Everything You Need to Know
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
24 questions answered across ceramic coating, preparation, aftercare, pricing and more. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Call Daniel on 0404 646 528.
Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that chemically bonds to your car's clear coat, creating a hardened protective layer that becomes part of the surface rather than sitting on top of it. Unlike wax — which degrades in 6–8 weeks — a quality ceramic coating delivers years of protection against UV radiation, environmental contamination, bird droppings, water spots and light scratches. It also creates a superhydrophobic surface that repels water and grime, cutting your wash time significantly.
This depends on the product and the prep work. Our entry-level Just Coating uses Nxtzen Graphene Serum with a 7-year warranty. Gold Premium also uses Nxtzen Graphene Serum with 7 years and includes annual servicing to maintain performance. Ultimate Elite uses Nxtzen GS02 Elite with a 12-year warranty and dual-layer self-healing technology. Important: warranty and durability are two different things. Durability is built through product quality, proper preparation, skilled application, and real aftercare — all of which we provide.
A warranty is a legal document. It defines the conditions under which a manufacturer will address a claim — and most warranties are full of clauses designed to limit that liability. Durability is how long the coating actually performs in real-world conditions. Dealership coatings often carry lengthy warranties but average just 6–24 months of actual durability because the product quality, preparation and aftercare aren't there. Our warranties are backed by Australian-made lab-tested products, proper preparation, and a genuine annual servicing programme.
Ceramic coating is scratch-resistant, not scratch-proof. It provides meaningful protection against light contact scratches, swirl marks from washing, and minor abrasion. It will not stop a key, a shopping trolley or a significant impact. What it does do is make the paint surface harder and more resistant to the everyday micro-damage that builds up over time — which is what causes paint to look dull and aged.
No — but the condition of your paint affects what preparation work is needed before coating. Every vehicle we coat goes through a full inspection. We assess the paint under light, check for contamination, oxidation, swirl marks and any damage. We then carry out a full decontamination and machine polish before any coating goes on. This prep is non-negotiable — coating over contaminated or damaged paint locks those imperfections in for the life of the coating.
Absolutely — and it's actually the ideal time. New cars often arrive with paint imperfections from transport (depot washing, road grit on car carriers, overspray). We remove those in the prep stage, then seal the paint before it's ever been exposed to Queensland conditions. We also book new cars 2–6 months ahead of delivery, so the job is scheduled the day your car arrives. Our new car packages combine ceramic coating with Ultragard Nano Ceramic Tint for complete protection.
Preparation & Process
Every vehicle goes through the same preparation regardless of package: full wash to remove loose contamination, clay bar decontamination to remove bonded contamination from the paint surface, iron removal treatment, machine polish to enhance the paint and address surface scratches, and a final IPA wipe-down to ensure a perfectly clean bonding surface. This is the step most detailers either skip or rush — and it's where the durability of the coating is actually determined.
A full ceramic coating including preparation typically takes one full day. Some vehicles — particularly those with more significant paint correction needs, or larger vehicles — may take longer. We'll give you an accurate timeframe at consultation. A courtesy car is available for eligible bookings so your day doesn't stop while your car is in the studio.
No special preparation needed from your end. Just bring it in as normal. We handle everything from the moment it arrives. If your car has had any recent work done (respray, panel repair, touch-up paint) it's worth mentioning so we can factor that into our inspection and approach.
The coating needs time to cure. For the first 7 days: no washing, no rain exposure if possible, no automated car washes at any point going forward. After 7 days you can hand wash with a pH neutral shampoo and a soft microfibre mitt. At 30 days we bring you back in for your complimentary service wash — we inspect every panel under light, check bonding, and address anything that needs attention. This 30-day wash is included with every package.
Aftercare & Servicing
Every package includes our Aftercare Guarantee: a free 30-day service wash to verify correct bonding, a free Aftercare Shampoo Kit for safe maintenance between washes, and free re-coats on damaged panels — up to 2 panels at a time, subject to a $100 service wash fee. Gold Premium and Ultimate Elite also include years of annual servicing (7 and 12 years respectively) where we inspect the paint, remove environmental contamination, and re-boost the coating with Nxtzen 365Pro.
Each annual service includes a full paint inspection under light, a wash and decontamination, iron removal treatment, and application of Nxtzen 365Pro coating booster to restore hydrophobics and maintain performance. It takes approximately 1 hour. You're welcome to wait in our studio. Annual servicing is included with Gold Premium (7 services) and Ultimate Elite (12 services), saving $1,050+ and $1,800+ respectively over the warranty period.
Hand wash only — no automatic car washes at any point, as the brushes introduce swirl marks that degrade the coating surface. Use a pH neutral, coating-safe shampoo (we provide a bottle with every package). Use a two-bucket wash method with a clean soft microfibre mitt. Rinse the mitt regularly. Dry with a clean microfibre drying towel. Avoid washing in direct sunlight. Bird droppings should be removed as soon as possible — within 24 hours where possible — as the acid can etch through the coating.
No — and you don't need to. Applying wax or any other sealant over a ceramic coating blocks the coating from performing as designed and can be grounds for voiding your warranty. The coating itself provides far superior protection to any wax. If you want to maintain or enhance the coating between annual services, speak to us about coating-safe maintenance sprays.
Pricing & Bookings
Our ceramic coating packages start from $1,200 for Just Coating (sedan), $1,895 for Gold Premium (sedan), and $3,700 for Ultimate Elite (sedan). New car packages combining coating and tint start from $1,700. All prices include GST and are starting prices for sedans — final price varies by vehicle size and condition. We'll confirm pricing at consultation after inspecting your vehicle.
Yes. Pricing varies based on vehicle size and panel count. Sedans are our base pricing. SUVs, utes, dual-cabs and large trucks are priced higher due to additional surface area and product required. Contact us with your vehicle details and we'll provide an accurate quote.
You can book by calling or texting Daniel on 0404 646 528, emailing [email protected], or using the quote form on any page of our website. For new cars not yet arrived, we can book you in 2–6 months ahead of delivery — just let us know your expected delivery date.
We'll confirm deposit requirements at the time of booking. For standard bookings a deposit secures your spot. Contact us directly and we'll walk you through the process.
We accept cash, EFTPOS and bank transfer. If paying by EFTPOS, a small transaction fee of 2% applies to cover bank fees. Payment is due on completion of the job.
About Ricardo's
Yes. Ricardo's Detail Garage is substantially insured to guarantee professional workmanship. If you have any questions about our coverage or require documentation for your records, please ask and we'll provide whatever you need for complete peace of mind.
We're at 10/2 Warehouse Circuit, Yatala QLD 4207 — conveniently located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, approximately 40 minutes from either city centre. We are a studio-based operation, which means your car is worked on in a controlled indoor environment — not outside in the elements.
Our primary service is studio-based at Yatala, which gives us the controlled environment needed for a quality ceramic coating application. Mobile service may be available for certain detailing services — contact us to discuss your specific situation and location.
Ricardo's Detail Garage has been operating for over 7 years. Daniel is a trained and accredited installer for Nxtzen Professional Ceramic Coatings, and the business has built a reputation across Brisbane and the Gold Coast backed by 120+ five-star Google reviews.
Yes. If you have multiple vehicles — whether a personal fleet or a group of colleagues — contact us to discuss tailored pricing. We're a small family business and we reward loyalty and volume with the right deal.