Ceramic Application Instructions - Gelcoat and Paint
STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS
Gelcoat & Paint - 3-Year / 18-Month
At Marine Ceramics, we believe in empowering our customers to achieve professional-quality results. That’s why we provide comprehensive guidance throughout every step of the application process, helping you become efficient in applying the ceramic coating yourself. By following our detailed instructions, you can achieve a high-quality finish and potentially save thousands of dollars compared to hiring a professional. Explore our step-by-step directions below to get started.
Surface Preparation:
- Surface Inspection: Examine the surface for imperfections like scratches, swirl marks, or oxidation. If your surface shows signs of these imperfections, move to step 2 below to correct them. If your surface is free from these imperfections, move on to step 3.
- Restore/Correct Surface Imperfections: Using our Premium Marine 1- Step or heavier compounds, restore and repair any imperfections such as oxidation and swirl marks. NOTE: If your paint is fairly new or has been freshly compounded, SKIP step 2 and proceed to step 3.
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Polish the Surface: After using the Premium Marine 1- Step or heavier compounds, polish the surface by applying our Marine Ultra Polish. This step is crucial to achieving a flawless finish in preparation for ceramic coating application.
- Surface Cleaning: Begin by thoroughly washing the boat or yacht by following the directions of our Marine Foam Cannon Soap to eliminate salt, minerals, dirt, and other debris. Ensure the surface is completely clean and dry.
- Prep The Surface: Apply Surface Prep & Bond according to its specific instructions. This product is designed to clean the surface of oil, contaminants, and residue while enhancing the bond between the surface and the ceramic coating.
APPLY CERAMIC COATING LIKE A PRO!
Ceramic Application:
Surface Must be Completely Dry - Do Not Apply Ceramic Coatings in Direct Sunlight.
PRO TIP: For best application, it’s recommended to quickly wipe off or “level” the coating once you have finished your 2’ x 2’ section, typically within about 30-45 seconds after it’s been applied to the surface. Do not allow coating to dry or “flash” for longer than 1 minute before wiping and leveling to avoid hazing or high spots.
- Sectional Application: Divide the boat into manageable sections for systematic ceramic coating.
- Applying the Ceramic Coating:
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Marine Gelcoat: It is advised to only work in a 2’x 2’ section at a time for maximum product performance and ease of application.
- Marine Paints (Awlgrip/Awlcraft): It is advised to work in a 2’x 2’ section. However, if you experience faint 'cut-off lines' during application due to the absorption properties of these paints, we recommend working in a smaller area to prevent this from happening.
Our premium ceramic coatings are 2-3 times thicker than most other brands. Only 1 good coat is necessary for adequate protection, however it is ok to apply a second coat for the absolute highest protection available. Allow at least 1 hour before applying second coat.
- IMPORTANT: DO NOT try to stretch out the product and make it last. Our product was designed to be used liberally. During application, if the applicator grabs onto the surface and no longer leaves a nice slick surface behind, stop and add more product to your applicator. The coating should go on smoothly and not drag across the surface.
- Apply our premium nano ceramic coating to your applicator block or the 5” x 5” micro suede cloth, by using the included pipette dropper and applying several full lines of product from the left to the right on the applicator.
- PRO TIP: When first starting a new boat, we like to apply the coating around the perimeter of the applicator block and then one more line across the middle. This helps saturate your applicator and makes the application smooth. (See Photo Below)
- Work the coating onto the surface in a cross-hatch or overlapping motion (left to right and then up and down), ensuring even coverage. The surface should appear wet or shiny when first applied and then will quickly start to dry or “flash.”
- Re-apply the ceramic coating to the applicator block as needed, when it no longer leaves behind a slick, shiny coating.
- Inspect the finished section for uniformity and quality If necessary, re-apply the coating for complete coverage and increased protection.
- Level Coating - “First Wipe”: Use gentle pressure in a circular motion to wipe. Immediately after applying the coating to your section (about 30-45 seconds), use a clean, dry microfiber towel to remove the applied ceramic coating, ensuring an even finish without streaks or high spots.* We recommend using our Blue Pearl microfiber towel (included with your order).
- Buff Coating - “Second Wipe”: After removing the coating with the Blue Pearl microfiber towel, lightly buff the surface with a clean, dry long-piled Grey Cobra microfiber towel (included with your order) until the surface is smooth and haze free.
- Inspect the Section: Carefully inspect the section to make sure you have completely leveled and buffed out the coating, ensuring the surface looks blemish free and polished. If you notice areas that have high spots or appear hazy, simply apply a fresh coat over the top of the area and immediately level and buff out.
- *Note: A high spot is a small area of excess ceramic coating that stands out on the surface. These can be easily fixed if they are found shortly (within an hour) after the coating was applied, by simply adding a fresh coating over the top of the high spot and buffing off. If the high spot was noticed after it has already cured, you may have to correct it by using either our Marine Ultra Polish or our Premium Marine 1-Step with a microfiber or a machine polisher, depending on how long the high spot has cured.
Post-Application:
24-Hour Curing Time: Do Not Touch. Allow the ceramic coating to cure for a minimum of 24 hours. Avoid exposing the treated surface to water, moisture, or extreme conditions during this curing period.
Regular Inspections: Periodically inspect the coated surface to ensure the coating performs as expected. Touch up or reapply the coating if needed, following the Ceramic Maintenance Guide.
Ceramic Maintenance:
It is VERY IMPORTANT to follow our Ceramic Maintenance Guide to ensure a long-lasting, durable ceramic coating that has an industry leading, 15-Year Surface Warranty Available.* Follow the recommended maintenance routine suggested to preserve the ceramic coating’s effectiveness and longevity.
If you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to provide assistance.
*See our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for details at www.marineceramics.com