Is applying a ceramic coating better off left to a pro or is it something to consider DIY?

 

Depends on how much you want to pay for someone else to do it and if you feel comfortable doing it yourself.

 

From what I've heard, the application process is really not that hard, as long as you're detail-oriented. Problem in, you're sealing your paint exactly how it sits. So, the discerning factor is the paint correction you do ahead of the sealant. Do you feel comfortable getting it to that perfect mirror finish (or a finish that you find acceptable)? If not, you need someone else to do the work.

 

I used Gyeon can coat, really easy and really fast to apply, if you do two coat, it will last one year
Gyeon have have a variety of really good product

 

I was going to do it myself, But a local company ran a special and I got a 2 year one for 300.

 

I was going to attempt it myself but talked myself out of it because of the prep work.
Might try a paint sealant instead but that also requires prep work.

When i bought my '18 GC Trail Hawk, the dealership bean counter asked if i wanted a ceramic coating.
OK how much? $1100. Forget it.

In the meantime gonna wash and wax as usual.

 

The application of the ceramic coating isnt difficult at all, its ALL IN THE PREP. I'm not talking wash, clay, IPA wipe-down and coat. You need to have the equipment (DA polisher) and the product to really setup your paint for the coating. I did my truck and it took me the better part of 2 days.

 

I did the Gyeon Syncro coating system on my truck. The application was easy, just time consuming. Prep for me wasn't too bad either because I literally drove my truck home right off the transport truck at the dealership. I didn't let the salesman touch it except to fill it with gas. I left all plastic, stickers, everything and then I washed it myself when I got it home and immediately started applying the coating. The prep (including wash, decontamination of paint, and taping off areas I didn't want to get coating on) and the application of the coating took me about 3 days. Turned out excellent. It has only been about 5 months, but it still looks like the day I applied it when I wash the truck.

 

There's a guy in the DFW area that does such work, and charges those sort of prices. But he spends two days doing the paint correction and application, and his customer list includes many vehicles for which a tire or oil change costs more than $2K. If you're looking for perfection, it's all in the prep work.

 

I had a shop do Opti-coat Pro on my 14 Durango when it was new. At that time it was warrantied for life. It has been perfect so far. I have never waxed the vehicle. Just run it through the touchless car wash and it comes out looking like brand new. I had the entire vehicle done, including the windows. Its much much better than Rain-X on the windows. In fact I have the wipers it came with from the factory still on it and they work perfectly yet.
Its not cheap though. The actually coating itself is pretty inexpensive, its all the prep work that costs money.
I didnt do it on my 18 F150 yet.