solargard HP 22%

On Solargards web site why does their HP Charcoal 22 have a VLT% of 25? I assume if someone wants a 20% in the HP Charcoal line they have to go with the lighter 22 or get the darker Charcoal 13% which has a VLT of 16%? Isnt there an industry standard?

Below is the VLT rating by the manufacturer.

http://www.solargard.com/index.cfm/fuseact...HP-Charcoal.htm

no standard anywhere in this industry

So a SolarGard's 20% vs a LLumar 20% or someone elses could all be different. I wonder why someone hasnt made a industry standard yet.

ask solargard not true

there isn't, and never will be an industry standard. The manufacturing industry is not big enough to justify creating a standard for all window films. Also, that is part of why you pick different film lines and manufacturers so that you have a lot of options for what film to use. Just pick a line of film that you like, and put samples up on the wall. Chances are, the custy will not be able to tell the difference between a llumar 20 and a SolarG 16

I got a customer that is coming in to get a back window tinted. He had his car done in AZ originally and had a back glass broken. He said he now has Solargard HPC 22 and I am here to ask if my Global HP Charcoal 20 will match up very well? How does the Solargard HP film hold up against fading? The film has been on for about 4 years. Would the color match up at all?

Lots of variables go into the VLT such as the manufacturing side, state laws and trying to make a film that will work in the most markets etc.. installer/customer preference etc..

To the consumer I could show you a 22% and a 20% and I'd put money you'd struggle to tell the difference, the different color of the film between manufacturers is more noticable.

Roll down a roll up and inspect to see if there is any change between the gasket area and the rest of the window. HPC is known to fade over time. Its why I prefer HP Supreme and Supreme, they are color stable.

then I will simply sell him on my film. I told him that the old film would not likely match exactly with the same new film.

Mott likley some one in SG marketing dept was tring to gain attention by changing the typical 5 20 35 50 etc branding. Maybee they thought if they call it 22 than they create a better mouse trap

I'm sure cause purchase decision relies so heavily on a number next to the film Look at our product lineup nearly nothing has the 5 20 35 lineup

only the very cheap NR smoke series does which is a good/bad thing.

the 5, 20, 35 has become the "customer standard", however with the 50% vlt states and the 40% states, there has been a need to create different levels of film.

then the film has faded some. you might have to install something lighter to match up with it. i tinted my wife's car in 2002 with SG HP CH 13. it now meters a legal 24%. color still pretty much looks good. a slight hint of purple along the defroster lines but for the most part it's good enough that i haven't cared to change it yet.

i thought it was known as one of their better films

it is

not IMO

you're biased. i used the stuff for years. true grey had massive adhesive failure. it seemed to come and go roll to roll though. many of our customers have had warranty issues, but at the same time our company van still has true grey to this day from when it first was introduced and it looks great. supreme had major rolling/peeling issues. i was part of the initial product testing before release. i loved the stuff...but time proved it didn't work out well. HP charcoal was the more stable film that you really knew what to expect from. Quantum IMO was great as well. proved itself very well.

just throwing my experience with the stuff out for anyone to read.

i love the supreme series and haven't had any issues. a couple weeks ago i stripped a saab I did with 8/28 a little over 3 years ago and it looked just like the day it was put on. No discoloration under the gaskets/tops or around the defrosters. No peeling either

just kind of expensive

I'd say we are both biased.

Not sure if you read my post about supreme on tint monster but you should.

1st gen of Supreme was supposed to be supplied with an "Adhesive promotor" you added to the slip solution to help it bite. It wasn't tacky enough, hence the roll off issues. 2nd gen has never had that issue. There was a reason the Supreme line was aimed at replacing the Charcoal line. I personally believe if we'd made it a thicker film with the 2nd gen adhesives from the start it would have been a success. Because we didn't there was a big backlash of HPC lovers who wanted it back.

We strip a lot of supreme fronts. And the film always looks pretty darn good. Never seen any discoloring, and it always peels nicely so I don't foresee any problems with the film. I just don't like the color interiorly. From the exterior its great. Its the same feeling I have with our ATX

if it's so good then why you stripping it?

Does anyone else find that kinda funny..

it was a bandaid I wouldnt use a film that required it