Film curing in the Winter

June 17, 2010

How does the film cure after a customer leaves your shop in the winter months? Lets say you live in a cold northern climate, the film when it leaves your shop is not done curing and still needs a few days of sunlight to get all the little white bubbles out. What happens when you live in -0 or lower temperatures?

Obviously in the spring/fall/summer the results are relatively universal. Not sure if humid or dry climates make much difference. Anyone got answers or personal experience dealing with window film installation in cities with major weather fluctuations over a calendar year?

TintDude · June 17, 2010

It depends on the film and its type/construction. It could be a day or a month or more if it was limp wristed.

By the way "little white bubbles" don't go away. :twocents

June 17, 2010

I guess what I meant was that, there are small amounts of condensation (NOT IMPERFECTIONS) that remain behind for a few days to a week after installing that comes out gradually in the sun light. How does -30 weather effect the curing process?

I realize that man made imperfections don't come out, I guess I needed that refresher sentence just in case I'm hard of learning.

Let's say your installer is using the typical Llumar automotive window film, that you would find at your average shop, not any high end premium Llumar film, just the average stuff, and not some Ebay no name film. Just the average what every customer wants to pay for stuff. (I Know some customers pay for the top end stuff)

June 17, 2010

If it's "average" film or "higher end " film it should dry nearly the same. In the winter months I tell people 7-10 days, summer I say 3-5....... :thumb

One exception, huper cer. 30 will have a longer dry time.....again :twocents

TomTint · June 17, 2010

The residual water can also freeze behind the film and it looks a little like snow flakes between the film and glass.

Slick · June 18, 2010

I guess what I meant was that, there are small amounts of condensation (NOT IMPERFECTIONS) that remain behind for a few days to a week after installing that comes out gradually in the sun light. How does -30 weather effect the curing process?
I realize that man made imperfections don't come out, I guess I needed that refresher sentence just in case I'm hard of learning.

Let's say your installer is using the typical Llumar automotive window film, that you would find at your average shop, not any high end premium Llumar film, just the average stuff, and not some Ebay no name film. Just the average what every customer wants to pay for stuff. (I Know some customers pay for the top end stuff)

Of course as already has been said, a lot depends on how "limp-writsted" the installer was. Any decent shop in the northern areas will know that, and take steps to get as much water out as possible, especially in the colder months. I know here, when I was using Llumar AT or ATR, and installed it at -30, it would take about a week to dry out....maybe a bit more, but I always warn the customer that it could take up to a month...even though I have never seen it take that long on any jobs I have done.

Balzyone · June 18, 2010

I personally think if it is -30, outside, you should stay in bed under the blankets and tell them to come back when it get s little bit warmer. I know it got down to -17 when I was in MN and that was just tooo dam cold for human life.

tint_audiopros · June 18, 2010

using Film On with sputtered or metalized film in the winter will help as will removing as much slip as possible.

Slick · June 18, 2010

I personally think if it is -30, outside, you should stay in bed under the blankets and tell them to come back when it get s little bit warmer. I know it got down to -17 when I was in MN and that was just tooo dam cold for human life.

then you would be in bed many months of the year in Canada.....wimp. :finger: