Solar Control Window Film - Controlling UV Damage

[Douglas]

There was a time when adding a tint to your windows meant you were treading dangerously close to "Pimp My Ride" territory. No longer. Apparently, they're now making DIY material you can't even see once it's on:

http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=2160&subcategory=177

This could put Heritage Woodworks out of business.....

[JamesL]

I have a large glass wall in my house that faces west. Believe it or not, even in England, this makes the room very hot (like it melts candles)

I fitted a film on the windows to cut out heat and UV and it's worked a treat. ONE warning however, I CAN see it with my sunglasses on as it polarises (or similar) so that one may not be suitable for a car windscreen. I hadn't thought of it as being a use for my car, but then the sun is not as strong and relentless as, say, Dallas

http://www.prism-protection.co.uk/content/view/19/18/

[mdsalemi]

I challange anyone here to buy and install this stuff--or anything similar--on the complex and compound curves of our windscreen in a manner suitable to avoid detection by our astute eyes.

I'll be the first to congratulate anyone on a successful install.

[Raymond]

Fitting it on a front windscreen, (windshield) would be illegal in Florida and probably most other states.  In Florida, where sun damage is a real challenge, it is illegal to put any film other than one that is FDOT approved on the windshield. And, even the FDOT approved films may not extend more than 4 inches from the top of the windshield.  As for the side and rear windows, as long as it does not reduce visible light by more than 35% on front side and 50% on rear and rear side, you can do what you want. 

But, remember that while UV is the most damaging, just extreme heat is an issue as well.

I have 35% film on the five windows. It works great and, on my white car, looks great.  I had it installed just before the PUB in 2007, and you can see it again when I get there this year.  I carry a sunshade to put in the windshield when parked.  On a summer day, the shade and tint can make a 35 degree F difference inside.

[xcashewx]

i agree, window tint is a MUST. living in arizona, the uv rays get bad, to the point where in a year with no tint ,your entire interior will show sun damage.
i went a little overboard by getting limo tint all around the hardtop, and the next darkest to limo on the side windows.
with the sunshade up on the windsheild, on a nice day of 102 degress, getting it you can see how much a differnece tint really makes as opposed to using nothing, keeps your car cool and helps protect all the wood and other things affected by the suns rays.
p.s tinting can also make the outside of your car look nice, if you get the right tint of course

[abe280SL]

Too bad someone doesn't come up with something you spray on the window..tint or not, wipe off and when it dries it leaves a permanent coat.
abe