CoaterZ Ultimate Florida Vehicle Protection Guide

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Part 2: Water Spots — The Florida Paint Problem Hiding in Plain Sight You wash your car on Saturday morning, and it looks fabulous – until your lawn sprinkler comes on. A few hours later, you notice little white rings scattered across the hood, roof, windows and trunk. Those water spots may seem like little more than an annoyance, but in Florida they can spell real trouble for your car’s paint.

Water spots can become increasingly difficult to remove. Eventually, you may need professional help to correct your vehicle’s paint. How can water damage a car’s paint?

The problem isn’t really the water itself; rather, it’s what is IN the water. When a drop of water lands on your vehicle and evaporates, the water disappears, but the minerals that were IN the water can remain. And it is those minerals that make up the spot that you see.

If you remove the spot promptly, it’s not that much of a problem. But when mineral-contaminated water sits on a hot surface under Florida sunshine, the spot can become a lot more stubborn. Repeated exposure bonds those deposits to the surface.

In severe cases, spotting becomes etching or staining. Ordinary washing can’t remove that. Now, you are going to need a paint-correction process to restore the quality of the paint.

Florida turns up the heat The Florida environment is perfect for water-spotting. Picture this: Your car is sitting outside on a hot summer day. The hood, roof and trunk are already hot when a brief afternoon shower passes through.

In a few minutes, clouds part and the sun comes out. Temperatures go up. The little beads of water on your car begin to evaporate.

Mineral deposits are left behind. And you don’t even need rain for this process to take place. Maybe you’ve parked beside a lawn when the irrigation system turns on.

A sprinkler sends a fine mist across one side of the car. That can be even worse than a rain shower, because irrigation and well water may contain substantial mineral content. And those minerals can end up attached to your vehicle’s paint.

You may have seen cars with one side covered in whitish spots because they're routinely parked beside a sprinkler. It may look like dirt, but it’s something a good deal worse. Rainwater isn’t necessarily clean water Rain can pick up airborne contaminants on the way to Earth.

Once it reaches your vehicle, it can mix with the dust, pollen, road film, salt and other material already sitting on the surface. Then, the hot Florida sun dries everything together. A single rain shower isn't the problem; the real concern is repeated contamination combined with heat, sunshine and neglect.

Automotive paint damage is often cumulative One bug hitting the bumper isn't the problem; insect residue left to bake on the paint over time is the problem. By the same token, a few drops of water aren't the problem. Repeatedly allowing mineral deposits to dry and remain on the finish can be.

Sprinklers can be the enemy That innocent-looking sprinkler next to your driveway may be giving your car regular mineral baths. The same applies to parking at work, shopping centers, condominiums and apartment complexes. If you return to your vehicle and discover that sprinklers have soaked one side of it, don't assume the next rainstorm will wash it away.

Rinse the affected area with clean water and dry it as soon as you can. What about salt water? You don't have to drive your vehicle into the Gulf of Mexico to expose it to salt.

Coastal air, sea spray and wind do a good job of that. The closer you live to the coast—and the more frequently you park near the water—the more attention this deserves. Salt contamination is particularly important because it doesn't affect only the glossy surfaces you can see --it can accumulate in crevices and on wheels, suspension components and the rest of a vehicle's underside.

After spending time near salt water, a thorough rinse is good preventive maintenance. Removing water spots Fresh mineral deposits may come off during a regular wash, but more stubborn deposits may require a product designed to dissolve or remove mineral contamination. If the deposits have been on the paint for a long time – or if the surface has become etched -- professional paint correction may be necessary.

The important thing to keep in mind is not to attack the spots aggressively with whatever happens to be in the garage. Household cleaners, abrasive pads and harsh chemicals can create a much larger problem than the one you're trying to solve. A quality ceramic coating creates a protective, hydrophobic surface.

Water tends to bead and move off the vehicle more readily. Dirt and contaminants generally have a harder time bonding to the surface, and the vehicle becomes easier to clean. Those are significant advantages.

But here's the catch: Beads of water contain minerals and contaminants. If the beads remain on a hot vehicle until they evaporate, deposits can remain behind. Ceramic coating provides an important sacrificial protective layer between contamination and your vehicle's clear coat, but it doesn't repeal the laws of chemistry.

You still have to care for the car. Ceramic coatings change the battle Why ceramic-coat a Florida vehicle if you can still get water spots? Because protection is about reducing risk and making maintenance easier.

Think of your factory clear coat as the last line of defense. You don't want every environmental contaminant interacting with it. A professionally-installed ceramic coating adds another protective layer.

It can make routine washing easier. It can reduce how strongly some contamination adheres to the surface. Its hydrophobic properties help water leave the vehicle more readily.

Most important, you're protecting the coating rather than asking the original clear coat to take every environmental beating Florida can deliver. Clear coats are not infinitely thick. Every aggressive correction removes a tiny amount of material.

The goal of good vehicle protection is to minimize how often aggressive correction becomes necessary. PPF adds more protection Paint protection film – PPF -- adds a physical barrier over vulnerable painted surfaces. It is best known for protecting against rock chips, road debris and minor abrasions.

But quality film also separates the factory paint from environmental contamination. That's why many Florida vehicle owners choose a combination of PPF and ceramic coating rather than treating them as competing products. PPF provides physical protection.

Ceramic coating provides chemical and environmental protection while making the vehicle easier to maintain. Together, they create a more comprehensive protection system. Five habits that help prevent water spots Don't park beside sprinklers if you can avoid it.

Pay attention to irrigation patterns at home and at places you visit regularly. Don't let sprinkler water sit on the vehicle. If the car gets sprayed, rinse it when practical rather than allowing repeated mineral deposits to accumulate.

Dry the vehicle after washing. Don't depend on the Florida sun to do the job. That's exactly what you don't want.

Use proper automotive washing products. Dish detergent and household cleaners weren't designed for modern automotive finishes and protection products. Deal with water spots early.

A fresh deposit is generally a much easier problem than one that has endured weeks of Florida heat. Protection doesn’t mean neglect No coating, film or detailing product means you can stop maintaining your vehicle. PPF isn't indestructible; Ceramic coating isn't an invisible force field; Factory clear coat isn't permanent.

The best results come from combining good protection with sensible maintenance . That's especially true in Florida, where intense sunshine, heat, humidity, insects, road contamination, coastal conditions and frequent rain give your vehicle's exterior very little time off. Florida is tough on cars.

You can be tougher. At CoaterZ , we don't believe every vehicle needs exactly the same protecti …