Window Tinting: Makes Your Car Look Amazing and So Much More!

If you’ve always thought of tinting your car windows as more of a luxury than a practical option, think again.

Window tinting has numerous benefits ranging from comfort, privacy, safety and the health concerns of the vehicle owner.

That’s right, window tinting could help save your life.

First, what exactly is window tinting?

According to Kelley Blue Book, window tinting typically refers to a process in which a transparent sheet of film is applied to the inside of a vehicle’s windows. The main purpose of the process is to reduce the amount of heat and radiation from the sun that reaches the interior of the vehicle, but many folks just tint their windows because they think it is cool. The thickness of the film and the material from which it is made can vary, and different states have different restrictions regarding the darkness of the film that may be used.

Myth: Window tinting will make my windows dark

Fact: While window tints come in a variety of shades, many of them are very light and nearly invisible. You can select the best window tinting to fit your needs – your windows won’t be darker unless you want them to be.

 

What Does PennDOT Say?

As just mentioned, it’s important to note that each state has regulations regarding the amount of tint allowable. According to PennDOT, tint is not allowed on the windshield of a vehicle except for the top four inches to shade the sun. The front side windows and backseat windows must allow for more than 70 percent of light to come in the vehicle. The rear window can be tinted. Vehicles exempt from this rule include emergency, government or any vehicle with a valid certificate of exemption.

 

Protect Your Stuff with World-Class Privacy

Let’s be candid, as terrific as Pittsburgh is as a place to live, the region is also home to its fair share of thieving buzzards. Traveling in a vehicle using expensive laptops, tablets and phones are commonplace today, but do expose you to opportunistic thieves. Drop your guard for a nanosecond, you risk getting your stuff grabbed.

 

Window tinting boosts the security of your vehicle from prying eyes. It helps safeguard what’s inside your vehicle regardless of where you or your mind happen to be. No more fretting because you forgot to stash your valuables out of sight before leaving your vehicle. If they can’t see inside, burglars are less likely to break in. More likely, they’ll move on to another vehicle that’s inviting a burglary because of its better interior visibility.

 

Really, Can It Help Protect Against Skin Damage?

Did you know that Ultraviolent (UV) solar rays are damaging your skin whenever you hop in your vehicle?

The harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation have been proven beyond any doubt. The rays can not only speed up the process of aging, they can also cause skin cancer. Not only direct UV rays are harmful, those bouncing off the ground can also penetrate windows.

 

Most of us think of sun damage as a beach thing or a day on the golf course, but UV rays can get at you whenever it’s daylight, especially when you’re behind the wheel. The more time you spend driving, the more you are at risk.

 

Having a cool, comfortable, airconditioned environment in your vehicle can be deceiving. You may think you are not suffering any harm from the sun’s rays. Fact is, the UV light is still penetrating the car and potentially harming yours and your passengers’ skin. Research has shown that sun exposure while in a vehicle is particularly harmful because most people don’t apply sunscreen when driving or riding in a vehicle. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends window tinting as part of a comprehensive sun protection program.

 

Tinted windows with UV protection work like sunscreen creams to reduce your exposure to UV rays. In fact, window film blocks up to 99% of UV rays helping to prevent premature aging, sun spots and skin cancer. Window film is like using a sunscreen with a SPF of 250 or more.

 

CRUCIAL NOTE: Unfortunately, window tinting can be a waste of money if you don’t choose the right tint, because some window tint is entirely cosmetic. Window tint percentages refer to the amount of light allowed in, not the amount of UV protection. If you want to ensure your vehicle is safe from UV rays, be sure to shop specifically for window tinting with UV-blocking capabilities!

 

Ask your window tint professionals at DoubleTake Auto about tints offering UV protection.

 

Myth: Over time, the UV-protection of my window film will lose its effectiveness.

Fact: The films that are manufactured for your windows have a proprietary adhesive system that does not lose its effectiveness as time passes. Today’s window films have been effective for upwards of 15-20 years, exceeding the lifetime of most vehicles, and most come with a lifetime warranty for automobile windows.

 

Keep Cool!!!

That’s right. Car window tinting blocks most of the UV rays, so it blocks some of the heat from getting in.

 

If you’ve ever gotten into a hot car that has been parked in the sunshine, you will know how unpleasant it is. You can run your air conditioner to cool the vehicle down. No matter how good the air conditioning, however, it still takes too long.

 

The alternative ways of reducing heat in your vehicle include using windshield covers or hunting for shaded parking. Unfortunately, these are not always convenient or effective.

 

So, stop struggling with windshield covers or searching for shady parking. Window tinting is able to reduce up to 80% of the heat inside your vehicle by being designed to reject and absorb solar energy. Put into more concrete terms, window tinting can reduce your vehicle’s interior surface temperatures by as much as 29 degrees!

 

Myth: Eventually – let’s say after a few years – window film will begin to bubble and discolor.

Fact: Not true! The film that you see bubbling and eggplant-tone on car windows is, first of all, not quality film. Second, it was most certainly not installed by a professional. Window tinting is done with films that do not turn color and stay the same near-clear tone that they are on the day they were installed.

 

Caring for your Upholstery

Just as sunlight is damaging to your skin, so, too, can it damage your upholstery and the interior of your vehicle. Little by little, sunlight can cause fading and surface damage to your upholstery. And because the fading is not uniform, the uneven effect makes the upholstery appear prematurely old.

 

Tinting your windows will block some of the UV rays that are responsible for cracking and fading the vehicle’s leather. It’s a great investment that will help keep your vehicle’s interior looking good.

 

DoubleTake Auto uses the finest window tint available and offers a lifetime warranty against fading, cracking and peeling.

 

Myth: All UV rays and fading are stopped by window tinting

Fact: Nearly all window films will protect against 99% of harmful UVC rays. However, fading is caused by more than just UV rays. Chemical vapors, indoor light, cleaning materials and humidity — — all causes of fading – cannot be controlled with window tinting.

 

Saves on fuel, too

Without professionally installed tinting, your vehicle’s cooling system works harder to maintain the desired temperature. Tinting can block out a substantial amount of sunlight and significantly reduce your cooling needs. The lesser the stress on the air conditioning system, the more gas saved.

 

Blinded by the Light

Though not often reported, hundreds are killed each year in road accidents where the chief culprit is sun glare. It’s a road hazard, a genuine threat that receives scant attention because it’s not rain, fog or snow.

 

Bright sunshine might be pleasant to sunbathe in or for a pool party, but it can be a definite menace when driving. Usually, you have to squint or wear sunglasses to block the light when you’re behind the wheel.

 

Given that 90 percent of the information you need to safely drive your vehicle comes through your eyes, the sun is the poster child for visual impairment.  Professionally installed tinting enhances your ability to acquire the visual information you need to drive your vehicle safely. Tinting protects your eyes and prevents glare from all sources of extreme light.

 

Reduce Shattering

If your vehicle is involved in an accident or hit by an object, the glass can shatter. Despite the use of modern, safe glass, shards of glass can fly around inside your vehicle.

 

Since a window tint is actually a thin film applied to the surface of glass, it adheres to the surface, reducing the likelihood that glass splinters will become free. Less shattering means less risk of injury.

 

Myth: If I have window film, burglars will be completely unable to break the glass and enter my vehicle.

Fact: While window tinting, safety films and security films do deter glass from shattering in a burglary attempt, they cannot completely stop a burglar from breaking the glass and entering the vehicle. It will require more effort and materials for them to gain entrance, but it’s still possible.

 

Sometimes It’s Just All About the Look!

This might not be the most important reason you should get vehicle window tinting, but it is still one of the most cherished reasons why people tint their windows. Darkened windows help your vehicle to look sleek and stylish. With the wide variety of shades available, you can find the perfect tint to enhance the style of your ride.

 

Let’s face it, there’s no harm in having an elegant looking vehicle that also protects the occupants and helps keep them safe. The right film can even enhance the looks of an older vehicle.

 

Thinking About Selling Your Vehicle?

You’re not the only person who will enjoy having your vehicle’s windows tinted – future buyers will also appreciate the added perk as well. Tinting your windows adds value to your vehicle which can give you a greater return on your vehicle’s overall investment.

 

If you’re upgrading your windows with resale value in mind, then before you tint your windows, you will want to talk to your automotive expert about the available shades of tint. A tint that is too dark may be imposing to potential buyers while a lighter or more durable tint can attract a wider customer base.

 

Just ask the tinting professionals at DoubleTake Auto about the availability of various shades of tint.

 

You Should Always Rely on a Pro to Get the Job Done Right the First Time.

Although you can install window tinting yourself, it’s really not worth the effort unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Professional installers are trained to heat form auto tint to conform to the curved glass, plus they know how to protect the electronics that might be concealed behind panels.

 

With professional installation, your tint is also covered by warranty. If you do it yourself and mess up, you’re left high and dry.

 

A professional window tinting job can make your vehicle safer and more enjoyable to drive. At DoubleTake Auto, we treat your vehicle like our own and will install beautiful tinted windows you will be proud of.