Have you ever seen cars so shiny on the streets of Kathmandu that take your breath away? You can wash your car regularly, apply wax and other shining products but eventually, the shine goes away, forcing you to repeat the entire process once again. What’s their secret? 

It’s ceramic coating. A handful of companies have sprung up in the Valley that specialise in maintaining the shine of your car by using the special liquid polymer. 

These companies are applying a ceramic coating on cars and even bikes to achieve a shine that is sure to attract eyeballs. 

So we went down to Time to Shine’s workshop to see how they achieve the perfect shine using the latest ceramic coating techniques and asked Bishal KC, managing director about the process. 

WHEN DID YOU START THIS BUSINESS? 

While I was in Australia, I worked at a washing centre and
a car detailing workshop where they used ceramic coating. When I returned to Nepal, I saw that there was only one other company doing what the Australian workshop was doing. There were no detailing centres in Nepal that also cleaned the interior of the vehicle. I realised that this could be a great opportunity to start a car detailing workshop and I opened Time to Shine one year ago. 

WHAT IS THE CERAMIC COATING PROCESS LIKE?

We start by washing the car properly and use nine different chemicals to remove any contamination and stains from the body of the vehicle. It takes us up to three hours to thoroughly wash one car. This is the most important step. If we do not clean the car properly, the coating may not stick and come off. Once that’s done, we begin the coating process by claying, buffing and polishing the car. Lastly, we apply the ceramic coating. 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COATING A VEHICLE?

Firstly, the main advantage is that shine remains for a long time which makes the car look new for years. Some customers bring their new car directly from the showroom and we apply ceramic coating to make the car even shinier. The coating prevents the factory paint from fading and even protects the vehicle from stains. 

Secondly, after applying this coat, you will not face any problems like oxidation, paint coming off and rusting. When you buy cars from the showroom, they will apply a hard wax which will fade away after a few months but after coating the car, the shine will remain the same for years. 

The biggest difference can be seen on older cars as they will have accumulated stains and rust over time. Our process removes all the stains and rust to bring back the original colour, giving it a new lease of life. 

While there are no disadvantages to coating, we have to be very careful while applying the coat. If we are not careful while polishing the car, the paint may come off. We also have to be precise while masking the car to prevent the fading of rubber parts. Furthermore, to protect the paint, we use eco-friendly coatings. 

HOW LONG DOES THE CERAMIC COATING LAST? 

We offer different packages with one to four years of warranty. The coating can last up to nine years depending on how you take care of your vehicle. To maintain the shine for a longer period, you have to wash and clean your vehicle regularly. If you don’t take care of it, your coating may have blemishes. But a quick session of cleaning and polishing will get rid of any stains and bring back the shine. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO COAT A VEHICLE AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

We do both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. For two-wheelers, it will cost you anywhere from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. You get four years warranty and we also clean and coat your helmet for free. As an extra service, we will also service your bike. 

For four-wheelers, prices start from Rs 20,000 up to Rs 78,000 depending on the size and type of coating. Our total package includes cleaning and coating the mirrors, windows, tyres, lights and body of the vehicle. We also spruce up the interior. It will take up to three days to complete the entire process. 

LASTLY, HOW IS THE MARKET RESPONSE SO FAR?

We haven’t received any complaints from our customers, so I think we are doing well. Compared to when I first started Time to Shine, more customers are coming in to get their vehicles coated. In the beginning, only seven to eight cars used to come every month for coating but now, we are seeing double.