Does tinting protect you from the heat?

Tinting. useless with unpleasant

– Hello, can you have your car tinted?

– Of course, we have excellent American films.

– Will there be any problems with the traffic police?

- Uh... to be honest, even with our lightest tint, the car will not pass inspection...

I was given approximately the same answer in several other well-known service centers in Moscow. It’s an amazing thing: you can’t pass a technical inspection, and on Russian roads almost half of the cars have “tightly” tinted windows! However, let’s leave the legal aspect to the conscience of those who do not receive a technical inspection, but buy it. And he sells it. Let’s try to figure out why the traffic police has a very negative attitude towards tinting. And how should one generally relate to it?

So, followers of the stupid (sorry!) fashion for tinted windows present their arguments. Some firmly believe that things and expensive “music” left in the car cannot be seen from the street, which means there is less chance of them being stolen. Others claim that tinting reduces the penetration of ultraviolet and infrared rays into the cabin. As they say, blessed is he who believes!

If someone intends to rob your car, tinting will not save you, and perhaps even attract an attacker: like, there is something to hide. And the talk about the fact that a tinted car is cooler in the heat is partly true in relation to isothermal glass. But they are expensive and have nothing in common with those that are darkened by mass-produced films.

You can’t argue with one more argument: behind the “deaf” tinting it is absolutely impossible to see who is driving in the car. Given the prevailing customs on our roads, it is not surprising that some drivers want to hide from prying eyes. What do you have to pay for “confidentiality”? Let's check it out for ourselves.

In front of me is a VAZ 21083 with a “dull” tint, through which it is extremely difficult to see the owner’s profile. When asked “why did you tint?”, he brushes it off: “yes, I bought one.” Then he moves into the passenger seat, and I sit behind the wheel in the semi-darkness of the cabin. Yes... my hometown appears quite sad through these glasses...

And then the sun came out - and immediately the first unpleasant optical effects appeared: you can’t really see anything in the outside mirrors! The light-colored clothes of the passenger are reflected in the side windows, and the front panel also glares ungodly. It is extremely difficult to assess the situation with a short glance in the mirror. You have to focus your gaze on the background, “pushing” through the glare on

“Look, the twin is driving,” the owner laughs when exactly the same tinted V8 is built in front of us. Driving behind a “clone” is unpleasant - through the opaque interior you cannot appreciate what is happening ahead. We can’t even see the brake lights of a car driving one way from us, but this helps to protect ourselves in heavy traffic.

Tinting is especially insidious at dusk. I had to strain myself when approaching an unregulated intersection. I noticed the “interference on the right”, which considered that it was too early to turn on at least the “dimensions”, only after warning the passenger.

The lights came on in the city, and a nasty autumn rain began to pour in. At that moment, I finally understood that I would never drive a tinted car, at least not of my own free will. Remember, horses were dressed in blinders so as not to be distracted? Well, the coachman saw everything! And here?

The driver put on blinders, as if he didn’t need to know what was happening a couple of meters to the side. Tinted windows deprive your peripheral vision in the dark almost completely. You feel especially uncomfortable when turning 90°.

Perhaps that's enough for today: driving like this is very tiring, it's time to return the car to the owner before you get into an accident. Now we’ll pass this pedestrian crossing and... “Caution!” The colleague’s warning arrived just in time. I simply did not see the man emerging from the darkness at the zebra crossing.

“Well, are you happy with the tinting?” – I asked, handing over the keys to the owner. “I’m still not used to it,” he shook his head. “When I park in the yard in the evening, I have to open both windows. And the glare always gets in the way. I would never tint the car myself.”

Maybe you shouldn't either?

GOST requirements, by the way, are far from the most stringent in the world; they were not taken out of thin air and were dictated by safety considerations. This is confirmed by the subjective sensations of driving a tinted car from the “Behind the Wheel” testers. We translated them into the language of numbers, rating the review on a five-point scale: obstacle detection distance, field of view, etc. So, VAZ 2108, with film from CPFilms, the degree of tint is 90% in comparison with a “law-abiding” car. Compare ratings. Are any comments needed here?

In accordance with GOST 5727-88, the minimum light transmission of glass should be: 75% for windshields; 70% for front side and 60% for all others. The rear window can be darkened if there are rear view mirrors on both sides. Keep in mind that even a brand new windshield blocks up to 20% of the light output. By the way, it should not distort the correct perception of white, yellow, red, green and blue. We see the approximate maximum allowable on cars with a light greenish-blue factory tint (many foreign cars, some of the “dozens”).

Is tinting effective against heat?

Some people believe that tinting car windows does not help reduce the temperature inside the car. Some are even convinced that the dark color of tinted windows attracts more sunlight, which heats up the car's interior.

We can immediately say that window tinting prevents the temperature inside the car from increasing. In this article we will look at how effectively it does this and how it works. For comparison, let's also consider the effectiveness of a windshield sunscreen.

How does tinting work and what does it protect against?

Tint film changes the characteristics and amount of light that passes through car windows into the car's interior.

The solar spectrum consists of 53% infrared radiation, 44% visible light and only 3% ultraviolet radiation. Each “component” of the solar spectrum affects the increase in air temperature inside the cabin.

Modern tint films reduce the temperature inside the cabin not only due to the fact that they darken the windows and transmit less visible light, but also filter other “components” of the solar spectrum that affect the increase in temperature in the cabin. For example, 3M has films with very low shading, which, nevertheless, reduce the air temperature in the cabin.

Modern tint films filter about 95-99% of ultraviolet light. This protects the leather from photoaging and interior trim elements from destruction.

Effectiveness of tinting and sunscreen

The sun's rays affect the interior most of all through the windshield, followed by the rear window. The car interior heats up unevenly. In extreme heat, the dashboard can reach 80 degrees Celsius, the windshield can reach 70 degrees Celsius, and the cabin air can reach 50 degrees Celsius or higher.

Through a series of repeated studies and experiments, it has been found that a reflective windshield sunscreen can reduce the temperature of the instrument panel and windshield by 30 and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The sunscreen can also reduce the temperature inside the cabin. However, when parking a car for a long time under the sun's rays, even a sun screen for the windshield will not be able to prevent the temperature inside the cabin from rising. Moreover, the rear and side windows are still not protected from the sun.

Windshield tinting reduces dashboard heat less effectively. It can reduce heating by 7-12 degrees Celsius.

However, window tinting is more effective when reducing the air temperature inside the cabin. A sun screen for the windshield reduces the air temperature inside the cabin by only 2 to 6 degrees. Tinting reduces the interior air temperature by 5 - 8 degrees.

The temperature inside an unprotected car interior in hot weather can reach 60 degrees Celsius. Even good quality tinting can reduce the temperature in the cabin by 10 - 15 degrees. This is still an uncomfortable temperature. This is why some people are convinced that tinting does not work against the sun's rays.

In conclusion, we can say that the results of research (British scientists :)) have shown that methods of combating sunlight such as sunscreen and tinting work. Tinting better reduces the air temperature in the cabin and the air in the cabin of a car with tinting is heated evenly. A sunshade does a better job of protecting your dashboard from the sun.

Thus, in order to effectively reduce the air temperature inside the cabin, as well as reduce the heating of the dashboard, you need to use car window tinting and, while parking, install a sun screen on the windshield.

You can also read an article that talks about an effective way to reduce the temperature in the cabin by 8-10 degrees after parking for a long time in the sun. Read here.

Chameleon tinting. Does it save you from the heat?

Category: Car window tinting - June 09, 2017

Standing in a traffic jam in a car when it's +30 outside doesn't bring any pleasure. After all, sometimes the air conditioner is unable to cope with the load, and opening the windows risks getting a heat stroke. There is a solution - tinting the windows of your car with the so-called “chameleon” film. What are its advantages and why traffic police officers do not issue fines for this tint, we will look into this article.

What is unique about the chameleon tint film?

Firstly, in its structure. Essentially, these are 20 thin layers of protection sprayed one on top of the other. The light transmittance of the tint remains at a high level, from 83 to 90%. However, only certain rays of the spectrum pass into the cabin, harmless to the eyes and skin, and do not heat the air. But the film blocks ultraviolet rays. Therefore, you can safely glue it “all around”.

Secondly, the coating provides additional protection against splinters. Even if an accident occurs, there is no need to worry about flying pieces of glass. Tinting will hold them securely.

Thirdly, the appearance of your car will become more respectable. Expensive companies can produce premium cars with a chameleon effect already applied to the glass. You can create it at any time by simply sticking on the tint.

Fourthly, the film does not fade for a very long time and does not lose its properties. Its protection will last for several seasons. Provided that the technician applied the tint correctly, it will not come off even with wet cleaning.

The only thing that confuses some car owners about the “chameleon” film is the desire of the traffic police to issue a fine allegedly for improper tinting.

Does the “chameleon” film meet the requirements of GOST?

Technical regulations state that if the light transmittance of the glass is below 75%, then the tinting must be removed. However, when measuring glass with this type of coating, the intensity of the light flux is even greater than GOST. Therefore, there can be no claims from the inspection.

You can safely tint your car like a chameleon. The coating is available in several color options: blue, lilac, red, yellow, green and white. The choice depends on the taste of the car owner.

Automotive rear glass for passenger cars, domestic

Balcony tinting will help save your apartment from the annoying sun

Those home owners whose homes are located on the sunny side know how difficult it is to escape the heat and direct sunlight entering the house. Some owners solve this problem with the help of curtains and drapes, while others choose as an alternative to tinting the balcony with a special film. From this article you will learn what advantages such material has. And also get practical recommendations for tinting windows in your home with your own hands. So, more details.

Variety of window tint films

Some people want to shade the balcony to reduce illumination, others want to hide from prying eyes, others want to give the loggia or balcony a presentable appearance by tinting the balcony with a mirror film. Therefore, the selection of reflective material should be approached based on the amount of information studied, namely, the technical characteristics and effectiveness of the work carried out as a result of gluing.

Films for tinting balconies and loggias are:

camouflage;
sun protection;
reflective;
protective;
combined.

Practice shows that each type of film has a number of its own characteristics and is intended for specific purposes.

Mirror film for windows

A tinted window remains transparent from the inside, but looks completely different from the outside. After pasting the film, from the street all treated glass will look like a mirror and appear opaque.

This way you can feel more comfortable without worrying that someone can look through the window and observe your life from the outside. Tinting the balcony with a mirror film is suitable for owners whose apartments are located on the ground floor of the house, as well as for those who want to give the loggia a modern and beautiful look.

You can find polymer and metallized films on the market. The differences between them are almost invisible, although the second option is practical.

Advantages of tinting double-glazed windows

When comparing tint film with textile products, with which you can at least somehow protect yourself, the first option is more advantageous. Thick curtains and blinds, heating up throughout the day under constant exposure to sunlight, create a greenhouse effect. While the tint layer effectively reflects ultraviolet rays without heating up.

Even the small space that curtains or blinds occupy on the balcony is noticeably reflected in its area. How often do curtains fly up when the wind blows and end up outside the windows? Tinting your balcony will help you avoid such inconveniences: it will preserve such an important useful space and will not be torn away by a gust of wind.

Important! Don't rush into buying cheap window film. Such a product can easily turn out to be counterfeit. To properly shade a loggia, purchase reliable material that will last for decades and will not lose its aesthetic qualities. Although you will pay a large amount for this option, you will definitely not regret your choice during operation.

DIY balcony tinting: options

The procedure is performed in two ways: removing the glass from the frame and carrying out the installation without dismantling the glass unit. The first method is labor-intensive, but the gluing is of better quality.

Materials and tools that will be useful in your work

For mirror tinting of a balcony you will need to prepare:

scissors;
ruler;
smoothing spatula or spatula;
clean sponge/soft cloth;
soap solution (water + shampoo);
blade.

Pre-prepare a table or any other solid horizontal surface, wipe it free of dust, and remove everything unnecessary.

Important! Dust and microparticles of dirt trapped under the film are clearly visible under the film transferred to the glass, which clearly spoils the presentability of the loggia and the view from the window. .

Tinting with removal of glass from frames

The glass is removed from the frame and washed thoroughly. The film is cut to the size of the glass, adding small allowances. After the glass has dried, a soap solution is sprayed onto its surface, the protective layer is removed from the prepared film blank, and the same product is sprayed on the adhesive side as on window glass. After this, the material is carefully applied to the glass from the inside and smoothed with a spatula. The remaining tinting is carefully cut off with scissors (sharp!), and the glass unit itself is placed in its original place.

Important! If you are afraid that dust particles may get on the glass during the pasting process, carry out the procedure by immersing the glass completely in water. After pasting, let the film dry, after which you can insert the glass back into the frame.

Pasting a balcony without dismantling glass structural elements

If the possibility of removing the glass from the frames is excluded, then tinting the balcony with a mirror film is carried out following simple instructions:

The glass unit is measured to the nearest millimeter and blanks are made from film.
Before you start gluing the glass material, wash the glass thoroughly, after which the dried surface is sprayed with a soap solution.
Before gluing, remove the protective layer from the film and moisten it with the same composition.
Glue the film to the glass, thus tinting the balcony yourself. For gluing to be successful, first place the top edge of the film against the top edge of the glass, then straighten the workpiece using smooth movements of your hands or a special smoothing spatula/spatula in the direction from top to bottom.

By tinting balconies and loggias, you will forget what the summer stuffiness is like, you will be able to save on air conditioning your apartment and give your home a presentable appearance due to the mirror film on the windows.

How to escape the heat?

On a hot summer day, it’s good to lie on a sun lounger on the beach or by the pool, sip a cool juice and be in a state of complete relaxation. At such moments, it happens that only an anecdote that haunts me is spinning in my head, and not a single thought anymore. It also happens the other way around: the brain works clearly and clearly, and ideas come up like “what if we get a patent for an idea and earn a fortune from it.”

The long-awaited summer warmth somehow quickly turned into sweltering heat. And now you don’t want to blissfully bask in the sun’s rays, but rather quickly move to the shore of a river or lake, or at least just crawl into the shade and not come out until the evening. But I’m at least a week away from the lawn by the river, and shade can only be found in the hallway, because all the windows in my apartment face the sunny side. How to escape the heat?

The first thought that comes to mind is installing an air conditioner. For home climate control, mainly two types of air conditioners are used: window (monoblock) and wall-mounted split systems (their compressor is placed in a separate unit and is located on the street side). The advantages are obvious: the room will be more or less cool, and the air in split systems is also cleaned and humidified. The air conditioner can also work for heating, which is very convenient in the off-season. If you have wooden furniture or natural wooden parquet at home, conditioned air will only benefit them.

Household air conditioners are designed for an area of approximately 15 square meters. m up to 70 sq. m, but the required power has to be selected based on many parameters. So, the number of household appliances in the room is important - after all, all appliances emit heat. To calculate the heat inflow from the outside, you need to know which side the windows face and how many windows and doors there are in the room, the windows themselves are plastic or carpentry, what floor the apartment is on - in theory, all these questions are asked by consultants at air conditioner sales points. Even with the most accurate calculations, it is worth taking a unit with a little more power: this way it will last longer than when working for wear.

Of course, forced cooling also has disadvantages: window units make a lot of noise and take up part of the window opening, and to install a split system you will have to drill into the walls. In addition, one air conditioner maintains a comfortable temperature in only one room, and installing split systems at once, as in my case, in three rooms will be quite expensive - again, for my budget. Many people are deterred from buying an air conditioner by the fact that the “same” air circulates in the room, but natural ventilation does not occur: after all, doors and windows must be kept tightly closed. This is indeed true, although nothing prevents you from ventilating the room when the climate control is turned off.

If installing an air conditioner doesn't fit into your plans, you can alleviate the summer suffering by other means. One of them is a special energy-saving film for window glass. Tinting slightly darkens the window, but it “works” both in summer and in winter, reflecting heat rays from the glass. Energy-saving glass has the same effect , only they cost more than tinting and are more difficult to process. In extreme cases, thick light-colored curtains or foil on the windows will repel unwanted heat: it will not be so hot, although it will be a little dark. My decisive attitude must have influenced the weather - clouds have appeared in the sky and the sun is now burning hot. This means that today I can live without air conditioning. However, knowing our climate, I will dream more than once about coolness and freshness. How do you escape the heat?

In hot weather, when everything is so hot, I’m just ready to live in the bathroom. There are the most cool surfaces: tiles on the walls, tiles on the floor. In the next renovation I will take this point into account and choose a more elegant finish for the bathroom. I’ve even made a note - for now only on the Internet - of one store where porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles are presented in a good assortment and, moreover, with discounts.