Have you ever messed up a ceramic coating?

Yes, we have. We have never messed up a whole car, but we have twice had issues with single panels.

On both occasions, it was because the coating was disturbed before it had cured, and both caused by our inexperience when we were new to ceramic coatings.

In once case, the panel was able to be rectified, with lots of polishing and then a re-application.

However, on the first car we messed up, we had tried to correct the problem with another application and made it worse. The Porsche 911 was being restored and had just come back from the bodyshop where the panel in question had been repainted. Although is was unrelated to the mistake we made, it did mean that it was easiest to just send it back and repaint the panel at our expense. This took time, but the car was a long term job which was off the road anyway (Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)).

It should be noted that this was a long time ago when ceramic products were in their infancy, and the product we were using at that time, was particularly difficult to apply compared to more modern versions.

We have also been called upon to correct other people's mistakes.

Things do go wrong, and the more times you do something, the more likely something is to go wrong. So although we have learned and hope not to repeat our mistakes, it is sure to happen again. The important thing is that we are able to rectify problems and put things right.

You have paid a lot of money to have a ceramic coating applied properly, and that is what you will get, even if we don't get it right first time.

What this question is really about

This isn’t really about failure. It’s about honesty. People want to know whether mistakes happen - and more importantly, what happens if they do.

The realistic answer

Ceramic coatings are technique-sensitive. If applied incorrectly, they can leave high spots, smearing or uneven curing. What separates professionals is not whether mistakes are possible, but how they are identified and corrected.

What can go wrong

• Missed high spots that cure visibly.
• Inconsistent levelling during flash time.
• Environmental contamination during curing.
• Incorrect panel preparation.

How issues are corrected

Most coating defects are resolved by lightly machine polishing the affected area and reapplying the coating correctly. This is why controlled lighting and proper inspection are critical during application.

Why experience matters

Experienced installers understand flash timing, environmental variables and inspection technique. Problems are usually spotted and corrected before the vehicle leaves the workshop.

The key point

Ceramic coating application requires care and inspection. Mistakes can happen in any technical process - what matters is transparency, correction and standards.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 20/02/2026 16:03