How to Test Vehicle Window Tinting
Window tinting is possible to install yourself, but it is also very easy to bungle installation. You are essentially applying a big sticker, but the size leads to a lot of problems, namely bumbling and improper trimming. If an air bubble is caught under the film, it can distort the tinting and, over time, pop and start peeling. Poor trimming can leave ragged edges, which could stop the windows from fully closing and make the tint start to fray.
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Instructions
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Feel along the surface of the tint for bubbles. Ideally this test should be done a week after applying the tint so that the water bubbles have evaporated. What is left are the air bubbles. With a credit card you can push the air toward the edges of the tint and out from under the application.
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Feel along the edges of the tint; you are searching for ragged edges that would indicate an unclear tear. A good application will have a barely noticeable edge on the window. If the tint extends beyond the window it can start to fray and pull the rest off. With a razor blade, cut along the edge of the window at a slant so that the tint ends a few millimeters before the edge of the window.
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Drive around the neighborhood and on the highway. Run the trim test again, as this will expose any hidden ridges or fraying edges that get pulled up by the airflow. If a ridge appears use a credit card to smooth it out. If it is fraying off, use a razor to slip under the tint and reapply the tint to the peeling site.
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References
- Photo Credit Black car and buildings image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
