The Inner Circle: Orlando Tampa Window Tinting Comparisons To 3M Prestige

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The Inner Circle: Orlando Tampa Window Tinting Comparisons To 3M Prestige

Orlando Tampa Window Tinting Comparisons To 3M Prestige

At the risk of beating a dead horse let us march into the breach yet again...

Now and again we still run into 3M Window Film proposals either directly from a 3M dealer or through their Home Depot furnished sales program.

You might think that an "apples to apples" comparison between 3M Prestige Films and our Vista, Huper Optik or EnerLogic Film would be a simple task.

You might be wrong!

We instead find ourselves competing against illusions, confusion and hyperbole.

Realistically the average consumer has no idea what features relating to performance and aesthetics are critical to compare.

Many have never heard of Solutia Performance Films (they do feel better when we mention that Solutia is a Monsanto spin-off)

They have heard of 3M.
They assume they make the best window film.
They assume that the Prestige Film works better at an angle because the dealer told them it will.
They assume that the Prestige Film blocks 97% of the heat or IR because the dealer told them so.
They assume that only 3M window film can stand up to Windex because that 3M Dealer made a point of saying it would.

These aren't rare or isolated happenstances but rather the nonsense we hear every day; including today!

So given my 33 years at 3M (1974-2007)
Given the fact that I was once the National Sales Manager of 3M Window Film.

What are the facts?

We'll combat the halo effect of 3M's good will, based on their many fine products, to point out that Solutia is the world leader in window film sales, technology and market share.

Their Vista, Llumar, Gila, Huper Optik, EnerLogic, V-Kool brands are the leaders in their category.

Haze on left panel 3M Film
You might assume that 3M makes the best window film but that is an incorrect assumption.

"Best" of course, is a nebulous term. Many of the films that the 3M dealer presented are not made by 3M. Their ceramic series, for example is a notable example of a film being repackaged by 3M.

In terms of performance, optical clarity, NFRC ratings, durability and aesthetics our Huper Optik Films win hands down.

We offer more choices than Prestige and our ceramic film meets Progress Energy and TECO rebate requirements.
Works better at an angle?

This is almost too silly to debate.

Factually all window films and glass itself work better when the angle of incidence is acute rather than perpendicular. It's akin to saying that biking down a mountain is easier than biking up the mountain!
97% Heat or IR rejection? I won't belabor the point.

The Prestige films does a good job of factoring out IR wavelengths as does Huper Optik. IR represents a bit less than 50% of what comprises heat. The remaining approximate 50% is determined by the visible light transmitted through the glass.

IR Angles
Huper 70 Vs.
TSER Marketing White Paper
More IR Angles
IR Rejection
IWFA
Surface Applied Window Film DOE
The window film industry has attempted to educate the consumer market through white papers and advisories that highlight this function of IR.

Notably the NFRC ratings provide a documented lab tested performance rating that encompasses the actual total heat rejection for our films and 3M Prestige Films.

You'll note that 3M does not really offer any film that blocks 97% of the heat.
Windex?

That's another misrepresentation and the fact that we heard this statement just today reminds me of the silliness of sales-speak.

The 3M Prestige Film has no demonstrable or quantifiable advantage over any Solutia Film in terms of abrasion resistance. Ammonia based solvents tend to degrade any adhesive

It is recommended to avoid ammonia but our Huper Optik, Vista and EnerLogic Films are equal and in many cases superior to the prestige series, in particular.

More importantly the color and shade of the Huper Optik Films is built throughout the film rather than the top layer in Prestige.

And unlike Prestige there is absolutely no dyes in our Huper Optik Film.