How Much Does It Cost To Ceramic Coat An RV?

A ceramic coating can keep your RV looking new for much longer than a wax coating can. How much does it cost to coat an RV in ceramic?

While ceramic coating is fairly expensive, it can keep your RV looking new for years. Ceramic coating can even protect your RV from scratches and other damage. You can save money if you do it yourself.

The cost depends on the company that does it and how long your RV is. The total cost can be $5000 or can be well under $2000; it can cost a fraction of that if you do the work yourself. You might pay $20, $55, or more dollars per foot long your RV.

Ceramic coating is necessary if you want your RV to stay new looking for a long time. Things like dirt, dust, acid rain, and even the sun can discolor your RV. It is better to invest in ceramic coating.

I always get my RV ceramic coating redone once every few years. It works as intended and keeps my RV looking newer than it is.

‍What is Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coating keeps your RV looking great by protecting your decals and paint. It also repels water, making it easier to clean your RV.

The ceramic layer blends in with your RV's paint and does not affect your RV's appearance. Ceramic coating is clear, so your RV will look just the same as it did before that coat was applied. Ceramic coating is not only for RVs but for vehicles of all kinds, including boats and aircraft.

Is Ceramic Coating Worth It?

Ceramic coating can make your RV look great. However, it costs more than some people expect it to, and they reconsider after they find out what it costs. Is ceramic coating worth it?

What Does it Cost?

Ceramic coating will cost more than 1000 and may cost more than 5000 dollars. You might pay $1500 for a smaller RV, or $5700 for a larger RV and an exceptionally high-quality coating.

Ceramic coating costs $20 per foot to $40 per foot. "Per foot" thankfully does not mean "per square foot", instead it refers to how long your RV is. It is fairly expensive, but it doesn't cost a fortune and the coating can last for two to five years.

Different Companies Charge Different Prices

If you want your coating to last longer - several years and not only one or two years - you may need to pay for a more expensive ceramic treatment. A higher-end ceramic protection company offers:

• $55 per foot for classic ceramic coating
• $85 for premium ceramic coating
• $155 for VIP ceramic coating

While VIP ceramic coating is expensive (more than $6000 for a 40-foot RV), it will protect your RV for a long time. Ceramic treatments sometimes also remove oxidation and remove light scratches. They can, to some extent, repair and not only remove damage.

How Expensive is it Compared to Waxing?

Waxing is definitely cheaper. If you get your RV waxed, one company will charge you:

• $13 per foot for a wash
• $25 per foot for a wash and wax
• $35 per foot for a wash plus removing oxidation
• $45 per foot for RV protection

Even though it only costs $25 per foot, it is not as beneficial as ceramic coating. Wax does work, but not as well as a high-tech ceramic coating does.

Can You Do the Work Yourself?

Yes, you can apply a ceramic coat yourself if you want to do this. Be prepared for the risk of not getting it right for the first time, but you may be fine.

The most important thing when doing it yourself is preparation. You need to do a very thorough job cleaning and polishing the entire surface of your vehicle before you apply the coating.

You may need to apply new paint first. You will have to pre-wash, wash, and polish your RV, including places that are not easy to reach. You will likely need a ladder to wash and polish your whole RV.

How Much Can You Save This Way?

Since it takes time to coat an RV in ceramic properly, most of the cost is the labor cost. You might therefore save a thousand or even thousands of dollars if you do the work yourself.

If the labor cost is $1500 to $3000, the cost of materials may be only $300 or $500. The work will take tens of hours and has to be done carefully, but you will only pay a fraction of the price this way.

You Should Get Your RV Coated When It's Very New

It is easier to apply ceramic coating to a brand new RV, and therefore cheaper. If you want to get your RV coated, the best time is when the RV is new and clean.

If you want your older RV coated, the professional will have to clean all of the dirt off of the surface to make it as smooth as possible. This will add to the time required and the cost. This can still easily be worth it - I got my RV coated in ceramic after it was already a few years old - but the best time is when your RV is new.

How Does Ceramic Coating Work?

Ceramic coating is a high-tech way of protecting your RV's paint. It is a chemical polymer that works by bonding with your RV's finish. This makes the thin ceramic coating invisible.

What Does Ceramic Coating Protect Against?

Ceramic coating protects against many things that can stick to, damage, or discolor your RV. Your RV will be exposed to many things on the road, no matter what you do:

• Acid rain can slowly damage your RV
• Bird droppings can get your RV dirty
• Mud can splash up and hit your RV
• Dirt and dust can get on your RV even if you drive in good weather
• UV rays can make your RV look older

All of these things can damage your RVs appearance faster than you expected. Getting your RV coated in ceramic once every two years or every year is the best way to protect it.

Does Ceramic Coating Protect Your RV From Scratches?

Yes, ceramic coating can even protect your RV from scratches. It cannot protect your RV from many forms of physical damage, but it can stop scratching. The ceramic coating might even protect your RV from graffiti.

It Makes Your RV Quite a Lot Easier to Clean

Cleaning your RV is quite a lot easier and not just somewhat easier with a ceramic coating. It is often possible to clean your RV just by spraying it with water and making it look as clean as if it had just been painted. You won't have to wash every square foot of your RV carefully to get it clean.

Ceramic Coating is Better Than Wax

While wax works reasonably well, ceramic coating works quite noticeably better. Wax doesn't last very long before it needs to be done again, ceramic coating lasts much longer.

Ceramic coating also resists much harsher weather than wax. Rain, snow, wind, and hail won't wear out your ceramic coating nearly as fast as it will wear out a wax coating.

Ceramic Coating Prevents Chemical Stains

Even if the weather you are driving in is better, your RV will still come into contact with chemicals. There is no way around this - normal road conditions expose your RV to chemicals that can discolor it.

Even sunlight can discolor your RV's paint over time. A ceramic coating can protect it from UV rays and keep your paint looking new for a long time.

Some Campgrounds Don't Allow Older RVs

Sometimes, a campground might have a policy against RVs that are more than ten years old. They are less likely to enforce this rule if your RV is new looking. A new paint job can make your RV look newer, and a water-repelling ceramic coating can keep it looking that way.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

One disadvantage is that it's a bit tricky to get the job done right. If you haven't done it before, you might apply the coat unevenly. This could make the finish look uneven and spotty.

Unless you are fine with the risk of making a mistake, get a professional to do it instead. It doesn't really cost that much to get your RV coated in ceramic and it will keep it new looking for as long as possible.

For best results, you will also need to redo your ceramic coating once every two years or more often than that. While the ceramic coating does last longer than wax, it still has to be redone. If you learn to do it yourself, you can save a fair bit of money.

Sometimes, It Can Last for Seven Years

You don't always need to redo the ceramic coating once every year or two. Sometimes, it can last for seven years. It depends on what company does it and what kind of coating is used.