Window Tinting DIY: Worth It?

Window film, or window tint, is one of the best investments you can make in your home – it pays for itself! Saving money on utility bills, cutting heat and glare, increasing security and privacy… oh the list of perks goes on. But choosing the wrong product, or installing it improperly, will create more problems than it solves.

home window tinting, home window film

When we say the wrong product… we mean that temporary, flimsy shrink wrap you apply using a hairdryer – trust us, that’s just plastic on your window. Sure, it’s better than NOTHING, but it’s offering little aside from a bit of added insulation. You won’t achieve great looking or long-term results with this kind of product.

If you’re an avid DIYer, you know it can be fun, rewarding and cheaper to create, install and fix things yourself – but when it comes to window film in your home, we think it’s best you leave it to the professionals. Why?

The learning curve is steep, and high-quality film is expensive. Window film installation isn’t one of those DIY projects you want to learn through trial and error – and if you’re inexperienced at installing window film, you’ll likely run through a bit of product before you get into the swing of things… that gets expensive very quickly! Hiring a professional window film installer in your home will ultimately save you money, time and effort.

Most window film installers will break down their window film products in three (3) categories. These three categories represent the most common technologies and chemical make-ups of home window films.

Good – Your typical “good” window film is what is called a metalized or “dual-reflective” film. This type of window film is composed of microscopic pieces of metal which reflect and bounce heat and glare off a window in the same manner as a mirror. They are safe to apply on most windows because of their reflective properties. This type of window film is highly efficient and will greatly reduce heat and glare which lowers utility bills and creates a better view from the inside looking out. The one caveat with this film is that it lacks the external aesthetics and style most customers want on their homes. Having windows look like mirrors aren’t at the top of most customers’ minds when they think about heat and glare reduction.

Better – The next and most common home window film applied is called a dyed, pigment or hybrid window film. This type of window film uses a special blend of dyes and pigments to absorb the sun’s heat and UV rays. The main reason for its popularity is reduced reflectivity and more natural look from both inside and outside. However, in extremely hot or sunny situations, this type of window film may not be the right choice. This style of window film causes more strain on windows because of the absorbing properties and can cause added stress on your glass. It is also slightly less efficient than a metalized film as the reflective properties from the metalized films do a much better job at rejecting heat and glare as opposed to a dyed film’s absorption of the heat.

Best – Window film technology has come a long way over the past years. Today’s premium window film is made from ceramic and fine metals. Ceramic is one of the most durable and heat absorbent materials available. It is used as the insulator on spacecrafts, power lines and your toilet! Where dyed and pigment window films fall short, ceramic can be the answer. With properties better than metalized window films and unmatched clarity, ceramic home window films are the answer to any shopper who wants all the benefits of what window film can do without the changing your views. Most premium ceramic window films will actually reduce your windows’ natural reflective, enhancing your view.

Window Tinting For Your Home

Nano ceramic window tint is every bit as advanced as it sounds. This amazing film is infused with millions of microscopic bits of ceramic material that reflect and reject much of the sun’s warming infrared light and damaging ultraviolet light yet that still allows in plenty of pleasant visible light. Nano ceramic tinting was developed for the aerospace industry for use on planes and space craft, but now you can enjoy the benefits of this high performance material right in your own home.

Residential Heat Reduction with Window Tint

We recently applied home window tint in Windermere and the owners of this lovely residence could not have been happier. Their home stayed cooler and more comfortable the very first day the installation was complete, and the family can count on a cooler home every day going forward, even when the sun is beating down on Florida. Thanks to residential window film, this home is now more eco-friendly and will cost less to maintain.

Protecting Furniture from Fading with Window Film

Sunshine causes all sorts of damage over time when it is allowed to enter a home’s windows unchecked. UV light fades flooring and upholstery, it causes wood to yellow and wear down, it discolors photos and artwork, and it can cause skin damage, too. By blocking more than 99% of the sun’s UV light with window tint this Windermere residence will look great inside for years to come and its occupants will enjoy more protection against skin ailments.

Home Window Tint Reduces Glare | Best Way To Stop Glare

Before this Windermere home window tint installation, the residence’s many windows simply let in too much light. They made the rooms too bright for comfort during many hours out of the day, and that often led to drawn blinds or curtains, blocking the view and blocking out too much light. Window tint cuts out just enough visible light to cut the glare of the sunshine but without making the interior at all dark or gloomy.

Window Tinting UV For Your Homes

The windows of your lovely Florida home are doing the house a disservice: they’re letting in the wrong kind of light. The sun’s ultraviolet light is invisible but highly destructive, causing fading and discoloration that can leave carpets and wood floors unsightly, photos and artwork on the wall looking aged and unappealing, and even damaging your health, causing wrinkles and contributing to the development of skin cancer.

But you can solve the problem quickly and (almost!) completely: UV window tint blocks 99% of those harmful UV rays, and it does so without changing the look or the function of your windows.

Home Window Tinting to Protect Furniture from Fading

If you want to see the effects of UV light fading, find a piece of cloth furniture — say an upholstered couch — that has sat in a sunny room for years, then look at the underside of a cushion. You will see a dramatic difference in the color of the fabric that has sat in the sunshine and that swatch that has been protected from UV light. The same is true of carpets; move a piece of furniture off a rug or carpet you have had for years and you will see the color and/or design as it once was, before the sun faded and aged it.

If you own a home in Orlando window tint for UV protection is a critical upgrade that protects your property from this damage. It will pay for itself many times over when you don’t need to replace the carpets or couches, get new linens, or even have wood floors restored after years of sun damage. And of course you can’t put a price on your health!

UV Window Tint Protects your Skin from the Sun

You wouldn’t spend all day outside in the hot Orlando sun without sunscreen, so don’t spend your entire life living in an Orlando home without the protection of UV blocking window film. You can choose an optically clear window tint that is invisible to the naked eye yet blocks 99% of the skin damaging ultraviolet light, or you can get two birds with one stone and add more privacy to your home with window tint that blocks the view into the house.

UV Blocking Residential Window Tint Preserves the View

We often have potential clients in Orlando tell us they are worried that UV blocking window film will make it harder to see out of their windows. In reality, the opposite is true: this window tint not only blocks 99% of the sun’s UV light, it also cuts down on the harsh glare of broad daylight, allowing you to enjoy the view out into lovely Orlando, FL without squinting in the blinding sun.

Window Tinting At Office

Window Tint films help regulate the temperature imbalances between the sunny and shady areas of your building. No matter where the sun is, offices stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter, occupants are more comfortable and more productive.

IMPRESSIVE ENERGY SAVINGS

Watch the cooling cost drop when you install Eco Tint window films. A reflective film can keep out as much as 80% of the sun’s heat and dramatically lower air conditioning costs. In winter, the same film will help retain interior heat, reducing heating costs. The return on investment can be impressive.

INCREASED SAFETY

Splintered, flying glass is one of the dangerous consequences of disasters, either natural or man-made. Eco Tint film is specifically designed to help hold broken glass in place and lessen the chance of injury and property damage. It can also make forced entry more difficult.

PROTECTION FROM FADING

The sun’s ultraviolet rays can wreak havoc on your interior furnishings and merchandise, fading them and shortening their useful life. Eco Tint films screen out up to 99% of those harmful rays.

Window Tinting Why Professional is Better for Your Car

So, you’ve got a new truck or SUV with window tint. Think you’re ready to hit the road?
Not so fast. Factory-tinted glass may not be the best choice. Some people believe factory-tinted glass is “good enough,” and there’s no need to consider professional window tinting.
But, when it comes to protecting yourself and the interior of your vehicle from the sun, factory-tinted glass offers limited protection.

What is Factory-Tinted Glass?

Factory tint is a standard tint applied to most new trucks and SUVs. It’s created through a process called “deep dipping” which dyes the glass with a dark pigment.

Since most states have window tinting laws, car manufacturers only apply 15%-26% of visual light transmission (VLT) to vehicles. This dark pigment doesn’t reject harmful UV rays and, since it’s only applied to the rear window, side windows are unprotected.
Why You Should Consider Professional Window Tint

For premium protection, a professional window tint is the best choice.

The professionals at Metro Tint Texas can install 3M™ Crystalline Automotive Window Film on front side windows, backside windows, and rear windows to ensure you’re fully protected.

Here’s why professional window tinting is better than factory tint:
Ultimate Heat Rejection

The 3M™ Crystalline Automotive Window Film reduces the glare of the sun while protecting the vehicle, your passengers, and yourself from the sun.

    Rejects up to 60% of solar energy and up to 97% of heat-producing infrared
    Enhances your view by allowing visible light in, while keeping heat out
    Blocks up to 99% of ultraviolet (UV) light to provide a total Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 1000 for you and your passengers
    Stay connected with GPS, mobile devices, & satellite radio uninterrupted since it’s a non-metallized window film

Quality Installation

While DIY kits are available, the outcome isn’t the greatest. Improper installation causes air bubbles and alignment issues, which reduces the effectiveness of the window tint.

To ensure lasting quality, the certified professionals at Metro Tint Texas can help. We create a custom pattern for your vehicle using high tech computer equipment to trim to factory specification, guaranteeing a perfect fit.
Request a Free Quote Today!

Metro Tint Texas is a proud 3M™ Authorized Dealer offering window tinting services including automotive, residential, and commercial in the Dallas City metro area. Request a free quote today to learn more about our affordable professional window tinting solutions.