The Philosophy of Thomy® Folia:

The memory of poor quality lasts much longer than the short-lived joy of low prices. Choose the best quality, and you'll be satisfied for many years!

Removal of Wrapping Film from Car Paint

When it comes to removing decals or wrapping film from painted surfaces, it's crucial to consider whether the surface was factory-painted or repainted later. Both the film manufacturers and our company can only guarantee the factory paint.

Why? I don't want to criticize aftermarket painting, but there have been cases where the paint or clear coat came off with the removed film, and this hasn't happened with factory paint.

What's More Important: Your Car's Appearance or Protecting Your Child from Harsh Sunlight?

You must decide before applying window film whether you want to protect your child to the greatest extent possible or if your car's aesthetic appearance is the primary concern, and you don't want tinted windows. It may seem a bit strange to me, but I've had several customers who prioritize their car over their child's health.

Heating Elements and Window Film

The use of heating elements on car windows is not affected by window film applied to the glass. Different car models come with heating elements of various thicknesses, depending on the manufacturer. Thinner heating elements do not cause any aesthetic issues, but thicker ones can create a 1-2 millimeter air contour on both sides (above and below) of the film when the water has completely dried underneath it. Some people are bothered by this, but most of our customers don't have a problem with it. This is not a fault of the film or the window film installer.

Scratched Glass

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about scratches already present on your car's windows.

A piece of advice: never clean your windows when they are dry. Instead, use window cleaner and a rubber squeegee. Often, car windows are dusty or sandy. When you unknowingly wipe them dry, you press these particles into the glass's surface, causing visible scratches. As long as there's no darker shaded film applied to the specific window from the inside, it's not very noticeable. However, when we apply such a film to a window, creating a darker background for the scratches, they become more apparent. In such cases, some consider glass polishing to remove the scratches. However, this process removes a part of the glass's surface, making it uneven and potentially disrupting visibility while driving. If you have access to used but well-maintained windows, it's better to take the time to clean them with window cleaner and paper towels to avoid discovering scratches later. This approach is cheaper than buying new glass, but be cautious when handling used glass, as it may not be in perfect condition.

Black Dotted Bands at the Edges of Glued Windows

The black dotted band (often called the "dot matrix" or "raster band") will always be visible. We can correct it to look better, but for this, we advise our customers to return to us 3-4 weeks after the initial installation. With a 2-minute procedure, we can significantly improve the appearance of this noticeable (in a negative sense) line created by the dot matrix. When I inspect a window, this is the first thing I check before examining the window film itself. This ceramic surface is applied to the edges of the glass during manufacturing after the edges have been processed. Depending on the glass manufacturer, this surface can be nearly 1 mm thick, which logically holds the film slightly away from the glass.

Effectiveness and Lack of Effectiveness of Security Films

I do not recommend the application of security films on car windows that are integrated into the body of the car due to their lack of effectiveness. During the installation process, we cannot access the edges of the glass, which means we cannot protect - cover this surface with film. In the event of a break or fracture, the part of the glass covered with film moves as a whole and, based on our practice and experience, it tends to separate from the body-attached glass surface and may either pop out or remain inside, depending on the force applied.

For security film installation, it is essential that the glass is removed, and we apply the film on the largest possible surface, both in terms of the quality of execution and the maximum effectiveness of the security film during breakage. If the security film does not cover the entire glass surface, then in the event of a break, the filmed part remains intact and separates from the unfilmed area, thus losing its significance - effectiveness.

Based on our experience, we do not recommend applying security film to car windows that are integrated into the body of the car due to its lack of effectiveness. We would be happy to provide more details visually in our workshop.

If you accept the expertise and opinion of a professional, then you should install the security film on removable windows in their disassembled state. Otherwise, it's like applying film to the rear windshield that is integrated into the body of the car. Security film only achieves its desired and tested effect when the largest possible glass surface is protected with it, which is physically impossible in the case of glass already in place.

Should I install security film on my front windshield?

In my opinion and based on my experience, it is not necessary, as glass manufacturers have been continuously transitioning to laminated windshields since 1971. They are used in various areas: construction equipment, commercial and passenger vehicles, airplanes, locomotives, etc., as front windshields and increasingly for side windows of cars. These windshields have a layer of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) film placed between two glass layers, which are heated to 140°C under 10-15 kg/cm² pressure to complete the lamination process and bond the two layers together. Laminated glass is designed to prevent the shattering of materials upon impact. This type of glass is roughly equivalent to half the efficiency of a security film.

Curved or straight sunshade strip on the front windshield?

We recommend and use curved sunshade strips on cars with a highly curved front windshield. In this case, a sunshade strip parallel to the roofline looks much more aesthetically pleasing than a straight one. When a straight strip is applied, it appears thinner in the middle due to the curved windshield shape, while it looks thicker at the edges, which many people find unappealing due to its appearance.

If the mirror is attached to the windshield with a mirror base, then we can place the film under the base if needed. If it is glued, unfortunately, we have to cut around the attached base and cut the upper part of the strip in half, which I am not happy about, but we can solve it. If you accept my advice, then request the strip in the darkest film, as it provides the most significant and best protection against blinding sunlight. It is stronger than sunglasses and eliminates the need for a sun visor. Lighter shades only offer an aesthetic experience and do not have practical use.

Why Thomy® Fuerte?

• Because during our career, we have had to deal with many challenging-to-reach and extremely curved glass surfaces. Several companies specializing in film installation send their customers to us for vehicles with difficult-to-tint windows. Those windows that do not present difficulties can be tinted by anyone, even in a parking lot. However, we have faced and continue to face challenges, but we have always managed to deliver high-quality work.
• Because we have achieved first (1st), second (2nd), and third (3rd) place in the Southeast European competition for automotive window tinting.
• Because the work we provide looks as if we did it for ourselves.

Films on Glass Damaged by Welding or Grinding

You should not apply film directly to the burned (welding or grinding) metal particles, as it's almost certain that when the excess water is squeezed out during installation, the film will be pressed onto the burned metal and tear. While we can professionally remove metal particles, we cannot repair the craters formed during welding, which can look like large dust or sand particles under the film. At this point, the film does not make contact with the glass, and after the water in the depression (crater) dries, there will be small pockets of air left.

Factory Film

As far as I know, there is no such thing as factory film. What laymen refer to as factory film are actually tinted auto glass, where the glass itself is tinted in various levels of light transmission during the manufacturing process (typically 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 75%), depending on the car and glass manufacturer. However, these glasses do not provide heat or UV protection; they primarily provide shade. The cars with windshields that have a mirror-like reflection are equipped with heat-reflective coatings (Chevrolet, Citroen, Renault, Opel, Peugeot, etc.).

The Lightest (85% or Lighter) Heat-Resistant Films

Their cost is approximately twice that of the premium heat-resistant materials currently available. They are generally ordered for the side windows but are also requested for the front windshield by customers suffering from sun allergies or other skin conditions.

Air Conditioning, Film, or Both?

When my daughter was born (in the summer), I looked into what to consider when using air conditioning. The advice I received from multiple sources was to use the air conditioning as minimally as possible and to use shading through various methods. In the case of cars and buildings, I believe that using specialized baby-friendly film is the best and most practical solution. For cars, it's also important to consider protection against blinding sunlight, which you can see on my own car, if needed. Using film and air conditioning together is a very practical solution. Air conditioning alone consumes more energy and is less effective, but when used with film, the film significantly reduces the amount of heat coming in, which the air conditioning can easily cool and maintain, saving energy and costs in the process.

Tinting Curved (Both Ways) Auto Glass

Even highly curved or challenging rear windows can be beautifully tinted. There have been several cases where other tinting specialists sent us extremely curved and challenging rear windshields because they knew we wouldn't let the customer go until we produced flawless work. Sometimes I spent almost a whole day trying to shrink film onto an extremely curved and difficult-to-tint rear windshield, but there was always some error that I hadn't taken into account. In the end, the customer was satisfied, and I was tired but experienced, and we succeeded, which is what matters.

"Should I Tint My Windows Myself or Trust a Professional?

Do-It-Yourself Tinting: If you decide to apply the film yourself using the high-quality material you purchased from us, you're in luck. We introduced 'Do-It-Yourself' packages in 2017, and we provide a certificate for it, regardless of whether you're a certified installer with a registration number.

Almost 100% of car rear windows are curved in both directions, so shrinking or cutting is necessary to install the film. You can, with a bit of practice, shrink even a curved rear window without damaging the material. If you're diligent and skillful, you can send us photos of your completed work. If we see potential in your skills, we'll offer you an opportunity to join the Thomy® Fuerte team, starting with continuous training.

Several years of experience and a heat gun, which can both build and remove, are the minimum requirements. If shrinking is not an option, you can still apply the film using strips, which need to be carefully matched at the heating wires. If you're skillful, it can be done seamlessly with 2-3-4 pieces. Most materials available in stores and car shops are of mediocre quality, matching a DIY standard. These materials lack scratch resistance, leading to surface damage during installation and when the windows are rolled up and down, eventually hindering visibility. Retail-bought films are not certified by the Traffic Authority, so you won't have a valid certificate, regardless of where you apply them. These films are often dyed, which makes them prone to fading and absorbing solar energy. It's your choice whether to take your car to a professional for tinting or accept these drawbacks. The price difference is directly proportional to the aesthetic experience.

There were also cases that brought a smile to our faces. An inquiring car owner claimed to have built several houses, so "applying car window film shouldn't be a problem." He questioned our expertise, seemingly offended. He then purchased the selected film, and after a day, he returned, wanting more material. He paid for it and took it with him. On Monday, he showed up and requested an appointment for us to remove the film he had installed and have it professionally tinted by Thomy® Fuerte. In the end, he spent twice as much on the entire tinting process as he would have if he'd had it done professionally from the start. I won't even mention the frustration and wasted time. Stick to your own trade. I don't work on cars. My principle is that I get all specialized work done by the best experts in the field.

Why Are There Cameras in the Tinting Workshop?

We've installed cameras primarily for security reasons and to protect ourselves. These cameras show any potential damage to the car. Why is this necessary?

Because there have been cases where customers tried to make us look bad and claimed their cars were scratched by us. However, the issue was that they had parked the car in our shop in the morning, and no one had moved it afterward. Ironically, when they came to pick up the car, their focus was not on how beautiful the tinting was but on any potential damage. Fortunately, we are prepared for such attempts, and we won't give any chance to those who try to deceive us. These individuals only make a laughingstock of themselves.

If I Bring a High-Value Car to You for Tinting, How Can I Be Sure You'll Take Care of It?

We work with high-value cars and houses every day, which is reason enough for me to collaborate with ethically sound colleagues.

If I Had My Car Tinted Somewhere Else, and the Result Looks Bad, Would You Provide a Professional Opinion on the Mistakes Made During the Installation?

We do not issue written professional opinions about the work of other tinting companies under any circumstances."