8 Questions to Ask Before Booking Ceramic Coating

Most people only get ceramic coating done once, maybe twice on a vehicle they really care about. That means one bad choice — wrong product, untrained installer, no prep work — and you're stuck with the results for years. Before you hand over your keys or your driveway to anyone, here are the eight questions you should ask. These are the same things I'd want to know if I were the customer.

1. What Product Are You Actually Using?

This is the most important question on the list. The ceramic coating industry is flooded with cheap, rebottled products with inflated claims. Ask the installer to name the specific brand and product line — not just "professional-grade ceramic coating." At Zane's Detailing, I use Adams Graphene Coating for the 1-year package, and Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light paired with EXOv4 for the 2-year. The 5-year uses Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra, one of the hardest consumer-accessible coatings on the market. If someone can't tell you exactly what's going in a bottle, that's a red flag.

2. How Long Have You Been Applying Coatings?

Ceramic coating isn't a product you buy and wing. Application technique matters — panel wipe-downs, flash times, leveling, high-spot removal. A detailer who started offering coatings last month because they saw it trending on YouTube is not the same as someone who has put down dozens of jobs and knows how the product behaves in heat, humidity, and direct sun. Ask how many coating installs they've completed. Ask if they've been trained by the manufacturer or distributor. Ask to see real results, not just stock photos.

3. What Does the Paint Correction Process Look Like?

Ceramic coating locks in whatever is underneath it. If your paint has swirl marks, water spots, or oxidation and no one addresses them before coating, those defects are sealed in permanently. Any reputable installer will walk you through their decontamination and paint prep process. At minimum it should include a thorough wash, iron decon, clay bar or fallout removal, and at least a one-step polish on most vehicles. I've seen cars come in where a previous "detail shop" skipped all of that and just sprayed coating over dirty, swirled paint. Don't let that happen to yours.

4. Is the Service Mobile or Shop-Based — and Does That Matter?

Zane's Detailing is 100% mobile. I come to your driveway in Cumming, Alpharetta, Suwanee, Gainesville, Dawsonville, or wherever you are across North Atlanta. For some people, that's a major convenience win — no dropping off, no waiting room, no coordinating rides. The one thing to understand is that mobile coating installs need proper conditions: a shaded area, no direct sunlight, no wind pushing debris. I assess that at every job. If you're booking with any mobile detailer, ask how they handle adverse conditions and whether they'll reschedule if the environment isn't right. A good installer won't rush a coating just because they're already parked in your driveway.

5. What Are the Exact Costs — and What's Included?

Pricing in this industry varies wildly, and so does what's included. Some quotes look cheap until you find out paint correction is extra, or the "ceramic coating" is a spray sealant that lasts eight months. Here's exactly what I charge:

• 1-Year Adams Graphene: $349 sedan / $399 SUV / $449 truck
• 2-Year Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light + EXOv4: $649 sedan / $699 SUV / $749 truck
• 5-Year Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra: $899 sedan / $949 SUV / $999 truck

Each package includes full decontamination, paint prep, and the coating itself. No hidden fees, and car detailing in Georgia is not subject to sales tax, so the price you see is the price you pay — minus the $50 deposit to lock in your date, with the remainder due when the job is done.

6. Can You Show Me Reviews from Real Local Customers?

Anyone can say they do great work. Ask for Google reviews, and look at whether they're specific — do they mention the vehicle, the process, the results? Generic five-star reviews with one sentence don't tell you much. At Zane's Detailing, I have 36 five-star Google reviews from customers right here in the Cumming and North Atlanta area. That's not a number I manufactured. Those are real people who had real work done on their vehicles and took the time to write about it.

7. What Are the Cure Time and Aftercare Requirements?

After a coating goes on, the vehicle needs to stay dry — no washing, no rain exposure — for a set curing window. Depending on the product and ambient temperature, that can be 24 to 72 hours or longer. You also need to know what wash methods are safe going forward (no touchless car washes with harsh chemicals, no automatic brush washes). A detailer who doesn't go over this with you isn't setting you up for success. I walk every customer through aftercare before I leave the job.

8. What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?

Mistakes happen. Maybe there's a high spot you didn't catch, or the coating doesn't bond right on a particular panel. Ask the installer directly: what is your process if I'm not satisfied with the result? A professional who stands behind their work will give you a straight answer. I do. If there's an issue, I come back and make it right — that's not a policy I needed to write down, it's just how I operate.

Ready to Book in Cumming or the North Atlanta Area?

If you've done your homework and you're ready to move forward, I'd be glad to talk through which package makes sense for your vehicle and how my schedule looks. You can reach me directly at 321-243-0633. A $50 deposit holds your date, and I'll come to you — driveway, garage, wherever works. Zane's Detailing serves Cumming, Alpharetta, Suwanee, Gainesville, Dawsonville, Dahlonega, Buford, and the surrounding North Atlanta area.