The Problem with DIY Tint Kits

Paying twice for a job is way worse than seeking professional advice.

Anyone who has been reading our blog knows that tinting your car’s windows is a great way to reduce glare and heat as well as enhance privacy. Consumers typically have two options for tinting their cars windows: Do it themselves with a DIY window-tinting kit or hire a professional. Although a DIY window tint is generally less costly up-front, it definitely pays dividends to invest in professional installation.

If we were going to sum it all up for you, we would say there are five key reasons to avoid an at home DIY window tinting kit:

Because dark windows are a safety concern for law enforcement officers when they’re making a traffic stop, many cities and provinces have specific limits on how dark you can tint your windows. Most professional window tinting companies make it their business to stay up to date on window tint regulations. While some shops may provide darker-than-legal tint, most shops (like ours) make sure their customers stay on the right side of the law. DIY kits can’t claim such an assurance, and when you get pulled over, fined, or impounded, “I didn’t know” is not an excuse that will get you off the hook.

We wrote an entire article about this problem. Check it out here.

Unless you’re purchasing a more expensive professional-grade tint kit, you’ll likely find the film in a DIY window tint kit is flimsy and temperamental when compared to the higher quality materials a window tinting pro would use. For a first-timer, window film in general is hard to work with; a slight breeze or wind can cause creases or crinkles, and some may find it hard to keep dust or other debris from sticking to the film. If you opt for a higher grade film kit you will be paying retail price for it, which will be as costly as a professional installation.

At Tint View, we use the highest quality film possible and ensure that it is applied without creases, crinkles, air bubbles or debris.

Even if you successfully apply window tint film to your vehicle’s windows, you may not do so perfectly. So try again, right? Not quite. Removing window film is much more difficult than applying it, due in part to the sticky adhesive used to apply it to the auto glass. So, if you need to remove it to try again, you will need to buy a new set of films, doubling your cost, and erasing any DIY savings.

If you ever have a problem with a tint job done at Tint View, We will re-do the job for you and get you a warranty replacement. If and when you make a mistake while tinting you own windows, however, you probably won’t be able redo the tinting without buying another kit. Once window tinting film has been applied to a window, it cannot be taken off and simply returned to the store, and with DIY kits you do not enjoy any warranties.

DIY kits are most frequently used as a way of saving money. However, low-grade window tinting film does not have any of the features that will protect your vehicle or its occupants. For example, one of the main reasons car owners are interested in window tinting is that they want to protect their car’s interior from fading and cracking. Cheap or low-quality window tinting, though, does not provide this protection.

Take a look at our Price List, you might be pleasantly surprised.

With DIY kits, car owners may get a little extra shade inside their cars, but they will not be able to protect their car over the long run from the harmful effects of the sun. For this reason, it makes sense to invest a little bit more money into a mid-grade or high-grade window tint installed by a professional. To get started on your very own top-quality tint job, just give us a shout.