On the Gulf Coast, you spend much of the year trying to figure out ways to beat the heat and the sunlight coming into your home. But running the AC constantly racks up high electric bills. The harsh summer sun coming in through your windows fades the furniture too, leading to faster signs of disrepair.
As you brainstorm ways to stay cool and protect your home through the hot months, you may wonder: Is tinting house windows worth it? Tinting your home’s windows is a reasonable solution to keep some light out of the house. But it’s not always an obvious choice. Before you tint all your windows, you should learn the pros and cons of this type of window treatment.
What Does Window Tinting Actually Do?
To understand if tinting your windows is a good idea, you first need to learn what tinting your windows actually does. When you have your home’s windows film tinted, a thin adhesive film is applied to the interior glass surface.
This film can improve many of the problems you experience coming through your windows during the summer, including:
- Blocking UV rays
- Blocking solar heat
- Minimizing glare
- Increasing privacy
- Potentially providing modest energy savings
While the light coming in through your windows is more subdued, you will still be able to see outside.
The Real Cost of Tinting House Windows
There are several factors that can determine the cost of window tinting for your home. Of course, it will be more expensive to tint your windows if you have more windows in your home (though window tinting may be more worth it if more of your house is covered with windows). But when you’re considering, “Is tinting house windows worth it?” make sure to consider not just the upfront cost, but the potential savings and additional expenses that could come up along the way.
For most homes, house window tinting estimates will be between $5–$15/sq ft, which for most homes is between $400–$2,000+ total. But keep in mind: your utility bills could potentially go down a little after installation, which may help cover some of the cost in the long-term.
Window tinting doesn’t last forever. Tinting film lifespan is between 10–15 years, so if you plan to stay in your home for a long time, you’ll probably need to have it redone. There’s also a potential for degradation issues like peeling or bubbling, which can make the tinting less effective and make your windows look worse.
While window tinting can somewhat improve how it feels to be in your home during the warm months, it won’t fix underlying window problems like drafts, failed seals, or worn frames. You’ll need to fix structural issues separately, and it usually makes sense to make those changes first.
How Tinting Compares to Low-E Replacement Windows
If you’re already considering tinting your house windows, it’s worth comparing tinting your windows to replacing them with Low-E glass.
Low-E glass, or “low emissivity” glass, is a type of energy-efficient glass that has a thin metallic coating applied to its surface during manufacturing—not after, like tinted windows. That coating reflects heat and filters UV rays without significantly reducing the amount of visible light that passes through.
Tinting is one-directional, while Low-E works in summer and winter, keeping the heat you want inside and saving additional funds on electricity. Low-E coatings are invisible to the naked eye and don’t noticeably change the appearance of the window, so you don’t need to worry about a worse appearance either.
It might be more expensive to replace your windows in the short term. But you save yourself from needing to replace added tinting, and you benefit from increased utility savings with Low-E windows.
When Tinting House Windows Makes Sense
There are definitely reasons you may opt for window tinting over Low-E replacement. Some scenarios where tinting probably makes the most sense include:
- Adding sun protection to newer windows in good shape. In this case, it may feel unreasonable to completely replace your windows, especially if they were a recent investment.
- Improving a rented space. While you still may need landlord permission to tint your windows, tinting them is likely easier to do instead of making significant structural changes.
- Fixing a single problem room with heavy sun exposure. If you aren’t redoing all your windows, it might make sense to just fix an area with unpleasant sun exposure through tinting.
- Budget constraints. When you can’t afford a full window replacement but want to block out light, tinting the windows can be a good solution for the meantime.
When Window Tinting Falls Short
Tinting treats the symptoms of poor window insulation, not the causes. If you’re noticing issues other than sunlight and heat coming in through the window, a more structural fix might be necessary.
Some signs that you may want to actually replace your windows include:
- Drafts and air leaks
- Fogged or failed insulated glass seals
- Warping or cracking frames
- Noise issues
If these problems are present, tinting may be too minor a fix.
Is Tinting House Windows Worth It? Tints Might Not Do Enough
Tinting windows can make a difference in how it feels inside your home. They can reduce that annoying midday glare coming through your windows, and they can help reduce the overall heat.
But if your windows are poorly installed, or your home gets too cold during the winter months, you may want to consider a more structural solution like Low-E windows. They’re standard in most modern double-pane and triple-pane windows and are a big reason why replacement windows can potentially reduce energy loss compared to older single-pane glass.
At Acadian Windows, all of our windows come double insulated and are Energy Star and AAMA approved—meaning Low-E performance is built in, not added on as an afterthought. We proudly operate in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Contact us online today or give us a call now at 1-800-393-0555 to learn about our Low-E window options and make a change that improves the experience of being in your Gulf South home for the long-term.
