You’ve done it. You’ve decided to tint your car windows! Tinted windows are a fantastic feature and give your car the edge we know you have been searching for, but now you are met with hundreds of questions!
One of the most common we get is how will I know my tint is cured? We can get impatient waiting and want to know how long we need to wait and the telltale signs that our tint has cured.
So without, further ado, let’s get into it and find out how you will know when your tint is cured!
When will my tint cure – short answer
Typically, your tint will take three to five days for your tint to cure. Once it’s cured, you will be able to use your windows as normal. Now, how long it takes will depend on a few factors. For it to cure quickly, you want ideal weather conditions. Any rain or water can cause the tint to take longer to cure or damage it.
The climate and humidity can also impact the tint’s ability to cure in a few days. Humidity also impacts the tint, so try and tint the windows in the Spring or Fall. If you haven’t, allow an extra day or two for the tint to cure before using your windows.
Now that we have established how long it takes for your windows to cure, let’s explore how they will look so you can spot the signs!
How do I know when my tint is cured?
After the three to five days have passed, your windows will look as though they have been factory tinted. They should look darker than before the tinting. From the outside, you shouldn’t be able to see into the car. You might have some visibility, but it will be far less than before.
From the inside of the car, you will be able to see out, but car headlights and streetlights will seem less bright and almost muted. The tint should also block out harmful UV rays now, keeping you and any passengers safe. The tint should look professionally done and with no marks or streaks. After these three days, if your tint is cured, it will fit these categories. Should the tint not seem quite right to you, leave it for another day or two to allow the tint to cure fully.
What to look for on window tint
When your tint is curing, there are a few things you need to keep your eye out for. The film applied to the windows to tint them can undergo a few changes while curing, it might look perfect when it is first applied, but that can change.
It can look milky or hazy over the first day or two, leaving you with limited visibility in and out of the windows. The tint can also develop an ‘orange peel’ effect when curing too. There might even be some marks that look like scratches. These are completely normal, so don’t panic if it happens to you!
Water pockets, streaks, and scratches are a normal part of the curing process and are usually caused by water. It shouldn’t be too much of a concern for you as any water trapped will evaporate thanks to the air. It ensures that you allow plenty of time for the tint to cure before rolling the windows down. If you don’t, it can cause dust particles to become trapped while the tint is still curing.
If you notice any streaks, scratches, or changes in color, the tint is not yet cured. Allow more time for the tint to cure and check on it regularly. The change in color or milky/haziness should only occur when your tint is curing. If you do have any concerns about how your tint is curing, be sure to speak to a professional.
If you have had your windows professionally tinted, speak to the professional. They will tell you how long it will take to cure and what you should look for once it’s done. The time and results can vary slightly, so be sure to check before the tint is applied!
Final Word
And just like that, we have come to the end of our tint journey! As you can see, it will take a few days for your window tint to cure. Wait three to four days and check the condition of the tint. If you notice a hazy or cloudy tint to the window, you will need to leave them a little longer.
While curing, your tint will change color, or some bubbles and scratches might appear. Don’t be phased by these, and remember that not all tint cures at the same time. Don’t panic if yours takes slightly longer to cure; many factors can impact this!