i waited i year to coat bmw weekend car before Yvan open my eyes to how simple the process and maintenance of a coating and the benefits of it i have coated both my daily and a weekend car along with my wife's van my son's and my daughter's car it's so much fun to wash them at home using green apple rinsless wash :) ( best way to prevent scratching on your vehicle paint is dropping the surface tension by applying a ceramic coat on it ) let you sponge / mitt and most importantly drying towel glide on the paint
I have literally never once in my 4+ years of doing coatings full time had someone not get a coating from me because "it's hard and scary to maintain". This video is absolutely ridiculous.
This is key, thank you Ivan! I've been struggling with informing my customers about the 'right' way to maintain their coating. I think keeping it simple is a better approach moving forward,
Very true, the benefits to a ceramic coating over unprotected paint are numerous. I've been watching Pan the organizer for years and it never ceases to fail. Myself I like rinseless, an iron remover with clay towel and even an mdr for hard water if you can't use DI water. If I remember correctly SiO2 gives compatability with products so they bond with the coating. Meaning there is no specific product alone that needs to be used. Very great video!
I've been saying this for years Yvan! It's insanity to expect every customer to hand-wash their car every time. And it's impractical in many parts of the country. Coated cars can go thru a (quality) carwash and come out looking GREAT, and customers don't even see the "swirls" us detailers can see.
I needed to see this. I’m guilty of this. Telling customers they can’t do this and that. It does make a coating seem less attractive with all the “rules”. Great video!
Automatic car washes voids warranty on most coatings. The biggest issue I see with coatings is washing them when the paint is hot. When you go to the drive through the engine bonnet is always going to be hot. But a black car on a hot day in California is not a good idea in my opinion.
@@Detailers-Business-Academy yeah they have an out for everything in their warranty disclaimers. I see a lot of mobile guys foam the cars down and use microfiber towels with no buckets then rinse the cars. That’s just as bad if not worse than the automatic ones. Worst part of the automatic ones is you have no idea if someone drove through a few cars ahead that just went mudding. That and they only use “spot free” rinse which is just diluting the hard water they use at the beginning. And the chemicals they use are caustic and ruin plastics over time, coated or not. You get what you pay for though. I tell clients the risks and benefits to a proper wash with deionized water only and the drive through. Risks to a proper wash being the price and time it takes. Again, that’s why I love the Icon Rocklear. Car washes don’t mess it or swirl it out at all.
I explain to them that touchless car washes are ok but won't clean as well. Car washes with brushes, no matter the style will damage the coating and the paint. I also suggest they learn a safe way to wash themselves an do that. I don't feel I should tell them what to do, but I also feel I should provide them with the correct knowledge and that is what I do.
Great information as always. I tell my clients the same thing & I have a tunnel car wash. I use only Neutral and Low PH soaps in my tunnel. I just tell them it's suggested to hand wash but do what you want. The worst thing that will happen is that 5 yr coating will last maybe 3 years. As long as they know this it's what works best for them. Thank you as always Mr Yvan!
Correctly stated Yvan! I always suggest hand wash over using a tunnel service but it is not the end of their protection if need to go through the local car wash.
Yes, this is part of not being able to sell a coating and it's frustrating. However, seeing what a single run through a roller style tunnel wash has done to brand new clear coat, I still want them to enjoy all of the benefits of their new coating, but I always highly recommend - not "require" - staying with touchless only or washing at home, using your rinseless method ("the Yvan Method"), or bringing it back to me for each wash. I only require them to return for their annual maintenance to keep the warranty active. My thought is A. I want to help my customer protect and prolong the life of the investment they just made and B. I sell the point that your rinseless method only takes a very short time (some people wait 20 minutes in line at a carwash - why not do it at home for free and with better results?). Of course, there are instances where there'd need to be more done than a rinseless, but I walk my customers through that process, as well.
Hey Yvan. Great instructive video once again as usual. Although I tought at some point in it you would mention anything about the need "or not" to use a coating topper periodically with such a title. So I will just ask.... Many detailers say that it's important to use a topper periodically because, as they say, you need to rejuvenate the coating once in a while, which reactivates its properties. What's your take on that? Is it really necessary or a decon is all your coating needs from time to time? Thanks! 🙂
Very interesting. I'd love to hear Mr.Lacroix speak about this. Also if you always top your coating, when are you suppose to know if your coating has failed? Those toppers sure gives a lot of water beading/sheeting.
Some coatings require or suggest toppers, others don’t. Personally a topper isn’t a bad idea, the more protection the better. Some toppers will reduce the hydrophobics of the coating, so you need to choose wisely.
@@larsenttif You know when your coating has failed when water doesn't either bead or sheet rapidly anymore after washing AND claying with a soft clay bar or a clay towel. And based on Yvan's answer to my question, another way to know is if the topper has no effect. So I would start with a good wash, then a topper (if of course your coating requires it), and finally the decon process I mentioned above. If after all those steps water still doesn't bead or sheet anymore, you know for sure that the coating has failed!
Are you planning to introduce any liquid wax or a paste wax as well? You have got already a graphene spray detailer are you planning to introduce any liquid or paste wax as well??
I have just gotten my BMW i4-M Sport 40 electric car ceramic coated with Opti Coat Pro3 and a final layer of Opti Coat Pro+. From watching previous videos by you when you worked for Optimum, I remember your saying that soap was outmoded and would leave a film on the car and that the Optimum products such as, for example, Opti Coat No Rinse should be used on a car coated with Opti Coat Pro+ because it was chemically compatible with the ceramic coating. And the same was said for Opti Coat Hyper Seal. Should I ignore those statements and feel perfectly comfortable doing what I used to do, namely, pressure wash rinse followed by foam cannon, followed by chenille wash mitt dipped in a bucket of water containing the same ph neutral soap I used in the foam cannon, using a fresh wash mitt for each panel (no two bucket), and ending with a pressure washer rinse and a blow dry with a leaf blower? OR will I be contributing to the longevity of my ceramic coating by using only Optimum products?
@@Detailers-Business-Academy Thank you for your reply. There are any number of rinseless products. Optimum seems to be claiming that since theirs is a mix of Silicon Dioxide and Silicon Carbide that only their Opti-Coat No Rinse will work maximally with their ceramic. True, or will any rinseless do as well?
Nanolex polysilazane on my daily, no sio2, no toper, no recharge etc. And car wash, still good hydrophobic properties and easy to keep clean. Coating makes it easier instead of complicated with rules
That’s been my approach to coatings from the beginning. Why would someone shell out $$$$ to make it more difficult/complicated to wash their vehicle. No brushed automatic wash, but besides that a quality coating shouldn’t be complicated.
Yvan, am I able to pay for some training in business development skills? Started my detail company in June and looking for new ways to grow and price accordingly.
Elephants in the room: the coating manufacturers who flat out void their warranties should you take your coated car through a typical car wash (The "Big O"'s one of them). What does (or can) the detailer do if their customer gets "voided" ?
Awesome video and a lot of common sense. But most detailers are charging a lot of money to ceramic coat a car and they have to have some serious benefits to justify the costs. Saying what you have just said about coatings does that justify the costs? Also doing what you have said would void a lot of the so called "Warranties" attached to the Pro Coatings?
Agreed, telling a customer it has exceptional chemical resistance in one breath, and telling them they have to use a PH balanced soap in another defeats the purpose.
Hi yvan, great vidéo as well, thoes detailers is frwaking me out whit those terms! No automatique carwash, damn!!!! Why you put ceramic on the car then!!! It is made for all thoes thing, bird drop, chemical dirt grimme! That iS the main reason u apply it , and this is the reason they BUY IT!
@@Theseones 😄😄I know and that's cool with me!😄😄 we need to support them more because of the lots of knowledge so we can succeed in our business and craft.
i waited i year to coat bmw weekend car before Yvan open my eyes to how simple the process and maintenance of a coating and the benefits of it
i have coated both my daily and a weekend car along with my wife's van my son's and my daughter's car
it's so much fun to wash them at home using green apple rinsless wash :) ( best way to prevent scratching on your vehicle paint is dropping the surface tension by applying a ceramic coat on it )
let you sponge / mitt and most importantly drying towel glide on the paint
Thank you
Thanks Yvan! Always enjoy and appreciate your wisdom.
I always appreciate your comments!
I have literally never once in my 4+ years of doing coatings full time had someone not get a coating from me because "it's hard and scary to maintain". This video is absolutely ridiculous.
That’s because you understand how a coating works. Many coating companies, and installers set unrealistic limits for consumers.
This is key, thank you Ivan! I've been struggling with informing my customers about the 'right' way to maintain their coating. I think keeping it simple is a better approach moving forward,
Thank you
Very true, the benefits to a ceramic coating over unprotected paint are numerous. I've been watching Pan the organizer for years and it never ceases to fail. Myself I like rinseless, an iron remover with clay towel and even an mdr for hard water if you can't use DI water. If I remember correctly SiO2 gives compatability with products so they bond with the coating. Meaning there is no specific product alone that needs to be used. Very great video!
Thank you!
I've been saying this for years Yvan! It's insanity to expect every customer to hand-wash their car every time. And it's impractical in many parts of the country. Coated cars can go thru a (quality) carwash and come out looking GREAT, and customers don't even see the "swirls" us detailers can see.
Exactly!
I needed to see this. I’m guilty of this. Telling customers they can’t do this and that. It does make a coating seem less attractive with all the “rules”. Great video!
Thank you for your comments.
Automatic car washes voids warranty on most coatings. The biggest issue I see with coatings is washing them when the paint is hot. When you go to the drive through the engine bonnet is always going to be hot. But a black car on a hot day in California is not a good idea in my opinion.
Many hand washes are more damaging then modern car washes. Unfortunately many Coating “warranties” are non existent.
@@Detailers-Business-Academy yeah they have an out for everything in their warranty disclaimers. I see a lot of mobile guys foam the cars down and use microfiber towels with no buckets then rinse the cars. That’s just as bad if not worse than the automatic ones. Worst part of the automatic ones is you have no idea if someone drove through a few cars ahead that just went mudding. That and they only use “spot free” rinse which is just diluting the hard water they use at the beginning. And the chemicals they use are caustic and ruin plastics over time, coated or not. You get what you pay for though. I tell clients the risks and benefits to a proper wash with deionized water only and the drive through. Risks to a proper wash being the price and time it takes. Again, that’s why I love the Icon Rocklear. Car washes don’t mess it or swirl it out at all.
Why not make us installers authorized resellers of DIY products. Then we can teach customers how to do a rinseless wash.
Neil , thank you, yes we are working on putting that in place.
Would like to inventory products, or have a drop ship program?
I explain to them that touchless car washes are ok but won't clean as well. Car washes with brushes, no matter the style will damage the coating and the paint. I also suggest they learn a safe way to wash themselves an do that. I don't feel I should tell them what to do, but I also feel I should provide them with the correct knowledge and that is what I do.
Exactly
Very well said Yvan. Most Detailers will be annoyed.
The goal is to educate, not annoy. Thanks for your comment.
Great information as always. I tell my clients the same thing & I have a tunnel car wash. I use only Neutral and Low PH soaps in my tunnel. I just tell them it's suggested to hand wash but do what you want. The worst thing that will happen is that 5 yr coating will last maybe 3 years. As long as they know this it's what works best for them.
Thank you as always Mr Yvan!
Thanks for commenting!
Perfect advice. As always, my friend.
Thank you for the support.
Correctly stated Yvan! I always suggest hand wash over using a tunnel service but it is not the end of their protection if need to go through the local car wash.
Thanks for commenting.
Great video sir
Thank you
Yes, this is part of not being able to sell a coating and it's frustrating. However, seeing what a single run through a roller style tunnel wash has done to brand new clear coat, I still want them to enjoy all of the benefits of their new coating, but I always highly recommend - not "require" - staying with touchless only or washing at home, using your rinseless method ("the Yvan Method"), or bringing it back to me for each wash. I only require them to return for their annual maintenance to keep the warranty active.
My thought is A. I want to help my customer protect and prolong the life of the investment they just made and B. I sell the point that your rinseless method only takes a very short time (some people wait 20 minutes in line at a carwash - why not do it at home for free and with better results?).
Of course, there are instances where there'd need to be more done than a rinseless, but I walk my customers through that process, as well.
As Detailers we see the damage a car wash does, most consumers don’t.
You are the voice of reason.
Thank you
Hey Yvan. Great instructive video once again as usual. Although I tought at some point in it you would mention anything about the need "or not" to use a coating topper periodically with such a title. So I will just ask.... Many detailers say that it's important to use a topper periodically because, as they say, you need to rejuvenate the coating once in a while, which reactivates its properties. What's your take on that? Is it really necessary or a decon is all your coating needs from time to time? Thanks! 🙂
Very interesting. I'd love to hear Mr.Lacroix speak about this. Also if you always top your coating, when are you suppose to know if your coating has failed? Those toppers sure gives a lot of water beading/sheeting.
Some coatings require or suggest toppers, others don’t. Personally a topper isn’t a bad idea, the more protection the better. Some toppers will reduce the hydrophobics of the coating, so you need to choose wisely.
@@larsenttif You know when your coating has failed when water doesn't either bead or sheet rapidly anymore after washing AND claying with a soft clay bar or a clay towel. And based on Yvan's answer to my question, another way to know is if the topper has no effect. So I would start with a good wash, then a topper (if of course your coating requires it), and finally the decon process I mentioned above. If after all those steps water still doesn't bead or sheet anymore, you know for sure that the coating has failed!
@@Detailers-Business-Academy Thank you very much sir! :-)
Are you planning to introduce any liquid wax or a paste wax as well? You have got already a graphene spray detailer are you planning to introduce any liquid or paste wax as well??
In the DIY Detail line yes
@@Detailers-Business-Academy grea
T
I have just gotten my BMW i4-M Sport 40 electric car ceramic coated with Opti Coat Pro3 and a final layer of Opti Coat Pro+. From watching previous videos by you when you worked for Optimum, I remember your saying that soap was outmoded and would leave a film on the car and that the Optimum products such as, for example, Opti Coat No Rinse should be used on a car coated with Opti Coat Pro+ because it was chemically compatible with the ceramic coating. And the same was said for Opti Coat Hyper Seal.
Should I ignore those statements and feel perfectly comfortable doing what I used to do, namely, pressure wash rinse followed by foam cannon, followed by chenille wash mitt dipped in a bucket of water containing the same ph neutral soap I used in the foam cannon, using a fresh wash mitt for each panel (no two bucket), and ending with a pressure washer rinse and a blow dry with a leaf blower?
OR will I be contributing to the longevity of my ceramic coating by using only Optimum products?
It won’t affect the durability of the Coating, but Rinseless will give you better results and appearance.
@@Detailers-Business-Academy Thank you for your reply. There are any number of rinseless products. Optimum seems to be claiming that since theirs is a mix of Silicon Dioxide and Silicon Carbide that only their Opti-Coat No Rinse will work maximally with their ceramic. True, or will any rinseless do as well?
@@marvinisrael1671 any good Rinseless will work perfectly.
Nanolex polysilazane on my daily, no sio2, no toper, no recharge etc.
And car wash, still good hydrophobic properties and easy to keep clean.
Coating makes it easier instead of complicated with rules
Exactly.
That’s been my approach to coatings from the beginning. Why would someone shell out $$$$ to make it more difficult/complicated to wash their vehicle. No brushed automatic wash, but besides that a quality coating shouldn’t be complicated.
Excellent, thank you for commenting!
I’m glad an industry leader like yourself addressed this! Very important info, thanks once again Yvan!
Thanks for your comment.
Yvan, am I able to pay for some training in business development skills? Started my detail company in June and looking for new ways to grow and price accordingly.
Yes please send me an email ( yvan1lacroix at icloud.com
Elephants in the room: the coating manufacturers who flat out void their warranties should you take your coated car through a typical car wash (The "Big O"'s one of them). What does (or can) the detailer do if their customer gets "voided" ?
The detailer can only service the customer. How can a coating manufacturer know a car has been through a car wash.
At the end of the day, it's someone else's car. Thanks for the reminder, Yvan.
Thank you for commenting.
Awesome video and a lot of common sense. But most detailers are charging a lot of money to ceramic coat a car and they have to have some serious benefits to justify the costs. Saying what you have just said about coatings does that justify the costs? Also doing what you have said would void a lot of the so called "Warranties" attached to the Pro Coatings?
Agreed, telling a customer it has exceptional chemical resistance in one breath, and telling them they have to use a PH balanced soap in another defeats the purpose.
Hi yvan, great vidéo as well, thoes detailers is frwaking me out whit those terms!
No automatique carwash, damn!!!!
Why you put ceramic on the car then!!!
It is made for all thoes thing, bird drop, chemical dirt grimme!
That iS the main reason u apply it , and this is the reason they BUY IT!
Agreed, very contradictory messages being told to consumers.
3rd from the office today
Haha I did it to mess with you xD
It was bound to happen sooner or later
@@Theseones 😄😄I know and that's cool with me!😄😄 we need to support them more because of the lots of knowledge so we can succeed in our business and craft.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Oooh many will get triggered
Hopefully it sparks a constructive conversation.
FIRST!
Thank you
@@Detailers-Business-Academy Thank you! This video gave me a new perspective on how to consult a coating.
My pleasure, let me know the results.