Matte Paint

TangAFR_EV said:

Anyone have experience with Matte? Am not certain if it can be polished, but is it high maintenance? TIA

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MagKap said:

I would be interested in learning more from others about the matte finish. The ceramic pro seems like a good solution. Does anyone have personal. experience with this product? Since the matte finish is one of the 3 choices available in the us reservation, I wonder if this will become a hot topic. I was unaware of the matte finish issues.

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You really need to be on top of things when it comes to matte paints. If you get PPF though that makes a big difference.

Welcome to the forum @MagKap!


Matte Paint Care Recommendations
Do’s and Don’ts
Do…

• Practice preventative maintenance – Because matte finishes cannot be polished it is important to put down a paint protectant in order to prevent staining, etching, UV fading, and damage from environmental contaminants. Using Dr. Beasley’s Matte Paint Coating will protect the paint surface, preventing such issues from occurring.
• Handwash regularly – Regular handwashing is the most effective way to keep the surface clean. We recommend using the two-bucket method, or a handheld foamer to wash the vehicle by hand. A reputable detail shop can also wash the vehicle by hand, but make sure they are using car wash soap formulated specifically for matte finishes, such as Dr. Beasley’s Matte Body Wash.
• Remove contaminants between washes – If left too long on the surface bird droppings, insect remains, and water spots can bake onto the finish, causing damage to the protective coating and eventually the paint underneath. Using Dr. Beasley’s Matte Final Finish, you can easily wipe away these blemishes as you see them, preventing any damage from occurring.
• Use clean mitts and microfiber towels – It is important to use soft, clean microfiber towels and wash mitts when caring for a matte surface. Using towels with embedded particles and debris can abrade the surface, causing scratching and marring.
• Use products formulated for matte finishes – It might be tempting to use standard car care products you already have on hand, but a matte finish is a specialty paint job, and to care for it you need specialty products.

Don’t…

• Do Not wax or polish the vehicle – Introducing waxes or polishes to the surface can alter the look of the finish. Waxes, paint sealants and ceramic coatings are designed to add gloss to paint finishes. Using abrasive products such as a polishes, glazes, and compounds will cause shiny spots which are irreversible. By practicing proper maintenance polishing should not be necessary.
• Do Not use polishers/buffing machines – Using a rotary or orbital polisher will damage the finish.
• Do Not use an automatic car wash – Automatic car washes can damage matte finishes. Mechanized, spinning brushes at automatic car washes cause scratches and abrasions which cannot be removed.
• Do Not use products intended for glossy finishes – Regular car wash soaps can contain waxes, silicones, and optical brighteners, all of which are intended to enhance the look of the surface. On a matte finish these products will cause the finish to look blotchy and uneven. Avoid quick detail sprays and other cleaning products for the same reason.
• Do Not wash the vehicle with dish detergent – Dish soaps are not intended for use on paint surfaces. They can dry out the paint and are overly aggressive on protective products. Use Matte Body Wash to wash the vehicle.
• Do Not use rough cloths – Using terry cloth, paper towels, or other rough materials to wipe or dry the surface can cause unnecessary abrasion on the surface.

General Maintenance Regimen
First Steps – Wash the vehicle using Matte Body Wash. After rinsing off the suds inspect the vehicle for any stains or contaminants such as tar, tree sap, or overspray that did not come off in the wash. If needed, use Dr. Beasley’s Matte Paint Cleanser as a spot cleaner to remove these contaminants so the paint surface is prepped for the coating. Rinse the surface and go directly into applying Matte Paint Coating. Do not dry the vehicle before application. Matte Paint Coating should be applied while the vehicle is still wet. Apply Matte Paint Coating one panel at a time, removing as you go. Once applied the paint surface will be dry and fully protected. Dry the rest of the vehicle.

In Between Washes – Keep an eye on the paint surface for blemishes such as dust, fingerprints, or fresh bird droppings. Remove these with Matte Final Finish and a microfiber towel in order to keep the surface clean between washes and prevent staining. It is recommended to keep Matte Final Finish and a towel in the vehicle to touch up the finish when necessary. More stubborn contaminants such as tar, sap, overspray, or baked on insect remains will need to be removed using Matte Paint Cleanser. After using this product reapply Matte Paint Coating to the affected area as the cleanser can remove the coating in some instances.

Wash Schedule – Wash the vehicle every 2-4 weeks using Matte Body Wash. Your wash schedule will depend on how often the vehicle is driven, as well as weather and environmental conditions.

Coating Schedule – Matte Paint Coating is a durable nanocoating which will last up to 2 years with proper maintenance. If the vehicle is a daily driver, is regularly parked outside, or is exposed to a harsh climate it is recommended to reapply once a year to maintain coverage.

The above points are all valid. Some other considerations are...

• Insurance repairs will be higher as its difficult (almost impossible) to spot repair this technology so they will end up painting a full panel or even a complete side.
• Because of the above the dealers are less keen to take these cars back as they could end up with high prep costs if heavily scratched.
• Colour mismatch can be an issue so check carefully when you receive your car - bumpers can look darker / lighter than the body
• Defects in the paint (such as small dirt particles) are more likely as the factory cant polish the clearcoat and won't want to do full resprays. (to be fair matte does hide small defects anyway and make them less visible)
• Greasy finger prints are a pain and difficult to avoid around door handles.
• If anything rubs on the matte finish it will gloss up over time.

For info the chip and scratch resistance is the same as gloss but the gloss finish allows polishing to remove fine scratches and the matte doesnt.

If you really want matte as a finish that wont suffer the above they do a good Satin Paint Protection Film "Aero" which is used on Land Rovers Defender - not cheap though!

Hope that helps.