Small Bubbles After 1 Week - Redo or Chill?

madmensch · March 20, 2016

Hi all,

New to the forums and just wanted to say thank you in advance to those who contribute here. Just got a new car tinted with Llumar ceramic and after a week 3 small bubbles have appeared on the bottom of the window (photo below). My car has frameless windows so they retract automatically when you open the door. I'm wondering if this is what caused the bubble or if it was an installer issue.

Anyway, I paid way too much for this work (around $400) so I'd like to think they should redo it. Or am I being unreasonable and picky? This would be my 3rd time going back to this installer, the first two times were for the wrong tint color and a "finger" bubble that appeared along the bottom edge. I also noticed a small hairline scratch along the bottom edge but I'm not even going to bring that up at this point because I'm tired of going back. My main concern are those bubbles.

Your advice is appreciated.

Bham · March 20, 2016

Hi madmensch. I think you have answered your own question. :thumb

Those were most likely caused by the auto drop on your windows, and the scratch is probably from them tucking film behind the sweep. Those will it go away and that should be redone. :yep

:welcome and Good Luck.

DynamicATL · March 20, 2016

Just FYI it takes longer than a week to fully dry and cure.

madmensch · March 21, 2016

Just FYI it takes longer than a week to fully dry and cure.

Yeah I considered that as well however there doesn't seem to be any liquid under the bubble as it feels "flat". Does that make a difference?

Thanks for the feedback, do you know if an installer normally would redo a whole window for something like this or is it bordering "picky and unreasonable"?

madmensch · March 21, 2016

Hi madmensch. I think you have answered your own question.

Those were most likely caused by the auto drop on your windows, and the scratch is probably from them tucking film behind the sweep. Those will it go away and that should be redone.

and Good Luck.

Thanks for your response. Will contact them tomorrow to hopefully get this resolved!

Lock · March 21, 2016

This is a redo and any respectable shop would redo it for free.

Those won't go away and it looks like someone attempted to push the bubbles out after it started to cute.

If the scratch is on the glass in sure it was already there. If it's on the tint then probably installer error.

TTS · March 21, 2016

Those are air bubbles.... Probably from the auto venting of the glass... These guys are spot on... Any shop would view that as a reasonable redo request if they are a quality driven operation.

DynamicATL · March 21, 2016

If it is an air bubble than it will not go away and any professional shop would replace. If this is happening multiple times than just make sure they cut the film longer to go past the rubber seal.

Only time a customer should be seen as "picky" is if they are complaining about 1 or 2 specs of dust in the film.

customizer1000 · March 21, 2016

If it is an air bubble than it will not go away and any professional shop would replace. If this is happening multiple times than just make sure they cut the film longer to go past the rubber seal.

Only time a customer should be seen as "picky" is if they are complaining about 1 or 2 specs of dust in the film.

Don't ya love those.

Tintguy1980 · March 21, 2016

Air bubbles = replace.

Glass scratch = tough to determine as new or been there. Without film the eyes are naturally looking through glass. A change in visible light transmission such as what occurs with film installation provides enough of an optical distraction to where the eyes now focus on the glass surface. Any previous imperfections in glass will now stand out.

I can also say without hesitation, if the shop squeegee'd effectively a CTX from LLumar will be dry within two days easy under SoCal sun exposure.

The misconception of many is that pressure sensitive films (used in auto and buildings) cure. This is a mechanical adhesive with instant bonding capability once in contact with a surface, there is no curing. In window film's case it is installed with a wetting agent, so it need only dry to reach contact with the glass surface and create a bond.