Home Window Tint Cost
Residential window tint is a perfect way of reducing energy costs as well as providing protection for your home. There are numerous benefits to home window tint including protecting your privacy without having to sacrifice the beauty of your outdoor surroundings.
But how much does home tint cost? Should you let a professional do it or can you do it yourself? Let's take a closer look.
ASSESS THE NEED
Any window in the house that is getting too much glare and sun is perfect for a do-it-yourself project. Window tint is always installed on the inside of the window, so there is no need for tall ladders to install window tint on second-story windows.
ASSESS YOUR SKILL
Installing window film is considered a easy to medium home DIY project. Especially when DIY home window tint companies can pre-cut the window film to the exact dimensions that you need and ship it to your door.
For this job, you'll need to clean the windows thoroughly, apply the window film, and squeegee out the water underneath the film. Please take a look at the Home Tint Install Video to see if DIY is for you.
COST OF WINDOW FILM
Professional-quality DIY window film cost starts around $2.25 per square foot, and can go up to $3.00 per square foot for dual-reflective window film technology. If somebody is selling home tint underneath these prices, it is good to be suspicious that it is not quality window film.
For 2009 only, the federal government is giving everybody a 30% off tax credit for purchasing home window tint . Consumers who purchases qualifying energy control window film for residential use from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009 are eligible for 2009 tax credit up to $1500 per taxpayer.
This 30% window film tax credit only applies to the cost of window film. It cannot be applied for the cost of labor to install the film. This program drops the cost of purchasing quality DIY window film to around the $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot range.
More details about the Tax Credit for Home Window Tint.
Window films sold at Home Depot, Lowes, or AutoZone are not home tint brands that professional installers use or endorse. For the best bang for buck, TintCenter recommends SnapTint Window Tint for DIY pre-cut window film for the following reasons:
- Top quality window film that pros use
- Pre-cut to thee exact sizes you need
- Qualifies for 2009 Tax Credit for Window Film
Costs for professional installation will vary by region but generally ranges from $5.00 to $7.00 per square foot. Professionals should have access to variety of window film products. They should always be upfront about exactly what brand and type of window film they will be using. If the professional would not reveal and prove that they use quality film, we would suggest that you find another installer.
HOME WINDOW TINT SAVES MONEY
With rising oil prices and energy costs, residential film can reduce incoming solar energy in "hot spots" in the home by 33% to 66%. This greatly reduces the electricity used by the air conditioner in the summer season, and lowers the energy footprint of your home.
When calculating the cost of the project, remember that the cost savings break even point is generally 2 to 3 summers for DIY window tint installations. The break even point for professional installations range from 4 to 6 summers.
That is fantastic for a product that protects your home and health for 10 to 15 years.
