The ceramic coating market is quickly becoming one of the most saturated sectors of this industry. Many claiming long durabilities with no top ups and simple aftercare but with no evidence to back up their ridiculous claims.
The UK market is currently dominated by several main brands who invest heavily in marketing and sales. Both have failed in front of my eyes after very little testing yet on a regular basis I am approached by clients and asked if I use any of these brands and if not why not. Modesta uses none of these techniques, it focusses on developing the best physical product and training the best Detailers to use the product who in return preach about the reliability and quality of the brand. This is also clear from the simple packaging and limited knowledge of the brand in the retail market.
Modesta may be a new brand to you but don’t be fooled, Modesta is a long established Japanese brand which dominates the European and US markets with well over 100 installers worldwide. Distribution in the UK has been limited and only recently the opportunity arose for me to join the Modesta Family!
THE MODESTA RANGE
I’ve spent years using a wide variety of coatings both professional and amateur use. There are some fantastic coatings available on the market currently, however I wanted something more exclusive, something that’s been tested, tested and tested again and that can cope with the harsh UK Climate. The below comparison chart shows the full range Modesta offer, their strengths and benefits.
As you can see from the range of coatings above its ceramic coatings are not just for your paint, Modesta offers a wide range of coatings to ensure your vehicle is protected for any eventuality. You can choose to have just your paint coated as part of a basic package, right up to paint, wheels, glass, trim, convertible top. leather and fabrics!
COST
Any ceramic coating is an investment but choosing the right one will be the difference between success and failure in terms of your expectations. Modesta certainly isn’t the cheapest coating available on the market and is pitched at the upper end of the pricing bracket. Modesta offer a coating to suit most requirements, from one of the hardest coatings on the market (BC04) to one of the most hydrophobic and repellent coatings I’ve ever worked with (BC05). As the cost increases up the range the benefits and properties of each coating improve and offer more advantages. If you base your selection of coating upon price but have expectations of a coating that will offer the best you will always be disappointed. Like most things you get what you pay for, Pay less and expect less. The key is to identify which coating suits your requirements best and invest in it.
AFTERCARE
The initial investment of the coating application is step one of the two key steps to ensuring the success of your coating. Aftercare is just as important. Many brands that produce coatings produce a range of aftercare products so this is hardly something new. However, a lot of the “aftercare” products often recommended by the coating manufacturer are often sub standard or re-bottled products and are often just a money making exercise. Modesta offer a narrow range of aftercare products specifically developed to maintain the coating and are not just for general cleaning of the car. Products that make logical sense when maintaining a coating such as a coating cleaner designed to decontaminate a clogged coating or deep clean a coating which appears to be underperforming due to poor maintenance. A post wash maintenance spray specifically designed to maintain the coating after each was to ensure maximum durability. All products are specifically manufactured for the benefit of the coating, simple and easy to use and cost effective too.
TESTING EXAMPLE FROM MODESTA
In this industry the proof really is in the pudding. There are so many brands on the UK market which make vast claims about product performance and its features yet provide no evidence to back their claims. Quite often when confronted by professional most of these companies try and defend their claims with science they clearly don’t understand. Modesta however since the start have happily provided test examples available to all installers to show their clients. The below example shows how the application of Modesta BC-05 has protected the piece of acrylic material from fading promoting its UV protection. This feature has prevented discolouration and deterioration and the material from weathering in the natural environment. This is a key example what role a coating plays on your paintwork and isn’t just about water behaviour and beading. Image supplied by MODESTA Co.
MODESTA BC-05 DURABILITY TEST IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
THE TEST: Matt black acrylic paint uncovered with clear coat, naturally has poor weather resistance, much less than common car exterior paints. Washed with a neutral ph detergent before taking the picture.
APPLIED 18/07/2014
IMAGE TAKEN 10/02/2020
It has been outdoors for the past 5 years and 7 months regardless of climate or temperature.
WHY MODESTA?
Having experienced first hand the failure of coatings I truly believed in, I know personally how disappointing it is to have invested all that time and money to see no benefit.
Since the start I’ve followed many other detailers across the world, from the US to OZ opening my eyes to the international detailing market. After a period of time I noticed that detailers I had followed for some time had been preaching Modesta for as long as I could remember and this immediately caught my eye. For a professional in the industry to stick with one brand for such a period of time tells me its reliable and there is good trust in the brand. It was at this point I began researching Modesta. I offer my clients a reliable and honest service, in order to do so I needed a coating brand I could rely on. I began speaking with fellow detailers across the pond and it quickly became clear Modesta was the real deal and was exactly what I had been searching for. No fancy packaging, no cliche marketing schemes, no false claims, just a extremely well developed self contained brand which cares about ensuring the promise of a coating that will last, is delivered.
Modesta coatings are so different to all coatings I’ve used before in terms of application. The application process is key to the success in the performance of the coating and its clear Modesta have developed the application process to ensure the performance of the product not only enhances the paintwork beneath but provides the all important protection you are looking for. Pair that with an aftercare range specifically designed to enhance and improve the performance of the coating Modesta for me is the pinnacle of the current ceramic coating market.