Window tinting is a good way to protect your car's interior from harsh, damaging sunlight and to keep you cool during a long commute on those hot days. It can also just make your car look good! If you're thinking about getting your car's window tinted, note a few basic questions you might have about this work, and this can ensure you choose the right tint and know how to care for the tint once it's applied.

What is window tinting?

Car window tinting doesn't involve dyeing the glass of the car; tinting the windows is done by adding a thin layer of darkened film to the glass. This film has a very strong adhesion so that it sticks to the windows very closely and is so thin that you typically cannot tell that the tint is actually a type of film.

Is all window tinting the same?

There is a variety of films that are used for window tinting, with different colours, thicknesses and materials used for manufacturing. If you want to add some style to your car and nothing more, you might use a very inexpensive, thin film. For insulation against outside heat and cold, you'll need a thick film with insulating properties.

Other film will have certain materials included in its manufacture that are meant to reflect the sun's UV rays off the film so that the car's dashboard and upholstery are protected from damage. It's important that you know these differences so that you don't buy something very cheap and thin and then wonder why your car's interior is still hot and stuffy during summertime and so that you don't invest in something too expensive when you're just looking to add a bit of style to your vehicle.

Can tint be applied over old film?

If your car already has window film applied, you typically need to have this removed before you can have new tint applied to the windows. Older film may be streaky or otherwise degraded, and it then makes a poor base for the adhesion of new film. If old film is breaking down and degrading, this can also affect the new film and cause it to break down as well. The colour of your new tint may also not be as true or clear as you expect if it's applied over old tint. For all these reasons, your window film installer will usually insist that the old tint be removed before new tint is applied.