A few months ago I was contacted by a company called SnapTint. I believe that I’d done at least one write up for them in the past so I was familiar with the company and their home and car window tinting products.

The person who contacted me asked if they could send me one of their Do it yourself home window tinting kits. They wanted me to try their product on one of my windows and then if I wanted perhaps I could write about it to tell my readers of my experience.

I agreed to try their window film since my kitchen faces south and the sun coming in through the window in the morning is almost blinding! I figured a very light window tint couldn’t hurt and more than likely would reduce the glare and make the kitchen a much more pleasant place to spend time in on bright mornings.

A week to two weeks after I’d given the company the exact measurements of my window a long cardboard tube arrived. Actually we were out when it was delivered so one of our neighbors accepted it. The only problem was – they then went off on holidays forgetting to give us our package before they left! So my new window film has actually been here for about three weeks, but I only got it a week ago.

My husband and I decide to apply the window film to our kitchen windows on Sunday. We’d chosen one of the solar control film. There’s four types and the one that we were advised to use was the Suntek Symphony Neutral. We picked the lightest tint available which is the 50%.

I should mention here that along with the solar control films we could have picked one of their decorative or privacy films. I didn’t want that though as the kitchen window is how I view my garden while indoors. I suppose we could have also opted to take one of the car tint films but we didn’t really need that either since our car windows already have a built in tint.

I think putting the film on windows is best done by two people. I think it would be difficult if only one person were to attempt it. Not that it was hard – quite the opposite. Two people just made it that much easier.

We cleaned the windows well first.

Then, as directed we filled a spray bottle with a mixture of mild soap (baby shampoo, just a tad) and distilled water. We then liberally sprayed this mixture onto the first window pane that we’d decided to apply the film to. The slightly soapy mixture fixes the adhesive on the back of the window film and also makes it easier to move the window film around on the window as you put it in place.

We then peeled the backing off the first window film and applied it to the window. A quick spritz of the water mixture allowed us to use a squeegee on the window film to help push the air bubbles that were trapped under the film towards the window edges.

The window tint kit had come with some tools. I can’t remember what they are all called but the tools helped us smooth out the window film until it looked pretty much perfect on the window. We then used the box cutter that had come with the kit to trim the excess film from the window edges.

Here’s a photo of the first film after it had been applied, but before we trimmed it:

The film actually appeared to be quite a bit darker than I thought it would be.

You can see the difference between the window filmed pane and the untouched window panes in that photo. The directions said that the film would appear a little milky at first when applied but as it cured – it takes up to three weeks to cure – it would clear. I do think that now that the film has been on the windows for a few days that it has cleared a bit (it was never milky or opaque) and it looks great.

I should note here that the directions said that if any small air bubbles appeared, ones that were less than 1/8th of an inch that they would disappear as the film cured. I think we managed to get the majority of bubbles out, but there were a few. Now that the window is finished you cannot see any bubbles.

When we’d finished putting the window film on all three window panes I took this photo:

I believe it was about 6 pm at the time. It should have been much brighter out but the day was overcast so this photo doesn’t really show the window and it’s new tint in the best light. You can see that it is slightly tinted, but that we can still see outside quite well.

The curtains are back up and when you look at the window you’d never know we just put a film on it. i mean yes there’s a tint, but the film attached itself to the window so completely and my husband trimmed the excess film off so well you’d think the window came with the tint built in.

Some of the benefits that I’m looking forward to with our new window film is the fact that the film can reduce glare and heat by up to 93%. Our kitchen is on the south side of the house and is often the warmest room on the main floor in the summer. If it’s a few degrees cooler as a result of the window film I’ll be happy.

The solar film also blocks out up to 99% of harmful UV rays which means that any items, furnishings or even the curtains should be protected from the UV rays and as a result shouldn’t fade.

If you have a room that’s too bright or car windows that could use some tint to reduce glare visit SnapTint. My experience with their window film has been good so far. If I notice any changes in the film at any time – good or bad I’ll be sure to update this post.

At this point I’m happy to give SnapTint and it’s window films two thumbs up.