What Causes High Spots on Ceramic Coating and How to Remove Them

Ceramic coating is a great way to protect your car from harsh elements and make it look good at the same time. The coating can be applied in several ways, including by hand or machine.
But even when you do everything right, there are times when the finish will have some high spots that need to be removed before it can be considered complete.
Before we dig into why we see high spots and how to remove them, let's first discuss ceramic coating.
Where Do We Use Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coating is used in various industries, including aerospace and defense. It's also commonly used on cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles. It's one of the best ways to protect your vehicle from environmental factors such as weathering and corrosion. You may have seen ceramic coatings on many vehicles you pass by or at car shows. It looks great, and it can last for years without any problems!
Now that we know what ceramic coating is and why it's so popular, let's explain what causes high spots on ceramic coatings and how to remove them.
But First: What is a High Spot?
A high spot is a small area of excess ceramic coating that stands out from the rest of the surface. It looks like a tiny mountain or bumps on top of the surface of your car and can be a real eyesore.
When Do High Spots Appear?
High spots can occur when the surface is not properly prepped before applying the ceramic coating, which leaves tiny gaps and voids in the metal that are filled with air. This causes the coating to bubble up in these areas as it dries.
When high spots happen, they're not always easy to see. A high spot on your vehicle may only show up when light reflects off of its surface at certain angles.
How Do We Get Rid of the High Spots?
When the high spot is early on, and the surface is still wet, you can try to level it out with a soft cloth and water. This process may take several minutes or hours, depending on how deep the high spot is. Once the surface has dried completely, you'll want to seal it so that it doesn't happen again.
But if the high spot has dried and been there for some time, it may be difficult to remove. If this is the case, you can try using a ceramic coating to eliminate the high spots.
In severe cases, high spots on a ceramic coating can be removed by polishing them. But, removing the entire layer of ceramic coating and reapplying new materials after you polish is necessary.
Conclusion
Ceramic coating is an excellent choice for a variety of reasons. It's waterproof, stain-resistant, and easy to clean. But as with any surface, it can get damaged over time. If you notice that your ceramic coating has become damaged, don't worry. There are several ways to repair it. You just need to find the best option for your situation and get started!
If you need a mobile tinting service in Fresno, visit Cen Cal Tinting. We are an auto restyling shop offering window tinting, paint protection film, and ceramic coatings. Get in touch with us today!
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Had our 2025 Tesla Model 3 tinted by Cen Cal Tinting and the whole experience was top notch. The quality of the work speaks for itself — super clean install, no bubbles, and the heat rejection is noticeable right away. What really made it stand out though was the customer service. You can tell they really care about their work and their customers. Highly recommend Cen Cal Tinting if you want it done right.

Took my Camry in for a i3 ceramic all around plus the air ceramic for the front windshield. Very pleased how it turned out. Highly recommend them. They are very professional and scheduling with them was very easy. And plus, they give you a lifetime warranty on their films.

This is my 4th car along with several referrals I have brought to this company to work on my vehicles. They have done a fantastic job on each one of them. On this particular one they did 15% tint over the factory tinted glass and 35% on the sides with a 5% windshield strip. Looking forward to all my future cars to this company. They typically complete the job in a few hours and are very connected via text message.
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We specialize in window tinting, paint protection film (PPF), ceramic coating, paint correction, and vehicle wraps. Whether you’re looking for heat rejection, gloss enhancement, or full protection, we’ve got you covered.
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