Safety Precautions 

Ensure you have good lighting and are working in a well-ventilated area. We recommend wearing an OSHA-approved breathing mask and gloves to prevent the coating from drying on or irritating your skin. 

Supplies & Vehicle Preparation

You will need SPS High Alkaline Soap (or a suitable alternative with no waxes or sealants), a wash mitt, clay bar, drying towels, SPS Surface Prep or a 70/30 ratio mix of Isopropyl Alcohol and DI water, and several 350-400 GSM microfiber towels for the vehicle preparation process.  

Vehicle Preparation Process 

Ensure that you have washed, chemically stripped, and clay barred the vehicle. After thoroughly drying the vehicle, gently wipe one section at a time with SPS Surface Prep (or a suitable alternative) to remove any remaining oils. Always work with painted surfaces that are cool and out of direct sunlight. These steps are the most crucial factors in achieving the best long-term results. 

Paint Correction 

Carefully inspect the vehicle to determine what type of paint correction is needed. Paint correction is not mandatory but is strongly recommended — SPS Graphene is formulated to protect surfaces from premature aging and will not repair or cover existing imperfections. After each panel is corrected and refined, gently wipe residue off using SPS Surface Prep or a 70/30 ratio mix of Isopropyl Alcohol and DI water. Once fully compounded and polished, use compressed air to purge dust and debris from all exterior surfaces, including door, gas lid, trunk, and hood jambs. 

Graphene Coating — Application 

You will need a microfiber applicator pad and at least 3 microfiber towels. We recommend using 350–400 GSM microfiber towels for the easiest leveling process. Always use clean or preferably new microfiber towels for the application process. 

Shake the bottle of SPS Graphene for 30 seconds to one minute prior to use. Crack the bottle cap to allow solvent outgassing for 3 minutes, then wipe the cap and bottle lip clean of any dried product. 

To start, saturate your applicator pad with approximately 30 drops of SPS Graphene to ensure enough product to cover the first section. Use 10–15 drops for each section moving forward. 

SPS Graphene flash time can vary depending on the humidity of your environment. We recommend doing sections shoulder-width in size for most environments. If you are in a more humid area, do a smaller section. If you are in a dry climate, you may be able to do a larger section. We recommend starting with small sections until you are comfortable with the product. 

Starting in the middle of the section you intend to coat, apply SPS Graphene using a side-to-side motion across the entire panel. This side-to-side motion is ideal for working the coating into the surface pores for the best possible coverage. Apply SPS Graphene to one panel at a time, then undertake the leveling process before moving to the next section.  

Flashing 

Allow the coating to flash for 1 to 5 minutes depending on temperature and humidity before beginning the leveling process. You can check readiness with a glove finger-swipe test: if the coating wipes off, it has not flashed yet; if it remains on the panel, it is ready for leveling. When comfortable, you should be able to coat 2–3 panels before returning to level. Less time is needed in warm or humid conditions; more time in cold and dry conditions. 

Leveling 

Step 1: With your first microfiber towel, level the coating using long side-to-side motions from top to bottom. Overlap your application sections to blend each panel without creating noticeable high spots. 

Step 2: Remove excess coating with your second microfiber towel using side-to-side motions. Always overlap sections when leveling. 

Step 3: With your third microfiber towel, go over the coated area checking for high spots — these appear as hazy or cloudy streaks. Use a flashlight or headlamp if your lighting is not ideal. 

Important: Do not mix up your microfiber towels. Stay organized to avoid cross-contamination. If you are having issues with leveling mid-application, switch out all three towels and start with fresh ones. 

Final Inspection 

After completing the application, inspect the entire vehicle for high spots. The best lighting for this is on an overcast day — if possible, pull the vehicle outside to use natural light, as direct sunlight can make high spots difficult to identify. A flashlight or headlamp also works well for indoor inspection. 

Cure Time 

Once fully coated, keep the vehicle in a controlled environment. We recommend a minimum cure time of 2 hours before the vehicle is driven or 4 hours if it is a rainy day; optimum cure time is 12 hours. Allow the coating to fully cure for 7 days before washing. Regular driving and exposure to rain will not cause issues during this full cure time. 

Note: Two coats of SPS Graphene are not necessary. If you choose to apply a second coat, wait a minimum of 1.5–2 hours and a maximum of 4 hours between coats — beyond 4 hours the surface will be too slick for the second coat to properly adhere. 

Note: Infrared lamps (40°C) can be used to speed up the initial curing process. Flash and curing time are dependent on temperature and humidity. 

Environment Tips 

For warm and high-humidity conditions, a dehumidifier will drastically reduce moisture in the air, making the process easier and faster. Keep shop doors closed and control the environment as best you can. If your environment exceeds 55% humidity, expect to spend more time during the leveling process. We highly recommend coating one panel first as a test to see how the application cooperates with the conditions on the day. 

Troubleshooting + Support 

If you ever run into issues or need help troubleshooting an application, please contact David Vickers, SPS Dealer + Distributor Representative or watch our application video on the SPS Coatings YouTube Channel. 

David can be reached at: david@surfaceprotectivesolutions.com or 604-880-2531.