Sterling

Those films are very close in terms of specs. It will come down to film color and how long you want to wait for install. Both will have lifetime warranties on residential applications and are great brands.
 
Where are you located?

I recommend you not buy a film product based on near infrared reduction number, rather buy based on TSER (total solar energy rejected) or SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient). The higher the TSER, the better and the lower the SHGC, the better. Both these parameters include near infrared reduction, visible light reduction and ultraviolet light reduction capacity.
 
Near infrared is not heat; it is part of the electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun. Other radiation in terms of window film performance is visible and ultraviolet light. All three, NIR, VL, and UV, convert to far-infrared once they strike and is absorbed by any material. Far-infrared is known as 'heat'.
 
Compare the performance parameters of any film product using TSER or SHGC while noting which has the best visible light transmission (VLT) number that may suit your desire.
 
Personally, I would recommend a dual-reflective film product with a VLT in the range of 25-35% such as can be found in Vista, LLumar, 3M and Suntek brand. Avoid ceramic (including dual-reflective ceramic) if you live in the South, for they carry too high a solar absorption rate that would radiate inward off the surface it is applied to, toward the air conditioned room. Heat always seeks cold. Best to have more solar energy reflected than absorbed.
 
If the home is in higher elevations, film products with high absorption rates may pose a problem in terms thermal stress on the glazing system except in the case of high performance lowE glazing (aka lowE2, lowE3 or lowE4), which already has great performance values before film is applied.
 
Good luck.
 
 

We use an excel document to track all of our jobs. Square footage, number of windows, sqft of film used including waste off the roll, time to complete, etc... It has turned into extremely valuable data that we use to price out future jobs and approximate how long a job will take to complete.
 
We used to write how much was left on the roll after cutting off of it, but quickly learned how archaic that is. moving everything to a spreadsheet was a great move for our business.

You won't get superb glare reduction with a high VLT film. In my opinion it's not worth tackling glare issues with anything lighter than 25%.
 
I say to offer a 25% spectrally selective film. One of my most popular products is XPEL Clear View Enhanced 25% (Formerly Veloce Temperate 25). People usually shy away from lower VLT films but once it's applied to a room it looks great. Super low interior reflectivity, high IR rejection (82%) and great optical clarity.
 
I've applied this to countless homes, mostly living rooms and sunrooms, and many have called back and I've applied film to the rest of the glass. Not one complaint that it's too dark. Also, most spectrally selective films are thicker which makes it super easy to work with especially when you're reverse rolling large panes.

DR-25, they like it so much I’m headed back tomorrow to do the downstairs. 

Hello fellow tinters! Been lurking on this forum for a while but never posted or anything. The recent story made me want to share just so other people would read something while we are sitting at home doing almost nothing  So grab a cup of coffee!
 
I have been in vinyl industry for almost 12 years now & owned my own shop, which forward to 2018, i sold and moved onto other stuff. Been tinting since 2014 & PPF since 2016 and currently working at a small shop with just another guy who is also the owner of this shop. We are in small town of 45k people and service both, retail & wholesale customers & also dealers / body shops for insurance claims etc. We simply don't have the volume for me being busy every day, and we end up working sometimes 2-4 hour days, finish what we have and and i am free to do whatever i want, since i get paid by the job. If there is nothing going on, i can stay home and yes don't make any money but do other stuff. I do install commercial printed wraps on the side sometimes.
 
Overall my schedule is VERY flexible and i still end up making 50-60k per year. Thats Canadian dollars yet, not USD. Long story short, i decided maybe to give a try and find a busy shop where i can contribute and offer my skills & knowledge & be able to make more money. Used indeed to scroll through job offers, seen couple in Ontario that advertised 65-125k CAD salary \year....
 
Its a big US franchise that originated in states, but i will not name anyone. Got in contact with the owner, was told how busy they are, have to turn down the business because they can not accommodate more customers. I did explain how much work i can do & that i have 100% ability to work by myself from start to finish without any supervision. Overall, on average market i am able to tint 5 full cars per day, front PPF installs - partial hood, fenders, mirrors, door cups, head lights, bumper - 3 a day but it all depends on the vehicle of course. Just to give an example, when we have full day of work from 9-5, i do between $1200-$1600 worth of work myself.
 
Shop owner said it is very good that i can do that much work by myself. Said that they work monday-friday 8-6 & saturdays also. I was okay with that, not afraid to work if i can make decent living.
Had to fly over there for a week to see how chemistry would go, bought myself a ticket also. But due to Pandemic situation, flight was cancelled. Long story short, the owner sends me job offer that i have to sign:
 
 
1) 50k Salary in Canadian dollars
2) Minimum 44 hours work weeks, but if need to work any extra time, i must comply, but all extra time is covered by 50k salary
3) No compete agreement
4) If owner wants to add something for my duties, he always can
5) Owner can terminate contract any time with 2 week notice.
 
Well, i was surprised to see the number and politely explained that i make same or more money right now working MUCH less and i would never drop it to move to another province where cost of living is considerably higher. I would end up with around $3200 CAD per month after taxes.  Again, explained the guy that with the rent eating $2000, its not enough. Told him i would need 5-6k per month to consider moving to another province with my family. Told him, if what he says is true that he has so much work, i can do 300-360k gross sales per year myself working for him 6 days a week, 10 hours per day.
 
Over all he did let me know that is way to much money to pay for a tinter\PPF\vinyl wrapper and raged & messaged me these things. Now i am just sitting and thinking, maybe i am a dumb & good tinter\ppf\vinyl wrapper is only worth $50k CAD \ year?
 
P.S. After he texted me all that, i did not even bother replying anything, had a good laugh and decided to share with others

35% VLT film...
 
 

Did this one this weekend. Most well-known bar around Charlottesville experiencing glare and heat issues after a building across the street was demolished. They'll have me do the other side in a few weeks! I love reverse rolling these large panes.

Did this one this weekend. Most well-known bar around Charlottesville experiencing glare and heat issues after a building across the street was demolished. They'll have me do the other side in a few weeks! I love reverse rolling these large panes.

Did this one this weekend. Most well-known bar around Charlottesville experiencing glare and heat issues after a building across the street was demolished. They'll have me do the other side in a few weeks! I love reverse rolling these large panes.