So you're ready to tint your vehicle right? NOT SO FAST!!! Choosing the right shop to tint your windows isn't as simple as just checking a few places for prices online and making an appointment right away. It can be confusing and difficult to read through the information and advertisements so the course of action is to conduct some simple research and investigation before you make a decision, and word-of-mouth advice can be invaluable in this situation.
The outcome of your future window tint installation is going to end up either terrific or terrible. With window tinting there really is no middle ground here: you're either going to be thrilled with the appearance of your install or you're going to look at your vehicle and see a second rate job that ruins your perception of how your vehicle looks. A poorly installed tint job can also affect the perceived value a potential buyer might see if you intend to sell your vehicle. Use the tips below to help you find a quality window tinting installer in your area.
Step 1: Word-of-mouth reviews
. Ask your friends, family and colleagues if they have purchased window tint and ask to inspect their vehicle. Carefully look over the work for signs of a poor installation such as bubbling, peeling, colour change and debris under the film. Look for signs of careless work by paying attention to the fine details such as damage to the weather stripping on the inside of and around the windows. If the weather stripping is damaged or sliced up, it means that the tint installer was not being careful as they cut the tint to fit the window. Also, pay attention to the paint job on the car, near the windows. Scratches or cuts in the paint signify poor workmanship. If the work looks good, ask where it was installed.
Step 2: Carefully inspect the tint job closely from multiple angles
. If the installation looks uniform, that's a good sign. Make sure the film covers every corner of the window, all the way to the edge. If there are bubbles or debris in the tint or the corners aren't completely covered, these are sure signs of sloppy work.
Step 3: Utilize online reviews
. You can find reviews about different installers on sites like Facebook, Google and Yelp. Look carefully at the reviews for specifics about all aspects of what the reviewers experienced including quality of the install, location and the customer experience. If you like what you're seeing, dig a little deeper and visit each installer's website. A quality installer should have a fast, modern website with information regarding the brand of film they install, pricing and information regarding the installer.
Step 4: Visit a couple of shops in person
. Formulate a list of the top installers from your research. During your visit, ask questions and ask for a tour of the facility and install bay. These areas should be clean and located indoors, since cleanliness is paramount to achieving a quality installation. They may show you various tinting materials with shading options, explain material and labor warranties, and show you samples of their work. If you are denied any of these opportunities, you might want to reconsider making a purchase. You should also be wary if the seller is trying to hard-sell you. It's also good to know how long the company has been in business - a long-standing business tends to be more established than a newer business with little or no track record. Pricing should always be carefully considered. If a deal seems too good to be true if often will be.
Step 5: Schedule an installation
. If the installer meets all the criteria from above, you shouldn't have any worries about the installation. You should be willing to pay a reasonable price to ensure a quality job from professionals who choose their products wisely and care about performing a high quality installation. If a shop is busy, they definitely won't want to sacrifice time and money on low quality tint that they're going to have to put under warranty, then waste time fixing down the road. They want to do quality work to maintain a steady flow of happy customers who do not have to return for repairs. Tint installations can take anywhere from between two hours and half a day depending on what kind of job you're purchasing, so plan accordingly. A high quality window tint will last a long time and increase your car's privacy, while protecting it from excessive heat excessively in sunny, warmer weather.
