Sunday, January 9, 2011

Tinting

The top reasons many people purchase window tinting are:

1. Temperature control. With the proper auto window tinting, your car’s interior can be around 60% cooler during hot days.
2. Skin protection. Glass tinting can block about 99% of skin-damaging, cancer-causing UV rays.
3. Privacy. Window tinting can provide privacy for you and the items kept in your car.
4. Upholstery. Heat and harmful UV rays can cause seats to crack or fade and car window tinting acts as a barrier.
5. Accidents. Having auto window tinting can hold broken glass together. This will protect you from shattering glass that occurs from serious accidents.
6. Driving safety. Car window tinting can help 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 2 to 7 mils. To put it simply, your 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 type of technologies that are applied.

The three main technologies applied to window tinting film are as follows:

1. Dye. Car tinting that contains dye, is basically film that absorbs heat and draws it away by external air movement.
2. Deposition. Auto window tinting film is drawn through a tank which contains metal ingots such as nickel-chrome, aluminum and copper. This produces a darker and more highly-mirrored glass tinting surface.
3. Sputtering. This is where the metal is dispersed at the atomic level. Sputtering allows you approximately 25 to 30 choices of metal, and the coating is much lighter.

There is a fourth type of film that contains both dyes and reflective metals. This type of car window tinting film is called hybrid film. Basically, when paired, you have a film that’s brighter and non-reflective.

How to Choose a Tinting Company

Tinting can range from $100 to $400 plus, so choosing a tinting company depends on what you’re looking for. Cheap tinting can be found just about anywhere. For nicer tint jobs visit places known for their credibility and customer service. After you have a list of window tinting providers, make sure you ask some questions before making a final decision.

First of all, find out how long they’ve been in business and whether or not they have other repair shops . A company that’s been in business for at least five years shows stability. More locations mean they are a successful car window tinting business.

Another question you might ask the company is whether or not 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, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll be ignored should any problems arise with a tinting job they do for you.

While you’re there, check out a car that’s been tinted. Is the back window tinted with properly with a single piece of film? Is the film completely flush with all four edges of each side window? Does the tinting job look streaky? If a poor job was done on what you see, then it’s safe to assume yours will look the same.

Finally, you need to ask about the types of films they carry, as well as the warranty they offer. A good glass tinting shop should carry most, if not all options such as dyed, metallic and hybrid in a variety of colors and darkness.

When it comes to warranty, be sure that your tinting is legal. If it’s not, it will nullify the warranty. Not all auto window tinting companies offer a lifetime warranty, but it is possible to find ones that do.

In conclusion, window tinting can be very good for both you and your car. Take the time to find a good tinting company so you get the best job possible for a price you’re comfortable with.

No comments:

Post a Comment