Window tinting is a great benefit to drivers, especially in a sunny state like Hawaii. It guards your privacy, reduces glare, helps prevent eye fatigue, and generally helps you stay safer on the road. However, in some cases, installed car tint can start peeling, and if too much peels off, you lose many of the benefits of installing the film in the first place. Ohana Tinting, a respected tint shop in Kapolei, HI, explains why the film can start peeling, how to prevent it, and how to repair the problem if peeling becomes serious.

What Causes Window Tint to Peel?

When window tinting peels, the problem is almost always that the adhesive has not properly bonded to the glass. This can happen for a couple of reasons. For instance, the dark tint of the film absorbs sunlight more readily than does clear glass, and any trapped moisture between the film and the auto glass will heat up and evaporate. The excited water vapor molecules can cause the film to start lifting off, especially at the edges. The film, which comes in rolls, naturally wants to return to that rolled shape, so the edges tend to lift off after moisture evaporation occurs. Give the car tint adhesive a few days to bond completely before subjecting it to bright, hot sunlight. If you try to reapply the film with new adhesive, make sure the window is thoroughly cleaned and has had time to dry.

How Do You Repair Peeling Window Tint?

If you have no luck reapplying adhesive, you can stop peeling in its tracks by using a razor or X-Acto® knife to cut the film off above the peeled section. Window tint is two layers thick, so make sure you slice all the way to the glass. Remove the curled section and replace it with a strip of new tinting and adhesive. Use a hard, flat surface to remove any air bubbles, and line up the new strip as closely as possible to the edge you just cut out of the original film. If you prefer, a reputable tint shop will perform the replacement for you. Their results are likely to appear more professional.

To have new window tinting installed or for peeling car tint repair, contact Ohana Tinting, the premier tint shop in Kapolei, HI. They've been garnering great reviews from motorists throughout Oahu since they opened in 2013, and they offer expert workmanship and more than 50 shades of tinting. Visit their website to book an appointment, or call (808) 636-6551 to have any questions answered by a friendly, helpful representative.