Can I take my car to a car wash after Pikatec nanocosmetics have been applied?
With the new series of Pikatec polish, that is Ceramic and Diamond, you can take your car to a car wash without risking the polish immediately losing its properties. It is true that we do not recommend the use of detergents, but the new series of polishes have been tested for resistance and withstood roughly 15 washes with the loss of about 7-10% of their properties, as stated in instructions for use. The original polishes, as well as other polishes and waxes, lost their properties almost immediately after a detergent had been used.
How many uses is the Nano Protection Pack designed for?
The Nano Protect Pack is designed for one wash of a car (a big one – a van or off-road type). If used economically it is possible to treat two small cars with it. The shampoo included in the pack is meant for 5-10 uses. Experience so far has shown that after washing with pressurised water or a sponge, just 5 litres of water with Nano Shampoo used with a sponge will do and the car will be impeccably clean.
Can I apply another layer, for instance wax, on top of your autocosmetics?
This would be pointless, and mixing with another preparation may lead to an undesirable reaction, such as the occurrence of stains – however, this will never damage the lacquer, you will just have to remove this top layer thoroughly. Furthermore, you should remember that is the top layer that gives the final properties to the coating. You should decide on one or the other solution.
Will the Nano Shampoo product be enough to protect the bodywork?
Nano Shampoo is more or less designed for cleaning. It will not protect the bodywork from external effects, but it will prevent water mixed with dirt from getting stuck to the surface. It will clean the surface of the bodywork and give it a sheen; however, working in cooperation with Nano Armour polish applied in advance it supplements nanoparticles on the surface and prolongs the effects of the polish.
Will magnetic adverts stick to my car?
Pikatec nanocosmetics have no effect on the magnetism of the bodywork. However, protective foils will adhere to Pikatec polish less than before.
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How is the lifespan of Nano Protect Glass influenced by the various fluids used in windscreen washes?
You needn’t worry; no common fluids used in windscreen washes have impact on the lifespan of Nano Protect Glass polishes. Moreover, with regular cleaning of the car (and the windows) with Nano Shampoo you will prolong the service life of both Nano Armour and Nano Protect Glass polishes. To put it very simply, Nano Shampoo supplements the nanoparticles in the polish and in this way prolongs its lifespan. We are slightly wary of unbranded preparations marked as nano windscreen washes or nano fluid washes, as some of them supplied to the market are actually based on silicone oils. On one hand, silicone repels water well; on the other hand, it is almost impossible to remove it from the surface.
Can I apply Pikatec nanocosmetics at home, even if I don’t have a garage?
Yes, you can. In principle, application is the same as with other nanocosmetics – however, the car must not be exposed to direct sunlight and rain for the first 90 minutes or so. It is true that it takes 12 hours for the polish to harden, however in comparison with the original polish the new one can withstand sunlight and light rain after just 90 minutes.
Will I prolong the lifespan of Pikatec nanotechnology if I use Nano Shampoo?
Yes, you will prolong it significantly. Washing the car regularly with regular auto shampoos will do no harm. It is most important to not use common kitchen detergents, because they would damage any protective layers (including waxes) in the long run. Regular washing with Nano Shampoo continuously repairs the surface and, in this way, the lifespan of Armour polish and Protect Glass polish is prolonged.
What is the best way to treat the car so that Pikatec nanocosmetics last as long as possible?
Naturally there is no need for special care for your car. It is advisable to wash the car regularly with Nano Shampoo in order to wash away extreme dirt, but on the other hand you will see for yourself: dirt will not adhere to the surface much. This is nicely demonstrated on the windscreen between the tracks of the wipers or on a spot that has not been wiped: after rain you will see almost no difference.
What type of cloth is the best to wipe the polish off?
Can I just buy Nano Armour polish and wash the car with an ordinary shampoo?
Naturally you can. However one should be aware of the fact that Nano Shampoo has been developed as a preparation to pre-clean the bodywork and to maintain it in an optimum condition afterwards. We do not know the composition of your shampoo and cannot say how well it will work with Nano Armour polish. Nevertheless, if the worst comes to the worst you will only slightly reduce the efficiency or lifespan of the polish. Nothing worse can happen. Just consider whether saving a little money is worth it when you shorten the life of the polish, which was designed to last for a year, to around half of this period of time.
Can I wash the windscreen of the car with a preparation for window cleaning, for example, and then use Nano Protect Glass?
Yes, you can. The question is how well you clean dirt from the glass. Nano Clear Glass penetrates deep into an uneven surface and nanoparticles wash the dirt away in this way. At the same time, the chemical composition of Clear Glass prepares the surface for the application of Protect Glass (see the principle of Pikatec nanocosmetics). We do not know the composition of your window cleaning preparation and if it was to contain, for example, silicone, oil or other unsuitable additives, then Nano Protect Glass would certainly not hold onto the glass and its functionality would be lost. It is like filling your car with frying oil instead of synthetic oil.
I remove frost from the windscreen with a scraper. Does it make sense to use Nano Armour polish on the windscreen in this case? Will I damage the polish?
In this case we do not recommend the use of Nano Armour. Components in the polish have not been developed to provide transparency but to highlight the colour and sheen of lacquer. The Nano Protect Glass preparation is designed for glass (it is a “polish” for glass) – it has been developed to provide transparency in its final finish (note: naturally it is necessary to pre-clean the glass properly with Nano Clear Glass so that Nano Protect Glass can properly adhere to the surface). Then the use of a scraper will do no harm. Frost, if any, will be easy to remove because it has nothing to stick to. This is due to all the pores having been closed with Nano Protect Glass.
(Note: Nano Armour polish can be used on glass parts of the bodywork such as darkened design panels, additional lights etc.).
What about winter when roads are “de-iced” with road salt?
Nano polish provides protection from salts as well as protection from scratches caused by small stones and dirt, protection from the effects of bitumen, protection from pollen and resin from trees, protection from bird excrement, and protection from UV radiation.
How should I treat the bodywork when it is freezing?
You cannot really apply polishes to the bodywork and glass when it is freezing. For application it is necessary to find a dry place with a temperature of at least 5°C (the ideal temperature is about 18°C) and let the polished Armour and Protect Glass polishes dry for a period of 90 minutes. After that, the polish can set even at temperatures down to -5°C. Another solution is to have the car treated by a specialist – an applicator. There is a list of trained firms that can provide this service at their centres at www.pikatec.cz in the ‘Application centres’ section.
I don’t want to worry about washing my car and applying polish to it. Can anybody do this service for me?
Yes, the solution is to have the car treated by a specialist – an applicator. There is a list of trained firms that can provide this service at their centres at www.pikatec.cz in the ‘Application centres’ section.
I am afraid that applying the polish to the car is too complicated and I will not manage to do it.
The procedure for treating a car with Pikatec cosmetics is the same as when you use wax, for instance; in other words it is very simple. The only difference is that unlike with waxes, after treatment it is necessary to leave the car out of sunlight, rain and frost for the first 90 minutes after polishing so that the protective layer can harden. Otherwise it is up to the individual, it depends on how carefully they wash their car. Some may do better; some may do worse, that’s just the way it is in life. It is up to you what level of care is sufficient .
What should I do if I do something wrong?
There is nothing that can go wrong when applying the polish. Everything can be repaired simply by applying the polish again, which applies to Armour as well as Protect Glass. The only serious mistake would be not polishing the bodywork properly before applying the polish, e.g. leaving dried drops of water on it. The subsequent application of polish would only “preserve” these stains in the structure of the polish. Then you would see stains left by evaporated water covered by the polish and it would be very complicated to eliminate them.
Can I apply Pikatec nanocosmetics on a car coated with auto adverts or protective foil?
Yes, you can use Nano Armour on a vehicle with adverts and even on plastic parts of the bodywork.
Can I apply the nanocosmetics on alloy wheels?
The Pikatec Company has developed the Protect Wheel preparation for this purpose. Moreover, this preparation is resistant to temperatures of up to 550°C or 700°C, so high temperatures will not remove it from the wheel.
Can I leave the car in direct sunlight when the temperature is high?
Yes, if the Nano Armour or Protect Glass polish has hardened properly, high temperatures caused by direct sunlight or intense rain will not harm treated bodywork or glass.
Can I apply Clear Glass and Protect Glass on sunroof windows and if so how long will this be effective?
Yes, the aforementioned preparations can be used on sunroof windows and the effect will be the same as with other glass treated with Protect Glass polish. In the case of hardened glass Armour will also adhere well, which you can apply in the course of applying it to the entire bodywork. Since the sunroof window is not used to watch traffic the transparency of the polish is not a decisive factor.
Can you apply Clear Glass and Protect Glass from the inside of the car?
No, you cannot! Nano Protect Glass has hydrophobic effects and particularly in the winter months the glass of the car could mist over on the inside.
Can I treat the windscreen of my car with Nano Armour polish instead of Nano Protect Glass?
This is certainly not a good idea. Nano Armour is designed to treat lacquer and contains ingredients to highlight the colours and the sheen of the lacquer. On the other hand, Nano Protect Glass has been developed for the very purpose of protecting glass and stress was put on transparency and clearness especially. Treating the glass with the Nano Armour preparation would make the glass repel water, and on the other hand the transparency of the glass would be worse. Therefore only use Nano Protect Glass to treat glass.
Can Pikatec nanocosmetics be applied to headlights too?
Yes, you can use either polish, meaning Nano Armour or Nano Protect Glass. In the case of headlights made of glass the effect will be better if you use Nano Protect Glass.
Can I apply Pikatec nanocosmetics to plastic materials?
Yes, you can use Pikatec Nano Armour on plastic parts of the bodywork too.
Is it possible to apply the Pikatec Nano Protect Textile product to a tent?
Yes, in general it can be said that the Nano Protect Textile product can be used on any textiles in a household because it impregnates but at the same time “breathes”. This means that it will not let molecules of water in but it will let molecules of steam out. Nano Protect Textile in fact treats individual fibres, which are then sealed against the penetration of not only water but also particles of dirt. Therefore it can be used for tents, clothing, awnings, covers for deckchairs or seats etc. In a nutshell, anything that you can think of at home or for travel.
What materials can I use Nano Textile cosmetics on? Can I use it on leather?
Pikatec Nano Textile is mainly designed to protect textiles. It can be successfully used on leather, even in cars, however leather and leather seats have often been treated with various preparations and therefore it is necessary to try it out on a small and less visible spot, to make sure Pikatec cosmetics do not react with the original preparation, the composition of which we do not know. There is a possibility that stains may appear on the surface – although the likelihood is low, it still exists.
Can Pikatec cosmetics be used in a household?
Yes, and it is very suitable for this purpose. Try treating one half of an outside window and look at the difference. In this way you can also treat various glass or lacquered objects etc. For example a glass table treated with Nano Protect Glass will be less susceptible to fingerprints.
Can I apply Pikatec nanocosmetics to a boat?
Of course you can. What is suitable for a car can also be used on a boat or even on a plane. In principle, this question also relates to the preceding two questions.
Can your product be used to protect a mobile phone?
Yes, for instance a glass iPhone treated with our preparation will be less susceptible to fingerprints. However, you can’t expect that no fingerprints will be left on it because the grease from fingers will always make some impression. It will certainly be much easier to clean though. However, as with any electrical items, it is necessary to make sure that the Pikatec preparation does not find its way between buttons or into electronic or mechanical parts, where it could cause damage, jamming or short circuits etc.
Can nanocosmetics protect the bodywork from hailstones?
Naturally they can to a certain extent, but it depends on how big the hailstones are. The phrase “to a certain extent” means that the Pikatec polish will mitigate certain adverse effects, however based on the size of these effects it may not be able to eliminate them completely. For example, we used gravel to carry out an experiment on an old car. We threw handfuls of gravel at an old car, half of which had been treated and the other half had not. The result was that the damage on the treated surface was about 20% of the damage found on the untreated surface.
Is there a difference in the effect achieved by Pikatec nanocosmetics when applied to new or old lacquer?
There is no difference. Pikatec nanocosmetics will protect any lacquer, either new or old. It will simply create a protective layer and significantly “enliven” old lacquers, and will also “brighten” new ones. However, if the lacquer is already significantly faded and damaged, it is advisable to polish it manually or mechanically, using an abrasive method for “enlivening” lacquers, then wash it properly with Nano Shampoo and finally apply Nano Armour polish.
How can I tell that the polish is worn?
It is very simple. Dirt will start adhering to the surface easily and the bodywork or glass will no longer repel water.
There was not enough product to treat the entire bodywork. What should I do?
The amount supplied in the Nano Armour pack has been tested on a car of a size of VW Transporter several times. If your car is bigger than this, it is best to simply buy extra packs of the polish. If your car is the same size or smaller your application has simply been wasteful . The thing is that by applying a thick layer you will not treat the car any better. Only a thin nano layer will be left on the surface and the rest will be wiped off. A thick layer will only make the job of polishing more laborious and more expensive due to higher consumption of the product. A sample video at http://www.pikatec.cz/video-na-youtube/ clearly shows how thick the layer should be when applying Nano Armour and Nano Protect Glass polishes.
It started raining while I was applying the polish. What should I do?
This is not good news. If there is no shelter on hand, at least cover the car with a polythene sheet or waterproof canvas. To apply the polish you need about 120 minutes of dry weather altogether (30 minutes after application for polishing out and then 90 minutes for the top layer of polish to harden).
How should Nano Shampoo be correctly applied and how long will it last?
Externally, Nano Shampoo behaves like an ordinary shampoo. When you wash the car for the first time, before the application of Nano Armour, pre-wash the car with water (pressurised water is best), or you can use a strong concentrate of Nano Shampoo and remove all dirt thoroughly. After this, pour the amount of Nano Shampoo specified in the instructions for use into a bucket with water and wash the car once again with a washing sponge.
If you have been washing a car treated with Nano Armour polish regularly, the task will be very simple. If the car is extremely dirty (e.g. after an off-road drive), you can easily remove the dirt (with a pressure washer) and then clean it with Nano Shampoo using a washing sponge. Typically, it is sufficient to wash the car with Nano Shampoo. A car cleaned in this way will last 14 days to a month, depending on the weather, and one would still say that it is clean. In winter or in cases of freezing rain this time is naturally shorter, however the effects of easy washing are always obvious.
After the polish hardened and was then rinsed with water, small stains appeared on the bodywork, they look oily and the polish does not seem to work. What should I do?
This may happen and it is not a serious problem. What you see is grease exuded from the bodywork or glass. The fact that you have washed the car and degreased it for appearances sake does not mean that the surface is completely free from grease. There are preparations that leave trace amounts of natural and synthetic lubricants on the surface (for example, plastic cleaning pastes, clay, oil from an air compressor, remains of the wax from car washes where water is recycled etc.). This is accompanied by a poor water repelling effect. The polish gradually exudes this grease to the surface. The best way to remove it is to wash and dry the bodywork and polish it with a polishing cloth to achieve a high gloss finish. In this way you will wipe the grease off. In extreme cases it may be necessary to repeat this several times.
After the polish has hardened there are stains left on the bodywork or glass caused by evaporated water and it is impossible to remove them. What should I do?
This is a more serious problem, the truth is that you left these stains on the bodywork before applying the polish and the application has “preserved” them in the structure of the polish. Now you are looking at stains left by evaporated water that are under the polish and it will be quite difficult to eliminate them. Contact us on 604 723 723 to agree on a time and place for repairs. In order to prevent this problem it is important to properly polish and check all surfaces before the polish is applied!
Where did the comparative test for Pikatec cosmetics take place?
The testing of Pikatec cosmetics took place at the Department of materials at the Technical University of Liberec, and the results of this independent test are available at https://www.pikatec.cz/en/counseling-car/lacquer-under-the-microscope/ .
