Trying not to overheat isn’t the only reason for window tinting. There are several good reasons why you might want to tint your car windows.
Reasons For Car Window Tinting:
Temperature control. With the correct tinting a car’s interior can be 60 percent cooler on hot days.
Skin protection. Glass tinting blocks out approximately 99 percent of skin-damaging, cancer-causing ultra violet (UV) rays.
Privacy. Window tinting provides an extra level of privacy for you, your passengers and the items in your car.
Upholstery. Heat and harmful UV rays can cause seats to crack or fade. Tinting acts as a protective barrier.
Accidents. Having tinted windows can hold broken windows together. This can protect you from shattering glass in serious accidents.
Driving safety. Car window tinting can reduce dangerous glares from headlights, snow or the sun.
Types of Car Window Tinting Film
All window tinting film is made of polyester and has a thickness of two to seven millimeters. Car window tinting consists of several thin layers of film. One side is coated with either a water-activated adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The other side is treated with a hard, scratch-resistant coating for protection. To filter out harmful UV radiation, chemical UV blockers are incorporated within the film. The differences between the films are due to the technologies applied during manufacturing. The three main technologies applied to window tinting film are:
Dye. Car tinting that contains dye is film that absorbs heat and draws it away by external air movement.
Deposition. The film is drawn through a tank which contains metal ingots such as nickel-chrome, aluminum and copper. This produces a darker and highly-mirrored tinting surface.
Sputtering. The metal ingots are dispersed at the atomic level. Sputtering allows for approximately 25 to 30 choices of metal and the coating is much lighter. There is a fourth type of film called hybrid film that contains both dyes and reflective metals. This results in a film that is brighter and non-reflective.
How to Choose a Tinting Company
The cost for window tinting can range from $100 to $400 or more. Cheap tinting is ubiquitous. For a better tint job visit places known for their credibility and customer service. After you have a list of local window tinting providers ask a few questions before making a final decision. Find out how long the company has been in business and how expansive their operation is i.e. how many other stores they have. A company that’s been in business for at least five years indicates stability. Multiple locations indicate a successful business.
Ask the company if you can visit the shop to see samples of their work. If they are agreeable to spending time with you, it shows that they care about their customers. If you find yourself being ignored or brushed off during the questioning stage expect the same treatment should any problems arise with their work.
Check out a car the company is working on during your visit. Is the back window tinted with a single piece of film? Is the film completely flush with all four edges on each side window? Does the tinting job look streaky? Ask about the types of films the company carries as well as any warranty they provide. A good tinting shop should carry most, if not all, tinting options such as dyed, metallic and hybrid in a variety of colors and depths. Make sure that your tinting is legal as illegal tinting could nullify the warranty. Not all auto window tinting companies offer a lifetime warranty but it's possible to find ones that do.
Window tinting can be good for you and your car. Take the time to find a good tinting company and get the best job possible for a price you can afford.
