How To Tint Car Windows At Home

Every editorial production is independently selected, though we may exist compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you lot buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are authentic and items are in stock as of time of publication.

Window tinting keeps your car cooler, protects interior surfaces and offers privacy. Save money by learning how to tint car windows yourself.

Tinting your vehicle'southward windows adds style, reduces lord's day glare and keeps interiors cooler. It blocks up to 99 percentage of ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays and filters ninety percent of the sun's infrared radiation (IR). This helps protect interior surfaces from dissentious sunlight and allows your air conditioner to operate more efficiently.

The Peel Cancer Foundation recommends reducing exposure to UV rays as an effective defense confronting UV radiation, a leading cause of skin cancer. Read on to learn how to install window tint picture yourself, saving you hundreds of dollars.

What Is Machine Window Tinting?

Window tinting is a plastic film applied to your vehicle's windows that darken the glass. This helps reduce Visible Lite Transference (VLT), the amount of visible light (VL) passing through glass. Tints are rated by their VLT. The college the VLT percentage/number, the more than VL it lets in.

About every vehicle sold in the United States comes standard with tinted glass. To stay inside your state's legal limits, it'due south important you lot compensate for factory VLT earlier adding aftermarket window tint. Know your state'due south laws earlier choosing the VLT percentage.

What Are the Unlike Types of Window Tints?

There are several types, each with specific features, characteristics and backdrop.

Dyed: By and large used for advent and privacy.
Metalized: Embedded with metallic particles that reflect heat and UV radiation.
Hybrid: Combines the best characteristics of dyed and metalized tints.
Carbon: Micro layers of polymer and carbon reduce UV and IR.
Ceramic: Highest quality and most technologically advanced tint available.

You can purchase window tint pre-cut for your vehicle, or on a gyre that you cut to fit.

Things To Consider When Choosing Window Tint

Call up nigh your motivation, safety and in a higher place all your state'due south tint laws before choosing the type and VLT percentage.

Windows that are besides night can touch your visibility while driving, especially at night.
Blocking UV rays and IR light extends the life of seats, carpets, dash pad and trim.
Libation interiors reduce air conditioning usage, increasing fuel economy.
Tinted windows can add entreatment and raise the appearance to your ride.
Tinted windows add privacy.

How To Tint Automobile Windows

Man installing window tinting on car. Pecker Oxford/Getty Images

Install window tint in a clean, dry, shaded, dust-free area — working in a garage is all-time. Be patient and don't rush. Carefully follow all steps to do the job properly. Information technology may take 30 minutes or longer to correctly install window flick on each side window.

Utilize soapy water to keep your fingers wet. Don't crease the film while installing. An extra set of hands is helpful.

Tools/Materials

Make certain you have everything yous need before beginning the installation. Consider purchasing an cheap installation kit that includes several of the items listed below:

Window film;
Big spray canteen full of soapy h2o — you'll need at least a gallon, so premix two tablespoons of dish detergent with a gallon of warm water;
Razor blade scraper and blades;
Microfiber towels;
Tint duster or applicator;
Silicone squeegee;
Precision knife with replacement blades;
Vacuum cleaner;
Rut gun.

Prepare the Windows

NEVER use a commercial glass cleaner, or i with ammonia. They can change the color of the tint.

Vacuum the interior to remove grit and dirt. Thoroughly wash the inside and outside of the windows with the soapy water. Lower the window to clean the meridian of the glass, then raise the window to the closed position. Wet the window once more. Use the razor scraper to remove any remaining dirt, crud or sticker residue.

Thoroughly clean effectually the window trim, seals, gaskets and any nooks and crannies that could be hiding dirt or grime. Completely dry the glass with the squeegee and dry microfiber cloths. Wrap a cloth around your squeegee to dry under the window trim and seals.

Size the Tint Film

It'south important to determine which side of the film has the adhesive. Do not remove the adhesive liner. In this footstep yous're not installing the tint, yous're using the outside of the drinking glass equally a template. Starting at the passenger front-side window:

Saturate the exterior glass with soapy h2o.
Unroll the tint.
With the adhesive side facing you, leaving enough of overhang, completely embrace the entire outside of the window.
Cut this piece from the roll.
Gently press the tint onto the glass to temporarily continue information technology in place.
Trim the film into a manageable size, almost a square, leaving ii to iii inches overlapping the glass.
Wet the picture and smoothen it with the tint squeegee.
Agree the pic in identify with the squeegee or your manus.
Using the window seals every bit your guide, cut along the bottom (front to back), then forth the back of the glass with the precision knife.
- Pro tip: Cut at a low angle using just plenty pressure on the bract to cutting the motion-picture show.
Pull the picture straight back until it's overlapping the back of the window (the edge you just trimmed) by 1/ii-inch.
Trim the front direct side of the movie (the section past the sideview mirror).
Center the picture, there should be one/4-in. of extra film at the forepart and back of the glass.
Pull down on the film until information technology's ane inch lower than the bottom of the drinking glass.
Wet the bottom of the film and gently lift the film away from the bottom of the glass/torso.
Lower the window 1 inch.
Wet the glass and smooth out the film with the tint duster.
Cut the top edge of the film using the glass equally your guide.
Leaving the ane inch overhang at the lesser of the glass, advisedly cut abroad whatsoever extra film at the forepart or rear of the glass.
Smooth out the corners or any wrinkles.

Apply the Tint Film

Thoroughly wash and completely dry the inside of the window and all window trim and seals again. Dust or dirt left backside will crusade the picture to bubble.
Spray the within of the drinking glass with plenty of soapy water.
Remove the adhesive backing earlier removing the film from the outside window.
- Pro tip: Spraying the agglutinative with soapy water allows the movie to slide into position more than easily.
With the window lowered 1 inch, advisedly pare the film from the outside drinking glass.
Utilize the wet adhesive side against the inside glass.
- Pro tip: Earlier applying the moving-picture show, coil upwardly the lesser edge to keep the agglutinative from picking up whatsoever dirt.
Spray the film and slide into position.
Eye the motion picture and leave information technology about 1/16-in. of space beneath the meridian of the window.
Working toward the sides and peak, use the tint squeegee to push out water and air bubbles.
Raise the window.
Spray the lesser of the pic and glass.
Over again, utilise the tint duster to push out all the water and air bubbles from under the picture show.
Using the squeegee or applicator, advisedly constrict exposed edges of the film under the window seals.
To forbid tearing, continue spraying the motion picture as y'all work out air bubbles.
- Pro tip: A oestrus gun can assist remove air bubbles, excess h2o and stretch the flick to properly fit curved windows. Don't become too close or keep the heat gun on one section too long. As well much heat can impairment the flick.
One time finished, dry the film with a lint-free microfiber material

Repeat these steps for each window. Once finished, don't lower the windows for at to the lowest degree vii to 10 days to allow the adhesive to fully cure.

ⓘ

Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-tint-car-windows/

Posted by: hairstonvervang.blogspot.com