My husband and I are very much "do-it-yourselfers" but when we had our 4 large floor to ceiling windows and sliding door tinted we elected to have a pro do them. In order to get a smooth finish, that lined up correctly with the glass without bubbles or wrinkles it was worth having someone install the film. I think it cost around 300$ (maybe less) for someone to install it. We used a three M product, and it has cut down the heat into the room considerably. We used a medium tint and yes the room became somewhat less bright but not at all dark. It has been a year and our eyes have adjusted to it and we think it was to blindingly bright before the window tinting. I would imagine the tinting will last a good long time unless my cat severely scratches it (in fact, the film was placed and integrated on the window so well that I can not see an area that I could even begin to remove it off the window).

"Squirrel moment-- I have noticed that Marvin's Multi-slide SGD is 9/16" thick using a SGP interlayer. I've also noticed CGI's Estate Series SGD is 1/2" thick using a PVB interlayer." Within the glass industry and lesser extent the window industry, glass is measured and referenced in mm rather than in fractions of an inch for precision, although even people within the industry will refer to fractions at times usually when not being technical. For example, common, everyday, thicknesses of glass from a float might be 1.6mm, 2.0mm, 2.2mm, 2.5mm, 2.7mm, 3.0mm, 3.1mm, 3.9mm, 4.7mm, 4.9mm, 5.7mm, 5.9mm, 6.0mm....and so on. Imagine converting those into fractions and trying to keep track. If a window company wanted 1/8" tempered glass for use in an IGU, for example, then they would likely be getting 3.1mm, but if they wanted ordinary annealed glass, then they would probably receive 3.0mm. I could write pages about why thickness differences but suffice to say it can be simple in some cases and complicated in others. And some of those glass thicknesses directly relate to use with laminated glass. "Marvin's glass is a teensy bit thicker with an SGP interlayer (allegedly bomb resistant, I've read). I'm guessing Marvin uses the SGP interlayer to make the glass stronger." Here's a little secret for you, although glass is referenced in mm, interlayers in North America are usually referenced in decimal. Don't ask me why, that's just how it's done, but referencing interlayers in mm is becoming more common. This is why you can have a lami make up that's listed as 3.0mm/.090"/3.0mm. Weird but how it's done, but there's more. PVB comes in thicknesses of .015", .030", .045", .060", .090", with .090 generally used for impact products, but not always. PVB can also be stacked, for example adding two .060" for a total of .120". SGP comes in thicknesses of .030". .035", .038", .063", .095" and .100". So the reason why two laminated glass lites one with PVB and one with SGP aren't the same thickness is because SGP is slightly thicker than PVB. I do need to mention that there is an update to SGP since I retired and I don't know what thicknesses it comes in. Per bomb resistance, much of what I know in that area is very proprietary and not something I would post in public, but yes that is an option, but far from the only one, and I know some of them would surprise you. SGP has 5 times the tear resistance and is 100 times stiffer than PVB, but that isn't the whole story about how it functions as an impact resistant interlayer. Depending in the window size, aspect ratio, frame and sash materials, so on, sometimes SGP is the better choice and sometimes PVB is the better choice. They both have their place. 1-doesn't that make Marvin's door more qualified against hurricanes? Not necessarily, but I love SGP tear resistance in high wind situations. 2-Will the less-than-stellar ability of SGP to reduce outside noise to the degree that PVB can reduce noise be noticable? Is it a game changer? That's your call, but SGP does virtually nothing for sound resistance while PVB is used in sound and recording studio glass. 3-Seeing that both CGI and Marvin use the same Cardinal glass, the Marvin frame is allegedly on par or stronger than CGI's, do these facts make Marvin a superior product? Again not necessarily. Wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, have all been certified to hurricane codes, both Miami Dade and ASTM E1886 and E1996. Some sash/frames are stifff as heck and never move, others flex like crazy but stay in place. As long as they meet code that would not be my concern. Do I like Marvin better? Yes I do, but that has to do with a lot of other reasons, not just the material they use for their sash and frames.

When I wanted the 3M product for my lake place outside a major metro area I contacted 3M and asked them if they had coverage in my area. They did and gave me the name of the guy/company who was maybe 90 miles away. I contacted him - no response. I contacted 3M again and told them they didn't really have coverage in my area because the guy never returned my calls. They apparently got a hold of him and I heard back shortly after. Turned out to be a great guy, did a great job and I have used him again at another house. My point being if there's a different product you want to use try contacting the manufacturer to see if they have someone who services your location.

I found one of these window films： Tinting Film