Top-up / Topper / Booster
Quick answer: A topper (also called a top-up or booster) is a quick-apply product used to refresh gloss, slickness and water behaviour on protected paint. It sits on top of waxes, sealants or ceramics and is part of regular aftercare, not a full re-coat.
What it means
Toppers are spray sealants or wipe-on layers that add a thin, hydrophobic film over existing protection. Many are SiO₂-enhanced or polymer-based and are applied after a wash or as a drying aid. They improve beading/sheeting and feel for weeks to a few months and can help the underlying protection last longer by reducing contamination build-up.
Why it matters
- Maintains behaviour: restores beading or sheeting when day-to-day use has muted it.
- Improves wash experience: added slickness lowers towel drag and wash marring risk.
- Bridges the gap: extends the period between deeper services or full ceramic top-ups.
- Customer-friendly: fast, forgiving application compared with pro-only coatings.
Where you’ll see it
Maintenance plans after a ceramic install, service menus as an add-on at 3–6 month intervals, retail “ceramic spray” or “spray sealant” products used after washing.
Context
Car Paint Protection; Maintenance; Ceramic coatings
Common mistakes
- Applying over bonded contamination or polishing oils – decontamination or panel wipe first for best bonding.
- Expecting a topper to repair scratches or failing coatings – it masks behaviour, it doesn’t rebuild thickness.
- Over-applying or layering too frequently, leading to smears, grabby feel or build-up.
- Mixing incompatible chemistries (e.g., solvent-heavy products over fresh coatings outside guidance).
- Judging protection only by beading - hydrophobics can fade before the underlayer is actually gone.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 10/11/2025 15:36