What Color or Shade?
There are as many shades as you can imagine when it comes to window film and tint. For vehicles the most common are 5%, 20%, 35% and 50%. This number is the rating of how much light the film will allow to pass through it. Therefore 5% is dark limo tint and 50% is a very light shade. Houses and businesses tend to choose colored tints which enhance the overall décor.
Does Window Tint Offer Security Protection?
Yes. Window films offer some basic security benefits, including helping to hold broken glass in its frame. Many films can also offer a level of privacy by making it more difficult to see in windows from the exterior. Safety/security films offer enhanced levels of protection against storm damage, criminal activity and accidents resulting in glass related injuries. These films are made from either clear or tinted polyester that is thicker than traditional solar control film.
Why Does Tint Turn Purple and Bubble?
A proper window tint will come with a life-time warranty against fading. Don’t be fooled by cheap tint as it is just dyed film and the UV light will turn it purple and it will bubble.
What Are The Benefits Of Window Tinting?
Window films block up to 99% of UV rays and reflect more than 78% of the sun’s heat.
Aside from the aesthetic appeal of window tint, there are many other benefits:
- Reduces interior fading by blocking out harsh sunshine
- Increases privacy and safety
- Holds glass shards together in the event of accident, weather event, vandalism, or break-in
- Blocks out unwanted heated, making the interior much more comfortable
- Minimizes eye strain by reducing the sun's glare
- Saves on energy costs
- Reduces air conditioning costs, while increasing interior comfort
Vehicle Window Tinting Laws
As the laws regarding window film vary from province to province and can change at any time, be sure to check with your local authority for the most current regulations.
In BC, “no film is permitted on the driver’s compartment, right and left. Any film may be installed on the side windows behind the driver. Any film may be applied to the rear window, provided the vehicle has 2 exterior rear view mirrors.”
Perfect For Kids.
Most young children do not like the heat or the glare from the sun beaming through a car window. Not to mention the UV light is not good for their young unprotected skin and eyes. Automotive window film will cut down the glare, protect them from harmful light and keep the heat down.
How is Window Tint Applied?
Window Tinting sounds simple, as it is nothing more than a film that is applied to the inside of glass. I, personally, have spent years trying to perfect the art of window tinting and it is just that, an art.
The basics of window tinting are as follows; clean the glass, trim the film to the desired shape, remove the protective layer from the film, wet the film and glass to activate the glue, then apply the film to the glass and squeegee out any water and air bubbles.
If the window is not 100% clean, or any debris gets onto the film or glass during application there will be a bubble in the film and the job has to be redone. I will try to give you an idea of how difficult this product is to work with. If you have ever been frustrated with plastic wrap then you have an idea. Try to get all the wrinkles out of plastic wrap, or try to straighten it out after it sticks to itself. When removing the protective layer from window tint this is exactly what it’s like, but it’s not one piece of plastic wrap it’s two! Then, you need to add water, work as fast as you can so the film does not touch anything and pick up debris before being applied.
Your just starting to get an idea of the patience and talent required to properly apply window tint.
Automotive Glass is even more difficult as vehicle glass is not flat. The window tint must be heat shrunk to the shape of the glass. Once the film has been cut and shrunk to the proper shape it must then be applied to the inside of a vehicle in tight quarters where the film can easily touch fabric and pick up lint and ruin the job. Oh, and remember one single crease and it’s time to start over.
