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Here at Jet Black Tint of the Bay Area, we get more than a few car owners each week looking to have their window tint removed and professionally installed after a failed DIY job. While we are completely on board with empowering folks to learn new skills and discovering the satisfaction of a self-completed task, we also want you to get the job done right and at as little cost to you. Most importantly, we want you to sustain as little damage to your vehicle as possible.
When most people think of DIY window tint jobs gone wrong, they think about loose, peeling, or bubbling tint that just doesn’t look that good. However, a tint job that’s not completed properly can cause much more damage than the average consumer gives it credit for. In today’s post, we’ll discuss some of the ways a DIY window tint job can do more damage to your vehicle than you may think.
First and foremost, the biggest downfall to the self-installation of vehicle window tint is that you can seriously and irreparably damage the window you apply the film to. Usually, this damage occurs as the result of using too much pressure or force on the glass or by using a blade to remove imperfect film to try again. DIY tinters inadvertently scratch, crack, or break their windows. Without craftsmanship warranties or insurance coverage, the damage correction comes at the owner’s expense.
At Jet Black Tint, our tint technicians are expertly trained and our shop is insured. We have all the tools and technology to correctly apply window film without damaging the glass beneath. And, if anything does go wrong, you’ve got the guarantee that we will fix it, at our expense!
When window tint film is applied at a local tint shop, the tint technicians measure the percentage of visible light transmission (VTL) of the film plus your window to ensure it will pass the strict California Code covering vehicle window tint. Many DIY consumers either fail to look up the regulations they are held to or they trust the VLT listed on the tint film packaging. Most vehicles have some level of tint in or on the glass from the manufacturer, so your starting VTL is usually somewhere between 74 and 85%. Unfortunately, California law enforcement officer (LEO) will use a light transmission-measuring device, called a photometer, that detects the total VTL, not just the aftermarket tint you apply.
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, the penalties for tint infractions in California can be quite hefty and will result in you being required to remove the film you so painstakingly installed. Additionally, even if LEO never cites you for tint infractions, if you are involved in a crash, you can be held liable if your tint is too dark, whether you were at fault for the crash or not. It may be assumed that your vision was impaired by the tint and that’s what resulted in the crash.
You can avoid all legal trouble by having your car’s tint installed by your local legit tint shop! At Jet Black Tint, we keep up with current policy and regulations regarding vehicle window tint and can guarantee you’ll leave our shop with legal, certified window tint.
There are as many different window tint products on the market as there are toothpaste options in the oral hygiene section of your local grocery store. Finding the right film for your vehicle can be quite a daunting task for the average consumer. Worse yet, effective marketing campaigns can have you trusting a sub-par manufacturer or sacrificing quality to save a few bucks. The problem with the wrong product is it’s basically flushing your money down the drain. Not only will you spend your hard-earned cash on the initial product, but you’ll overextend your energy and patience attempting to wrestle it onto your windows, only to be disappointed with the results and call your local shop for tint removal services.
At Jet Black Tint, we partner with the industry’s top tint film manufacturers, like Solar Gard®, to offer you the best product. Since we are authorized distributors, we receive the product at wholesale pricing and can extend the savings to you so that you spend about as much on the product and professional installation as you would on purchasing the product and installing it yourself.
All else aside, one of the biggest hazards to installing your own window tint is the potential danger that you put yourself, your passengers, and all other road travelers in. While bubbles, peeling, and puckering may be a slight eyesore you can overlook for the gratification of a job self-done, it can impede your vision and be a real driving hazard. While having your window tint professionally installed to ensure product evenness and optimized visibility enhances driving safety, the opposite is also true.
At Jet Black Tint, our tint experts are trained and experienced to check all safety points and know what to look for during the final inspection. If it’s required, we’ll let you know if you need double mirrors that will help make your drive safer. We’ll also never apply a product that would make driving unsafe.
Our final point for today’s discussion doesn’t apply to all vehicles or tint application techniques. However, for those products and tutorials that recommend removing door panels to install tint film all the way to the base, if you’re not experienced or have the right tools, this can cause significant damage to your car’s inner door workings. To avoid panel or door damage, it’s best to leave removing and replacing door panels to the professionals!
At Jet Black Tint, we are here for the do-it-yourselfers. In fact, we offer a tint school to turn the average car enthusiast into tint experts so they can correctly apply their tint and even make a career out of it. Our tint installation services don’t cost much more than doing it yourself and we’re experienced and equipped with the latest products and technology. Save yourself the headache and visit any one of our 12 local Bay Area locations or our Katy, Texas spot for all your vehicle tint needs.