How to Find a Reputable Home Window Tint Installer

November 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Once you’ve decided to use a window tint on your home windows, you’ll need to find a window tint installer. Finding a reputable and trustworthy professional to work on your home is never an easy task, and takes no small amount of research.  There are some ways to ensure that you make the best choice.

Compile a Short List

Begin by putting together a short list of companies that you will investigate further. Ask friends, families and neighbors if they can recommend anyone. Often word of mouth is the best recommendation a company can have. Check your yellow pages, and look for ads that include certifications, names of owners and length of time in business. Add these to your short list. Once you have compiled a short list of companies to further research, you’ll want to ask each of them some questions to further narrow down your choices.

Ask Questions

Your first step is to check each company with the Better Business Bureau. This is often the first line of complaint against a company, and you can check by phone or online. If there have been any complaints filed against a window tint installer that you are considering, cross them off your list. Next, check with your local and state licensing agencies, to find out what kind of license a professional installer needs to have in your area, so that you can be certain to ask if they’re licensed appropriately.

Call each company on your list. Have a list of questions ready, and a pen to jot down your notes and thoughts. Gauge your feelings and impressions of the company as you speak with their representative on the phone. Ask questions, and don’t apologize for taking their time; this is their job and if they don’t have time to answer your basic questions, they’re probably not the right installer for your job.

Questions to Ask a Window Tint Installer

Initially, ask basic questions to get a feel for the company and to spot any glaring problems that will make it easy to exclude the company from your list. Such questions as: Are you licensed? Can you provide references? How many years have you been in business? Do you provide a warranty, and what is covered? As you ask these questions, keep note of the answers and your impressions of them. You should be able to narrow down the field from these first phone calls alone, until you have two or three window tint installer companies left to consider.

Finding the Best Window Tint Installer

Meet with Potential Companies

The best way to decide upon one window tint installer is to meet with your final two or three potentials personally. Schedule a consultation with each. This meeting will give you a chance to judge face to face who you will be working with. You will get a feel for their professional appearance, demeanor and business sense. Ask for estimates, and remember that the least expensive isn’t always the best choice. Check references and licenses, and go with your gut instinct when judging between two companies that seem similar.

Taking the time to do your research will help you make the right choice of professional installer. As the window tint industry becomes more popular, there are more and more companies forming to install them. Choose the best window tint installer for your budget and job, and your window films will help your energy costs for many years to come.

Filed Under: Window Tinting

How to Replace Window Tint Film

November 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

replacing window tinting There will come a time when you will need to replace window tint films in your home. Window films generally last for several years, if they were originally high quality films and were installed correctly to start with. When tint films begin to look faded, streaked or peel at the edges,  it’s time to replace them.

Much like the window tints used in car windows, home window tints will break down over time. How long it takes for the film to show problems depends on the quality of the film, the amount of time the film was exposed to direct sunlight, and how well the film was installed. Dyed window tints can show fading and streaking in a little as a few months if it is poor quality material. A better quality hybrid type film can last as long as five years before beginning to show wear. The best made window film, which is metalized deposition tinting film, can last as long as ten years before needing to be replaced.

In order to replace window tint on your windows, first you’ll need to carefully remove the old films from the glass. There are several methods for removing old window tint films. While the tinting film used on car windows is often made similarly to home windows, the adhesives and installation methods are very different, and so removing home window tints is very different from removing the tint films from car windows. When researching methods for removal, be certain that you’re finding tips for removal of home window tinting.

How to Remove Home Window Tinting

Before attempting to remove any film from your windows, be sure that you are working when your windows are not in direct sunlight. One of the easiest ways to remove old film that needs to be replaced requires nothing but a bottle of water containing a few drops of liquid dish detergent, and a two inch wide straight blade paint scraper. Spray two coats of the water and detergent over the window film. After ten minutes, use the blade to test the edges of the film. If they are gummy and peel away easily, go ahead and scrape the film away using the flat edge of the blade. Be careful to keep the scraping blade flat to avoid scratching the glass. If, after soaking for ten minutes, the film doesn’t remove easily, spray once more and wait five more minutes. The film should scrape away.

Some stubborn films with extra strong adhesive may require a little more work to remove. Using a mild mixture of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray the window film to saturate it. Apply a layer of one sheet of newspaper over the wet glass, pressing it against the glass and into the edges, where it should stick to the water mixture. After the newspaper is stuck to the glass, spray again over the top of the paper, totally soaking it, and then allow the windows to soak for 30 minutes. Leaving the paper on the glass, use the straight edge of a razor to work under the film, which should easily pull away from the glass. If the film is still too sticky to remove, soak the paper and wait another 15 minutes.

Before you attempt to replace window tint films over the glass, check for any leftover residue from the glue of the old film, especially around the edges. Use a strong commercial glue remover such a Goo Gone to soak away the last of the adhesive. Leaving any old glue on the edges of the panes will cause the new films that you install to curl up prematurely.

Replace window tint as soon as it begins to show damage and whenever it pulls away from the glass. While it may take some elbow grease and time to remove the old film from your windows, the end result and benefits of UV protective window tint films will make it worth your time.

Filed Under: Window Tint Maintenance

Applying Home Window Tints

July 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Home Window TintsHome window tints add value to your home by increasing your energy savings and adding curb appeal to the outside look of your house.  Many window manufacturers now offer windows with films installed at the factory, and many new homes come with this feature. To retrofit home window tints on your already existing windows, you can hire a professional installer, or choose to install the films yourself.

The Basics of Window Films

A window film is basically a very thin layer that is installed over the glass of a window, and is generally made of a polyester base with a coating of scratch resistant polymer. Some manufacturers use many layers of this polyester film to make their tints, but even these are still only millimeters thick. These films are then glued to the interior side of the window glass.

Some films are dyed during this process, which creates a barrier to the sun and gives the film a tinted look. There are many different formulas used by different manufacturers of home window tints, and each has its own distinct characteristics. There are reflective films, lightly shaded tints, and a variety of metallic looks. Tinted films offer more privacy and usually have a mirror effect on the outside of the window, particularly at night. Clear films are generally less reflective, but offer less privacy.

Applying Home Window Tints

Hiring a professional to apply your window tinting can be expensive. There are many options available for do it yourself installation. As energy savings and environmental concerns become more widespread, more and more manufacturers are offering easy choices for home window tints that can be installed by virtually anyone.

The application procedure is generally the same, regardless of the type of film you purchase. The windows should be cleaned with a non-streaking glass cleaner. Be sure no residue from your cleaning towel is left behind. Window films are delivered in sheets, which must be cut to fit each window during installation. Instructions can vary, but generally home window tints are cut ¾ to 1 inch larger than the window on each side, to allow for overlap of the edges.

Films are made with a plastic cover over the adhesive side of the sheet. Expose this adhesive by peeling off the covering. This can be a two person job, as the glue is very sticky and it’s easy to accidentally stick it to itself.  Some adhesives are water activated; these films require you to spray the film and the window with an even coating of water. The window films are then placed over the glass and a squeegee or hard card are then used to smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles.  When the film is smooth, a sharp blade is then used to trim the edges against the window trim.

The window films will then require time to cure, which can take up to a month to fully dry. During this time, keep a careful eye and use a hard card to smooth out any bubbles that may come up. When the home window tints are completely dry, they should feel like a solid window and look like a part of the glass.

Filed Under: Application of Window Film

Home Window Tinting

July 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When you think of window tinting, you probably think of dark car windows and thumping bass music. But window tint is used in home windows as well, and can be a helpful way to keep down energy costs, block harmful UV rays, and maintain privacy without sacrificing the natural light that windows provide.

In times past, heating and cooling homes was difficult, and windows were kept small to help with maintaining comfortable temperatures. Today, technology has made heating and cooling our homes as simple as setting a thermostat and the luxury of huge windows has become standard in home building. The use of window tinting on these windows is becoming commonplace.

Window Films for Energy Savings

The use of glass films on home windows can significantly reduce cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. By  blocking the most powerful and harmful rays of the sun, the UV rays, window tinting films make cooling your home and maintaining a constant comfortable temperature easier and far less expensive.  Maintaining temperature consistency means your cooling system need not work so hard, which is good for your pocketbook and for the environment.

Window Films for Safety and Security

There are many types of window films that can also offer protection for your home and family. These films act as a barrier, preventing the glass from breaking easily. Intruders are impeded by the glass that stays intact upon breaking. This type of window tinting film is also helpful during severe weather incidents, as the film holds the glass panes in place to help minimize flying glass and damage from the elements. Often these films are available in clear, or tinted to offer additional energy savings.

Decorative Window Films

In rooms where curtains or blinds are impractical, decorative window films offer solutions for privacy, while still allowing natural light. These tinting films can be used on shower doors, cabinet doors, and bathroom windows. Many films mimic the look of etched glass at a fraction of the cost. Many decorative window films also offer UV filtering and security as an added bonus.  Decorative films come in patterns, such as floral or art deco designs, or sheets of solid patterns.

Window Films for Privacy

Window tinting offers an alternative to traditional blinds and curtains for privacy in your home. By allowing you to see out, but blocking others from seeing inside, privacy tinting makes it easy to keep your view intact without sacrificing your privacy. These films are often reflective in nature, giving your home a modern, impressive visual appeal as well.

Whether you are using window tint films for privacy, decoration, security or energy savings, installing window films in your home is a smart investment. There are many options for installation, from professional services that do all the work for you, to do it yourself kits. Window tinting is generally guaranteed for at least ten to fifteen years, and most will pay off in a short amount of time with the energy savings they offer.

Filed Under: Window Tinting