Should I Tint My Own Windows?

Window tinting on your own has the same benefit as any other DIY project – you can save some money. But before you go to your home improvement store or whip out the credit card for an online purchase, consider the following:

1) DIY window films, even “premium” brands, are made of a soft polyester to make them easier to install. This lower grade material unavoidably has characteristics that make it visually unappealing – such as view distortion, clouding, or excessive “rainbow” like coloring. Professional window films do not have these traits, require training and experience to install and are only available to dealers.

2) No DIY film will warranty the glass that the film is installed to.

3) The DIY window film manufacturer/distributer takes no responsibility for whether the film you are installing will damage the glass, or that the process of installation will not harm the glass.

4) If you have an existing warranty for your windows, you will probably void it if you install the window film yourself. Professional dealers provide you with a warranty that will replace the one you have, and in most cases can provide a warranty that will cover against glass breakage even if you don’t have an existing warranty.

5) Professional installation looks better. DIY window filming always stands out, usually in the form of peeling corners, bubbles, creases, lifted edges and entraped dirt – not to mention distortion from the DIY product.

6) Like everything else DIY, any home improvement project not performed properly will hurt your property value. Home inspectors and prospective buyers never overlook badly tinted windows. If you have a quality window film professionally installed you will actually increase the beauty, comfort and value of your home.

What Should I Look For In A Tinting Company?

1) Guaranteed Installation. The company should guarantee to replace any work that starts to bubble or peel within a minimum 60 day period. This is evidence of a faulty installation.

2) Lifetime residential warranty on solar control films. At least 10 years for commercial applications. Should cover peeling, cracking, delaminating, color change and bubbling.

3) Warranty replacement. The company should be able to replace the current warranty you have for your windows with a warranty to match the life of the one you have, and cover glass breakage and IG unit failure.

4) Quality products. Several window films are manufactured step by step in several locations by different companies, leading to inconsistent product quality.  Many companies also drive down the product cost by using lower quality polyester substrate, which adversely affects the product clarity.

Be sure to ask about how the film will look after it is installed, specifically whether the view will be “distorted” at all. This can include fogginess, waviness, or a “rainbow” like appearance. Even brand name products can distort the view, so be sure to ask and be able to hold the installer accountable if you don’t like what you see.

5) Familiarity with the environment. If you go to a window film service website and see cars all over the screen, they probably don’t do much residential or commercial application, even if they claim to be experienced. Never confuse car tinting with architectural window film installation. Tinting cars does not qualify an installer to work in a home or office, nor does it make them familiar with architectural glass and window types, frame types, glazing materials, ladder or scaffold use, or safe installation guidelines.

6) Fair Pricing. Well this sounds like a no-brainer – but we had to put this one in anyway. Don’t be convinced that a “designer” product will look better or perform better than its traditional counterpart. These products are merely marketed as designer, and some dealers will charge $2-3/sqft more for a product that has no added benefits and only costs them pennies more.

7) Targeted service. To be an expert at something you have to do one thing, all the time, and do it well. Companies that try to cover too many markets end up with installers that are great at one thing and “okay” at another.  Watch out for inconsistent quality from companies that do the following:

– Both architectural and automotive tinting

– Both window film and shades/blinds/curtains

– Any combination of the above

Do I Need Window Film If I Already Have Low-E Windows?

Low-E coatings do a great job of keeping heat in your home, but do nothing to keep the sun’s heat and light out of your home. Low-E coatings provide little or no ultra-violet rejection, while most window films block 99%.

Windows with Low-E coatings can benefit from the installation of window film by reducing glare and blocking unwanted heat from entering your home, helping reduce energy costs year-round and providing a protective barrier to slow the effects of sun damage on furnishings.

If you don’t have Low-E windows, you can have a spectrally-selective window film installed to reflect long-wave infrared heat back into your livingspace, just like a Low-E coating. Like we stated before, these films also reject 99% UV light and reject heat from entering home – offering an average 35%-50% energy savings through the course of a year. If you already have double-pane glass and have heard of the benefits of low-e, having a spectrally-selective film installed is not only more cost effective than replacing your windows, but provides more benefits.

If you live in or around the Chicago area, visit our main website at www.precisefilm.com to arrange a free estimate for window film installation.