Tint Cracking

[Lalo Scalf]

2years ago we had 3M P-18 silver film professionally installed on 7 of our larger west facing windows. House is in NE USA so winters are often cold. Windows are all variable in shape and size...quadriteral/trapezoid...and range in size from 15 sq ft to the largest which is over 70 sq ft. Last winter the smaller window had a full length crack occur and just recently a new 1 ft long crack has started on one of the larger windows. We thought the glass was Andersen but their customer support is saying the company did not do this type of window till the 1985 and the house was built in 1974.

On Andersen's website they have a disclaimer which I am sure many of you are aware stating "Applying reflective or decorative film to your Andersen window or patio door glass is not recommended. When film is applied to the glass surface, it may cause heat build-up on the glass which could cause the glass to crack or break"

The majority of window manufacturers void their warranty if film, tape, sticker, blinds too close, etching, etc is being done to the windows. If you read further, inclement weather within 100 miles in most cases voids the warranty as well.

This time of year it is cold outside and sunny. Do these windows experience shadowing throughout the day during the winter? If so this could be your problem. Sunny side will be hot and shaded side will be cold. Lots of thermo stress when that happens

OK first thing you need to know is everybody is happy to hand out warrantys at point of sale. When there's a problem, not so much.... If the windows are cracking it is almost definitely thermal stress, caused between a sudden temperature shift, which is why these will happen in the morning when it shifts from cold to hot quickly.

Because at the end of the day any film is a risk. You've just got to determine what is the lowest possible risk and work from there. Look up the specs of p-18 for its TSA or absorption rate. The colder your climate the lower the absorption you need. In my opinion without knowing your climate, cracking on p18, you did get unlucky..... without knowing your climate.

I am not sure about laminated....isn't that predominantly for auto and skylights. Its definitely double paned, very thick possibly more than 1/2 inch, circa mid-seventies. And no shadows at all, open to the sky. As I mentioned it did have 3M film on it before without a problem but much less reflective than P-18. Would you all concur with thirtyfive that all film should be removed immediately. So, no film, out of pocket nearly $4000 and 2 broken windows

1st thing... DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE FILM FROM A CRACKED WINDOW. Sorry for the caps but removal could seriously injure or even kill you. If the other windows are sound (not cracked) then you may want to remove the film from those.

Quadrilateral and trapezoid shaped glass falls into the category of "odd shaped glass" and in most current window film mfg warranties you will find a maximum pane size limit of around 25 sq ft for this type of window. 70 sq ft is obviously way beyond that limit. So regardless of the glass type, the thickness or the presence of any coatings these windows probably never qualified to be covered by a mfg thermal breakage warranty. The installing company should have known that and brought it to your attention. You can try to make a claim through your installing company but there is a probable chance that it will not be covered.

Quadrilateral and trapezoids are risky shapes to apply film too. But it was interesting to read that the windows had been tinted before... Sometimes film gets applied to glass and nothing happens for many years. But then one day out of the blue there is a thermal break. As was mentioned P18 is a fairly low absorbing film but even low absorbing films can crack glass in certain conditions. It is possible that as time has passed settling could have occurred and "pinched" the glass thus no longer allowing it to expand freely. This creates stress and stress cracks glass. I have seen glass that was unshaded when the film was installed but then in 10-15 years small trees become significantly larger to the point where they create "uneven shadowing" on glass resulting in uneven stress and thermal breakage. Recently installed window coverings where there was once none can stress and break glass.

Unless you can find the reason "why" the windows cracked, I would not recommend re-applying film. If you can determine the cause... and if that cause can be remedied (ie. replace annealed glass with tempered), then maybe you could re-tint the windows.

On Andersen's website they have a disclaimer which I am sure many of you are aware stating "Applying reflective or decorative film to your Andersen window or patio door glass is not recommended. When film is applied to the glass surface, it may cause heat build-up on the glass which could cause the glass to crack or break"

Andersen has a older line of windows, ( Late 70s early 80s ). They are double pane but have no expansion joint. They are called bulb units. These break every time film is applied to them. Being in the northeast ourselves, ans Andersen being as popular as they are here, we see them all the time and RUN.

Thank you for all your replies. I spoke with an Andersen rep who was adamant about Andersen not making this type of odd shaped window before 1985 and the house was built in 74. I discovered 3M have a $500 replacement value on the window but up to $1500 if you have platinum insurance, which I do not have. The attached photos show 1 pic of the full cracked window and 2 pics showing larger window and a detailed view. I'm afraid because of the film I cannot tell if the cracks are on the inside or outside pane. The comment about not using this film on larger windows would mean that film could not be used on the huge windows in commercial buildings, which of course it is all the time.

You first post was about windows that were 70 square feet. Yes there is restrictions on applying film to glass that size. it does not matter what type of film, there are restrictions. The majority of the manufacturers request prior approval to applying film to window units larger than 40 square feet. Non of those windows pictured appear to be large panes

Wood framed windows can cause issues down the road. You have screws and nails everywhere. I have had a few break with screws against the glass edges. Every window I have been able to watch being replaced I have found issues with the glass. Screws, nails or other items against the glass. Glass fissures along the glass edges which are hidden by the frame.

If your automobile windows are tinted or you are considering having a tint applied to them, then you may have many questions about this tint and how it can affect current and future windshield damage.

Since most automobile window tints are applied to the interior surface of the windows, they do not protect the windows from the most common causes of cracks and chips. For example, if a rock hits your windshield exterior with extreme force while you are driving, the glass may still chip or crack since the rock is making contact with the actual window and not the film.

Windshields are made from laminated glass that consists of two glass layers with a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin located between them. This resin layer holds onto glass pieces when the glass breaks to reduce the chance of glass-related injuries in the event of an auto accident. When window tint film is applied to the interior of a windshield, it forms an extra protective layer that can further help hold glass pieces together if the window were to break.

Most side and rear automobile windows are made from simple tempered glass instead of laminated glass. This glass type contains no PVB resin and is more likely to break into many small pieces that fall out of the window opening when the glass is broken. Window tint can help hold this glass together during an auto accident to potentially increase occupant safety.

While all window tint films help prevent glass shattering to a degree, a window tint type called security film increases the impact-resistance of the glass more than other window tint types. This film is typically thicker and stronger than traditional window tints.

Auto glass cracks can expand over time, which is why you need to have windshield cracks repaired quickly when possible before the damage worsens. However, it is especially important to have an auto glass crack repaired quickly if the cracked window is covered with window tint.

While all window tints vary slightly in design, many tint types help keep your automobile interior cooler by absorbing much of the sun's heat instead of allowing it to pass through the glass and into your vehicle. As the window tint absorbs the sun's heat, it can pass heat into the window glass, potentially making tinted glass much hotter than untinted window glass. This extreme heat can lead to thermal stress that causes a glass crack or chip to expand very quickly.

When you repair a crack or chip in tinted auto glass quickly, you can worry less about thermal stress expanding the crack until it jeopardizes windshield structural integrity so much that the glass must be completely replaced

Cracks and chips in tinted automobile windows can be repaired just as cracks and chips in untinted windows are. However, the tinted window repair process requires an additional couple of steps and just a little more time.

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