I wanted 12.5% so I added a tint film of 50% hoping for a final ting of 12.5%, My math was .25 x .50 = .125 or 12.5 percent (or so I thought). Just about every car makes (sans german blueish tint) uses somewhere around 18-22%. Most states prohibit the use of tint on the front windshield unless you install a brow and the tint does not fall below the marker line on the windshield. Aside from the aesthetics, there are many advantages of darker window tint on. 50% film is 50% darker than clear glass. If you get your first illegal window tint ticket, you could be fined up to $100. Putting tint over aftermarket tint will not be durable. Still shopping around, but have used these guys before and they do a good job. When the windows are constructed, the dark colors are mixed into the raw material of the windows and then embedded in between the glass. Decently close match. While aftermarket tint is easier to tint than factory tint, it cannot be easily tinted over. You can see right through it. If you want to add window film to your cooling system, it is best to apply it thickly rather than thinly. Having an aftermarket window film installed on your windows over factory tint can greatly reduce your chances of skin issues and help reject up to 99% of harmful UV rays. Both measure the percentage of VLT the same way, but horseshoe tint meters easily slide over the top of an open window, whereas tint meters with magnetic probes can be used on windows that cannot be opened, like . Permatex 80078 Anti-Seize Lubricant with Brush Top Bottle, 8 oz. While this tint does screen some visible light, it does not offer the same amount of UV protection as an aftermarket tint film. Metallic particles, dyes, polymers, and carbon, as well as ceramics and ceramic particles, may also be present. There are currently several dark tints on the market, all of which are available in ceramic. The glue should come off after it has been softened with a heat gun, but if it does not, you can try again with a different tack. Conventional paint protection films can show scars and yellowing after a single year of useespecially in the real world, where most of us drive every day. But look at it this way. I guess it's not that easy to see inside now except in the brightest sun light because the fronts are 20% so the 30% over factory in the back should do. No experience with XPEL and how it compares to Llumar/Formula One stuff. Keep in mind when adding tint over existing factory tint, you are essentially combining the level of darkness. Hand wax and minor factory defect removal. Our films were designed with first-class heat rejection technology to keep you comfortable and protected. Factory window tint refers to the vehicles that are delivered with tint already applied to the windows at the time of their manufacturing.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'windowtintlaws_us-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',604,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-windowtintlaws_us-medrectangle-4-0'); Factory tint is a tint that is implanted into the windows glass. The tint from the factory is more of a cosmetic enhancement than a heat-trapping barrier, and it does not protect the occupants from harmful UV rays. In the event of a motor vehicle incident or a crack from a stray pebble or rock, the adhesive on aftermarket window films acts as a protective layer that holds glass together in one piece instead of shattering all over the inside of the car. I love it. Vehicle: 04 WRX. Its relatively easy to tint over factory tint, as long as youre working with a professional. That falls on the tinted glass, and it is not a permanent one. Figure 2. Typically, factory tint is put on passenger and rear windows but not on the windshield or front vehicle windows. I put 30% on top of factory tint for the dealership every day. So a 5% VLT film is very dark as it only lets though 5% of visible light and a 70% film is very light as it lets through 70%. If you are referring to the front doors, 20% film over factory tint, which is usually around 70-80%, will match the back pretty closely. If there are no legal issues in your state, then seek some professional help, and then you can tint over the tinted glass. 1999 to 2016 Super Duty - Possible to remove factory tint? 99% of the time this is only done to the two rear windows. Window film offers 99% UV protection against both UVA and UVB rays. E.g applying a 5% film to glass with an 80% tint to it, you would multiply 5% x 80% = (0.050.80)x100 = 4%. It is absolutely correct. From the industry leaders in self-healing paint protection film comes FUSION PLUS, a ceramic coating you can count on. So when you see a window tint being referred to as a percentage, this is the VLT, e.g. Hard to say for sure, without knowing the vehicle. In some instances, the best tint percentage may not be the factory tint. In some states, tinted windows or glass has strict restrictions. Small bubbles are not harmful to the environment, but they will vanish if they exist. It is ultimately your final say as to what the best course of action is for your circumstances. Window Tinting Service In Houston, TX | Executive Motorsports Recent Blog Posts. Purposely developed to perform with PPF (paint protection film) & painted surfaces, XPEL FUSION PLUS Ceramic Coating offers unrivaled gloss, superior hydrophobic protection, and improved scratch resistance with a single application. I'm not trying to exonerate the shop, only rule out the possible causes. I am unsure if Xpel equates to the manufacturing history of this next candidate. If your car's windows are clear, it's easy to determine. The more you tint, the darker it gets. We've had over 17,000 positive reviews from our customers around the world on eBay and our website since launching in 2008. Save time & enjoy more of what your car has to offer. April 2, 2022 Alexis This is the first warning that you need to take care of the illegal tint. e.g. Using 20% to match is a rule of thumb is good. I had planned on tinting all around with nano ceramic film to cut heat gain as much as legal in WA where it will be registered. There are two types: horseshoe tint meters and tint meters with magnetic probes. - Rear windows @ 35% over the factory tint - Windshield @ 70% - Sunroof @ 70% over factory tint . 88% heat rejection IS a misleading statement. Quality film will sometimes look different from the factory glass from inside, but it will almost always match perfectly from outside. Since WA rules are 24% minimum all around, clear windshield, no legal tinting was possible. Also, in the U.S. the rear doors and tailgate glass are tinted from the factory and are actually dyed when the glass is produced so no film is used. This is true, no matter how light or dark the tint is on the back windows. Because the dyes and pigments are combined inside of the glass, it is impossible to remove factory tint from a car window. Two of those stores flipped to XPEL in the last few years since i've used them (both carried Wincos previously). (Explained), Can You Run Plumbing Through Floor Joist? Lat's take an example: The film VLT is 6%. The color of the glass comes from the glass itself. Morning ever E body. 30% film would be 20% darker than the 50%. Traditional window films try to do two jobsblock heat and look cooland usually dont do either of them well. It can also be used to reduce the glasss brightness, depending on how far it is exposed. You can look, it says it on the window. Contaminants like bug splatter, bird droppings, sap and road tar wipe off XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS super-slick surface with a cloth, while scuffs and light scratches in the surface of the film disappear within minutes in the heat of the sun or the warmth of your garageleaving your car pristine and the protective film like new. No big deal to change it later if I want to. The AS-1 line is visible on most modern windshields from the darkness on the top. In the case of factory tint, you can only go lighter. Just got my front windshield done today and front two windows to match. It protects you from extra light, Ultra-violet rays, and extra heat. Specialties: Watson's Window Tinting has been preforming all phases of professional glass filming on the Central Coast and beyond for over 22 years. If youre purchasing a car secondhand, it may not be obvious whether or not your vehicle has factory tint or aftermarket tint. I usually see those marks after a car is a few years old from the windows rolling up and down. If you use another layer of non removable tint on the factory tint, you permanently cover your glass, adding extra darkness. What is legal Depends on your state. Adding a darker tint to already tinted windows is possible, but may not be ideal. Manufacturers warrantys are voided when a film is applied on to another film so keep that in mind when deciding whether to layer tint over tint or to remove the existing tint before having the new window film installed. That is when the manufacturer tints the actual glass. 796. Most states require the vehicle owner to maintain at least a Visual Light Transmission of Glazing (VLT) of 30 to 35% for all the windows. It will work fine, when you tint over the top of tint (both being aftermarket) then it doesn't always turn out that good. Before installing a window tint, you must first determine the possible VLT percentage that will result from tinting over your existing car glass. We specialize in meeting and exceeding your expectations for all your window filming needs. Sun Stoppers has partnered with XPEL, who offers a line of high quality window tinting and paint protection films that preserve your investment with best in class durability, performance, appearance, and overall quality. I have had a small handful ask for 5% over their factory tinted windows. This type of film is popular because it is less expensive than factory tinted films, reduces the chances of skin problems, and can withstand up to 99% of UV rays. You cannot see into the back windows of my truck, but at night, it's very difficult to see out of them as well. Is it possible to tint over tint? You can get a different type of tint cover. Because factory tint is present in the window, changing it to lighter tint would result in an overall lighter appearance. There are many benefits to darker window tint on cars, in addition to the look and the appearance. 99% of the time this is only done to the two rear windows. What you have is about 20% glass, it has no applied tint. In other terms, if you want to reduce heat in your car, reduce cancer-causing UV radiation, and protect yourself from shattered glass in an incident, you should add aftermarket window films. If you use another layer of non removable tint on the factory tint, you permanently cover your glass, adding extra darkness. For example, you need the films VLT to be 8%, and the default VLT is 80 percent. It was maybe just a barely noticeable difference but I was expecting a much bigger difference. Far infrared IS defined as heat. Contact us about registering your FUSION PLUS warranty. From the outside looking in you can't tell a difference in darkness. This goes for lawyers and even judges too at times. Sometimes extra tint will provide some privacy to your vehicle or your room. The adhesive in window tint is meant to adhere to glass, not other window film so it is best to remove any existing window film before applying new tint. Because we know windows and glasses are so sensitive to work with. In the past, keeping cool meant darker shades. So, before putting an aftermarket tint, see if it is legal in your region. This tint job is actually a warranty re-tint so this wasn't evident with the old tint but is now obvious after the redo. Sometimes the curve of the glass will be pressed tighter to the frame and bottom sweep at different points. So, when you need extra darkness, you can tint over tint. 1999-2023 TintDude.com Contact tintdude@gmail.com. Clear glass is about 70% vtl and factory tint is 17 or 18. And this is the main difference between a permanent tint finish and a plastic cover over the glass. 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