You just dropped cash on a tint job. You’re hyped — until you notice something’s off. Don’t ignore it. Bad tint doesn’t age well. It gets worse. Fast.
Here’s how to tell if the shop screwed up — and how to get it fixed without wasting more time or money.
Just Got Your Windows Tinted? Here’s What Shouldn’t Be There
Right after tinting, some things are normal: slight haze, a bit of moisture under the film, maybe some drying marks. That’s fine — they go away in a few days.
But if you’re seeing the stuff below? That’s not fine.
Bubbles, Gaps, Dirt & Dust — When to Complain
Air Bubbles
If it’s water, it’ll dry out in a few days. If it’s air, it’s not going anywhere. That means the film wasn’t applied right. It wasn’t pressed down properly or the glass wasn’t clean enough.
Gaps Around the Edges
A clean tint job should go almost edge-to-edge. If you see weird spacing, crooked lines, or sloppy cuts — that’s just lazy. Gaps let light in and make the whole job look cheap.
Dirt or Dust Trapped Inside
Looks like someone sneezed on the glass before applying the film? That’s a no-go. Dirt under the tint means the installer didn’t clean the glass. It’s stuck there forever unless the whole thing gets redone.
Bad Cutting, Peeling Edges, and Wrong Fit
Peeling or Lifting Corners
Corners shouldn’t pop up a few days after install. If they do, the film didn’t stick. That’s usually a sign of poor prep, rushed work, or cheap materials.
Jagged Cuts or Knife Marks
Look closely near the edge of the glass. Good installers use precision tools — not kitchen scissors. If it looks rough or you see scratches on the glass? That’s straight-up damage.
Uneven Shade or Wrong Percent
One window looks darker than the others? Something’s off. Either they used a different film or didn’t check the percentages. Legal tint in MA should be at least 35% visible light transmission — if it’s way darker or illegal, you’ll fail inspection or get pulled over.
Color That Looks Purple or Blotchy
Cheap film fades fast. That bluish-purple tone? That’s a sign they used garbage material. Real tint stays true to color. If your tint already looks weird, it’ll look worse soon.
What a Good Shop Will Do to Make It Right
A pro shop stands by its work. If you spot a legit problem, here’s how it should go:
- You tell them what’s wrong.
- They inspect it.
- They fix it or replace it — for free.
Most quality tint shops offer a warranty — usually lifetime on the film and at least a few years on the install. If they won’t fix obvious issues, they’re not worth your time.
Red flag: If they blame you for their mistakes — “You rolled your window down too early” — and won’t even look at it, don’t go back. Find a better shop.
Got a bad tint job in Massachusetts?
Find a pro near you who can fix it properly — no guesswork.
Compare top-rated tint shops in MA, read real reviews, and get it done right the second time.
Don’t let one bad install turn into a long-term problem.
You paid for a clean tint — make sure you get it.
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