Are you considering getting some window tinting done? If so The first and undoubtedly the most important thing you need to understand about window film is the difference between quality window film and poor film. And this is why: Premium window film will last for the lifetime of your windows whereas bad window film will only last up to three years, depending on the rigours of your environment.
DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN GOOD & BAD WINDOW FILMS
The only way for a novice to tell the difference between premium and poor quality film is price and guarantee. When inquiring with a supplier, ask how long the film is guaranteed for. If its not at least 12 years keep looking. And also look out for the shady operator who offers you a guarantee on cheap film and hikes the price, to make it look like its good film, but will either not be around, or simply do nothing if you get back to them because your tint has failed.
Heres the tip, (and by the way Ive found this to be true with most things), if your only goal in getting quotes is looking for the cheapest possible price, then you will naturally find yourself with the poor product and the real price you pay will be in 2-3 years when your windows start to blister, fade and/or peel and look horrible. Be warned, the cheapest price is usually just crap!
BENEFITS OF INSTALLING TINTING
Every window film has different advantages, so the first thing you need to be sure of is the most important reason for installing window tint. Lets look at each advantage in a little more detail so you can better figure out the most appropriate solution for your application.
The core benefits of good quality tint are:
Heat Rejection: Premium window film rejects heat by blocking up to 73% of Total Solar Energy through windows. That really is cool!
UV Rejection: Good quality window film prevents up to 99% of infra red radiation from penetrating your windows. And as a bonus, it also eradicates 93% of glare, which massively improves for your view and makes things look really cool!
Privacy: The right film will also provide daytime privacy, allowing everyone inside to remain cool, enjoy the views, and at the same time have total privacy from prying eyes during the day. This is particularly important if you are looking for an office window tint.
Safety and Security: These specially designed films stop glass from shattering on impact. Safety films are designed to withstand the force of human impact, while security films can withstand an explosion without shattering. Since the collateral damage from accidents where windows are broken comes from shards of glass spraying like shrapnel, or large sections of glass dropping like a guillotine, the major issues associated with safety are avoided. It also stops your windows from becoming a soft and easy entry point for burglars, because both the impact and noise required to force entry is so noticeable burglars would rather simply move on in search of an easier, softer target.
Lastly of course theres the matter of style. Good quality window film also add style to windows; and for many people its the aesthetic charm that tinted windows add that is the driving force for their installation.
SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO CARS & VEHICLES
The next point I want to discuss is relevant to drivers and it concerns installing the darkest legal tint on your car.
Generally, the darkest legal tint legally allowed on a vehicle is one with a VLT (visible light transmission) level of 35%, on all vehicle windows (excluding the front windscreen, which cannot have any window film except for a visor strip across the top). The only exception to this are in the NT and WA. In the NT you are allowed a minimum VLT of 16% for windows behind the driver; and in WA you are allowed 20% VLT on windows behind the driver.
Now as most cars already have a slight tint in the glass in their front windows, this needs to be taken into consideration when adding tint to a vehicle. Heres how the maths looks. Most cars already have a slight tint in the glass in their front windows, so this should be considered when adding tint to a window. Heres why. If the factory glass on your car already block 30% of light, when a film with the darkest legal tint of 35% is added to this window, it will emit only 35% of light into a window that is already only emitting 70% of light, so the final VLT reading will be impacted by the combination of both VLT ratings.
This needs to be taken into consideration because if a driver inadvertently fails to comply with tinting regulations, the result can be a fine. But worse still, if a vehicle is involved in an accident and its illegally dark windows are considered by the court to be a contributing factor, this could result in the cancellation of your insurance policy, leaving you exposed to the full financial culpability of the accident. And if thats not bad enough criminal charge could apply if property is damaged or people are injured.
The final thing to consider is that by modifying a vehicle with darker than legal windows, the vehicle becomes unroadworthy, which means you cant drive the car again until it has been put through a roadworthy test, in which case the illegal tint will have to be stripped off the windows. Thats why the combined VLT of both the glass and film really should be considered when youre selecting the appropriate tint for your car.
So what do I really want you to get from this article? When it comes to window tinting, make sure you use a good quality product and that your installer has the expertise to be able to offer you the right solution for your circumstances. That way youll end up with a range of benefits, instead of a number of issues.
