Tinting Toppers

southcentraltinting · June 19, 2010

I had a custy in today who wanted their topper tinted. I took a look at it and gave my quote. When I got it inside I had to remove the metal frame, remove the screen and then did my standard cut on the outside and transfer to the inside. When I was done I have a blade width of light gap around the edge, due to the gasket being smaller on the outside then inside. Were talking maybe 1mm. The custy left and them came right back and complained about the job, said it was crap and that he wanted his money back. I tried to explain to him the process and educate him on why it is like that, but that it would not cause any problem, only visual IF you are that picky. Long story short I evded up giving him his money back and apologized. He told me that I should go get trained on how to tint and then he might let me try it again.

Any advice on how I could of done this better? The glass was a slider glass on the side slip in the middle, and the gaskets were fixed so I could not slide the tint under them. I debated about just cutting the pattern on the inside, do a one step....unsure if I will try another one again.

Ryker · June 19, 2010

I call it "flat glassing" and cut it on the inside....rough cut and then install like a residential window. Get a very close cut...if that doesn't satisfy the customer then you could use a black silicone to edge it....

toppers are a pain and I try to avoid them...

SuperSetKing · June 19, 2010

I call it "flat glassing" and cut it on the inside....rough cut and then install like a residential window. Get a very close cut...if that doesn't satisfy the customer then you could use a black silicone to edge it....
toppers are a pain and I try to avoid them...

I agree. I have had the same issue. I always seem to have under quoted. got more out of the challenge of somin diff then monetary value.

June 19, 2010

This is where it pays to compare inside area of glass to outside trimming size possibilities.

Mine might be a bit unorthodox but half gets trimmed first, I then slide or reposition the film so the trimmed sides now overlap the edge gasket and the other half is trimmed.

If the sliding panel has no frame at one end I align the film's factory or straight edge to that and then begin the aforementioned process.

Clean up curves on peel board.

:thumb :lol

June 19, 2010

This is where it pays to compare inside area of glass to outside trimming size possibilities.
Mine might be a bit unorthodox but half gets trimmed first, I then slide or reposition the film so the trimmed sides now overlap the edge gasket and the other half is trimmed.

If the sliding panel has no frame at one end I align the film's factory or straight edge to that and then begin the aforementioned process.

Clean up curves on peel board.

that is how I do it as well, back when I did them. I dont think I have done a topper in 10 yrs.

me too ! I do RV windows this way as well ...

tint123 · June 19, 2010

Sure hope you charged a removal fee and did not give 100% of the $$ back.

In fact it just happens the removal fee is the same price as the install. Which do you prefer ? Leaving the film on, or having it removed and still being out the $$ ?

June 19, 2010

that was real generous of you to give back the money, that is how I would have done it too. No other way to do it unless you pulled the metal gasket apart which could turn in to a mess

TintJunkie · June 19, 2010

Felt tip opaque pen would have done the trick. Ive got the same windows on the topper on my truck. The glass is factory tinted and Im not going to tint them.

Heres the deal. This guy wanted them tinted for privacy...and thats what you gave him. Im sure the gap could not be seen from the outside. In his defense, you should have warned him of it, just like you should always warn customers about dot matrix and how it could look when finished. Dark film will ALWAYS show gaps worse than light film.

I run into the same problem with flat glass. When people want a 20%VLT film on their home, I always warn about the gap looking more dramatic, but there will always be a gap on most residential windows.

southcentraltinting · June 19, 2010

I told him about the felt pen I can use to fill in the light gap. He was pretty|\|4L about it should not have a gap in the first place... one of those guys that thinks his Tundra is a BMW...Grade A Assmonkey. He also had the audacity to ask about a warranty on the film.