Installing ceramic on glass roof to reduce cabin heat?

[MikeR]

Any issues with having clear ceramic installed n the glass roof (like ceramic tint used on auto windows) to reduce the heat in the cabin?

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[iansriv]

I just got my R1 and had ceramic installed on the windows and windshield. The installer refused to install anything on the roof saying that he's seen it cause damage due to heat being trapped. Did not ask or consider what, if any, difference there would be if it was applied on the outside. As temps have come down now, I plan to wait till next year and see what others do. Cheers.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I haven't heard of any issues but a reputable film installer should be able to provide you some better guidance.

 

[skunn]

I had ceramic tint installed, and it helped quite a bit with the heat coming through the top glass. Didnt get rid of it, but made it much more comfortable.

 

[Sevn86]

I have ceramic tint on my roof glass as well and it’s helped with heat but not as much as I thought it would. I went with Xpel XR Plus 55%.

 

[Jobiwan]

I had xpel put clear tint on my R1T’s roof
Cost $300 and worth every penny.
Capon is cooler and better for my bald head
Do your windshields while you’re at it ($2-250)

 

[Yodastorm]

I had it done - XPEL XR+ all around and roof. 70 on windshield, 35 on all the rest of the windows and the roof. Makes all the difference in the world. I’m tall - car was baking during my walk through at the SC.

I have heard from some installers that they won’t do Tesla or Rivian roofs but most seem to.

 

[Destreyf]

Just adding my experience with adding film.

I got XPEL XR+ 35 on the windows, and then XPEL XR Blue 70 on the windshield and roof, no issues with it to date.

Here in Salt Lake City I could hit 110+ in the cabin in 30-45 minutes before tint, the week after tint I checked frequently and it seemed to level off to the 110 point after about an hour, so it made a difference when sitting in the parking lot.

Additionally the AC seems to run far less to maintain temperature when driving, although it started to cool off shortly after my tint was applied so I won't really know the full effect until it gets hot next year.

 

[N7Rivian]

I recently added exterior reflective tint to the outside of the roof, and it been keeping the inside very nice and cool. I went with a 20% for the tint.

 

[Sevn86]

I recently added exterior reflective tint to the outside of the roof, and it been keeping the inside very nice and cool. I went with a 20% for the tint.

So it’s an exterior applied tint?

 

[Cycliste]

I use a removable sunshade. During winter snow camping trips, I'll remove the shade, and monitor the temperature to see if it keeps the cabin warmer. I could also turn the window shades to the black side to absorb more heat. I’m debating using a cover for the truck that can absorb some heat to help keep the battery warm for multi-day trips.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I just got my R1 and had ceramic installed on the windows and windshield. The installer refused to install anything on the roof saying that he's seen it cause damage due to heat being trapped. Did not ask or consider what, if any, difference there would be if it was applied on the outside. As temps have come down now, I plan to wait till next year and see what others do. Cheers.

If you think of it in context of science it makes sense. Tint is installed on the interior side of the glass. Radiation (IR) still pass through the glass. But instead of [some of it] passing through and entering the cabin, now those energy particles are being reflected back through the glass, pass more of their energy to the glass. Then, the film’s own limits of elasticity has an affect on the glass’s ability to expand as it is being heated. Too much surface tension, nowhere to go, something has to give = fractures.

The only way to mitigate this is to reduce amount of radiation from entering the glass, i.e. a barrier on the exterior side that can block IR and withstand exposure to weather and debris.

 

[connoisseurr]

If you think of it in context of science it makes sense. Tint is installed on the interior side of the glass. Radiation (IR) still pass through the glass. But instead of [some of it] passing through and entering the cabin, now those energy particles are being reflected back through the glass, pass more of their energy to the glass. Then, the film’s own limits of elasticity has an affect on the glass’s ability to expand as it is being heated. Too much surface tension, nowhere to go, something has to give = fractures.

The only way to mitigate this is to reduce amount of radiation from entering the glass, i.e. a barrier on the exterior side that can block IR and withstand exposure to weather and debris.

You're tracking about 90%.

Window film will stretch with the glass just enough to not cause fractures. High performance ceramic window film does two things: it rejects IR energy and absorbs it. Both the rejected and aborbed energy cause the glass temperature to rise much higher than non-tinted glass, due to the thermal break being restricted on the cooler side of the glass (due to the applied film). Glass is decent at dissipating heat, but when you're trapping and reflecting heat from one side, that dissipation property is diminished.

The leading cause of cracked glass is due to a rapid temperature change. Example: you have a tinted roof glass with somewhere between 5-25% that's been under a high, hot sun for a few hours in 85F+ temperatures. The glass could be anywhere from 120-180F. You then go to wash the vehicle hot (something you should never do anyway). The rapid temperature change due to the ground-temp water can result in the glass to fracture.

I'm not saying it will happen EVERY TIME, but the likelihood is present and all owners should be warned. I've stopped tinting roof glass because the cost can be outrageous, and TBH a sunshade works just as well, if not better.

 

[N7Rivian]

So it’s an exterior applied tint?

yes, the heat is rejected before it go through the glass unlike the normal tint which is applied on the inside of the glass.

 

[connoisseurr]

So it’s an exterior applied tint?

No. Tint is never applied on the exterior.

yes, the heat is rejected before it go through the glass unlike the normal tint which is applied on the inside of the glass.

Incorrect. Tint is never applied on the exterior.

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