Can You Use Ceramic Coating on Matte Paint?

Last Updated on 5 months by Ollie Barker

Your car stands out from the crowd because of its matte finish. Perfect! The next step is to figure out how to safeguard it. The question of whether matte paint can utilize ceramic coating comes up frequently. Can you use ceramic coating on matte paint?

The Quick Answer

You can get a ceramic coating for your matte car paint, but this will add little richness to the surface.

Understanding Matte Finishes

No matte paint

It’s a matte finish; there isn’t a matte PAINT. Automotive paint is drab by nature. It will attach and initially cure when sprayed over metal, plastic, or other surfaces.

The car paint’s surface is coated with a clear coating to give it a glossy appearance. The purpose of a typical clear coat is to cover any divots or small dips left by the paint’s coarse pigment. This results in a surface that is smoother and deeper. This is what looks like a gloss.

The matte paint job includes a clear coating as well. However, the final coating is left with tiny dimples rather than filling and leveling the uneven paint. As a result, the paint has a dull or matte texture and is unable to reflect light.

Types of Matte Finishes

There are different grades of matte paint finishes, each producing a different luster. Three different matte finishes are available.

Flat Matte Finish

The most typical kind of matte finish is this one. It basically has the same appearance as when the bare metal has been covered with a can of flat black spray paint. It tends to have no gloss at all and is unpolished, gritty, and coarse.

When gazing at the paint, you won’t notice any reflections with this finish. The biggest issue with a real flat matte finish is that it gives the car a slightly unfinished appearance. Car enthusiasts adorn the vehicle with accessories like wheels or bumpers to address this problem.

Satin Matte Finish

Compared to matte, a satin surface reflects more light.

The majority of factory-direct automotive paint jobs have a satin finish. Even though it might not seem as “stealthy” as the flat matte surface, the satin finish truly pops, especially in natural light or when illuminated by LEDs.

Semi-Gloss Matte Finish

The semi-gloss matte suits this goal admirably for individuals looking to push the glossy paint-coated envelope. The easiest analogy to explain the distinction between satin and semi-gloss is to draw a parallel between white plastic and eggshell.

Small flaws or dimples will be concealed by semi-gloss paint to produce a muted paint finish. For those seeking a user-friendly matte finish, semi-gloss paint is a suitable option because it requires less upkeep.

Can You Use Ceramic Coating on Matte Paint?

Yes, you can. It is important to safeguard matte finishes, and applying a ceramic coating is a fantastic way to do it. Naturally, the dull surface is impacted in some way. The majority of the time, a matte finish with the ceramic coating will become slightly richer but not glossy. It won’t have a polished appearance.

Note: If you are unsure of the final finish’s appearance, test the coating on a small area to see how it turns out.

How does this work?

By filling up those minor flaws with a clear but incredibly durable layer of quartz or glass, the ceramic coating is designed and made to adhere directly to the clear matte coating.

The ceramic coating then creates an incredibly flat layer after curing. That defense becomes stronger with each new layer of coating, improving the protective qualities without raising the shininess. The matte surface stands out because it draws attention to what is behind that layer.

How to Protect Matte Paint Finishes?

Many people have the impression that matte coatings require a lot of upkeep. This isn’t always the case, though. The resilience of matte paint has increased recently, and it is now just as simple to maintain as a standard gloss finish. However, it still has its own specifications.

1. Car wash options

# Wash hands

Avoid using an automatic car wash when washing your automobile because it will damage the matte paint. Sealants and protectants will be removed by the rough rollovers, brushes, and harsh chemicals used in an automatic car wash, but only dirt and pollutants will be removed by a delicate hand wash using excellent soap.

# Touchless car wash

Choose a touchless car wash if you must send your vehicle to a car wash station.

2. No polish or wax

Using conventional waxes, sealants, or ceramic coatings intended for glossy automobiles should be avoided because they will change the finish of matte vehicles. Only paint protection products made especially for matte cars should be used instead.

3. Use cleaners designed for matte surfaces

Use matte-specific soaps and detail sprays for sporadic spot cleaning or removal of dirt. With the exception of the harsh components that have negative consequences, they function exactly like their conventional equivalents. They can be applied as frequently as required.

Standard paste wax will destroy the matte finish by filling in surface flaws. Select sealant products made especially for matte paint; they can provide comparable levels of protection.