Tinting home windows

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ps99472

ps99472

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One of my upstair rooms gets direct afternoon sun and heats up like an oven around 3-5pm.  Thinking of getting some sort of tinting on the windows getting hit with sun.  Anyone done this before?  Who would I go with, maybe a car tint shop?  To avoid HOA issues, I would go with a almost clear to lighter tint so it is not noticeable.  A metallic tint can reflect most of the heat?
 
www.wintechsolutions.com

I know the owner from way back. He used to do car tinting (tinted my Toyota truck a loooong time ago) then after he graduated college, made it into a business that did car dealerships and eventually residential and office windows.
 
didnt think of this b4... this is a awesome idea... i wonder if they have the polarized window tints so from outside HOA cant tell the difference and inside ppl wont even know the windows are tinted, but all the heat reflected... that would help A LOT with insulation

if u do proceed can u post up the costs? hahaha i suddenly want to budget this in along with my furniture
 
I used these guys for a clear bra and tint installation.  Top notch work, very professional, but definitely not cheap.  Their NorCal location does building work, but I don't know if the SoCal location will go to your house.  Of note, their IR nano tint will supposedly block more heat/UV than competing brands without having to go dark on your tint, at least that's what their literature and research says, but always YMMV.  Check out their video on their tint vs other brands, it's interesting.  They're mainly auto oriented, but doesn't hurt to ask.  Good luck.  No affiliation, just a happy customer...blah, blah, blah.

http://www.premiermobilegroup.com/index.shtml
 
In the meantime, thinking of some temporary window covering, read that the cellular shades provide the best insulation against heat and cold?  Any feedback?  Cordless?  1-2 cell? 
 
Be sure the HOA is going to agree to tinting. Try to locate the HOA President or a Board Member to get their take on it.

We tinted our entire house and saw our electrical bill cut by 20%, and our interior heat drop from the 90's to the upper 70's. This was 10+ years ago so I don't have a good contact name at this moment. Strongly recommended. 
 
OCgasman said:
Not to be pedantic, but what's wrong with curtains or blinds?  They'll serve the same purpose.
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I read online cellular shades provide the best insulation, on windows with high sun.  I would prefer blinds but looking more for temperature effect then aesthetic effect.  (btw, I had to google "pedantic".. definitely a SAT word
 
When I was signing my purchase contract, there was something in there about tinting the windows will void your windows warranty.  Something about the double pane windows are filled with gas, and tinting them will cause the windows to "malfunction".
 
gaogi said:
When I was signing my purchase contract, there was something in there about tinting the windows will void your windows warranty.  Something about the double pane windows are filled with gas, and tinting them will cause the windows to "malfunction".
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PS9 didn't purchase a new home so I doubt there is any warranty on the windows in his home.  That being said, my dad tinted the windows in his Vegas home and it cut his electric bill by about 10-15% during the summer time.
 
Instead of tinting... you can always brick. :)

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Pedantic - the middle ocean between the Pacific and the Atlantic.
IHO - those bricks are definitely above your weep screed. Get your contractor to get that fixed.

I don't have a contact currently for residential tinting but will search for a good referral for you.
Highly recommend the cordless cellular blinds, which still allow a good amount of natural light penetration but still allows for privacy, and I've had fewer issues with the raise/lower mechanism than with the older "corded" versions. They're also safer (no choking hazard) and nearly the same cost as the other alternatives.

-IR2
 
gaogi said:
When I was signing my purchase contract, there was something in there about tinting the windows will void your windows warranty.  Something about the double pane windows are filled with gas, and tinting them will cause the windows to "malfunction".
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oh noooooooooo :(... dammit these builders have it all thought out... gosh...
 
Got my temporary fix, no not the ghetto paper tape accordion shades for $5, but got the high class ghetto 1-cell linen/beige cordless cellulars from Lowes.  Around $50 for the Allen/Roth brand (supposedly made by Hunter Douglas for Lowes), had the exact width I needed, length was a tad long but not too worrisome with these vertical cellulars.  The fancy cloth like 2-cell ones are over $200!
 
ps9 said:
no not the ghetto paper tape accordion shades for $5
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Oh no you dih-uhnt...

We actually put those "temporary" shades up in our first new home thinking we would get window coverings quickly after we moved in... ended up using them for over a year... hehe... now that's ghetto.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
ps9 said:
no not the ghetto paper tape accordion shades for $5
Click to expand...
Oh no you dih-uhnt...

We actually put those "temporary" shades up in our first new home thinking we would get window coverings quickly after we moved in... ended up using them for over a year... hehe... now that's ghetto.
Click to expand...

Does irvine pacific offer them in their design center?  If they do, don't get them, use the IHO/PS9 ghetto contractor team, we'll put up all ur paper shades in ur home for cheap, maybe $2 per sq ft.  And we require lunch and a tip as well. :)
 
Sweat equity at 10pm... Ouch

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Worked a busy 8 hr at work, got home and put in my ghetto fab cellular shade.  Forgot my power drill, hence the hand welt, gonna get a nice bubble tomorrow..

Not bad for $50 and a busted hand, I'm gonna flip this house for profit now :)
 
irvinehusky said:
I understand that the window tinting would be good for the hot summer months here but what effect does it have
during wintertime when you might want some sun to warm up the inside of the house?  I realize we're not living in
North Dakota but just curious.
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Having lived in Socal for the most part of my life, never recalled thinking "let's warm up the house."  I even hesitate to call winter in Socal, mid 60's is the lowest extreme, and if that happens using the central heater to warm the house for a few weeks is alot cheaper then using A/C to cool down the house for the majority of the year.
 
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