Have you considered window tint for your car’s windows? Window tint helps block UV rays and glare, protecting visibility for the driver, as well as the safety of the car’s occupants and the interior of the car. The right window tint can strengthen the windows, reduce the risk of theft, and make the car look more attractive.
With these benefits, car window tint makes a lot of sense, but it does represent an investment. You can expect to pay around $200 to $400 for professional window tinting. Because car window tinting needs time to cure to ensure full adhesion to the windows, weather can be a big factor in the quality of window tint application. Choosing the right time of year can help improve the application process for your window tint, ensuring that your investment is not wasted. Properly installed and cured window tint will last 10 years or more. Some film manufacturers, including Rayno Window Film, offer a limited lifetime warranty. Installed window tint can last for 10+ years if treated properly.
Understanding the Window Tinting Process
The length of time it takes to tint your window depends on the type of vehicle. Tinting all the windows of your car can take anywhere from two to four hours. Full-sized sedans take about one to two hours to install. If you only want to tint your two front doors, thirty to forty minutes is usually the time it takes to tint those windows.
Here’s what goes into the process. Window tinting starts with cleaning the windows inside and out. Then, the film is cut to the exact size of the car’s window. The installer will place the film on the window and use a squeegee or similar tool to remove all wrinkles and bubbles, checking for a perfect fit. This process takes less than a day, but the window tint needs time to cure. Curing can take approximately three days in ideal weather conditions, so you will need to avoid rolling the windows up or down during this time. However, temperatures and humidity can affect this curing time, which is why you need to carefully consider what time of year your windows are tinted.
Spring and Fall Are Ideal Times
Spring or fall are the best times to tint windows. The mild temperatures and typically low humidity levels during those seasons help ensure that the tint can properly adhere to the windows. In spring, humidity and rain can be a problem, especially in southern parts of the country, and hot temperatures can occur in the fall if the summer season is extended. In general though, these are the best times of year to choose for window tinting.
Summer and Winter Need Special Considerations
In summer, hot air can make the tint cure faster, which is good. However, high humidity levels make tinting difficult to install. In winter, you may not be able to have your window tinting installed because the cold weather increases the curing time significantly. In northern parts of the country, shops that do not have an interior facility may not be able to install window tint. Also, if you have your window tint installed during winter, you may need to wait to use the windows a bit longer than recommended to ensure full curing. Cold weather window film still needs adequate time to cure to guarantee it adheres well.
Does this mean you can’t have your window tinting installed in the summer or winter seasons? No. If your installer has a climate-controlled environment, and you are willing to give the windows more time to cure, you can have your windows tinted year-round.
Window Tint Drying Times
There are certain things to keep in mind right after you tint your windows. Freshly tinted windows go through a curing process. Curing is the time the tint will take to dry. After you have your windows tinted, it’s essential to wait a minimum of three to four days before you roll down your windows. Window tinting involves the application of a sheer film to the windows, and the specialized adhesive will take a few days to dry.
Because temperature and humidity are critical factors in drying time, how long after tint to roll down windows depends mainly on the weather. On sunny, warm days in the spring and summer, three or four days is often enough time for window tint to dry. Even on warm days, wet weather and high humidity will lengthen the drying time. In the fall and winter, when the weather is more cold and damp, the dry time will likely extend beyond four days.
Your installer can discuss the specifics of how long for window tint to dry. Since window tinting is a custom job, there may be some variation in the time your window tint takes to dry. When the curing process is complete, you can use your windows regularly and enjoy the sun protection and privacy that tinting affords.
If you are interested in having your windows tinted, get in touch with Rayno Window Film. Our superior products are stronger and last longer than others on the market, so you can enjoy years of quality window tinting on your vehicle. Our dealership partners use proper installation techniques to ensure that weather is not an issue when tinting car windows. Find a qualified Rayno dealer today to schedule your car window tint installation.
