Safety and Legal Precautions

Your tinted windows must comply with state and local laws, which you should research before installing any film. You can check your State Tinting Laws on our website. Please use proper judgement when applying dark tint to your vehicle. Very dark tint could render visibility, which could lead to serious injury or death. Florida Custom Tinting assumes no responsibility for the improper or illegal application of window film. If you have any questions about your product, you can contact us at : [email protected]

Tools Required

Things You Should Know Before You Begin

Preparation Steps

Gather all tools. Mix 1-2 caps  of baby shampoo into 1 quart of distilled water to make a soapy solution, or mix FILM AID according to package directions. The more soap you use the longer it will take for the film to lock.  Fill a spray bottle. Use this solution throughout the entire application process. Identify the release liner which protects the adhesive side of the film. Usually the liner is on the outside of the curl of the roll.

Film Installation Steps

1. Thoroughly spray the soapy solution on the inside and outside surfaces of the window(s) you plan to tint. Use a razor blade to lightly scrape away any dirt or residue from the glass. Respray and hand wash both surfaces of the glass. Use a squeegee or lint-free cloth to dry the surface. The cleaner the glass, the better the film application will look.

2. Wet the outside of the glass with the soapy solution and place the film onto the wet glass with the liner side facing outward. Spray the film then squeegee to hold it temporarily in place.

3. Spray the soapy solution on the INSIDE surface of the window until thoroughly wet. Gently lift the pre-cut film from the outside of the window.

4. To separate the film from the release liner, dry both sides of a film corner, and place two pieces of transparent tape on each side of the film corner: half of the tape on the film, half extending over the corner edge. Press the two pieces of tape firmly together, then quickly pull them apart to expose the adhesive. Peel liner apart diagonally, from corner to corner. While handling the film, do not allow the adhesive to touch itself.

5. While removing the liner, spray the adhesive side of the film. Place the wet adhesive onto the wet INSIDE of the window. Handle film carefully. DO NOT CREASE. Allow the film to slide easily. Wet your fingertips with the solution and smooth the film into place. If the film does not slide easily on the glass, remove film and respray the glass. Reapply.

6. Spray the outside film surface thoroughly. On flat glass, squeegee from top downward only, not side to side. On curved glass, squeegee from the center to the bottom, then squeegee film toward the sides. Press firmly on squeegee to remove ALL water and bubbles from under film. Use a lint-free cloth to wipe up excess water. Trim as necessary with a sharp blade.

7. Lubricate the gasket at the bottom of roll-up windows with a few drops of solution, then press the 1/4'' flap of film down between the window and the gasket. If puckers appear under the film, use a credit card or ruler as a guide and trim the bottom film edge. Respray the film and resqueegee toward the newly cut edge to remove air and solution.

8. If any trimming is needed, use a new razor blade to carefully cut the film. On fixed windows, leave a 1/16 inch  gap trimmed around the film so you will be able to remove the water from under the film.

9. Respray the top surface of the film then firmly squeegee to remove ALL bubbles. Repeat as needed. For areas too small to squeegee, wrap a clean, soft cloth around a credit card or hard card  and firmly press the remaining water toward the nearest edge. If a  V shaped pucker appears, the window has a compound curve. If the puckers are less than 2 inches  long, respray the film and squeegee firmly and slowly. If puckers are larger, refer to: Tinting Compound Curved Windows instructions.

10. Leave windows rolled up for at least 3 days. Film may appear cloudy or foggy at first this is normal. Film should clear up in a few days.

Drying time:

Your new window film will take about 3 to 5 days to fully dry, sometimes a lot longer depending on film type, and weather conditions. Until this time your tinted windows may appear hazy or lumpy, and it may seem to have water bubbles. Do not roll your tinted windows down until dry!

How to Tint Curved Rear Windows

The back side and rear windows of some vehicles may have curved surfaces that prevent film from lying flat without v-shaped or finger bubbles. Film cannot conform to these surfaces without being heat-shrunk. TintKits.com Rear Window Kits contain one-piece of film that is 1/4 inch  larger than the actual window. This gives plenty of room for shrinking and forming.

1. Review basic film installation instructions before applying the film. DO NOT scrape defroster lines while cleaning the rear window.

2. Spray the OUTSIDE of the glass and place the film on the window with the liner side facing you. Spray the film and temporarily squeegee it into place before heating.

3. Use a heat gun to heat the film and form it to the back window. DO NOT place the heat gun in one location for more than a few seconds. Carefully use the heat gun to apply heat and squeegee the film away from the center of the rear window. If fingers become to large, split them into two with your finger and continue heating and squeeging the film. Take your time. This process may take 10-15 mins or so depending on vehicle. All creases should be out of the film before proceeding to the next step.

4. Respray the INSIDE surface of the window and spray the adhesive side of the film. Position the film along the bottom of the window and squeegee it firmly from the center to the sides. If any trimming is needed, use a new razor blade to carefully cut the film. On fixed windows, leave a 1/16 inch  gap trimmed around the film so you will be able to remove the water from under the film.

5. Re-squeegee problem areas in the film as you proceed, trimming as needed. CAUTION: do not cut defroster lines. Use a hard card to firmly press out all fingers.

6. Always clean film with a soapy water solution and a clean, soft squeegee. NEVER use ammonia, vinegar, household cleaners, paper towels, or brushes to clean.

For more instructions on How To Install Window Film, Visit www.tintdude.com

Here is a link that will show you how to Shrink Window Film using Soapy Water:

http://www.tintdude.com/soapshrinkmethod.html

Horizontal Strip Multi-Piece Rear Window Installation Instructions

1 CLEANING THE REAR WINDOW

¥ Clean the inside and outside of the window as you

did with the side windows, using a plastic scrubbie to

remove any stubborn debris.

¥ DO NOT use a razor blade on rear window defroster

lines or dot matrix.

¥ Clean under the gasket and around the brake light

to remove any embedded dirt.

2 PREPARING THE STRIPS

¥ The film strips will be prepared on the outside of

the window (final installation will be done on the

interior). Wet the top of the window with the Solution.

¥ Starting at the left side, roll the first strip across the

top of the glass underneath the dot matrix pattern,

with the liner side facing out. (Figure H)

¥ Trim the right edge with a sharp blade.

¥ Squeegee the strip into place and then trim the

left edge.

¥ Spray the window again in preparation for the next

strip.

¥ Repeat these steps until you have three strips

prepared on the glass, overlapping the strips slightly

at the middle and more at the sides. Adjust each strip

so the overlap with the previously installed strip is

the same at the left and right, with a 1/16Ó to 1/8Ó

overlap in the middle. Note that the strips will naturally

have a greater overlap toward the left and right sides

than in the middle.

¥ The final strip will be done after the first three are

applied.

3 APPLYING THE STRIPS

¥ We recommend that you use a fluorescent shop light

to help illuminate the rear window from the inside.

¥ Remove the top strip from the back glass then move

to the inside of the vehicle.

¥ Remove the liner from the first 8Ó to 10Ó of the film

strip, and wetting the adhesive as you go.

¥ Spray the top of the window in preparation for applying

the strip.

¥ Apply the strip to the window, moving from left to

right, removing the liner as you work across the glass.

(Figure I)

¥ Using the soft rubber edge of the squeegee, squeegee

the water from under the film.

¥ Repeat these steps with each film strip, overlapping

the strips in the same manner as they were prepared.

4 PREPARING THE FINAL STRIP

¥ Lay the final strip across the outside of the rear

window. Trim the bottom to the edge of the dot matrix

pattern.

¥ Place the fluorescent light in the rear window to

illuminate the brake light area. Trim the film around

the edge of the brake light. Never obstruct the brake

light with film.

¥ Apply the film to the inside as with previous strips,

fitting the brake light cut out around the light housing.

¥ Squeegee the film into place, removing all Solution

from the corners and edges of the glass.

You may notice imperfections such as air bubbles or

debris between the film and the glass. EZMount adhesive

allows you to peel the film away from the glass, fix the

problem, and re-apply for up to 24 hours. Simply peel the

affected area of the film away from the glass, spray with

solution, and use your squeegee or knife to remove any

debris or bubbles. Re-spray the adhesive with the Solution

and re-apply to the glass. Once applied, re-spray the outer

surface of the film and re-squeegee.

The film fully "cures" over the next week to 10 days. Dry,

sunny weather speeds curing; wet, cold weather prolongs

it. During curing, the film may initially look hazy or

cloudy; this effect will disappear with time and/or exposure

to heat (i.e. the sun or a hair dryer).