Ceramic Coating Review: Ceramic Pro vs. Armor Shield IX

For car enthusiasts, a vehicle embodies both luxury and a sense of freedom. Driving that beautiful and powerful piece of machinery in gorgeous weather is one of the rewards for working so hard at keeping that car pristine and in good working condition. But, the world is given to entropy, and your car will fall victim to the ravages of time, the elements, and angry birds letting you know in the most disgusting way possible just what they think of your prized possession. There’s nothing worse than spending your time and hard-earned cash lovingly caring for your car, only to find its shiny surface quickly marred by bird droppings, tree sap, mud, and other debris.

But, most people can’t afford a luxury vehicle. Still, everyone who’s ever owned a car knows how quickly those things depreciate. A car is a big-ticket item, and to keep it holding onto its value just a little longer, you’ll need to keep it clean. There are products to remove car scratches caused by various contaminants and to help protect your car. But cleaning the surface of your car can eat up a lot of your time, and it sure isn’t easy on the joints. Plus, the benefits of waxing will only last you a few months, at best. And washing your car at a commercial car wash uses harsh chemicals that can ruin the integrity of your car’s paint. So, how can you protect the surface of your vehicle, keep it looking good, and save yourself time and elbow grease in the process?

Enter nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale to produce or fabricate a macroscale product. Basically, science can save your paint job.

Nanotechnology has been around for decades, and at first, was relegated to the space industry. Since then, nanotechnology has invaded other niches and markets, including the automotive industry. Now, you can keep your car’s surface safe and protected from debris and evil, low-rent pigeons with the shield of science, i.e., ceramic coating and glass coatings.

Because these coatings are nanotech in a bottle, only a tiny bit of the stuff is needed to cover an entire car. If you’ve ever seen a bottle of one of these products you’ll be amazed at how a container the size of a standard ketchup bottle can protect an entire vehicle.

How do ceramic coating and glass coating products work?

These nano products act as a second, protective layer over your car’s clear coat or paint. Since the products consist of incredibly tiny nanotech particles, the coating gets into and seals every pore on the surface of your car.  Once dry, the coating is completely transparent and hard.


In-depth explanation of how the coating works.

As you can see, the car’s surface is jagged, and these naturally occurring crevices, nooks, and crannies are where dirt, debris, and pollutants attach to your car and wreak havoc on the exterior’s aesthetics and integrity. Sealing the pores in the surface of your vehicle with a ceramic or glass coating will repel debris, UV rays, and water. Without that protective layer, pollutants and dirt can get into the pores in the car’s surface, and sun and heat can break down the integrity of the paint and cause it to fade. Once applied, the ceramic coating will make your car’s surface appear shinier and the color richer than before. You can also see in the photo below how well a coated car’s surface repels water.


Uncoated vs. coated hood. Notice how the coated side is almost dry after splashing water on it.

What are the benefits of applying a ceramic coating or glass coating to a car?

  • It repels water
  • Eliminates the appearance of swirls after washing
  • Prevents the paint from fading
  • Protects against small scratches
  • Preserves the color from extreme heat
  • Makes it much easier to clean debris from the car’s surface
  • Protects from rust
  • Car self-cleans

In addition, the nanotech particles in the coatings are small enough to resist vibrations from your car’s engine, potholes, and wind. So, the coating won’t dislodge and peel off like paint or a clear coat would. Glass and ceramic coatings will last for years instead of months, making them a worthwhile investment on top of their other benefits.

Where can I get a ceramic or glass coating for my car?

There are two ways to obtain and use a quality glass or ceramic coating. You can have one professionally applied, or you can purchase a kit and do-it-yourself.

We look at both options through:  Ceramic Pro and Armor Shield IX. You can only get Ceramic Pro professionally applied, whereas Armor Shield IX is available as a DIY kit.

What are the benefits of Ceramic Pro versus Armor Shield IX?

Ceramic Pro is a glass coating. Most professional automotive detailing companies that apply these protective coatings have switched from ceramic to glass formulations. The overall structure of the formula and the things it can do for your car are similar, but the application process is a bit different, making glass coatings more efficient for commercial applications. Glass coatings bond to the car’s surface almost as soon as the formula hits the paint, drying quickly.

What benefits do these two coating products share?

Ceramic Pro and Armor Shield IX offer these same benefits:

  • Repel water
  • Protect from rust and UV rays
  • Help the car’s paint to resist fading
  • Prevent water spots and swirling when washing the vehicle
  • Make cleaning much easier
  • Protect paint from small scratches

Both products offer the roughly the same level of protection for your car’s surface from the elements and environmental pollutants, and both products make it much easier for you to clean the car. However, they do offer some substantial differences, which depend on your budget, what you want for your car, and how much DIY work you’re willing to tolerate.

If you find yourself resenting, procrastinating, or otherwise groaning at the time and elbow-grease investment of cleaning and washing your car yourself, Ceramic Pro is probably for you.

How Ceramic Pro differs From Armor Shield IX

With Ceramic Pro, you don’t have to invest any of your time into applying the coating. Ceramic Pro is not a DIY job. You can get a quote from a licensed body shop to apply the coating to your car. Schedule the application date, drop off your vehicle on said date, wait, then pick up your shiny ‘new’ car. Using Ceramic Pro is much easier than Armor Shield IX in that regard.

But what’s the downside to using Ceramic Pro?

Well, that depends on your budget and your patience level. Ceramic Pro, because it is a professional-grade formulation and a glass coating, is more expensive than the DIY alternative. It requires a more substantial, upfront monetary investment on your end, typically starting at $1000+ Also, Ceramic Pro takes time to apply and adequately dry before you can safely drive it, requiring your car to be at the shop for some time. Multiple people will be working on and handling your vehicle in the process. If you don’t like to wait, or you’re the nervous-nelly type with your mechanical baby, you may want to go the DIY route. 

Why should you choose to go with Armor Shield IX?

If you’re the type who loves an adventure, learning new skills, or takes pride in a DIY job done well, Armor Shield IX is for you. From start to finish, you can have your car coated in a beautiful, shiny new ceramic coat within a few days after purchasing your DIY kit. If you’re impatient, the only wait time you’ll have with Armor Shield IX is while it’s being shipped to your address which from our testing only took 3 days.


Non-protected vs. protected.

Once applied, Armor Shield IX only takes about four hours to dry, and if you miss a spot, no worries; you can go back over it with the formula without damaging the car’s surface.

The Downsides of Using Armor Shield IX

Armor Shield IX will require you to thoroughly clean and buff your car’s surface before you apply the coating. This can be frustrating and time-consuming if washing and cleaning your car is something you hate. Also, ceramic and glass coating formulas use VOCs, which you don’t want to inhale. They can cause light-headedness if you aren’t in a well-ventilated area or aren’t wearing a mask.

What are the pros and cons of both coatings?

Armor Shield IX Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Very Affordable
  • Fun for DIY enthusiasts
  • Faster Results

Cons

  • Doesn’t last as long as Ceramic Pro
  • Requires work and time on your end

Ceramic Pro Pros and Cons

Pros

  • You don’t have to do any work
  • Lasts a long time
  • Backed by a professional warranty

Cons

  • Is very expensive
  • Longer wait times

Regardless of the route you choose for your vehicle, both formulations offer superior protection for your car’s surface. Your vehicle will look shinier and more vibrant in color for longer with a protective ceramic coating or glass coating application. Resist small scratches, dirty birds, mud, and water with a protective nanotech coating on your car and retain the value of your vehicle for longer with Ceramic Pro and Armor Shield IX.

Finally to end it we found a nice how-to video on how to make headlights look brand new again.

5 thoughts on “Ceramic Coating Review: Ceramic Pro vs. Armor Shield IX”

    • Hello Albert:
      Go to youtube.com, search for “Sweet Project Cars”.
      When you get to the “Sweet Project Cars” page search for “ceramic coating”.
      Mike (at “Sweet Project Cars”) shows how to Do-It-Yourself.
      Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

      • Nice! Thank you very much. Very helpful guide on the youtube channel. I just ordered the product now. Did you try it as well and if yes, what’s your experience?

  1. Read your post. I wanted to ask you something though… I’m curious your opinion on repainting a car vs vinyl wrapping a car. What’s the better way to go? I’ve been getting quotes from local shops and they seem to be all over the place. Thanks for the post, and I look forward to seeing your reply.

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