How Long Does It Take to Tint a Car?
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Needing to add some tint to your windows? If so, you might be wondering how long does it take to tint a car? The truth is it just depends, and it has a lot to do with your goals. It’s not a service that you’ll need to carve out a whole week for but, you might have to be without your car for a few hours, something that you’ll have to account for.
How Long Does It Take to Tint a Car?
When looking into how long does it take to tint a car, you should first understand the factors that influence the tinting time. For example, if you have large windows, it will take much more time. On top of that, it depends on the number of windows you’re tinting and the shape of them.
One estimate when it comes to time is about 1.5 hours. That’s the average calculated for all cars. SUVs alone could take 2 to 4 hours and front door tinting on standard cars takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
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The Cost of Tinting
The cost of window tinting is also something that varies. The total will depend on things like how dark the tint is and the brand of the car you’re tinting. The prices can range anywhere from $100 up to $900 for tinting your car. Like we mentioned above, the time and the price depend on the number of windows, the intensity of the tint, and the type of vehicle you’re tinting. With all of these, the price could go up or down.
Can you Tint your Windows Yourself?
Yes, you can but, you have to be patient and know that you may mess up here and there. When doing it alone, it could take more time to add a tint, as you’re probably going to be figuring things out. Give yourself a few hours to get everything finished and make sure to factor in drying time. Drying times can take longer depending on the weather, so follow these estimates to be sure.
Window Tinting in the Winter
When you add tint to your windows, you should avoid doing things like rolling down your window. In the winter, the weather is much colder and it could take the tacky material a while to set, which could be up to 5 weeks in all.
Window Tinting in the Summer
The summer months are hot and, in some places dry. If you live in a place that’s super dry, your tint will be dry in as little as three days. In other places, it could take up to 5 days.
Keep it Under Control
To reduce the amount of time it will take for the tint on your car to dry up, only tint in a controlled environment without much moisture. Try a garage or a closed space that is warmer and without any wind or moisture coming in.
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When Can I Roll the Windows Down?
Before you drive away from your dealership, your window tinter should let you know about rolling windows down. It should take you about 2 to 4 days before you can start rolling the window down but, could take longer depending on the conditions. You can always keep a lookout for little bubbles, making sure they are all gone before messing with your windows.
Speeding Up the Process
Did you know that you could speed up the drive time for your car windows? That’s right! We have a few tips and tricks that you can follow so that your tint can dry in no time.
1. Use a Squeegee
When you’re getting ready to use a tint on your windows, make sure that you pack a squeegee along with you. Use this to start and squeeze water out of the tint, which will speed up the drying time and possibly cut it in half.
2. Keep Car Warm
If you always park your car outside, you might want to look for a warm and dry place to keep it while your tint is drying. Keeping your car warm is key to getting your tint to dry faster, something that you want when you’re in a hurry to have your car back and working life before.
3. Use the Sun
The sun is a powerful drying agent. When you can, try and keep your car parked in direct sunlight, which will speed up the drying process. You may get the best results this way, as the sun is pretty hot most days.
4. Skip the Car wash
Tint is applied on the inside of the car, not on the outside. Still, you should avoid washing your car while it’s drying. Adding water to the outside of the windows creates moisture that can prevent your window tint from drying quickly.
5. Go with the Pros
Just like many other things with your car, it’s always recommended to go with the pros. Don’t trust just anyone to add tint to your windows, making sure that they know what they are doing. Plus, if anything happens, you can rest assured that your issue will be taken care of if they have a guarantee.
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DIY or Tint with a Pro
While you can try out tinting on your own, you could go with a certified technician that has experience installing tint. If you go with the pros, you’ll likely have some kind of guarantee of quality and have detailed instructions on how to keep your tint from cracking.
If you do it yourself, you’re looking at spending more time, figuring it out, and possibly getting frustrated, though you will save a few bucks. Whatever you decide, you’ll want to think about the amount of time it takes and how long it will need to dry.
Whatever you choose, make sure that you keep your car in good drying conditions so that the tint can dry quickly, and don’t forget to refrain from rolling down your windows too much until you’re sure it is set.
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