I just had my windows tinted and now it's all hazy.
How do I clean my windows to ensure it lasts as long as possible?
I have dual pane windows. Can they be tinted?
What is seal failure?
Why do insulating glass unit seals break?
Does window film cause seal failure?
How Do Window Films Work?
Why Do Commercial Customers Have Film Applied in their buildings?
What is the Typical Energy Pay Back for Window Films?
How is the Window Film Applied?
How Long Does Window Film Last?
Will Window Film Stop My Furnishings From Fading?
Does the Ultraviolet Protection Lose Its Effectiveness Over Time?
How Do Solar Gard High Performance Safety and Security Window Films Work?
How will window tinting affect my defroster performance?
What should I use to clean my window tinting?
How durable is tinting?
Can you have window tinting applied in wet or cold weather?
Washington & Idaho Window Tinting Laws

General 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: You must have had a metalized film applied to your windows. Metalized film has a much slower drying time. 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 the faster the drying.

Q: Thanks for the great job you guys did on my windows. 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, such as a baby diaper or T-shirt. You can use vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water), or Windex with vinegar available at any store. 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.

Q: I have dual pane windows. Can they be tinted?

A: Dual pane windows are very common in homes these days. 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.

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Q:  What is seal failure?

A:  Seal failure occurs when the sealant between the two lites 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:  Solar Gard 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, Solar Gard 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 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 3.30 psi, over six times the film's potential pressure increase!

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Questions About Solar Gard Films

Q: How Do Window Films Work?

A: Solar Gard's Sunscreen 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 the 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. Solar Gard reflective films range from moderate to excellent in solar performance (heat gain reduction). All Solar Gard Sunscreen Films are protected with our patented hard coat finish for long term durability and maintained appearance.

Q: Why Do Commercial Customers Have Film Applied in their buildings?

A: 

• Improved Tenant Comfort

• 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 And more.

Most often, our commercial customers will purchase Window Films for tenant comfort and justify the purchase on Energy Cost Savings.

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Q: What is the Typical Energy Pay Back for 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 the 1-5 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 Sunscreen Dealer personnel. 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 (often water and ammonia) 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 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. All applications have a minimum warranty period, 10 year commercial, and even a lifetime residential warranty (lifetime for as long as original purchaser owns their home).

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Q: Will Window Film Stop My Furnishings From Fading?

A: Nothing stops fading. 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. 

Q: How Do ArmorGard Safety and Security Window Films Work?

A: ArmorGard Safety and Security Window Films are designed to make glass shatter-resistant by holding the glass pieces together when broken. Different from SolarGard, Armor-Gard Window Films are made with thicker polyester and a much thicker, more aggressive adhesive system. ArmorGard 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 ArmorGard Films outperform all other films of similar thickness.

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Q: How will window tinting affect my defroster performance?

A: Window tinting actually helps to insulate the window and help the defroster clear the glass of frost and fog quicker.

Q: What should I use to clean my window tinting?

A: Do not clean the window tinting on your auto windows for two weeks. This gives the adhesive a chance to dry. Caution should be used when choosing the proper cleaner. Most quality window tinting has a hard scratch resistant coating that can be damaged by cleaning with products containing ammonia derivatives. Clean only with an alcohol or vinegar based cleaner. There are special cleaners designed for cleaning window tint that are alcohol based with a silicone additive that help to protect the window tint surface. The silicone also helps your door windows roll up and down with less friction.

Q: How durable is tinting?

A: One question asked thousands of times about durability is, ‘Will my kids tear it up?’ We are glad to report this is not a problem. Pets are also of concern but damage is usually confined to smudgy windows that just need to be cleaned. The hard scratch-resistant coating found on quality window tint products do an excellent job protecting window tint from everyday use as well as kids and pets. A word of caution is to remember window tinting is installed on the inside of the glass and is usually coated with high quality scratch resistant layer for protection. However, the key word is **resistant**. Take care when loading or unloading objects with sharp or hard edges, boxes, sporting equipment, etc. It is possible to tear even the best window tinting material with a sharp or hard object hitting against the tint. Glass without window tinting, or with factory window tint, can be damaged in this fashion also. Remember if you accidentally damage a window, the cost of replacing the window tinting material on one window is not that expensive. 

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Q: Can you have window tinting applied in wet or cold weather?

A: Yes! With the modern adhesive systems found on today’s window tinting products, it is possible to have your car windows tinted even in freezing weather. However, the curing time may be extended in adverse conditions. Professional installers take the weather into consideration during installation, allowing more time to apply heat to the edges of the tint to activate the drying process.