Are you searching for the right residential window tint installation for your home?
Look no further; we have compiled a list of things to keep in mind before going window tint shopping. Residential window tint installations are a cost-effective way to make your home sustainable, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient.
Tinting Home Windows
Tinting home windows using one of the many types of tint films available in the market improves your home’s safety, energy efficiency, and curb appeal without spending a fortune on getting all your windows replaced.
Most window tint films are multi-layered polyester coverings made from Polyethylene terephthalate with self-adhesive properties. However, not all tint films are worth your money or investment, making it crucial to carefully choose the most suitable window tint.
3 things you need to know
Let us look at 3 things you need to know to streamline your residential window tint installation process:
1. Suitable Tint Film Selection
The 3 main categories of window tint film types serving a different purpose are as follows:
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Solar Window Tint Films
Solar window tint films are the most suitable window tint if you wish to improve your home’s energy efficiency. It also helps protect against harmful UV rays that can fade furniture. Solar tint films are thicker than decorative films, enabling them to absorb or reflect up to 99 percent of UV rays from the sun.
Solar window tint films help regulate indoor temperature keeping your home cool in summer and warm in harsh winters. Using solar tints reduces hot or cold spots from your home. It helps in maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home. Solar tint film minimizes glare and prevents fading of furniture while increasing its longevity.
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Security Window Tint Films
Suppose a thunderstorm breaks your windows, causing glass shards to fly in all directions. Security window tint films can minimize the risk of injury by holding the glass pieces together. It also makes the clean-up process easy.
Security window tint films offer protection from burglary and improve the privacy quotient of your home. Security window tint films that are clear or silver don’t absorb or reflect heat. Still, they provide added structural strength by transforming a shattering effect to a large crack allowing your windows to hold together for longer.
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Decorative Window Tint Films
These are the thinnest window films used to boost your home’s curb appeal for strictly decorative purposes. Decorative window tint films reflect minimal heat adding privacy to a room.
Decorative window tint films can be transparent or vivid-colored in various etched patterns, stained glass motifs, or frosted designs, keeping peeping neighbors at bay.
2. Compatibility With Your Glass Window
Now that we have covered the types of window tint films with distinguished characteristics and use, it is clear that certain tint films are more compatible with window glass, just like e-glass.
Most security or decorative films barely absorb any heat, which does not increase the thermal stress of the glass. It makes them ideal if you are looking to keep your warranty intact. However, it is advisable to consult your window manufacturer before installing window tints for your properties.
So, unless your window manufacturer advises against tint films installations, most windows are compatible with tint films these days. You can apply tint films to all 3 types of windows: annealed, heat-treated, and insulating, with minimal risk of damage.
Solar window tint installations absorb the maximum heat, increasing thermal stress. It can lead to window glass damage or cracking. Hence, it is pivotal to select window tint installation after checking the compatibility with your glass window.
3. Reduced Utility Costs
The cost of an aftermarket window film from a home improvement store such as Amazon costs around $2 to $4 per square foot, which can be installed quickly. In contrast, professional installation costs around $5 to $8 per square foot.
Compared to other window treatment options, window film tint installations are the most effective way to reduce fading, glare, and energy bills, increasing the longevity of your windows.
Solar window tint films offer added temperature regulation that leads to reduced usage of HVAC. The diminished use of ACs and coolers reduces utility costs and boosts energy savings. Solar window tint installations usually come in neutral tones such as copper and silver.
Conclusion:
You may be tempted to make your window installation process into a DIY project, but it may do more harm than good. Installing residential window tint films may sound like a cakewalk, but it is not as straightforward as it sounds.
Certain factors such as the height and placement of your window, glass type, and abrasiveness of the cloth you use to wipe them down can play a role in the success of your window tint installation.
Hiring a professional residential tint film installation provider can minimize the risk of dirt entrapment within the tint film, scratches, inaccurate measurements, bubbles, or wrinkles — all reasons that diminish the quality and life of your window tint films.
Tint by Masters is a leading window tint installation company with a team of experienced professionals working round the clock to upgrade your windows according to your needs. Please book a consultation with us today to learn more about our tint film installation services for commercial and residential properties.