How Car Window Tinting Is Done � A Great After-Market Upgrade
Getting a new car is always fun. I personally love that new car smell that comes with your purchase. And making your car more �yours� is always important. Many people will cover their cars with bumper stickers or other types of customization. Some are purely aesthetic while others not only look good but also provide an additional function like safety or the preservation of your car. Any many of these upgrades can be done days or even years after your purchase.
As part of my car buying series (see here and here), I�m focusing on how consumers can save money after buying a lower model car (e.g., the base model) and then buying after-market add-ons to bring it closer to more expensive trimlines but without paying the dealer�s dramatically inflated pricing. One great thing about after-market upgrades, like in this case window tinting, is that you can pick and choose exactly the ones that you want and not get �extras� in a package that you don�t really need.
So let�s take a look at the first thing that I had done on my new car, window tinting. This is an upgrade that I definitely recommend that you do for a variety of reasons:
- It protects the interior of your car from harmful UV rays
- It keeps the interior of the car cooler
- It provides added safety in the event of crash by containing all of the broken glass
- It gives added security from a break-ins since it is more difficult to break the glass
- It provides privacy to your passengers (great for kids)
- And it simply looks great (my opinion)
Many times, you can buy a new car with privacy windows or the window tinting already done. Some of these tints are done in the glass making process itself. Some cars even have double paned glass making them stronger, more energy efficient and, of course, more expensive. But, did you know that many car dealers will actually send out many of their vehicles to get the windows tinted by a 3rd party and then later mark up the price on the sticker.
Car window tinting is actually not as expensive as you might think (starting possibly around $200-300 depending on the installer, your vehicle and location). You can buy do-it-yourself kits (which I DON�T recommend) or you can get it done professionally (which I DO recommend). The problem is, not all window tinters (or the film that they use) are the same. Some tinters use cheap films that don�t stand the tests of time and tend to fade, crack, bubble, peel or turn purple. Also these inexperienced or less expensive tinters might simply do a poor application job with the film. So, it is extremely important to shop around and get recommendations (look at Yelp reviews for example). And DON�T always settle for the least expensive.
For my window tinting, I choose a local installer that had the best Yelp recommendations. I read through all of the reviews (the good AND the bad ones) and then spent some time looking at their website. My installer had been in business for 25 years and was run by a father and son team. They also do audio, GPS, video and alarm system installs, in addition to window tinting, so auto upgrades are their passion.
This post is designed to provide you with some insight into what is involved in the window tinting process. The tinting was done by a company called The Best Guys and I was present to photograph and film the entire process. Most of the time, you don�t normally watch the process but I found it really interesting. If you can, ask to watch the install, especially if you have a couple of hours to burn.
Below is a 20 minute video that first talks about the company and their philosophy and then how my particular installation was done. After this video in the content below are some photos that document the process as well. It�s pretty interesting so watch and read on!
The installation process can be broken down into the following components:
- Choosing the film tints
- Cleaning the windows outside
- Cutting the film (by machine and/or by hand)
- Shrinking the film to remove �the fingers�
- Cleaning the inside
- Laying the film, squeegee and de-bubbling
Choosing the film tints
This is a very personal preference. Also, the tint levels may be determined by state laws. For example, in California, you aren�t legally allowed to tint the front side windows, however, you can pretty much tint the back and rear window however you see fit. The darker the tint typically means that it will dramatically reduce the temperature of the sun coming through it. It also means that at night time, it will be a lot more difficult to see through. My recommendation is NOT to go �limo dark� and do more of a 15% or 20% tint, which is more like what you get from a factory-tinted auto.
The percentage associated with the tint is for the amount of visible light that comes through the film.
I do recommend that if you can tint the front, even with a clear tint, you do so, because you get many of the advantages that I listed initially. You can especially notice that the sun on your arm with the windows closed feels just a bit cooler than without the tint.
I don�t really know much about the different manufacturers of the film but the one that The Best Guys swore by was Llumar, which has a life-time warranty (always a good thing). The Llumar tints that were used for my job were:
- Charcoal ATR 15 (Back & Rear Windows) � 15% visible light transmission, 50% total solar energy rejection, 99% UV rejection, 83% glare reduction and 8% visible light rejection
- Neutral AU 85 (Front Windows) � 85% visible light transmission, 16% total solar energy rejection, 99.9% UV rejection, 13% glare reduction and 8% visible light rejection
Once the tints were chosen, the prep work started.
Cleaning the windows outside
One of the most important steps that is repeated throughout the process is that of scrubbing and cleaning the windows. Any tiny bit of dust or dirt can cause issues. First, the outside of the windows were washed. This was, at first, a bit confusing to me as I thought that tints go on the inside of the car. Why wash the outside? For starters, you have to have it clean so that you can see dirt or bubbles much easier once the tints are being installed on the inside.
Also, as it turns out, the tint is first applied on the outside so that the shrinking step can take place. I will explain the shrinking process later. However, since the film has to be cut/trimmed and shrunk on the outside, you have to be sure that the windows are clean.
Cutting the film (by machine and/or by hand)
There are a couple of main ways to cut the film. A lot of shops now use computers and automatic cutting machines to accurately cut the film. Other shops cut their film by hand. Frequently you have to hand-cut films for older cars or for complex or custom jobs.
The computers store the exact sizes of all of the windows for recent automobiles. You simply look up the year, make and model and the computer displays all of the window templates. With the particular program that The Best Guys used, you could drag and drop the stencils around for best placement on the film and then when you were happy with the arrangement, you sent the cutting instructions to the automatic cutter.
This cutter was so precise that it would cut through the film but not the backing paper underneath. It was pretty amazing to watch it cut out all of my rear windows (rear, 2 small and 2 rear passenger ones).
For the front window, since the tint was a slightly different thickness and the cutting machine was not configured for that type of cutting, my installer, Charlie, who has been putting on window tints for 9 years, cut the film by hand. I was pretty amazed that he was able to cut and size the two front passenger windows so quickly and accurately.
Other cut film is then placed on some glass boards near the car. There were two of these glass boards, one on each side of the car. The boards were used for trimming, sizing, shirking and simply keeping them handy.
https://www.hightechdad.com/2010/10/21/how-car-window-tinting-is-done-a-great-after-market-upgrade/
What are your concepts on Window Tinting Perth?
You can get a range of window tinting options depending upon your budget plan, and several kinds are offered to fit your demands. There are several different sorts of home window tinting, relying on just how much or how little you require. You can also select to shield the outside of your home windows, or simply attempt to make them brighter.
If you reside in a location where the sun is strong, which is not uncommon in indoor areas, you could wish to try one of the window tinting items that include a UV finishing. It will protect against sunlight from passing through the home window, so sunshine can not shine through the glass.
Sometimes, the sunlight's rays are merely as well harsh, and also the sunlight can leave a ghostly white touch over the glass. This sort of window tinting is generally called a rain gutter screen. The objective is to stop the sunlight from going into the room, without letting it in also far.
Light window colors can be useful for household houses where the drapes are actually windows, with frosted or opaque window shades to keep the sun out. In instances like this, a slim movie of light-tinted glass can offer a method to make sure personal privacy as well as avoid the sun from streaming through the home window. It's not nearly as dark as you would certainly imagine, yet it is still dark sufficient to stop sunlight from beaming in, even when the drapes are open.
All window tinting features directions for how much time to allow the home window tinting stay on your home windows. Generally, when the product is used, it is expected to last for concerning a year, but you should examine your directions to see what time frame your specific tinting product requires to remain on your windows.
If you don't desire your windows to be tinted, you can still obtain them tinted. You must have a professional to use it, as they are extra skilled at applying it correctly. Your home windows may require to be tinted every couple of years, relying on how often the sunlight has to beam through the window.
You will certainly initially need to determine what sort of material you want to tint your home windows with. Obviously, your residence is going to be different, so you may need to find a product that functions best with your residence. You also need to establish if you want your home window tinting to remain transparent all the time, or you may desire it to look a little bit extra like a real sheet of glass.
Benefits as well as negative aspects of all kinds of window tinting are quickly found, so you must have the ability to discover the kind that fits your needs. Constantly ask your house to see exactly how it looks prior to applying any type of item.
Among one of the most prominent sorts of light tinting is laminated glass. It is normally made from colored glass that has actually been laminated into one solid piece. A layer of UV-treated laminate is placed over the glass, as well as this makes it thicker than traditional glass that can be found in sheets.
Light tinting is made from glass, which is clear, however it has a little layer of UV-treated material that enables it to have a little light defense. The word light can be deceptive, because it does not mean the windows can not be tinted. It just suggests that the degree of defense is higher than regular.
Another disadvantage of light home window tinting is that the light is not just diffused throughout the home window, however it also has a light color. This suggests that while the home window can be tinted, you need to see to it the remainder of the space isn't. It will certainly show the light differently and also will certainly include a little bit of glare.
Many people make a decision to light windows instead of tinting them. Light tinting isn't popular among the home window shade and drapes manufacturers, yet individuals who desire a distinct as well as clean look why not try this out can pick this sort of home window tinting. It also is readily available in lots of forms and colors to fit any type of style.
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