Window tinting technology has advanced since its conception in the 1940s to 1960s. Window tint films were first used on vehicles to reduce glare and indoor temperature. Eventually, window tinting Leicester is made available for architectural buildings in the 2000s.
While both automotive and architectural window tint films provide the same benefits – glare reduction, UV protection, increased privacy, and enhanced security, among others – the two types of window tinting products have several distinct differences.
Colour and Thickness
The colour of architectural window films is richer and more diverse, as some types can be used to decorate glass windows in homes and commercial buildings. In contrast, the colour of auto window films is generally natural, black, or green.
Moreover, in terms of film thickness, architectural window films are thicker than car window tint films. Building window films are generally between 3 to 4 millilitres thick. Meanwhile, car window tints are only between 1.5 to 3 millilitres thick as these have higher requirements for visible light transmittance.
Reflectivity
The most effective way of directing heat away from the building’s interior or the vehicle’s cabin is visible light reflection. Both architectural and auto window tint films have certain requirements on the light reflectance – the reflectivity of window films for buildings is higher than that of the tint films for vehicles.
The maximum reflectivity or solar heat rejection for architectural window films can reach up to 70 per cent. Meanwhile, the visible light reflectance properties of auto tint films cannot be higher than 40 per cent. This comes as too dark and too high reflectance can affect the line of sight of drivers and pose a big risk to their safety while on the road.
Metallic Composition
Metallic materials are added to window tint films to increase their colour stability and heat rejection. Such characteristics can help preserve the interior upholstery of vehicles and furniture and fixtures inside buildings.
However, high amounts of these metal microparticles can cause signal interference – this is essentially evident in vehicles as these have limited space and are surrounded mainly by the glass.
Window tint films with high metallic composition are most often used in architectural window tint films. On the contrary, some types of automotive window tint films still have metallic composition but are engineered to prevent signal interference on GPS, radio, and phone signals.
Adhesive
In general, window tint adhesives fall into two categories: dry adhesive and sticky adhesive.
The dry adhesive is often used on architectural window tints. This type of adhesive is activated using a soap and water solution and can be moved and repositioned before permanently sticking it on the window using a squeegee.
Sticky adhesive is used in the application of automotive window tint films. This comes as auto window tints are designed to shrink as vehicles have slightly curved glass windows. Sticky adhesives are a perfect fit because they are pressure-sensitive and retain high adhesion even on curved glass.
Where can you have window tints installed?
If you want to have the best window tints installed on your vehicle or architectural building, you can get the best deals at Global Tint. Global Tint is a reliable company offering window tinting in Peterborough and other UK locations.
We provide our customers with a level of excellence and superior service in caring, maintaining, installing, and replacing window tints. You can always contact us at 0800-158-8005 to get a free quote today. Furthermore, you can also visit our website at https://globaltint.co.uk/ to learn more about our services.
References
https://madico.com/madicou/what-is-the-difference-between-automotive-architectural-films
http://www.tintcenter.com/blog/2011/12/difference-between-car-tint-vs-home-tint/
https://www.signalsdefense.com/blog/what-is-architectural-window-film/
