Home Window Tinting - 3M Worth The Premium?

Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 14:32

Hi All,

I live in Victoria in a west-facing house. My downstairs master bedroom, upstairs master bedroom, and home office all face west and have double-glazed windows. I recently obtained two quotes from two different companies to tint my windows ahead of summer. Based on my research, both companies have solid reputations and positive reviews.

My main goals for tinting are to reduce heat, minimize UV damage to furnishings, cut down on glare, and maintain a good amount of natural sunlight in the rooms. I have a total of 10 window panels totaling approximately 11 square meters.

Here are the quotes I received both including GST:

Company 1:

3M All Season Window Film Low E 35 – $1,860
ASWF Reflection 35 – $1,150

Company 2:

SolarGard Slate 20 – $1,150

From my understanding, it seems the key difference is that the 3M film includes a Low E coating, which should help with heat retention in winter. Company 2 mentioned that a Low E coating isn’t necessary since I already have double-glazed windows.

Since this is my own home, I’m happy to invest for long-term comfort. I understand that 3M is a premium brand, but the quote I received is around 60% higher than those for SolarGard and ASWF films.

Does anyone have experience or insights with residential window tinting? I’d really appreciate your thoughts – especially on whether the 3M price premium is really worth it.

Thanks in advance! Cheers

Home & Garden Window Tint Film

Comments

  • Stealtho on 03/09/2025 - 14:55

    Doesn't it make rooms darker?

    • Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 15:45
      +4

      It’s a bit of a double-edged sword — I currently keep the blinds closed in my study to block direct sun glare and maintain privacy from pedestrians outside

      With the tint I am hoping I can open the blinds throughout the day.

      • Megatron on 03/09/2025 - 17:23
        +3

        How about some trees in your front yard? The film provides no privacy after dusk but the trees will, in addition to many other benefits they provide.

  • narbe on 03/09/2025 - 14:55
    +8

    Just be careful if you have double glazing adding tint can cause thermal stress and crack your windows.

    Some double glazed windows already have low E inside.

    Low E hard coat vs soft coat and possible haze something you want to think about. Also can be hard to clean and easy to scratch.

    Those are really cheap quotes. I recently did my whole 2nd story windows for around 2.5k Brisbane. I have views so just went with the highest VLT didnt want my house to appear dark. (Visibility was my primary concern and UV damage 2nd)

    Old pricing but heres a relative comaprison price list from big distributor
    https://premierfilmdistribution.com.au/pfd-price-list/

    I wanted LX70 solar gard but too expensive and Prestige 70 3M was too expensive as well.

    Ended up with spectral selective Suntek Ultravision DS70 .

    Pricing for ecolux low E was actually wrong and ended up more expensive than lx70 or Prestige 70.

    • Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 15:51

      Yea thanks, those are good points. Both companies came on site for a measure and quote.

      I did raise the question to Company 1 regarding tinting on double glazed windows. They confirmed that I had a mix of toughened and untoughend double glazed windows, and provided the quote based on that.

      Initially I asked about 3M Prestige as I read it was the top of the range option, but they said it is not suitable for the untoughend windows I have upstairs.

      Did you get numerous quotes to compare your price and were they around the ballpark?

      • narbe on 03/09/2025 - 16:00
        +2

        Yeah I got 3x quotes, but managed to get a decent discount from a local small company.

        The tints that you have been recommended are the darkest the numbers on the end indicated VLT.

        Normal float glass is around 88-90% VLT , the lightest tints range from 70-88.

        While you can't beat physics , the darker the tint the better the TSER. But tints have come a long way so even a 70% VLT high grade tint can block alot of heat.

        Low E can reject both heat and cold its considered a insulation tint very different from solar tint.

        The easiest way to make a decision is get a sample of the 2-3 final contenders and place it on your window during peak sun and low sun and see if your happy with the amount of natural sunlight.

        I have a view so preserving that was my top priority.

        • Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 16:28

          Did all x3 quotes recommended different films? Or were they the same film but different prices?

          Yea the VLT for the 3 films are in the 20-25% range , but that would likely mean I can open the blinds during the daytime, which is now half-drawn most of the day.

          TSERs is in the high 60% which is ideal for my west-facing windows

          Unfortunately I didn't get any samples from Company 2.

          3M is a household name so I was leaning towards it, but was curious over the 60% price premium.

          Did you remember how much the 3M prestige quote come to? Did you settle on Suntek due to the price, or was the price-benefit trade off for 3M and LX70 unjustifiable?

  • jv on 03/09/2025 - 14:57

    and have double-glazed windows

    What kind of glass was used?

    Double-glazed windows usually reduce UV considerably.

    • Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 15:53

      I have a mix of toughened (downstairs) and untoughend (upstairs) double glazed

      Yea UV is a concern too given that I have timber boards, carpet and furniture in the room.

      But I moved in at the tail end of summer and the western facing room e.g my study was baking during the day

  • 87percent on 03/09/2025 - 14:58

    I got mine done by Happy Tint. I highly recommend them

    • Pepperchicken on 03/09/2025 - 15:53

      Thanks! Happy Tint is actually one of the company mentioned.

      How long ago did you get your tint done?

      • 87percent on 03/09/2025 - 16:45
        +2

        Probably about 18months.. the guy (can't remember his name, but think he's one of the main guys in the Melbourne branches) is excellent. Easy to deal with and even gave me a free jar of honey (no idea why)

        • Sammy2000 on 04/09/2025 - 10:12

          Free honey! post it as a deal!

  • JIMB0 on 03/09/2025 - 16:59

    The tint isn't going to do much to reduce heat transfer. Glass is a poor insulator, even double glazed is not that great. Better off investing in thermal blinds/curtains.

  • soan papdi on 03/09/2025 - 19:14

    What about powered shades on the outside that you can raise and lower just enough to cut out the sun? Not those roller doors. I mean one that juts out of the wall diagonally.

  • jjjaar on 03/09/2025 - 19:31
    +2

    What material is the actual frame of the window, and does it have a thermal break?

    Also you’re better off putting blinds on the outside of the windows that stop the heat from hitting the windows to begin with. If you get a mesh blind, a fair amount of light still comes in without the heat.

  • Far Cough on 03/09/2025 - 20:15

    ive been in a window tinted house, its like a coffin inside when its sunny outside

    • tenpercent on 04/09/2025 - 19:10

      How do you know what it's like inside a coffin on a sunny day?

      • Far Cough on 04/09/2025 - 23:04

        i sleep in a coffin

  • urahara on 03/09/2025 - 23:28

    OzB way would be to get Pillar Frost Spray and use it for summers

  • tenpercent on 04/09/2025 - 19:04
    +1

    Home Window Tinting - 3M Worth The Premium?

    At 3 million I'd say it's not worth it.

  • tenpercent on 04/09/2025 - 19:10

    My main goals for tinting are to reduce heat, minimize UV damage to furnishings, cut down on glare, and maintain a good amount of natural sunlight in the rooms.

    Most of the heat comes from the infrared spectrum, then at the other end of spectrum is UV, and right in the middle is visible light (which is what causes glare).

    So looks like you're after this: https://www.amazon.com.au/Glad-Foil-50m/dp/B087JVN3W4?th=1

  • Brucet on 04/09/2025 - 21:51

    I would pick SolarGard Slate 20 – $1,150

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join