Frequently Asked Questions??
Q: Does installing films and laminates actually do anything besides enhance the looks of the glass?
A: Absolutely! Applying tint to your windows provides several benefits besides making it look great. Some of the additional benefits are: less light entering areas where you wish was less bright; less solar energy entering your home; lower electricity costs as the home is more energy efficient; and better privacy from people trying to see in. Additionally, applying security laminate to your glass provides a great layer of protection against potential intruders. Remember, this isn't bullet resistant but it will keep intruders out for much longer than without it being installed on your glass.
Q: Are there a lot of manufacturers of tint & laminates? Also, how do we know we are buying reputable products?
A: That is a great question! There are several manufacturers throughout the world that produce these products. However, there are a few ways to help determine if you are getting quality or junk. The first thing is to research the manufacturer on the internet and see what kind of reviews it has and their history. The second way to tell is by the manufacturer's warranty period. If the warranty for interior residential is anything less than limited lifetime, or commercial interior 12-15 year, or exterior 3 year, I wouldn't use that product. The warranty periods on reputable products are usually very similar and meet or exceed the timeframes per product type listed above. The last thing to check is if just anyone can purchase the product online? If anyone can purchase the product from an online store or from a local hardware store, chances are really good it is NOT a quality product. If you are curious about a specific brand (that another company is selling and installing) give us a call and we will be glad to advise you.
Q: Which manufacturers do you recommend, sell, and install?
A: We sell ONLY reputable, industry-leading and time-tested manufacturers to partner with and it all depends on what product type you are looking for. For example, with security laminates companies like Madico®, 3M, Llumar®, and Avery Dennison are some of the most reputable companies in the business that provide the longest warranty periods. When you move into flat glass tint, those plus a few other manufacturers provide good product. Then when you get into auto tint, the list grows even larger of reputable manufacturers, like those already listed and others like Expel. It all depends on what type of project you need done, but rest assured, we will never sell or install any product that does not compete with the best in the business.
Q: Is there a product that provides both security laminate and tint properties?
A: Absolutely! We sell many varieties of solar control 8 mil security laminates and a couple of options on the 12 mil security laminates. You can get an 8 mil security laminate with anywhere from 15% -45% tint range, with color options of dark greay, reflective silver, dual-reflective (both sides reflective), and for the 12 mil you can get the frosted look. Unfortunately, with thicknesses over 12 mils, the product starts to break down in performance and/or longevity. However, there are several customized solutions that can be tailored to get you exactly what you are looking to achieve.
Q: What are the cost differences between security laminate and tint? And what are all the associated fees with the typical install?
A: The cost differences are right around $10-$18 more per square foot for security laminate comapred to standard tint. The reason for this is the manufacturing process requires additional steps, processes, and raw materials. Plus, security laminates include the installation of wet glaze anchoring to bond the lamiante to the frame for extra protection and stregnth. This is done on the interior side of the glass-frame junction and is a tedious process. The wet glaze product (Dowsil 995) is expensive as well. For these reasons, the security laminates are double or more per square foot compared to standard tint.
For the associated fees, it all depends on a few factors: 1) Is there existing tint on the glass? This may require a tint removal fee depeding on how easy it is to remove and how much there is; 2) Does more than 10% of the total project contain individual pane sizes of less than 3 SqFt? If yes, there will be a small pane fee in addition to the normal prices. If less than 10% of the total project, we will not charge any additional fees for them; 3) Do the windows or glass have excessive amounts of dirt, grime, or residue on them? Depending on how tough it is to clean them for a satisfactory install, there may be additional fees; 4) Is the working location within 50 miles of Mountain Home, Arkansas? We bill for travel based on total distance mileage and daily install rates for lodging and meals.
Q: Will you travel? If so, how far are you willing to venture for an install project?
A: Absolutely! In fact, 75% of our work is in states other than Arkansas. There is no distance limit for how far we are willing to travel. Over 80% of our customers are commercial with schools being our main customer. Regardless of the location, we charge the same price and just throw the travel expenses on top to cover those hard costs. Oddly enough, after the first install project is complete, it's like a chain reaction with the same customer requesting more and more work to be done. In the year of 2023, we installed over 80,000 feet of laminate/tint and wet glaze anchoring.