Window tinting

[Clues]

I personally opt for the professional installer for two primary reasons:
1) Quality of the tint film
2) Good installers do a better and faster job than me

The quality of the film affects clarity, heat protection, glare reduction, and UV rejection. Cheaper films over time may 1) fade (to purple), 2) bubble, 3) peel (usually edges), craze/crack, and delaminate(buckling/orange peel effect).

Good quality film usually utilizes superior materials (polymers, dyes, adhesives) in their manufacturing process. High end tints today are significantly more advanced than the ones around ten years ago. They usually also offer several options (metallic v. non-metallic) and quality levels. The quality of adhesive is often an overlooked factor as inferior adhesives will often degrade faster and result in delamination, bubbling, cracking, etc.

Solargard, 3M, Johnson, Llumar/Formula One, Madico, and Huper Optiks are some of the manufacturers that have good reputations. Although each has a pretty wide range of quality between their product lines.

Qualified installers will also make a difference in the long term effectiveness of the tint. Some tint manufacturers (e.g., Huper Optiks) require their installers to go through specific training. While the training is usually pretty basic, it does ensure that common mistakes are not made. I personally like the fact that good shops will warranty their work.

I had my FJC tinted with Madico 35%. It is a bit lighter than the factory rear tints but I wanted to stay legal. The installers I used charged $75 for the two front windows and it took two guys 25 minutes, and came with a lifetime guarantee.

[MAXXFJ]

I just went to PEP Boy's & got the 5% roll for $8.00. I only got the 4 rear sides out of the roll and they came out good. I'm going to take it to the tint shop for the door windows, $80.00 not to bad, & if he wants to take the doors apart oh, well. The rear sides that I did were easy because they are dark from the factory(the imperfections are harder to see), I will,in no way,try the rear with the defroster strips, he can charge what ever he want's for that one,(I'll need to take a loan from the bank for that one). Yes, some things are better left to a pro. I've worked with this guy before & he is fast & good. Plus I kind of like the drop off- pick up when done. Now, I do like to do some mods myself, blacking out the body parts I've done on all my trucks. But, the tint is not me....

[awood]

FYI... Anyone wanting to PROPERLY tint their front windows needs to add a felt strip to the inner piece of plastic that the Window slides through. You will note that the outer piece already has felt (not that it is needed for the purpose of tint). Over time the bare plastic will scratch your tint. It is very easy to apply once the door panel is off (which would be removed anyway for a proper tint job). Most cars already have felt on both pieces of rubber/plastic but our FJs do not!

Always best to have a pro do your tint. Cheap tint job is not good and good tint job is not cheap. Pre cut kits are not dead on and still require trimming. If you have OCD like me you will want the edges even around all the windows. My FJ was $270 all windows (any color...I went "limo") including a strip across the windshield. i have been using my tint guy for 5 years. Ask around as it's worth it to get a guy who knows his S**t.