Auto Tint and Architectural Tint: What is the Difference?

May 7, 2022

The window tinting industry has been witnessing continuous growth and increasing popularity over the last few decades. It not only looks beautiful and sleek for your car or home, but it also provides you with some great health benefits. It provides ultimate protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays which can travel through the windows.

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology states that 53% of skin cancers are found on the left side (driver’s side) of the body. This means those who drive a lot are at high risk of being exposed to UV radiation through the driver’s side window.

Most of us wonder whether there are any differences between auto tint and architectural tint. So the actual answer is both yes and no. Make sure to read the post till the end to learn.

Similarities between auto and architectural tint

Before learning how these two are different, it is crucial to know how they are similar. First of all, they essentially serve the same purpose- to create a more comfortable space. Direct sunlight coming from the windows can cause intense heat, along with intense glare. As aforementioned, a plain and untinted window does not prevent UV rays to enter the car, home, or office. Direct sunlight can result in untimely damage to furniture, artwork, or other items. It can increase the rate of deterioration of the car dashboard and upholstery. Window tinting, both auto and architectural are meant to protect against all of the above issues.

The key difference between auto and architectural tint

While the concept of both auto and architectural window tinting is the same, their composition is completely different. So below are the major differences:

Designed to shrink

The auto tinting is specially designed to shrink with curved glass. This comes with an adhesive that can attach to and hold the glass for a seamless finish.

On the other hand, the architectural window tinting doesn’t shrink and even they don’t require shrinking because of the flat surface of the home and office windows. If you apply the automotive tint to a flat surface, it can cause the glass to break because of its ability to shrink.

 Absorption vs. reflecting the sunlight

One interesting difference between auto tints and architectural tints is how they handle the sun. Auto tint actually absorbs the sunlight while the architectural tint reflects the sunlight. By reflecting, the sun doesn’t enter inside the space, and it doesn’t get hot.

Metallic material

Having metals in the window tint can drastically increase color stability and heat rejection. The drivers inside the car use many electronic gadgets including GPS systems, cell phones, satellite radios, etc. So the car window tint cannot have metal in it because it can interfere with gadgets inside the car. So the auto tints are designed with dyes to almost replace the metallic components.

Professional installation is a must

One rule that must be followed when applying both auto and architectural window tint in the Philippines is that you should always rely on professionals. They ensure to provide you with the highest quality of material along with the proper installation.

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