floor still fading with film

[tint_audiopros]

recently a residential customer called saying her hardwood is still fading even though we tinted her 350sf atrium 2years ago. The film used was sunscape sl280. She's questioning if the film is performing as it should be. I said the film is to minimize fading and were blocking approx. 99%uv rays, 70%light & 66% of the heat, I said i know our film is doing its job. She says well why is my floor still fading in only a short period of time and how do you know your film is doing its a job without coming out and seeing my floor? I don't want to go out and see her floor ( i believe her ) and It will only get into an argument. What would you do in this type of situation? I'm guessing its the nature of her type of hardwood or its the visible light thats still entering the room? I know I showed her sl180 but it was to dark.

[Guest Malcolm E Boo]

Film will only slow fading and reduce the effects of fading. It will not stop fading. If a lighter film is applied then the amount of heat and light (which is around 40-50% of the cause of fading) is increased and the job of reducing fading is reduced.

Wood fades and changes colour no matter what as it is still a living organism.

[TomTint]

A few years ago we did a condo for a guy and he had maple flooring. As i remember we used a 50% VLT neutral film because they did not want to have a drastic change to the look of the glass. Well about 3 or 4 months later they called back and said the film was causing the flooring to DARKEN, The logic they used was "dark film must darken flooring".....eeech. This went back and forth for about 2 weeks. I ended up getting the floor mfr disclaimer that states the normal and expected aging process of the product and yes Maple as well as many many other species of wood flooring will naturally darken over time. The owner continued to think I was a snake oil salesman and threatened a lawsuit. At that point i really did not care to waste much more effort on the whole issue and informed the customer that i would remove all the film and refund the money he paid us. We ALWAYS inform homeowners that film will reduce not eliminate fade issues. Some people have selective hearing and memory.

[Fiveofeen]

I've had some issues where an end user or interior designer were positive that only Ultra Violet radion can cause fading. I had to go to there with a UV meter, proove it was filtering UV and then showed them this document to break down what contributes to fading.

You went with a dark film, its doing a great job but that floor must be in a battle zone and it would be in far worse shape without the film. My vote is get technical and give them a good explanation with backup from your supplier on a technical level so they can feel good inside knowing you are presenting facts backed by your supplier. Good luck.

[tint_audiopros]

oh yeah I got the rep involved. She wasn't taking my word for it. Insisting I said it would stop fading and that the film wasn't doing its job.

[Fiveofeen]

*I'm not saying you do this*

I catch so many tinters who truly believe or at least sell on the fact that "Window film blocks 99% of UV which stops all fading"

Drives me nuts.

[Guest Malcolm E Boo]

*I'm not saying you do this*

I catch so many tinters who truly believe or at least sell on the fact that "Window film blocks 99% of UV which stops all fading"

Drives me nuts.

Agreed

[tint_audiopros]

not me....I understand and let all my customer know that there are multiple factors that cause fading, uv, light, heat etc. The problem here is that she thought it would prolong fading more than just a couple years.

[jttint1]

i had similar situation..tinted womans glass room,i recomended 20% she wanted 50%,then complaied that room was still hot.i went and removed AND retinted with 20% for free!!! im such a nice guy...her and her husband kept insisting that i beat them and they got scammed,so i showed them how much i needed their money..