DIY home window tint?

disneyjoe7

SCompRacer, Nice work just wasn't in the direction I wish to go in... Just to explain my delay in responding.

disneyjoe7

Ok I promised pictures of why window tint, also there was a comment of blinds and tint. Is these blinds an issue?




Looking across front windows from dinner room.




Looking at front door from family room.

disneyjoe7

The tint story of the estimates I got to do the front windows, two companies one being a 3M company the other being a Lumar company. 3M and Lumar are both very nice companies and there products are very nice, and if I could by 3M film I would be on it hands down. Both of these need to be installed by them and I can't buy film from them directly.

3M can back with 127 sg ft of film $1714 for the Prestige 40 and $1325 for Night Vision 35. I actually like what the Night Vision does as for as the water in the pool over the Prestige film but I understand the greater Prestige film Infrared BTU heat reduction over the Night Vision film. $13.50 or $10.43 sg ft installed.

Lumar company came back with 111.4 sg ft and a total of $724.10 $6.50 sg ft installed. It's interesting that they came back with different sg ft of windows. :rolleyes:

Shown in picture below is a sample from SolarFilmco and the samples from 3M films stated above, I have nothing from Lumar but it seemed like the Night Vision 35 on what I looked at. The samples from SolarFilmCo are a NC-20 and NC-35 I like the NC-35 and find little or no difference between 3M's Night Vision 35 and the NC-35.


In this picture looking from left to right NC-20 Prestige 40 below is NC-35 and then the Night Vision 35.


This is the view from outside of house I again see little between a 3M product at $10.43 and something I can buy for 1.53 sg ft but to be fair installed vs. non installed. Also see the higher reflectiveness of the NC-20 film which is the look I trying to avoid.

Is there any reason if I could install this myself as to not too for the price?

ben62670

I can't do sheet rock, and I suck at tint. You know I like to do things myself, but sometimes....

disneyjoe7

Well there are jobs I don't care to do or feel the trouble or time to do it doesn't pay.

But Ben, I'm not sure where your post stands. But "You know I like to do things myself, but sometimes...." is you don't feel it's something I can do nicely?

ben62670

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Well there are jobs I don't care to do or feel the trouble or time to do it doesn't pay.

But Ben, I'm not sure where your post stands. But "You know I like to do things myself, but sometimes...." is you don't feel it's something I can do nicely?

Maybe you can. I tried with the HD stuff. It worked, but it wasn't pretty YMMV.
Ben

BeRad

Took me quite a few tries before I got an even close to satisfactory result with automotive tint: After only seeing tinting being performed I attempted a tint on my own car, and got good enough results after doing each window 2 or 3 times. Res tint was a little bit easier, however I was able to be shown by a pro first hand. I have not done a job that I was not happy with since, but had I tackled it on my own right off the bat... well, lets just say trial and error would have had a lot of error, thus costing even more tint.

If you just want to get it done for cheap you can do a good enough job yourself as long as you are not going to be a harsh critic of yourself. Since you are talking about the quality of the product you would be installing I would assume you want a higher quality of workmanship as well. You could be able to pull it off or you might not even be close (everyone is different).

If you want it done right then get a pro. If you get a pro you can **** about inferior work and make them re-do any mistakes! Make sure you get in writing if they have an "acceptable dust allowance" in their policy (ie: up to 5 particles of dust per window) so that those annoying little bubbles don't stay there. I have seen "pro" jobs that looked worse than my first attempt! lol

One idea that might help in terms of cleanliness (just an idea, no clue if it would actually help or not): Cut the air flow through the house when the job is being done to let any airborne dust particles settle. Again, just an idea I just thought of, no clue if it would help.

disneyjoe7

BeRad,

I agree I what the job to look like or close enough to state pro, but for me all my front windows are French style so all little windows. I feel I good for a few redo's for sure, but by the end of the front windows would I ever tackle the sliders or larger windows in the house.

Another job I can do fairly well (I always feel it could be better thing) but I do get a lot of comments of it, is wallpapering. It could be way off but window tint doesn't seem in left field of this.

BeRad

Get a small piece of tint and find a window that you can practice on like a garage window. Give it a try and let it dry for a few days. After the fact you can decide if the 'big job' is something that you see as being doable.

disneyjoe7

You don't have a lot of faith in me, but if it's any help my wife feels I can do it and have it look good. But if nothing else will find someone who can install it if needed.

ben62670

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

You don't have a lot of faith in me, but if it's any help my wife feels I can do it and have it look good. But if nothing else will find someone who can install it if needed.

Dude I have seen your work. One of my favorite posts on PF was rebuilding your jeep motor with the kids(think I forget everything?). Try a few windows, and continue if it comes out good. I know you have skills.... but in what field.
Rock on Steve. I hope things go well. I am passing judgment on my abilities with tint, and not yours;)
Ben

BeRad

You more than likely can do it. The only question is how satisfied you will be with your work. I know for me, I like to do everything myself, and expect more out of myself than anyone else. I am my biggest critic and at the start it definitely took me a few tries to be happy.

If you are confident you can do it, by all means go for it. I just recommend a practice window to make sure you are happy with your work and comfortable doing that process numerous times over.

Good luck. I hope it turns out remarkable with whatever avenue you decide to take.

BeRad

oh, and your blinds shouldn't be an issue. That style can breathe. When the tint is done, try closing them on a sunny day for the entire time the sun is beating on the window. Then touch the glass to see if it is much warmer than the glass near it with the blinds open. If they are the same, no prob. If not, try to leave the blinds open slightly.

disneyjoe7

More then 6 months later and......


Well I chickened out, and hired a Pro to do the front windows which face the western afternoon sun. The warranty the look, and the non frustration on my end where deciding factors. I had them done with LLumar DR25 film, which is a great film as I can still look out my windows at night, with the nice reduction in heat from windows during the day. In short feel I could kick myself for not doing this years ago, as I can't believe the difference the house feels.

treitz3

Damnit Steve, I went looking for some window tinting tips, suggestions and results and you had to go hire a freakin' pro. DOH!

Any updates that can be had to this thread before I take the plunge? Anybody else try it?

BIZILL

to get a warrantee, a PROFESSIONAL must install it. disney/steve, GLAD you chose to have a pro do yours!

disneyjoe7

If you're trying to reduce of solar heat out of your house, go pro. I liked the SolarFilmco film, but it doesn't have a really sweet solar reduce. I liked it so much for my west windows I started to do the whole house now. I got about 80% done, 1 slider door and 3 windows then I'm done.

BIZILL

didja have any windows that were bigger than the film rolls they had on-hand, necessitating them to "splice" two strips together? that's the tricky part i never got a chance to install. no matter what it leaves the tiniest visible line no matter what you do.

beautiful house, by the way.

disneyjoe7

No I have no windows bigger then there roll, which looked like 72" or 60", the biggest I have is 40" wide.

Thanks for the comment. And I say it's much cooler now.

exalted512

Bizzil's how to is pretty accurate. We use stainless steel blades, that is the only thing I'd use. Anything sharper than that WILL cut your glass.

The most important thing is prep work. We use baby shampoo, works really well. But you have to make sure your window is absolutely clean, windex aint going to cut it.

Take something like this:


and use that to SCRAPE your window, every last inch. Rinse it off repeatedly and keep the window wet. So doing this in the morning is optimum, that way you have light to see through to see any bubbles, but the glass isnt getting hot. Then during the day the sun will help adhere the tint and get rid of any lasting bubbles.
-Cody

exalted512

Heres a great how to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B22QdNHtb_8
-Cody

ND13

I did my parents house, back in the mid 90s, with 3M 5% Smoke limo tint. Came out perfect and it still looks great today. Prep is the key to the install and cleaning them correctly after the install is also the key to keeping them scratch free for years to come.

Hint: after they tint has cured, take some clear fingernail polish and go aroung the edges to keep them from starting to peel.

Good Luck

disneyjoe7

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh now comes all the hint's to doing it right for Tom. But I was incapable of tinting a window... like I have trouble walking and crewing gum.

treitz3

Folks have faith in me.......

Hehe.

disneyjoe7

Well it all comes down to this...

1.) Your Ability
2.) Your ability to get a pro film.
3.) The money saved because of the DIY vs. the warranty and a phone # to call if problems.


Good luck not rocket science but for the labor over doing myself seemed fair, I went pro.

treitz3

Slacker.

disneyjoe7

LOL:D

Good Luck!

disneyjoe7

Maybe I should know, but what can I use to clean my tinted windows?

BIZILL

anything works. so long as there is NO AMMONIA in it. i use this foamy white spray stuff they sell at costco that comes in blue cans and in a 3-pack.

edbert

BIZILL wrote: »

anything works. so long as there is NO AMMONIA in it. i use this foamy white spray stuff they sell at costco that comes in blue cans and in a 3-pack.

Cool Whip? That's weird.