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How to Choose the Right Tint for Your Home
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Residential Window Tint Options
If you’re seeking a way to enhance the comfort, energy efficiency, and privacy of your home, residential window tinting could be the perfect solution for you. Window tinting has evolved beyond its traditional role in automobiles and has become a popular choice for homeowners.
So, you may wonder, “What exactly is window tint?” Well, window tint is a thin layer of laminate film with an adhesive backing that is applied to glass surfaces.
In this article, we will discuss all the details surrounding home window tint. Discover why this simple yet effective solution can bring a new level of functionality, style, and sustainability to your living space.
Benefits of Residential Window Tint
Residential window tinting offers a wide range of benefits that can greatly boost the overall comfort, efficiency, and quality of your home. Here are some key advantages of installing residential window tint:
Increased Privacy
If you’re having trouble finding solace and comfort within the walls of your own home due to the lingering thought of onlookers and prying eyes, look no further. Window tint will restore your peace of mind – allowing you to truly unwind and feel at ease.
Whether you want blackout film or a lightly shaded film, window tint limits the view into your home from the outside. Enjoy the natural sunlight and your privacy.
Reduced Energy Costs
Window tint helps regulate the temperature inside your home by reducing heat gain from the sun. This maintains a more consistent and comfortable indoor temperature by reducing hotspots and temperature fluctuations near windows.
By blocking a significant portion of solar heat, window tint also minimizes the strain on your cooling system during hot summer months. This leads to lower energy consumption and reduced utility bills, ultimately saving you money in the long run.
Improved Comfort
Excessive sunlight and glare can make it difficult to enjoy natural light and can interfere with activities such as watching your favorite television show or working on the computer. Window tint reduces glare by minimizing the amount of direct sunlight that enters your home – creating a more comfortable environment with better visibility.
Health Protection
Prolonged exposure to sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays poses significant health risks to both your skin and eyes (like premature aging, skin cancer, and eye strain). By reducing UV penetration, window tint acts as a shield from these harmful rays – which helps protect your family’s overall health and well-being.
Interior Preservation
The damaging effects of UV rays extend beyond your skin and eyes, reaching into your home. These rays can cause fading and deterioration over time to your furniture, flooring, artwork, and other cherished interior elements. Window tint acts as a barrier against UV radiation, which preserves the color and integrity of your belongings.
Aesthetic Appearance
With a variety of tint shades and finishes available, you can choose a window film that complements your home’s personal style, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your living space.
Additionally, window tint is a coveted feature – so if you ever decide to sell your home, window tint will raise your property value and give you a competitive edge in the real estate market.
Types of Residential Window Tint
There are multiple different types of residential window tint, each which has slightly different purposes – but all with the same goal to decrease sunlight transmittance and increase privacy. With many options, you are bound to find one that best fits your needs. Listed below are the three types of residential window tint we offer at Tint Pros.
Black Out Film: If you’re looking for maximum privacy, look no further. Black out window film will turn glass that is completely transparent into glass that is completely opaque. This type of tint will ensure no one can see through your windows. It’s important to note that not much light, if any, will be seeping through black out film.
Smoke Window Films: Smoke window film is a standard shaded tint and is commonly used on vehicles, homes, and buildings. This type of tint will provide privacy, while also allowing a good amount of sunlight to shine through.
Metallized Window Films: Metallized window film is a high performance type of tint that is manufactured with aluminum, allowing for an extended life. This type of tint reflects light (instead of absorbing it), which in turn offers high heat reduction.
Residential Window Tint and Home Security
Residential window tinting offers more than just aesthetic enhancements – it also plays a crucial role in bolstering home security. Window tint creates a safer living environment for you and your family, providing peace of mind and valuable protection for your home.
Breaks-ins and Burglaries
Tinted windows act as a deterrent to burglars and intruders. The film’s darker appearance impedes outside visibility, making it challenging for potential criminals to survey your home’s layout, security systems, or valuable possessions. By hindering their ability to gather information, you reduce the risk of being targeted.
Additionally, in the event of attempted forced entry, the film’s adhesive material holds the broken glass fragments together – making it harder for intruders to break through and get inside.
Accidents and Natural Disasters
Accidents and natural disasters can strike unexpectedly, leaving our homes vulnerable to damage and danger. However, residential window tint provides an additional layer of protection that can help mitigate the impact of such events.
In the event of accidental impact or severe weather conditions, the film enhances the strength and resilience of the glass. If the glass does shatter, the adhesive prevents the potential of flying shards – which reduces the risk of injury to occupants.
It’s important to note that window tint does not prevent glass from breaking, but rather aims to help mitigate the impact of broken glass.
Maintenance and Care for Residential Window Tint
Caring for your tint is essential to extend the lifespan of your tint and keep it looking its best, as well as ensuring optimal performance of the provided benefits. Here are some tips to help you properly maintain your residential window tint:
Avoid using abrasive materials: Use soft, non-abrasive cloths or sponges to prevent scratching the film. Abrasive cleaning tools or harsh chemicals can damage or degrade the tint.
Use gentle cleaning solutions: Strong chemicals or ammonia-based products can cause discoloration or damage to the tint. Opt for mild, non-ammonia-based cleaning solutions or specialized window tint cleaners.
Clean with gentle motions: Use gentle motions and avoid applying excessive pressure. Start from the top and work your way down to ensure thorough cleaning without causing any damage.
Steer clear of sharp objects: Be cautious when placing or removing objects near tinted windows. Avoid using sharp objects or tools that can scratch or puncture the tint.
Protect against direct sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can accelerate the aging process of window tint. Consider using blinds, curtains, or window coverings to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the tinted windows and minimize potential fading or damage.
Legal Restrictions on Residential Window Tint
It’s no secret that the use of darker tints in vehicles is prohibited in order to maintain visibility and reduce the risk of accidents – but the question that stands is are there any legal restrictions on residential window tint? In short, no!
Residential window tint differs from vehicle tint in terms of legal regulations. While vehicle tinting is strictly controlled for road safety reasons, residential window tinting is not subject to such laws because nobody’s safety is at risk.
Unlike the strict regulations surrounding vehicle tinting (which vary from state to state), homeowners have the freedom to choose from a wide range of window tinting options without any legal concerns.
With that being said, local building codes or homeowners’ association guidelines may provide information on any limitations or requirements regarding window tinting for residential properties.
Conclusion - How to Choose the Right Tint for Your Home
If you’re in Minnesota, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have about residential window tint.
With over 20 years of experience, our team at Tint Pros Platinum Auto Wraps will guide you through the process and ensure all your goals are met. If you are interested in receiving a quote, contact us here.
If you’re in Minnesota, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have about residential window tint. With over 20 years of experience, our team at Tint Pros Platinum Auto Wraps will guide you through the process and ensure all your goals are met. If you are interested in receiving a quote, contact us at 763-312-6137.
Residential Window Tint FAQ
There’s no definite answer and it varies on a case-by-case basis. The best way to receive an accurate estimate is to contact a professional for a quote. With that being said, residential window tint can generally be estimated by square footage. Typically, it costs about $8-12 per square foot.
Window tinting is a semi-permanent solution that can be removed if desired. The longevity of window tint depends on various factors such as the type of film, quality of installation, and maintenance upkeep. At Tint Pros, we offer a lifetime warranty on residential property window tints.
Window tint is fairly low maintenance, but regular cleaning helps maintain the appearance and performance of the tint. Clean the tinted windows using non-abrasive, ammonia-free cleaners and soft materials to avoid damaging the film.
While there are DIY window tinting kits available, professional installation is recommended for optimal results. Professional installers have the experience, tools, and expertise to properly apply the film, ensuring a smooth and seamless finish without bubbles or creases.
