How to Apply Window Film

On a flat, clean work area, unroll the film with the liner side facing up. Mark and cut the film 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than the window you plan to cover.

If you’re applying film with an adhesive backing, use two pieces of clear tape to pull the first bit of backing from the film. Spray the window liberally with the same solution you used to clean it.

Remove the backing from the film and spray the glass-side surface of the film liberally with the solution as you go. For large pieces, you'll need a helper to keep the film clean once the backing is removed.

Starting at the top and keeping the top edge level, place the wet surface of the film on the wet glass, working down the window. If you have a crisp factory edge on the film, line it along the glass edge and make sure the rest of the film overlaps the window frame. You won’t need to trim this edge.

Spray the film with the solution. Push any large bubbles out to the edges with your hand. Squeegee from the top down the center and then from the center to one side, using firm overlapping strokes and pushing bubbles to within 2 inches of the glass edge. Do the same on the other side of the film. Keep the film surface wet with your solution so the squeegee glides easily.

Press the film firmly into the edges and corners. If you’re using an installation kit, you can use the plastic card squeegee for this procedure.

Use a utility knife to trim the excess film along the glass edges. Stop when you get near a corner. Trim back from the corner to complete the cut. Repeat for the remaining edges.

If you need a second piece of film to cover the window, apply it as you did above, overlapping the first piece vertically. Trim at the window edges but leave the overlap to trim later.

Spray the film again and squeegee it again as you did above. You can wrap the plastic card from the installation kit with a layer of microfiber cloth to push excess moisture out from under the film.

For overlapping pieces, once you remove the excess moisture use a straight edge and cut down at the overlap. Remove the excess film. Wet the film and squeegee down the seam from the top.

Wipe the window clean. The film should begin to stick within 30 minutes and normally cures fully in four to eight days. If you applied multiple pieces of film to windows, wait about a week and apply clear nail polish along the seam to block moisture.