Welcome to our frequently asked questions page. We want you
to be an informed customer before you purchase, these are just some of
the more frequently asked questions. If you cannot find an
answer to your question, please send an
e-mail or call us.
Automotive Questions
Q: I just had my windows tinted and now it's all hazy. It's been
several days and it hasn't gone away.
A: When we install the film,
we use rubber squeegees, which can only get so much of the water out. Under normal drying
conditions such as hot summer days it will take 1-2 weeks, but in the
winter time the drying time usually takes 30 days. Also, drying time
depends on how much sun exposure the windows receive during the day,
the more sun and the hotter it is, the faster the drying.
Q: Do you guys remove
door panels?
A: As a rule, we remove
door panels, this is the best way to get the film to within 1/16" of
the top edge and below the bottom seal. On some cars, this is
not necessary as there no weather-trim seals to interfere with the
installation process.
Q: My car has the dot
matrix on the rear window, how do you guys deal with that?
A: On some 2 door cars such as
Accords, Mustangs, Integra's, and RSX's, there is a 5-6 inch rows of
dots called dot matrix. These dots are painted on ceramic enamel that
are raised off of the glass, so when we tint over those dots, there
are air pockets created, which gives an unattractive appearance. What
we do is apply black vinyl to the dot matrix area and since vinyl is
thinner than tint, it goes over a lot better.
Q: How do I clean my windows to ensure it lasts as long as
possible?
A: We recommend a non-ammonia cleaner and a soft cloth. You can use vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 10
parts water), or Windex with vinegar or Windex Multi-Surface cleaner available at
most stores. But be sure
to read the label that it does not contain ammonia. If you use a
professional window cleaner, let them know which windows are tinted.
Residential Questions
Q: I have dual pane windows. Can they be tinted?
A: Dual pane windows are very common in homes these days.
In fact, they have been around for about 12 years. Dual pane or
thermal pane have two pieces about 1/2" apart with gas sealed
in-between. The answer is yes! Your windows can be tinted but certain
guidelines need to be followed, because dual panes are more vulnerable
to stress than single pane windows.
Q: What is seal failure?
A: Seal failure occurs when the sealant between the two lites
or panes of glass
breaks, subjecting the airspace to the surrounding environment. Since
the sealant acts as the moisture barrier, if the seal breaks,
condensation can develop in the airspace of the insulating glass
window.
Q: Why do insulating glass unit seals break?
A: The environment inside an insulating glass unit can be affected by
its external environment such as temperature and air pressure. Changes
in temperature and air pressure put additional stress on the
insulating glass unit's seals. The use of resilient sealants in the
construction of the insulating glass unit can also cause the seals to
fail.
Most manufacturers, however, design and test their products to
withstand significant changes in air pressure and temperature, thereby
reducing the chance of failures. Nevertheless, seal failure does will
continue to occur simply because of the way in which insulated units
are manufactured, shipped and installed. In fact, the insulating glass
manufacturers association (SIGMA) has found normal seal failure to be
at a rate of 1.5% of the installed units.
Q: Does window film cause seal failure?
A: 3M Scotchtint window films have been applied to millions of square
feet of insulating glass units throughout the world for over 25 years.
Our product has never been shown to be the cause of seal failure.
During this time, 3M has continuously analyzed how window films affect
temperature and pressure within the airspace of an insulating glass
unit. Results indicate that on a clear insulating unit, even our most
popular residential film (RE35NEARL) only increases the summertime
airspace temperature by no more than 22 degrees, a pressure increase
of only .55psi (pounds per square inch). Put into perspective, most
manufacturers of insulating glass units design their products to
withstand a pressure change of 3.30psi, over six times the film's
potential pressure increase!
Commercial Building Or
Retail Store Front Questions
Q: How Do
Window Films Work?
A:
Sun Control Films are designed to
reduce the amount of solar heat transmission through window glass by
increasing the solar reflection (not necessarily visible reflection)
and solar absorption of glass.
Typical colored or dyed films work primarily through increased
absorption. The color absorbs the solar energy at the glass, thus
reducing the direct transmission into the room. These films only offer
marginal performance when compared to reflective films.
Reflective films are films that have been precision coated with
metals. These metallic films are designed to increase the solar energy
reflection of the glass and some of the absorption. Non-Reflective films range
from moderate to excellent in solar performance (heat gain reduction).
Our Sun Control Films are
protected with our patented Abrasion Resistant coating for long term
durability and maintained appearance.
Q: How Do
Your High Performance Safety and
Security Window Films Work?
A:
Our
Ultra Safety and Security Window Films are designed to make glass
shatter-resistant by holding the glass pieces together when broken.
Our
Ultra Window Films are made with thicker polyester and a much thicker,
more aggressive adhesive system. The Ultra Films are unique in the
industry; they are built using a special micro-layered polyester
technology which increases the films tear resistance significantly.
Pound for pound, the impact and tear-resistance of
Ultra Films outperform all other films of similar thickness.
Q: Why Should I Have
Your
Film Applied in My
Commercial Building?
- Lower Heating and Cooling Operating
Costs
- Lower Utility Demand Costs
- Utility Rebates
- Improved Aesthetics, Uniform
Appearance
- Improved Safety and Security
- Extended A/C Equipment Life
- Valued Alternative to adding more
A/C Equipment
Most often, our commercial customers
will purchase Window Films for
tenant comfort and justify the purchase on Energy Cost Savings.
Q: What is the Typical Energy Return on
Investment for
Your
Window Films?
A: Simple pay backs will vary depending
upon the amount of sunlit glass exposure, the type of film, the type
of glass, cost of fuel, cost of application, and other variables.
However, we have seen pay backs often range in 2-5 year period, with
some reported to be even less than 6 months.
Q: How is the
Window Film Applied?
A:
Films are professionally
applied by skilled, well-trained Authorized 3M Dealers. Almost all of
our films are designed to be applied to the inside of your glass.
The first step is to prepare the window area for the application;
placing drop cloths on the floor, protecting and/or moving furniture
where necessary.
Next, the window glass is cleaned using simple cleaning solutions and
razor blade scrapers. Then, the film is sprayed with a slip solution
(detergent and water) for proper positioning, and applied to the
window glass. Using a professional grade squeegee and following proper
techniques, the application is completed by removing excess water,
trimming the edges, and a final squeegee technique to dry the edges.
Q: How Do I Clean My
Window Film?
A: After thirty days, you may clean
the film using normal
household cleaning solutions, excluding ammonia based products, e.g.
Windex, and a soft, lint-free cloth or towel. You may also use a
squeegee to clean the film. Abrasive products, which could scratch or
damage the film, should not be used.
Q: How Long Does
Window Film Last?
A:
Window Films are made
durable to last for many years; just how long may depend upon the type
of film applied, type of glass it is applied to, and the particular
climate in which it is applied. Most applications last upwards of 10
years and beyond, and several applications are still performing after
15 years. All applications have a minimum warranty period of five
years (except exterior applications which are 2 years), and several
films carry a 10 year commercial warranty, and even a lifetime
residential warranty (lifetime for as long as original purchaser owns
their home).
Q: Will
Your
Window Film Stop My Furnishings From Fading?
A: Nothing completely stops fading.
Our Films are designed to
reduce the major causes of fading (ultraviolet light, visible light,
and solar heat), thus prolonging the life of your furnishings, perhaps
as much as two to five times.
Keep in mind the articles to be protected; if they have a typical life
of 5 years then they may last 10 years to much longer depending on the
performance of the film selected. However, if the typical life is only
2-3 weeks, then the expectation should be expressed in terms of
months.
As a general rule of thumb, ultraviolet (UV) is approximately 40% of
the cause, visible light is about 25%, and heat about 25%. The
remaining 10% can be attributed to humidity, pollutants, interior
lights, dye anchorage, and more.
Q: Does the Ultraviolet Protection Lose
Its Effectiveness Over Time?
A: No, the ultraviolet (UV) protection
that we use in our proprietary adhesive system is indefinite. It does
not lose its effectiveness over time. In fact, an actual glass sample
from The Dumbarton House in Washington, DC was tested. This was a
ten-year old application and the ultraviolet transmission still
measured <1%!
