Tinting Laws?!

Did you know there are laws created for tinting your automotive windows? Do you know your state's tinting law? Each state creates their own tinting laws regarding how much light must pass through the windows of every car. Colorado, for example, is an either/or state when it comes to tinting the windows of a car.  You can choose to either tint your windows behind the driver's seat as dark as you want, as long as the front driver and passenger windows have NO tint applied to them or you can tint all the windows, not including the windshield, to a maximum of 27 percent.  As a company, it is our responsibility to tell the customer what the tinting laws are for our state and even other states, if need be.  Since Colorado can be filled with transient people, we have had customers come to us and tint their windows with film that will comply with two different state laws.
    A statement that we commonly hear is, "how likely am I to be pulled over for having window film darker than the legal limit?"  We can not say that it is or isn't likely to happen because it can or can not happen.  In Colorado, we have heard that it is possible to receive tickets from 80 dollars to 300 dollars.  There could be fines for both the customer and business involved. However, if the tint adhered to the car is illegal,    All American Window Tinting, Inc. can remove the film from the windows in order for your car to be in compliance with the law.  There are also a few reasons to stay within the legal limit of tinting that extend beyond legal consequences. 

     There are times when customers choose a darker film than legal and have had problems seeing through their windows at night.  This does become a safety concern to the driver, those in the car and those outside of the car.  There is also the possibility that manufacturer's warranty may not apply to illegally tinted windows.  We often hear from customers that the legal percentage of window film is not dark enough or does not reject a lot of heat and this concern has been brought before manufacturers as well.  It is because of this concern that manufacturers are creating films that are light in tint shade and reject more heat than darker films.  These high performance films are making the way for cutting edge technologies that we hope to see in the window film industry.
    If you have any questions about tinting laws, please feel free to contact us at (303)936-1362 or come in see our samples!  At All American Window Tinting, our staff is equipped with years of knowledge and expert training to ensure that all your window needs and concerns are met.  We stand behind our work and promise to deliver only the highest of quality products with a professional installation that is sure to stand the test of time. 

Not Too Cool in School?

     With school back in session, there have been a few grumblings about the start of school. We've heard students not wanting to return to school, parents wondering why school hasn't started earlier, and teachers having mixed emotions about their new set of students. One common concern that we have heard across the city is the lack of air conditioning/cooling system in the schools. The sun's immense heat has plagued schools and with so many bodies in one building, it is no wonder why students and teachers alike are suffering in the heat. We can look at schools specifically, however this same concept can apply to any building that lacks a cooling system or even an effective one for that matter.
     It would be unreasonable to ask school districts to install an air conditioning system in every school due to the high costs. All the individuals in any given building, create body heat and with computers and other equipment operating, heat levels without a doubt, will rise. Window film offers a reasonable and cost efficient solution to such dilemmas. The film applied to the window can increase safety, save energy and enhance the appearance of your building. Our High-Performance films can protect interiors from fading, reduce glare on computer screens, and eliminate discomfort all around. 
     It is not necessary to have every window in the building tinted since the sun may not directly affect a certain side of the building. It is, however, necessary to consult a trained professional in order to ensure that all precautions/factors are taken into consideration. Generic bronze tinted glass that is most commonly seen, absorbs heat and re-radiates inward. Our goal is to use window film that will reflect that heat outwards. This in turn can reduce cooling bills and offer a more comfortable environment for those in the building.
     At All American Window Tinting, Richard Marti holds Master Accreditation through the International Window Film Association. He is the only individual to attain Master Accreditation in the state of Colorado. Only the industries best dealers and installers are those that are well informed and well versed in both theory and application of window film products. Contact us today for a free estimate or visit our website at www.allamericanwindowtinting.com for more information!

What Are You Putting On Your Windows?

Last week, we explored why tint shops carry so many different products and covered a few topics such as warranties and heat rejection properties (click here for last week's article). This week's article will explore what materials are used when creating window film and why there is even a difference. It was mentioned last week that one type of window film can not be applied to every window because of safety and/or efficiency. It is for this reason that different materials are used to create different films, and with technology advancing certain materials are taking the forefront.

Typically, most window film is a polyester film generally made of PET, Polyethylene Teraphthalate, the same polymer used to manufacture water bottles. Most films are applied to the interior surface of a glass window in a home, commercial building, or car, however some films are applied to the exterior surface of the glass window. A scratch resistant coating is adhered to the outer surface of the film for protection. Some are clear and feature multiple layers of PET to offer protection from shattering glass; others are tinted with metals, dyes or pigments to reduce the visible light transmitted through the glass, and block heat coming through from the sun (http://www.madico.com). Within the last decade, advancements have been made with a 'newer' type of film made out of ceramic. Huper Optik developed a ceramic film that is 100% metal and dye free. This type of film was created to provide a high performance heat, glare and UV light barrier. It will not break down and turn purple over time, like a dyed film, because there is no dye in the film that would cause fading.

At All American Window Tinting (A.A.W.T.) we carry products that we believe in and would put on our own cars, homes or office windows, AND we have! If you have any questions about our products, contact us today to find the RIGHT film for your car, residence or commercial business!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

Finding the right product for your home, office or automobile can be confusing and overwhelming. Tint shops can carry different brands of window film as well as different shades of tint within each brand. The intention of carrying different brands of film and different products is to ensure that multiple options are available for the customer to choose from. This article will explore the different types of film that we, at All American Window Tinting, use for automobiles, homes, and offices.

All of the films that we carry are for automobile window tinting comes with a lifetime warranty and they reject 99% to 99.9% of UV rays. The warranty covers any blistering, peeling, bubbling, or turning purple of film. If we offer a lifetime warranty on all our automotive films and they reject the same percentage of harmful UV rays, why do we carry different brands? Well, let's get a little bit more specific. Each film we carry can differ from each other based on one factor to multiple factors. It is usual to find that the darker the tint shade, the more heat is rejected. This is true for many films but with advancements in technology, manufacturers are discovering new ways to reject the same amount or more heat than a dark film while maintaining a lighter shade. However, since these films are high performing, the price for does increase.

When talking about films for residences and commercial properties, the products we carry vary due to many reasons. Not only concerned about variety, there are certain types of film that can not be applied to certain windows due to safety or effectivity. Since our professionals are aware of such concerns and know that not every job will want the same use for window film, we provide film to need almost every need. All of our residential films are lifetime warrantied and our commercial films vary on warranties by 10-15 years. Another great option for window film would be decorative film. We offer an array of classic and elegant patterns with a variety of textures and designs. Decorative window film adds privacy, enhances design, increases safety, cuts glare and is scratch resistant.

At All American Window Tinting (A.A.W.T.) we are very transparent about everything we do and will work with potential customers to ensure that they receive the best products for them. We carry products that we believe in and would put on our own cars, homes or office windows, AND we have! Contact us today to find the RIGHT film for your car, residence or commercial business!

Great Partnerships

Our company has partnered with 3M for over 15 years because they are a company of integrity. Seventeen years ago, a customer entered All American Window Tinting and chose a 3M film for her car. She decided to go with a 3M Panther 35 film, that offered a lifetime warranty. When customers are looking for the right film for them, they tend to ask questions, and these questions are important (if you need to know what to ask, click here for last week’s article). When searching for the right film, one expects to find a film that will not turn purple, bubble, blister or peel. The customer came back to our location 17 years later and said she still had her lifetime warranty and wanted the film removed and redone. We were put into a predicament because we no longer carried the Panther film and 3M no longer sold the film, as well. We called our local 3M distribution company for help to resolve the problem. 3M stood behind their product and honored the warranty by offering another film they manufactured. We were able to call the customer and inform her that the film she had on her vehicle was no longer in production but 3M would honor the warranty and offer her a 3M Color Stable 35 film.When we find a product that we think will be great for a customer, we put our full faith in the manufacturer’s promise of lifetime warranties. We take pride in every product that we offer at All American Window Tinting, and are amazed at the great partnerships we have created with our manufacturers.    Call us today at 303-936-1362 for a free estimate or to schedule an appointment. Ask us about our warranties!!

The Hassle of Searching for your Window Tinting Company

    The lengthy research of finding the right tint for your car, home or office can be frustrating and exhausting, is all that research really worth your time?  In the office, we receive many calls inquiring about our prices, products, duration of tint, warranties, and the legality of tint in our state as well as within other states.  Is it necessary to ask all these questions, over and over just to hear similar answers spewed back? Our answer is YES!

Why is it important to shop around and do your research? 
The items you possess, such as your car or the valuables in your home or office should be of high importance to you.  You should want the best product out there that will protect your skin, offer privacy and/or reduce the effects of fading on your furniture. 
We can guarantee that every film created is not the same even though they might be the same percentage, manufacturers create them to be unique to their company.  There are questions that need to be asked when shopping around that will give you a better idea of the best product for you. Here are just a few:

1. What is the legal limit of tint in my state or a state that I may move to in the near future?  An important question to ask because you do not want to get fined for illegal tint and you do not want to have to remove the tint if you move to another state with harsher tint laws. 

2. What is the warranty for the films?
Some films are relatively inexpensive and that could be due to their warranty.  If they do not offer a warranty or it's less than a few years, the product may not be a long term film.

3.  Are your brands of film trusted and in the industry for a long time?
It is always best to choose a film that is known within the window tinting business.  If you are not familiar with a brand and are skeptical about it, ask for information.  Companies should be able to provide you reviews, downsides and upsides of each product. 

These are only a few questions to get you started on your window tinting journey.  The more questions you ask, the better of an idea we have on what would suit your needs. 
Around here, we always say "You get what you pay for."  This isn't a jab at other window tinting companies and we are not trying to price gouge you, rather we believe that if the price is too good to be true, it probably isn't true in some area. 

At All American Window Tinting (A.A.W.T.) we are very transparent about everything we do and will work with potential customers to ensure that they receive the best products for them.  We carry products that we believe in and would put on our own cars, homes or office windows, AND we have!   Contact us today for any questions or a free quote!

The Perils of Sunlight

Sunlight, for many centuries, has proven to be a great constant in everyday living.  The sun has provided more than light to our existence and we continue to discover new information surrounding it's uses as well as it's dangers.  As a culture, we are very aware of the sun's ultraviolet rays and therefore the prevalence of skin cancer, but the sun can also cause damage our most prized possessions at a costly price.

In today's society, there's a high demand for large, open interior spaces that are overflowing with natural light.  This new trend has brought more light in buildings, which does conserve energy but at the same time, interior fabrics, paintings and finishes have become more susceptible to damage.  Currently, due to ozone depletion, higher levels of solar UV now reach the surface of the earth, harming items at a faster rate.  Ultraviolet radiation is invisible to the human eye but is the single largest contributing factor in fading of fabrics, carpets and other furnishings.  Although other factors such as visible light, electric lighting, heating, humidity, age of fabrics, and fabric dyes all play a part in the process, UV radiation is attributed to 40% of the damage.  Even in cold, cloudy climates, UV radiation can damage furnishings (Advanced Solar Guide Control, 2003). 

What is fading?
Fading is a change in color with time.  Fading is measured by evaluating the color of a material at two or more points in time. 

Fading has two main causes.  The first is chemical; where chemical changes in the coloring agents of the material can cause a change in color.  The second cause can be wear or abrasion, or the physical removal of coloring agents from a material's surface.   Fading of upholstery, linens, furniture and wood is not apparent at first but over time, the difference can be astonishing. 

What can be done to prevent fading?
According to the International Window Film Association (IWFA), Scientist have found that blocking all of the ultraviolet radiation portion of the solar spectrum would not eliminate fade damage for most fabrics and wood, but it would slow down the rate of fading by a factor of about three. 

Start taking precautions and protect your paint, furnishings, wood work, art, and loved ones against the harmful ultraviolet damage that the sun can cause.  We carry only the best window tints and window film products in Colorado, such as 3M™ High Performance window film, Huper Optik Select and Ceramic Series window films and Llumar Color Stable window films to ensure you get the best performance.

At All American Window Tinting, our staff is equipped with years of knowledge and expert training to ensure that all your window needs and concerns are met.   All American Window Tinting, Inc., we stand behind our work and promise to deliver only the highest of quality products with a professional installation that is sure to stand the test of time.  Contact us today for questions, to get a free quote or learn more about your window tinting options.