C P Films, Inc. LES361 Gila Heat Control Insulating Window Film - C P Films, Inc.LES361

Easy? No. Works? Yes.

8/5/2009

No, it's not the easiest thing in the world to do. The point is having a pro do it costs $$$. Even the botches where I wasted film were still cheaper than having someone else do it. Fact is, I have a bay window, aimed South by some idiot before I got here, and a clock with an admittedly cheap thermometer included. Normal summers (which this one isn't) would see that part of the house rise into the 80s easily. That was the first batch of windows I did. Now, even in 100+ degree heat, that little thermometer (which, mind you, is above the window and heat rises yes?) stays in the 70s.

Depends on what you want. You want pro installation, you pay. You want to reduce your power bill fast and can't afford the high price of a pro, buy Gila.

Having done the entire Southern/Southwestern part of the house (all but two small windows that are shaded by trees), some tips:

The kit isn't really worth it. Get a squeegee, a good straight edge, a GOOD utility knife (sharper the better), a spray bottle, and make your own spray. Mildly soapy water is as good as the pre-packaged spray. Mildly. Like ten drops of dish liquid per pint as per:

[...]

There is no such thing as "too wet" when putting Gila film in. Curls and doubling over and all the other annoying things are more easily avoided if the film is soaked and on both sides. Not to mention the window. Once I figured this out, I could adjust the film and squeegee out bubbles and what not without much trouble.

Try to cut the film to give yourself only an inch or two of excess "overlap". The bigger the chunk you're cutting off, the heavier it is, the more trouble you'll have keeping the film in place. Squeegee from the center. Use the straight edge to guide your very sharp utility knife and hold the film in place. Spray liberally while doing the squeegee. The first time you drag the thing over the film "dry", you'll regret it.

Don't even try it on a windy day. Unless you like wearing the film. Two people are better than one though I did it myself (lots of scotch tape to hold things in place).

If you just can't stand having any bubbles or any mistakes, you're going to have to pay for a pro. My windows have some bubbles I just couldn't get rid of. But you can barely see them.

The expense, by the way, is partially deductible now...

Even difficult for experienced wall paper hangers.

2/18/2008

VERY difficult to make this look good after installing. The non-adhesive side is very easy to scratch and the film creases easily. Save the money and put it in an account towards new windows.

Buy the professional stuff instead, Gila is a waste of money

9/15/2007

I installed professional tint from SunTek as a first time beginner and it went up well.

I decided it's not that hard and wanted to save money, so I tried Gila's. What a nightmare! Gila's tint is thin and brittle, so it's very difficult to handle and when you get it installed it looks like the cheap tint that people have on an old car. Go for professional tint and ask Gila and Amazon to stop selling this junk.

VERY Difficult to install!

7/30/2007

My husband and I tried 3 different times to adhere the window tint to our storm door. We even took the glass out and laid it on the ground. If it wasn't air bubbles that wouldn't come out, it was the edges of the tint that were difficult to trim and ended up jagged, or finally it was air bubbles that made the window tint crease and wrinkle permanently. We gave up after hours and over $60 spent on rolls of tint and application kits. I wouldn't waste your money on this product, we're searching for something else. Maybe a static cling one.