The Window Tinting Process

Have you ever wondered how automotive window tinting is accomplished? You may be surprised at just how complex and intricate the window tinting process is. At Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting, you can trust that your vehicle is in knowledgeable and experienced hands and that you are investing in the highest quality car window tinting available.

Why the Tinting Process Matters

Applied correctly, different window tints can offer numerous benefits for your vehicle, including UV protection, heat-reduction, reduced glare, enhanced comfort, and preservation of your vehicle’s resale value. However, when the auto window tinting process is not done right, you may end up spending much more to have a professional remove the flawed window tint and reapply new tint correctly.

The Window Tinting Process, Step-by-Step

Applying window tinting material is a delicate, precise, detail-oriented process, and one that should be undertaken by professionals. Window film application needs a clean, controlled environment to limit contamination risk. For this reason, we do not recommend or endorse mobile window tinting services done in outdoor settings or any location where dust contamination mitigation is not present.

Here’s a general overview of the process of applying solar-control window film to a vehicle:

The first step is thoroughly cleaning the interior surface of all the windows to remove all dirt, debris, decals, and adhesive residue.
Next, it will be necessary to take measures to mitigate contamination from the vehicle itself by covering window flocking, headliners and rear decking materials with masking tape, flushing out window tracks, and covering and flexing back the interior beltline window sweeps, interior moldings and any stationary window gaskets. At this stage, it is also customary to remove any third brake lights, rear-view mirrors, seat headrests and other similar obstacles to the interior surface of the glass.
The selected material is then cut with a state-of-the-art plotting machine and software to ensure a perfect fit for the exact year, make, model and trim package of the vehicle. In a professional shop like ours, the cutting of material is not done on the vehicle itself. We have a robot for that!
Next, it is necessary to heat shrink the material to mold it so that it can conform to the curvature of automotive glass. This may sound simple, but this is one of the most challenging and experience-intensive parts of the film application process. Improper heat shrinking is the #1 reason why do-it-yourselfers fail.
Automotive window films are essentially just stickers, so the next step is to remove the backing sheet to expose the adhesive and apply the film to the interior surface of the window using a liquid mounting solution to prevent adhesion until a precise fit is achieved. Then the mounting solution is removed with special tools.
After clean-up and re-installation of any removed obstacles, a careful final inspection is conducted to ensure a flawless finish.

How Long Does It Take to Tint Windows?

The answer to this question depends on the size and scope of the project. Obviously, applying film to all the windows on a stretch limousine is going to take longer than doing just the two front doors on a Porsche Cayenne. Most projects can be completed in just a few hours, so you will get your vehicle back the same day. Your car will be fully drivable immediately after your tint is installed, but it is best to refrain from operating the windows for 48 hours after the material is applied, as the adhesive is still sensitive to friction stress.

Professional vs. DIY: Which Should You Choose?

You might think that applying window tinting material is straightforward enough for you to complete the process at home. However, much more technical experience is required than you might assume at first glance. Car window tinting is a highly intricate process, so it requires the expertise and steady hands of a professional, as well as specialized tools to ensure it’s done correctly. Besides a proper application, a professional window tinting shop can also provide expertise in selecting the right tinting products for your vehicle and seeing that your window tinting is compliant with state laws. And of course, if you apply the film yourself, you will not have benefit of the lifetime warranty that accompanies all our professional applications at Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting.

Some things are better left to the experts, and automotive window tinting is definitely one of those things.

Choose the Seasoned Pros at Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting

If you want to enhance the appearance of your vehicle and improve your comfort and safety with high-quality window tinting, contact Elite Solar-Control Window Tinting for an appointment. We take appointments Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM– 5:00 PM. Get in touch with us today.