty cloth can still scratch a coated car.
It does not stop stone chips
Gravel thrown up by trucks on NH-44 will chip coated paint just like uncoated paint. For impact protection you need film.
It does not hide defects
Swirls and water spots left under the coating stay visible and get sealed in, which is why preparation matters so much.
Coating grades and how long they last
We offer four grades, and the difference is mostly in the number of layers and how long the protection holds up with normal care.
| Grade | Layers | Time in the studio | Expected life | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7H | Single layer | 3 to 4 hours | About 1 year | Older cars, or owners who want to try a coating first |
| 8H | Two layers | 5 to 6 hours | About 2 years | Daily drivers kept for a few years |
| 9H | Three layers | 1 day | About 3 years | New cars and most family SUVs |
| 9H+ | Base coat and top coat, IR lamp cured | 1 to 2 days | Up to 5 years | Cars you plan to keep long, dark colours |
Why we polish before we coat
A coating locks in whatever is under it. If the bonnet has swirl marks from roadside washers, those swirls will look sharper once they are sealed under a glossy layer. So every ceramic job at the Sonipat studio starts with a single-stage machine polish, included with the coating.
Deeper problems such as etched bird-dropping marks or heavy water spots are shown to you under the inspection lights and quoted as paint correction separately. A new car usually needs only the light polish.
How a coating job runs, start to finish
This is the order we follow for every grade, only the number of layers and the curing time change.
Wash and decontaminate
Foam, a two-bucket hand wash, then iron remover and clay to pull out fallout, tar and overspray.
Inspect and polish
We check every panel under lights and machine polish away light swirls and haze.
Wipe down
A prep spray strips polishing oils so the coating bonds to bare clear coat.
Apply and level
The coating goes on in small sections and is levelled before it flashes. Higher grades get more layers.
Cure and hand over
The car stays indoors while the layer hardens, with an IR lamp on 9H+. You leave with the written warranty card.
Curing and the first two weeks
The coating feels dry within hours but keeps hardening for about a week. For those 7 days, keep it out of the rain if you can, skip shampoo washes and lift any bird dropping off with a damp microfibre and plain water. Parking under trees in this period is the most common way people end up with a mark that needs polishing later.
Washing a coated car afterwards
A coated car still needs washing, just less effort each time. Rinse first to float off dust, then use a pH-neutral shampoo, two buckets and a clean mitt, and dry with a soft towel so hard water does not leave rings. Our guide on how to wash a ceramic coated car goes through it step by step.
Skip automatic brush washes and roadside cleaners with shared cloths. A ceramic spray sealant top-up every few months keeps the beading strong.
Ceramic on top of PPF
If your car already has paint protection film, a coating can go on top. The film takes stone chips and scratches, and the coating makes it slicker so dust and droppings rinse off. It is a shorter job because film needs no polishing.
For daily NH-44 or KMP Expressway use, many owners put PPF on the front of the car and a ceramic coating on the rest. That covers both impacts and grime without filming the whole body.
Ceramic coating compared with wax and sealant
Wax and sealant are not bad products, they just wear off much faster in our climate.
| Wax | Spray sealant | Ceramic coating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long it lasts | A few weeks | A few months | 1 to 5 years depending on grade |
| Resistance to heat | Melts off in summer sun | Fair | Good |
| Water beading | Good when fresh | Good | Strong and long lasting |
| Protection from droppings and sap | Low | Moderate | High if cleaned promptly |
| Scratch resistance | None | None | Slight, not scratch-proof |
| Best use | Short-term shine | Top-up over a coating | Long-term protection |
Want to compare coating with film before deciding? Read PPF vs ceramic coating, then see the price list for every grade.
Related pages
Questions people ask
Will a 9H coating stop scratches?
No. It resists the very fine marks that come from light contact, but a key, a fingernail around the door handle or a dirty cloth can still scratch it. If scratches are your main worry, film is the better answer.
How long does the car stay at the studio?
A 7H job takes 3 to 4 hours and an 8H job 5 to 6 hours. A 9H coat needs a full day and 9H+ needs 1 to 2 days because of the extra layers and IR curing.
Is the paint polish included?
Yes, every coating includes a single-stage machine polish before application. Deeper correction for etching or heavy swirls is quoted separately after we inspect the car with you.
Do I need to come back for maintenance?
It is not compulsory, but a check and a spray sealant top-up every few months helps the coating reach its full life. Bad washing is what shortens a coating most.
Is there a warranty?
Yes, you get a written warranty card at delivery. Cover runs from 1 year on 7H to 5 years on 9H+, matched to the grade you choose.
Where the work is done
Sonipat head office
Sai Baba Road, near Devendra Photostat, opp. MRF Tyres, Saipuram, Bhagat Pura, Sonipat, Haryana 131001
+91 70561 03055
+91 70561 66055
Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM. Sunday closed.
Want an exact price for your car?
Send the car model and a couple of photos on WhatsApp. We reply with the right option and the price, usually the same day.