If you’ve ever searched Google for window tint in or around the Raleigh, NC area you’ve probably seen or heard loads of cheap tint specials. Offers like “$99 window tint special – today only” may sound good at first, but many customers learn over time that cheap window tint often comes with more hidden costs than actual benefits.
In this article, we’re going to cover the differences between low-quality window film and professionally installed, premium films.
To a lot of people, window tint is simply about darkening their windows – but the benefits go far past that! Unfortunately, if you go with a budget-film, you may not get to enjoy the great benefits that window tint can offer such as:
Low-cost and budget tint shops typically use dyed film to achieve such low price points. These films offer minimal UV protection and heat resistance. The film may look fine at first, but they often:
Once that happens, removal and re-tinting is your only option. Now you face removal costs which is very time consuming due to the adhesive left behind from cheap films.
One of the biggest misconceptions about tint is that darker films automatically means better performance. This is simply not true.
Cheap tint may darken your windows, but it often does very little to block infrared heat. What does that mean for you?
Ceramic films like the ones we offer from SunTek® are designed to block infrared heat without relying on darkness – instead the benefits come from how the tint is actually made. CIR and Evolve films are high-performing ceramic window tint films that offer amazing features and comfort, even at the legal VLT levels.
Time and time again our shop sees vehicle owners requesting removal and re-application of window tint due to fading, cracking, peeling, discoloration, and hazing.
Many bargain tint shops offering cheap tint jobs like “same-day $99 tint specials” are using poor quality films that rely on dye to achieve the desired darkness. They are also typically produced with low quality adhesive. What do you get when you combine these two factors?
Low-performing tint that fades, bubbles, and peels over time offering zero heat rejection and leaves behind a mess of glue when it eventually needs to be removed.
In our opinion, the biggest hidden cost of going with a budget tint job is the fact you’ll end up paying for it twice.
Many customers come to us after already spending their money on a cheap tint job – unhappy with the result often within just a year later. At this point, you’ve paid for the original tint job and now have to pay for removal costs, plus the cost of re-installation.
The ultimate kicker is that doing it this way results in the same total cost (if not more) than just choosing a premium film from the beginning.
A few of our favorite films that we offer at our shop include SunTek® CXP, CIR, and Evolve. We choose to offer these films because they deliver a clean look and great benefits for Raleigh drivers. What’s the difference?
While these films all have their differences, they all share some things in common – they’re all signal-safe, come with a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty, and will significantly outlast any budget film you can get.
One thing we try to instill in our customers is that window tint isn’t simply about looks. It’s about comfort, protection, and longevity for your driving experience. Cheap tint saves money upfront, but often leads to frustration, wasted time, and higher costs down the road.
If you’re searching for the best window tint in Raleigh, choose a solution that lasts.
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