How normal are bubbles in tint

Mzd3 · 08-14-04, 06:01

How normal is it to have some small bubbles on window tint? I had it installed by what I thought was a reputable shop. Each window has at least a few small bubbles that are about a 1 mm in diameter. Is this something to be expected...or should is it a sign of a sub par job that should be re done.

Here's what's makes the situation trickier. I'm afraid to take the car back to this business because after the last time I was there (having the rear window be redone because of some very noticable creases) I ended up seeing a scratch in the rear lip spoiler that's above the rear hatch window. I can't say for sure it was them that caused this scratch...but most likely it was because they had to remove this piece to do the window and this it's in a very unusual place for a scratch.

rjstaaf · 08-14-04, 06:07

For what tinting costs these days I would not accept a tint job that had that many bubbles in it. It is definitely not acceptable or the norm for a reputable shop.

I know what you mean about damage though. I had a good shop do my last car but, the tinter cut my interior door panel with a razor blade. He didn't say anything about it and I only caught it when I got home. Needless to say the installer didn't make a dime on that job as I pushed the owner of the shop into replacing my door panel. The installer had to pay for it. Aside from the damage to my door, he did a flawless job on the car.

HellrotCi · 08-14-04, 06:25

If your tint job is brand new a few small bubbles may show up but should go away in a couple of days. If they've been there for a week or more I'd go back to the shop to get it fixed.

Mzd3 · 08-14-04, 06:37

Thanks for the input so far.

I got it tinted more than a month ago so like you said, they are not going away at this point unless I take the car back to the shop. However, I'm worried about the shop doing more damage.

94BlkStang · 08-14-04, 07:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Mzd3
Thanks for the input so far.

I got it tinted more than a month ago so like you said, they are not going away at this point unless I take the car back to the shop. However, I'm worried about the shop doing more damage.

If it's a legit business and a quality shop, then they will have insurance to cover any damage they cause. There should be no bubbles in the tint and I wouldn't hesitate to take it back to them to have it redone and I would also point out the scratch to them and see if they will make good on it. Allowing a shop to do a flawed job isn't what you paid for. Make them do it right.

ncal · 08-15-04, 10:59

To be honest, I don't think you can do much about the scatch since it was a month ago. Not that they will try to stiff you but it's very easy for a customer to say that a business did it when in fact it was there already or happened somewhere else. I definately would go back to the shop and have them replace the tint. If its not up to par the second time then I would request a refund.

LouisanaJeeper · 08-16-04, 12:47

it can take up to 3 months for tint to fully cure.

as long as the bubbles are not raised (air pockets) they are areas of uncured/wet adhesive that will dissapear

Mindflux · 08-16-04, 07:33

In every vehicle I have ever had tinted I have always had small bubbles that never went away. The shops will not re-tint the windows either, because the bubbles are not big enough. I know several others with the same type of bubbles in the same type cars.. (probably lint or something from the interior)

hadboosttroy · 08-28-04, 04:27

I noticed you are from portland, what shop did you go to?

-troy

zey · 09-07-04, 12:04

I have my car tinted with V-Kool tint films since day one. The workmanship was very poor, I get more than 10 dirt-bubbles on each piece of tinted glass. I send my car back to the tint-shop after 2 weeks and redo the front windscreen and all side windscreen. This time, they do excellent job on the sides, but the front became worse with ugly streaks which can even be felt by running fingers over it. After patiently waiting for 2 months, I send my car back again to do the third time. After putting up the new layer, I found a dust-bubble right at my eye level. So I request for them to redo on the spot, there goes the fourth time! And finally things are done, BUT my rear view mirror was damaged while they were trying to remove. The internal bracket was bent badly and it vibrates terribly eventhough the engine is running at idling speed. I've also noticed some light scratches on the windscreen because they use a blade to cut the tint film on the windscreen. There are FOUR scratch trace on the front windscreen. I swear that I won't tint my glass in future on my new ride...

White95Max · 11-06-04, 01:53

I still see a few tiny bubbles in my tint, but i'm not concerned about it. They can't even be seen unless you're within 5 feet of the car. For the first week, the tint shop manager told me not to roll down the windows for a week, and park in the sun as much as I could to help the adhesive dry. I taped off all of the window switches so nobody could--even by accident--roll down the windows. I left the tape on for about 10 days and everything worked out perfectly. Almost all of the bubbles went away after a few days.

zzyyzx · 11-06-04, 02:01

Another area that often gets bubbles and most shops won't do anything about is on windows that have all those little "dots" fading in to the window. You see it a lot of the back windows. I guess the tint doesn't adhere well to that stuff either. If it's been more than a week, I'd take it back and at least ask them about it.