Since 1989 Fletch Window Tint has installed over 1 million square feet of window tint. One of the most important considerations when selecting which film we offer, is the life expectancy of the film we install.

The biggest reason this is important to us is that we want happy, repeat customers. If a customer’s tint fails, by bubbling or peeling, it’s not the manufacturer that gets the blame it’s the shop that installed it.

Also, since we have serviced practically every major car dealership group in San Antonio, film failure becomes the dealership’s headache as well. Since customers typically pay a higher price tag at the car dealership for their tint, the tint needs to perform.

Interestingly, over the past 30 years we have installed many brands and types of films, with varying results. Some of those films are no longer around, and even some tint manufacturers have disappeared. When we encounter a film with even the slightest failure rate, we immediately remove it from our product line.

So how long can you expect window tint to last?

The lifetime of window film is dependent on many factors including product type and quality, the climate, and the amount of direct sunlight your car is exposed to. Generally, most automotive films are designed to last much longer than the typical owner will keep the vehicle; many films will perform well past 10 years.

We only install lifetime warranty tint. The Carbon and Ceramic film that we install is warrantied for lifetime. These are superior films in terms of heat performance and durability. It really doesn’t make sense to install a product on a vehicle, that will fail in five years or less.

A low-quality window film that is exposed to intense sunlight on a regular basis can begin to fade in a matter of months. Dyed films that do not have UV inhibitors in the polyester generally fade faster than films that have UV inhibitors.

Bubbling and color shifting are common problems. They can be caused by low-quality film or improper installation. If any air gets trapped between the tint and the glass, it can cause problems in the future. Even if it is installed properly, cheap window film often begins to bubble, color shift, glaze, or peel within a year. When that happens, it needs to be removed and replaced. Replacing inexpensive tint several times often costs more in the long run than simply buying quality tint in the first place.

So provided that you choose a high quality carbon or ceramic window tint, and have it professionally installed, your window tint should last the lifetime of your vehicle.