6 Myths About Window Tinting

You can lower energy costs, reduce damage from the sun, and decrease the heat in your home or car with window tinting. It can also extend your furniture’s and carpet’s life, and make your home much more comfortable. If you’re looking for a way that you can save money, window tinting is a great way to do it. But there are also some rumors and myths that people believe about it that make them reluctant to try it. Below are some of those myths and the truth behind them.

1. It will make the home’s interior too dark

This could’ve been true years ago but the most recent window films are putting their focus on things like infrared heat but they’ll still let a lot of light in the window.

Some people were concerned about this because they were afraid they’d have to use more artificial light. But this isn’t true. When you’re using window film the comfort in your house is a lot better. Your living area is going to be cooler and there is a reduction in glare. You can open up your blinds and shades and let in extra light. So you don’t have to use lamps.

2. It’s cheap and only for old homes

Even though film seems like a good addition to older homes that have single pane windows, it’s not true. The modern windows can use the window film

If you’re looking to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun, you can fit your windows with window film. Window film isn’t cheap and it’s made to last a lot of years. It will be an investment that you can appreciate and that will pay for itself over time.

3. It will kill all of my plants

For the most part, your houseplants are receiving ample sunlight. Look at your plants. If they’re doing well now, chances are that they won’t have any problems if you install the window film. Plants may need a bit of time to get adjusted when you have installed film, so you may not see any flowering or new growths right away.

If you’re concerned about your plants, before you install the tint there are a couple things you can do. Try moving the plants to someplace darker and watch how the plants react. You also can contact the nursery and find out how much sunlight the plants you have need.

Some plants even do better when the windows are tinted. There are some plants that will wilt when the day ends because of the amount of intense sunlight they’re getting. When you install the tint might be what the plant needs for thriving.

4. Windows can’t be cleaned after being tinted

You can clean a tinted window just like any other type of window. But you want to wait 30 days so that the film has time to cure. The company who installed the tint should have made sure your windows are spotless after installation.

After the 30 days, clean the windows the way you would any other window. This procedure can also be done:

• Take a cloth that’s soft and clean, a paper towel that’s soft, or a synthetic sponge that’s clean to clean your windows. It’s okay to do normal scrubbing with these types of materials but don’t do aggressive scrubbing using anything that’s abrasive.
• Use your normal solution for gas cleaning that doesn’t have any abrasive material in it. This can be any glass cleaner you like.
• Use a soft squeegee or cloth and dry your window.

5. Your glass will break or crack because of window film

There’s a few reasons why glass is going to crack without or with window film:

• Flexing Stress – Like wind
• Impact Stress – Items like birds, golf balls, or rocks hitting the window
• Thermal Stress – Window absorbing sun’s heat
• Tensile Stress – From the glass’s weight
• Twisting Stress – The window’s frame sags or the building’s structure shifts

The thermal stress is the only reason that involves the tint. Using certain types of film will often increase how much heat the glass absorbs and can lead to thermal stress.

But there are a lot of other factors, like windows that are partially shaded, drapes that are very close to the window, decals, and signs on the window, an HVAC vent being pointed in the direction of the window. There are also different kinds of glass like clear, annealed, tempered, and tinted and they all have various rates at how fast they’ll absorb heat.

Manufacturers of window film run the necessary tests and provide tables and charts to the companies who offer professional installation so they’re aware of the films that should be used on certain types of glass.

Below is a list of the types of conditions or glass where window film for solar control shouldn’t be used.

• Tinted glass that’s over 1/4” thick
• Window frames that are made of solid aluminum, solid steel or concrete
• Glass that has hardened sealant
• Glass that’s visibly damaged or chipped
• Highly patterned, textured or reflective glass
• Glass with triple panes
• Laminated glass

6. Window film will make windows look iridescent or really shiny

The older and more conventional kinds of film can give off an appearance that is iridescent when they’re installed close to certain kinds of lighting that’s energy efficient, like compact fluorescents. But the newer tints don’t have this type of shine.

Those are the myths that a lot of people believe when it comes to window tinting and the truths behind them. Are you ready to tint your windows? Here are some questions to ask yourself to know.

• Am I experiencing a lot of intense sunlight during the day?
• Do I have to keep my shades or blinds closed a lot during the day?
• Am I running the AC a lot when it’s summer?
• Am I worried about my furniture fading?
• Is the sun shining on anything a lot during the day?
• Do I feel unsafe around particular windows?

If you answered yes to at least one or more of these questions, it may be time to tint your windows.