{"id":114863,"date":"2024-09-26T11:26:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T11:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jtape.com\/removing-ceramic-coating-for-collision-repair\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T08:28:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T08:28:05","slug":"removing-ceramic-coating-for-collision-repair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jtape.com\/en-us\/news\/removing-ceramic-coating-for-collision-repair\/","title":{"rendered":"Removing Ceramic Coating for Collision Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here, we\u2019ll be going into further detail on what a ceramic coating is, how it works, and when and why it might need to be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is ceramic coating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ceramic coating\u2014sometimes referred to as nanocoating, hydrophobic, silica, glass, or quartz coating\u2014is when a material is covered with ceramic compounds to improve its physical properties. This type of coating adds electrical and thermal insulation to materials while also helping to prevent corrosion and improve chemical resistance, which is why it\u2019s so popular for vehicles. Car owners might choose to get a ceramic coating to keep their vehicle scratch-free; however, it\u2019s worth noting that the coating can only lower the risk of scratches and doesn\u2019t always offer full protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how does it work? A ceramic coating compound is applied to substrates, where it can then bind to the material. Once it hardens, it creates a thin but sturdy protective layer of ceramic material, which deposits additional properties into the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The typical composition of ceramic coating is silicon dioxide, although other commonly used chemical combinations include titanium dioxide, aluminium oxide, and zirconium dioxide. For many automotive applications, the coating comes in liquid form and will contain ceramic coating resin and additives, allowing it to easily adhere to the vehicle\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main thing to note as an automotive bodywork professional is that ceramic coatings aren\u2019t always obvious. So, since they\u2019re quickly gaining popularity, it might be worth asking your customers whether they have had this added to their vehicle\u2019s surface before you get to work on anything. In some cases, it could affect your work and the price you quote, as it may need to be removed for certain jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does ceramic coating always need to be removed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In most collision repair<\/a> cases where the vehicle has a ceramic coating, this will need to be completely removed on the affected panels. This applies to any repairs where you\u2019d normally remove at least one layer of paint, even if it\u2019s only for a SMART repair<\/a>. It\u2019s up to you whether you charge extra for this additional work and time. But if you choose to do so, it\u2019s worth explaining this to the customer beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the vehicle only has light scratching or marks, it may be possible to polish these out without removing the ceramic coating. But, as we\u2019ll mention later, polishing can also remove the coating, so you\u2019ll need to be careful with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is ceramic coating difficult to remove?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ceramic coating requires a bit of extra work to remove. But the good news is that it doesn\u2019t usually require any special tools or techniques\u2014you’ll simply need to treat it as an additional layer that must be sanded or polished away. One difficulty you might come across is seeing where the ceramic coating covers and where it doesn\u2019t. This can be something that makes repairs trickier and more time-consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to remove ceramic coating ahead of repair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as body shops can choose to offer ceramic coating, it\u2019s also up to them to decide whether they want to offer ceramic coating removal as a service. If you\u2019re unsure, it\u2019s usually worth working out the costs associated with the extra work and doing your research into the additional time it might take. To help you decide, we\u2019re taking you through our tips for working on a vehicle with a ceramic coating and the best ways to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, carrying out repairs with the ceramic coating intact is not recommended since this can lead to some issues with paint adhering to the surface properly. While it can sometimes be removed in a localized area and reapplied at a later date, this might differ depending on the application and other factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We do, however, suggest asking the customer for any information they have about the detailer or ceramic coating specialist who applied the ceramic coating since this could provide a steer on how best to remove it. They might also give you some insight into the chemical composition, helping you to determine which removal methods will work and a better understanding of what you\u2019re working with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first method you should try when attempting to remove the ceramic coating is thoroughly cleaning the car\u2019s surface. Start by shampooing it with a sponge, rinsing this off, and then using a clay bar to remove any extra dirt. For old, worn-down ceramic coatings, this can sometimes be enough to remove it. If this method doesn\u2019t work, you can then move on to harsher techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ll be removing multiple paint layers<\/a> for the collision repair on a panel or area, the best removal method may be sanding. This should be done gradually so that you can see exactly how far down to the vehicle\u2019s surface you\u2019ve gone. However, since the ceramic coating sits on top of the clear coat, this is an effective way to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, if you don\u2019t plan on removing layers of paint, you can try polishing the vehicle\u2019s surface to remove the ceramic coating. A padded orbital polisher with a polishing compound should be enough to do the trick and scrape away the ceramic coating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these two methods fail, an alkaline-based degreaser should easily break down the ceramic coating and remove it from the surface. Take a clean cloth and small amounts of the degreaser at a time to rub it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alloy wheel ceramic coating can also be removed, although you might need to use alternative methods due to the nature of the materials. For instance, alkaline-based degreasers may affect the paint on alloys and should be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been experiencing an increase in customer enquiries relating to this topic, we hope our guide has proved useful in offering some insight into ceramic coatings and best practice associated with their removal during the collision repair process. For further automotive tips and advice, <\/strong>head to the JTAPE blog<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n