Commercial Window Tinting

Commercial window tinting is a job best left for a professional window tinting service. When asked by their clients, some general contractors attempt to install graffiti, frosted – even energy saving films without outsourcing an experienced company.

Commercial window tinting requires skilled installation if you expect it to look good for years to come. Most of the time an inexperienced general contrator will either give up, make an excuse about the difficulty of working with the product, or believe the installation looks good only to find that it begins to bubble or peel a month down the road. While these contractors don’t do these things on purpose, you have to understand that their ultimate goal is to get the job done at the lowest price possible.

Individually wrapped do-it-yourself residential film rolls are probably the main culprit of  unjust confidence. Some people assume that since you can find DIY films at your local home improvement store that installation is a snap. The truth is while those films are designed to be easier to install, this ease of use is limited to their resistance to creasing. The windows are just as difficult to properly prep and nothing but a skilled installer can minimize airborne dust and window frame debris from getting under the film. Furthermore, DIY films look horrible when compared to professional films, are not designed for commercial application and don’t come with a guarantee or warranty.

Hire a service! Most commercial window tinting can be professionally installed for a price that barely exceeds the cost of the material itself.

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