How to Choose the Right Residential Window Tint for Your House

There are many benefits to tinting the windows on your house, but how do you choose the right tint? See our guide about residential window tint to learn more.

You can't escape the glare of the sun. It seems to dominate every room in your home. That's why you're considering tinting your windows. 



The question is: how do you choose the right residential window tint for your house? There are a few different things to take into consideration when doing so, and we're going to discuss them in detail below. 

Understanding VLT

First and foremost, you need to gain an understanding of VLT. This stands for Visible Light Transformation and it refers to the amount of light that a specific tint lets through. Note that it has very little to do with how dark the tint is, though, once you get under 35%, it can be difficult to see through the tint. 

A higher VLT percentage allows through more light. So, if the tint's VLT percentage is, say, 80%, it's going to let a lot more light into your home than is a tint with a VLT percentage of, say, 30%. 

It's fairly common for homeowners to choose a tint between 35% and 50% VLT. This stops a good amount of light from coming into your home while still allowing for good visibility and illumination. 

Assess Your Needs

Next, you should assess your needs. In other words, you should determine why you're tinting your windows in the first place. There are a number of reasons to tint windows, including the following. 

Privacy Purposes

Are you tinting your windows for increased privacy? If so, you're going to want to use a tint with a lower VLT percentage. In cases such as these, a 20% VLT is generally sufficient. 

Solar Protection Purposes

Looking to keep sunlight and UV rays out of your home? If so, you can opt for a window tint with a higher VLT. Something between 35% and 50% VLT will generally get the job done. 

Decorative Purposes

Window tints can be used for decorative purposes as well. When being used for this purpose, you can choose a tint of essentially any VLT percentage. That said, the lower the VLT, the more the tint will stand out. 

Glare-Reducing Purposes

Maybe you're tired of that sunlight glare on your TV or computer? If so, you could get rid of it by tinting your windows. Any VLT would work, but 35 to 50% VLT would reduce glare while also providing ample visibility and sunlight. 

Heat-Reducing Purposes

The more UV rays that come in through your windows, the hotter your home is going to be. Therefore, the lower your tint's VLT percentage, the cooler you'll keep your home. A good balance between heat reduction, visibility, and illumination is right around 35%. 

Choose a Color

Window tints aren't all just a shade of black. You can find them in black, gray, silver, blue, and other such colors. Whereas a black window tint might give your home a dark ambiance, a blue window tint might give it a cooling effect. 

In any case, you need to assess the full array of colors before you choose the one that best suits your home. 

Make Sure It Comes With a Warranty

Window tints don't last forever. In fact, most of them top out at around 5 years. Note, however, that extenuating factors could shorten this lifespan. 

This is why when choosing a window tint, you need to make sure that it comes with a warranty. A warranty covers a given length of time, ensuring that you're not paying more than you really have to. 

Not all window tints come with a warranty. If you choose one that doesn't, and it deteriorates before its time, you'll likely have to cover its replacement out of your own pocket. 

Ensure That It's Put on by a Reputable Installer

When you purchase a window tint, you're also purchasing the installation of that tint. As such, you need to consider not only the tint's quality but the installer's quality as well. In other words, you need to make sure that the installer is reputable and has done good work in the past. 

You can usually determine this by looking up the installer's name on Google. This will provide you with a variety of reviews from past customers. Use these reviews to form an opinion on each installer, and choose one with a positive reputation. 

Assess Durability

As noted, window tints don't last forever. In fact, there can be quite a bit of variation in terms of durability. Whereas some tints might only last for 3 years, other tints might last up to 7 years and sometimes even more. 

This is why, when choosing a window tint, you need to assess its durability. Ask the manufacturer how long the tint is designed to last, look up reports from customers online, and ensure that you're getting your money's worth. 

Again, when doing this, it's important to also look out for a warranty. The warranty will essentially guarantee a minimum lifespan for your window tint, ensuring that it lasts as long as you expect it to last. 

Looking for Residential Window Tint Services in Moncks Corner, SC?

Are you interested in tinting house windows? Looking for residential window tint services in Moncks Corner, SC? If so, we here at Carolina Tint & Wrap are the people to see. 

Carolina Tint & Wrap offer all types of window tints, and they come with a variety of benefits. Not only do they block harmful UV rays but they also do away with TV glare, color fading, and a range of other problems. 

Contact us now to discuss your window tinting needs!