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I'm considering (well, more than considering - trying to choose who and what) having window tint film installed on the 16' plus sliding glass doors in my Florida room. The heat load is incredible and for the past 8 years I've just shut the A/C vents in that room during the summer and closed it off from the rest of the house. With my job going to the Czech Republic, I'll be spending more time at home during the day and will use that room.
I had a company called Tint America come for an estimate which came in at around $600 - I guess that's ballpark for installed film on that much window. I'd like to hear about any personal experiences with a project like this and recommendations to avoid pitfalls. FL is overrun with window tinting companies and as the view through these windows is one of the reasons I bought the house, I don't want to screw it up with peeling or bubbled film. Obviously, I'll check with the BBB before putting any money down, but personal experiences, good or bad, may help.
Thanks.
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You have a 16' window? or 16' of windows? I put the Gila film available at Home Depot on my windows and it's survived fine through the last two Florida summers. I liken it to putting sunglasses on your windows...it will be dimmer during the day, darker at night, and the film will cause some reflection of interior lights on the windows, which may be a distraction.
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Here's a company that makes the tint material
http://www.gilafilms.com/ and videos on how to do it yourself here
http://www.gilafilms.com/Residential/win...cation.htm .
I used to apply vinyl signage to vehicles and glass and with a few basic tools its not too tough to do a large surface. $600 seems like a lot for doing a couple of doors but if you're not into the do it yourself thing it might be worth it.
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[quote John B.]You have a 16' window? or 16' of windows? I put the Gila film available at Home Depot on my windows and it's survived fine through the last two Florida summers. I liken it to putting sunglasses on your windows...it will be dimmer during the day, darker at night, and the film will cause some reflection of interior lights on the windows, which may be a distraction.
4 - 4.5 foot sliders.
Did you install the film yourself? I hate washing windows and that seems to be the key to getting the film on right. I think for the extra money I'd rather pay someone to do the install so I can gripe to them if it comes out poorly.
Did you find the heat load was reduced noticably? That room will be easily 5 - 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house by late afternoon if it's not closed off - more, if it is.
How has yours held up? I cat-sit for a friend occasionally and I'm wondering if they might damage it if they get excited by a lizard on the screen. They aren't de-clawed. Maybe installing the film will get me out of that job. :-|
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I'm in NC, which has hot summers and moderate winters. When I moved into my current house I found that I had the same problem you describe only worse; I had five single pane sliding glass doors and two skylights in the added room. My solution was to have the sliding glass doors replaced with partial wall with highly efficient windows and an all glass, double pane door. I added high reflective Gila film to the skylights. Since the room was mostly complete, it wasn't like adding an addition. It cost me $4000. It is still a nice sunny room but now it is useful year round.
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Why not buy enough to do one slider? Take your time, follow the directions, and see how it comes out. You can always peel it off. I can see paying someone to tint car windows, as they are a real pain to do correctly. However a large, flat, square piece of glass shouldn't be too tough. Just remember to get the glass nice and wet before applying the film. This way, you can slide it around to get it right.
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I did a bunch of windows in my own house. It was relatively easy. You just need to make sure to use the razor and squeegee method of cleaning the windows first and then use LOTS of soapy water when you do the install. $600 seems like an absurd rip off to me.
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[quote macphanatic]Why not buy enough to do one slider? Take your time, follow the directions, and see how it comes out. You can always peel it off. I can see paying someone to tint car windows, as they are a real pain to do correctly. However a large, flat, square piece of glass shouldn't be too tough. Just remember to get the glass nice and wet before applying the film. This way, you can slide it around to get it right.
Good suggestion and I may just try it. Having seen a number of cars riding around S FL with windows looking like they had a severe case of chicken pox, I know applying window film on cars is not for the amateur. I did check the Gila Film website and they mentioned that the film is available in 4' widths and my windows are slightly larger than that, which may prove to be a problem. I don't have the exact measurements, but they were custom made to replace existing screens w/o any structural changes, so an odd size may be the case. I might be better off in this case to take some work home and pick up a few hours of OT (while I still have a job) and let a pro do the windows.
BTW, according to what I read after some serious googling, the price I was quoted is in the ballpark nationally (per sq ft) and about half of it is labor - so I could see considerable saving doing it myself. This particular company has an A rating with the BBB, so I'm pretty comfortable with that.
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If you can't get film that is wide enough, run the split horizontally. This will give you a smaller seam (easier to align) and it will be less visible.
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Another alternative to consider is to build a pergola or buy a roll out awning that overhangs the window creating shade.