FILM INSTALLATION GUIDE

Scroll down for Step by step instructions

BEFORE YOU START

Cold garage or new build? Heat it first. The glass itself needs a few hours to come up to temperature too.

Freshly painted frames need to cure. Paint keeps off-gassing for about two weeks after it feels dry to the touch. Installing film too soon can damage paint that is still curing, because of all the water solution the install uses. Two to three weeks is the safe window.

It dries slowly. Small water pockets and light haze in the first few days are normal and clear on their own.

Room temperature is best. Roughly 16 to 25 C works well. Very cold or very hot glass makes it harder for the adhesive to bond.

Step by step guide:

Follow these instructions for best results
1

Grab your tools

1. Drop Cloth 2. Microfibre Cloth or paper towel 2. Spray bottle solution (16oz water to 1 drop dish soap) 3. Rubber squeegee * 4. Felt covered plastic card 4. Utility Knife 5. Paint scraper *. *Optional but use for best practice
2

Clean your surfaces

Any surface the film comes in contact with should be dust + debris free. Vacuum, lay down your drop cloth, and clean your window. Scrub it clean! Don't use ammonia based cleaners! Use a paint scraper to get off every stuck on debris. If you have a window squeegee use it to wipe away the solution - but using a cloth works too. Taking off an older film first? Lift a corner with a razor blade and peel it back slowly, then clean off every trace of leftover adhesive with rubbing alcohol. Residue left on the glass shows up as bubbling and cloudiness under the new layer, and it cannot be fixed once the new film is down.
3

Spray window

Cover every inch with your water solution.
Pro Tip:
There's no such thing as too much water
4

Peel and spray film

Lay your film out with the liner side facing up. Peel the liner starting from a corner. Spray water on the adhesive as you go. When liner removed, adhesive should be fully drenched.
Pro Tip:
Spray your fingers to avoid sticking. place small piece of tape on the corner of the liner to help peel it off the film. Have a second pair of hands if you're working with a large piece for ease.
5

Install the film

Is your window still covered in spray solution? Just checking! Align the top side of the film with the top window edge. Spray again! This acts as lubricant between your install card and the film. Squeegee starting at the top in the middle, working down and out. Go slow. Dont miss any spots.
Pro Tip:
Go slow with decent pressure. Dont miss a section, you cant work backwards with adhesive films. You got this! MULTI-PANE WINDOWS: do one pane at a time, each with its own piece of film. A single sheet stretched across a whole grid will not sit flat and traps water at every divider. French doors, sidelights and divided-light windows all install pane by pane, and the finish is far cleaner that way.
6

Trim the excess

Using the plastic card and razor blade, push the card into the edge of the frame. Use that to guide your blade down. Go slow especially in the corners. Go over it once more to ensure you got as much water out as possible, and wipe dry with your cloth.
Pro Tip:
This is how the pros do it! You may have precut your film or ordered custom sizes so this step may not be necessary.
7

You did it!

Pat yourself on the back, you did it. It can take days for your film to dry and set so don't be too alarmed if you see tiny water pockets behind the film (as long as there's no debris that goes with it).
Pro Tip:
Grab a chair, sit back and soak in your new window film.

🎉 Installation Complete!

Congratulations! You've successfully installed your window film. Enjoy your enhanced privacy, UV protection, and energy savings.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Bubbles under the film

Work them out while the film is still wet. Start at the centre of the bubble and squeegee outward to the nearest edge, rather than back toward the middle of the window. If the film has already started to grab, lift the nearest edge, re-wet the glass and the adhesive, and squeegee it down again.

Small water pockets with no dirt or debris in them are normal. Those dry out on their own over several days.

Wrinkles or a fold

Warm the area with a hairdryer on its lowest setting, holding it a few inches back and keeping it moving. Lift the film gently past the wrinkle, re-wet both the glass and the adhesive, then squeegee it down again from the centre out. Warm film relaxes and is far more forgiving than cold film.

It looks cloudy or hazy

In the first few days this is almost always moisture still trapped behind the film, and it clears as the film sets. Haze that stays put after a week usually comes from one of two things: too much soap in the spray solution, or adhesive residue left behind by an older film.

Still not right?

Send a photo of the issue along with your order number and we will help you work through it. Full details of our Installation Success Guarantee are on the FAQ page.

IMPORTANT TIPS

Debris is the enemy.

Leftover dust, dirt, or large water pockets behind the film can cause bubbles. Clean window thoroughly per instructions. Use a paint scraper if you want to be a perfectionist.

Drop a cloth.

Use a clean drop cloth on your table or floor before laying out the film. The materials naturally cause a bit of static so extra care goes a long way.

The right amount of soap.

We recommend 1 drop to 16 oz of water. Test your solution before you begin. Too little suds and there wont be any lubrication, too much and the film might end up looking cloudy.

Soak generously

Spray, spray and spray again; better to overdo it than miss a spot. The solution is key to success from the start. Dry contact can make the film grab instantly, which makes repositioning or squeegeeing out water a nightmare.

Beware of the crease.

Our adhesive films are made of PET material, meaning a high quality finish. If it creases it might leave a permanent mark. Use more than one pair of hands for ease.

Install After Reno's.

Wait until all work is done; the space is vacuumed, and dust-free. Dust + film = disaster.