Originally Posted by BoilerUpXFire
Matt, you have done a great job, but maybe I can offer a few suggestions to other members (as well as one for your defroster issues). I worked in a tint shop for a few years and have seen damn near anything pertaining to tinting windows (flat glass, commercial, and automotive). I will be very surprised if you do not have some slight (to moderate) imperfections in the tint from dirt, dust, etc getting between the tint and the glass because of the outside install. When we did auto tint, we did it in damn near a clean room b/c of this issue. Also, I am surprised you got such good results without using any heat - I do not think you will be that forunate on the defroster panel. On my rear glass, the only thing that made it lay down correctly was the right amount of heat - both direct and from the other side of the glass being heated to the right temperature....
Just my lowly opinion, take the info for what its worth....
Your opinion is not lowly at all. While I think the results were decent, some heat could definitely be used in the front windows just to tighten everything up. I won't be opening my windows for most of the week to let it get as much sun as possible. However, I am debating waiting until this weekend when I move into my new place and will have my own garage. I knew going in that doing it outside with the elements working against me would not be the ideal situation. I am probably going to go buy a low heat hair dryer tonight with a flat attachment and probably take a bit of heat to the front windows tonight and see if the few minor imprefections improve.
I was lucky that there aren't any dirt particles that I can see in the windows, but then again it may just be too small to see. I definitely agree as I stated in my OP, doing this in a garage will make things much easier. I just didn't currently have that luxury and until today did not know i was going to have that luxury. Luckily I found a new apartment with my won garage.
Through all of this please know that I admit zero expertise in the field of tinting, but enjoy learning everything I can, even if it is by trial and error. I am open to hearing all questions, comments, and criticisms as well as any suggestions that anyone may have. I did this to help those moving forward who wanted to do their own tint.