What originally interested you in Ceramic Coatings? 

Jason Cates:
Well, when I got into ceramic coating, about 12 years ago, I got tired of waxing my own vehicle every three months or whenever it would dissipate. I started looking into ceramic coating near me and got into coating my own vehicle. It took me a while to get efficient at it and do it properly because it's so tedious but overtime I perfected the art of ceramics.
Then I started looking for a side job, something that I could do, car detailing wise on the side and I ended up taking my vehicle to A-Team Detail to get some auto detailing done and then he hired me. Then we ended up partnering. Anyways, as far as ceramics go, I've been doing ceramic coating almost since it's been out on the market.

Over the last 12 years, how would you say that ceramics have changed?

Jason Cates:
The silica content in the product has gone up, which is basically the slick factor in the hydrophobic properties of the coating. It also makes the clear coat on the vehicle harder. It is the same product that they use to make glass.
So that's where you get your protection from, on your ceramics.

Why is it the right choice to install a the best ceramic coating on a brand new vehicle?

Jason Cates:
To protect your initial investment and keep it looking the same way it did or actually better than it did, from the factory for years.

When I bring in a brand new car for a ceramic coating can just put the coating on it?

Jason Cates:
Most of the time. Sometimes you can't. If it hasn't been through a car wash on a dealership, or it's coming straight from the factory, like you ordered a special order car, and it's literally getting trailer-ed from the factory to the dealership, they don't touch it a whole lot, you go pick it up and that's how you get a defect free car. If it sits on a lot for any amount of time or a lot guy gets his hands on it and washes the vehicle, whether it's with a pressure washer or through an automated car wash on a lot, they're scratching the paint up before you even buy the vehicle.

How do you fix that?

Jason Cates:
With paint correction or the paint restoration process. What that is, is going in and doing a compound on the vehicle, getting all of the swirls and minor imperfections out of the car. Then refining it with a polish process. Then prepping for coating and then coating the vehicle

How do I properly care for my car after I have my Ceramic Pro ceramic coating installed? How often do I have to come back?

Jason Cates:
We prefer that you come back quarterly or twice a year to get your coating inspected and for a maintenance detail. What that consists of is a interior and exterior wash which allows us to inspect the hydrophobic properties. I look at each panel separately and I look at the hydrophobic properties on that panel. I assess whether or not it needs to be coated again or if it's good.
Aftercare on ceramic coated vehicles is important. You don't want to use any harsh chemicals on the vehicle. You would want to wash the vehicle with a two bucket method, with grip guards in both buckets using a microfiber mitt or a wool mitt, and then dry the vehicle. You can either dry it with a microfiber plush towel or air dry the vehicle, or you could get in your vehicle and drive it down the road which will make the water fly off of the vehicle. Wax is not needed at all on a ceramic coated vehicle because it takes the place of waxing the vehicle. A lot of people ask do I need to wax it? No, you don't need to wax it. Just Soap and water and it's good to go.

What makes American Dent Specialists Houston's number one ceramic coating shop?

Jason Cates:
We do it right the first time.