Glass Ceiling Treatment?

[TTedP]

I'm on the waitlist but planning to tint/treat the glass ceiling to mainly reduce the heat on sunny summer days and the extra light in general.

I just watched a YouTube video for tinting the windows but no mention of the ceiling.

1. Are heat and light separate components when it comes to tinting options? What would you recommend? Never had any tinting/treatment on my vehicles so I'm researching.

2. I've read that there are ceiling shades for the R1, are they easy to put and take down?

For #2, I had my sides done with quality tint but skipped the roof and just put one of the Vion's in as a test - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH9Y9KH5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Quick install, decent quality, cheaper than most, helped lower the temp -> keeper

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[ben24]

I have a feeling Rivian will eventually have a retractable sunshade since the roof is nothing like a Tesla roof.

 

[Jeffvisor]

I have a Mustang Mach-e with glass roof in PA and I been through many heat waves including over 100 and never felt the heat from the roof. Not sure if they use a different glass coating but never felt the need to tint or get a sunshade. I am on a wait list for the R2 and will test drive one in Aug but love the glass roof on a car.

 

[Joe Hoffman]

I have them for my Model 3. They’re all about the same. They fold up pretty compactly. There are little plastic clips that hold them into place. I don’t take mine off, but you could pretty easily.

I have the clip-in shades on my R1S. I put them in every summerseasonally. Takes me a few minutes to remember how to install them but otherwise it’s very simple. I highly recommend this as a solution for hot summer situations.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Without shielding the roof from exposure, the glass is going to heat up no matter what you decide to do to it. And even if it does break, unless delivered as new damaged, Rivian SC is most likely going to rule wear and tear, instead of manufacturing defect, and not assume responsibility. So from both perspectives, it’s a moot concern.

Furthermore, even you somehow manage to find a way to keep the roof glass cool, there’s that giant piece of untinted glass that every single car you’ve owned has: the windshield. Now what? You can tint that too and there are ceramic films made specifically for that application. Now you’ve spent about 1k or so on both pieces of glass. And both are still exposed to radiation and still heat up. You’ve maybe lowered your cabin temp by less than one degree? at best.

Those who haven’t gotten your cars yet… Try not to take complaints online to heart. Some of it is psychological: heat felt from the glass and a condition that has always existed (from windshield), but now suddenly it’s an issue because there is glass overhead without retractable headliner and insulation. Wait until you’ve had time with the car to see if it truly is an issue, to you.

If it is truly a problem, two things to keep in mind… First, most cost effective solution are the various mesh screens or shields—that form a barrier between your scalp and the glass. Second, give AC time to work and cool the cabin before jumping to conclusions that a design flaw exists. You just can’t expect any AC to cool a space in an instant. Laws of physics prohibits it. Any residential or commercial AC repairman would tell you the same. Once the AC has had time to chill cabin air and is able to maintain set temperatures and airflow, heat from the roof or windshield shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[VegasWeezy]

Without shielding the roof from exposure, the glass is going to heat up no matter what you decide to do to it. And even if it does break, unless delivered as new damaged, Rivian SC is most likely going to rule wear and tear, instead of manufacturing defect, and not assume responsibility. So from both perspectives, it’s a moot concern.

Furthermore, even you somehow manage to find a way to keep the roof glass cool, there’s that giant piece of untinted glass that every single car you’ve owned has: the windshield. Now what? You can tint that too and there are ceramic films made specifically for that application. Now you’ve spent about 1k or so on both pieces of glass. And both are still exposed to radiation and still heat up. You’ve maybe lowered your cabin temp by less than one degree? at best.

Those who haven’t gotten your cars yet… Try not to take complaints online to heart. Some of it is psychological: heat felt from the glass and a condition that has always existed (from windshield), but now suddenly it’s an issue because there is glass overhead without retractable headliner and insulation. Wait until you’ve had time with the car to see if it truly is an issue, to you.

If it is truly a problem, two things to keep in mind… First, most cost effective solution are the various mesh screens or shields—that form a barrier between your scalp and the glass. Second, give AC time to work and cool the cabin before jumping to conclusions that a design flaw exists. You just can’t expect any AC to cool a space in an instant. Laws of physics prohibits it. Any residential or commercial AC repairman would tell you the same. Once the AC has had time to chill cabin air and is able to maintain set temperatures and airflow, heat from the roof or windshield shouldn’t be an issue.

Agreed.

I’ve said this before, but I have a Mach e with the glass roof in Vegas and the sun/heat has never been an issue. I chose not to tint that vehicle on the roof or windshield.

Despite that, I have chosen to tint both the roof and the windshield of the R2 even if it only saves a degree or two on my scalp. The main reason for the very light tint on the windshield is UV protection and some heat rejection, which I believe will actually make a fairly significant difference in how it feels when the sun is coming straight through the windshield onto my hands, arms and/or legs.

I’m a pretty pale person and skin cancer has run in the family history. So the little bit of extra protection from UV rays, in addition to the slight heat rejection benefit, is appreciated.

 

[Zathras]

For what it’s worth, I dropped off my R2 on Monday for PPF, ceramic coating and tinting. I brought up the concern to the guy at the shop about the potential for the roof to crack with tint. He said he’s heard people debate this and has been asked about it many times, but said their shop has never seen or had it happen.

That’s not to say it isn’t possible or hasn’t happened. I’m still getting the roof tinted, but going with a lighter shade.

I’d be more concerned about interior shades that will generate heat under the glass and what it reflects has now gone through the glass twice.

Sitting on top of the glass and blocking 99 percent of IR before it reaches the glass seems a safer option. But probably check with insurance. UV doesn’t matter because I saw a test that shows an unprotected R2 already blocks all UV.

 

[Zathras]

A lot of opinions here. But when I saw an engineer test a vehicle with 30 percent tinted (ceramic) film the temperature difference inside was significant.

 

[mic-chris]

A lot of opinions here. But when I saw an engineer test a vehicle with 30 percent tinted (ceramic) film the temperature difference inside was significant.

Thank you for this. Some false representations in this thread. The difference you can expect in a parked car from pretty much any level of ceramic tint on windshield and roof is significant on a hot day in the sun. If you run calculations, depending where you are you can see a delta T between the scenario of treatment vs no treatment of 20+ degrees F. This isn't a 1-2 degree issue it is MUCH greater than that.

I think it is important to note the surface area of the windshield is huge and to get those 20 degree plus differences you would need to apply to windshield as well.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I’d be more concerned about interior shades that will generate heat under the glass and what it reflects has now gone through the glass twice.

Sitting on top of the glass and blocking 99 percent of IR before it reaches the glass seems a safer option. But probably check with insurance. UV doesn’t matter because I saw a test that shows an unprotected R2 already blocks all UV.

Unless the shield does not only insulated but also concentrate and intensify energy, it shouldn’t raise the glass’s temperature enough to matter. But if that is a fear, it’s a good reason to choose the mesh type. However, keep in mind Rivian’s dynamic glass option in the R1–which is essentially a translucent shield—and it has yet to be linked to cracking or exploding glass. Auto glass has melting temp of over 2500 F. Cracking is usually due to impact or sudden change in temperature, i.e. sudden expansion/contraction. Heat from sun is not sudden.

 

[Millbarge]

I’d be more concerned about interior shades that will generate heat under the glass and what it reflects has now gone through the glass twice.

Every factory glass sunroof since the 1980s came with sunshade. I can't imagine this is a problem.

 

[lefkonj]

my fear of cracking the roof made he not do it but I did tint all the remaining glass with a ceramic tint that helped keep the car cooler.

 

[Zathras]

Every factory glass sunroof since the 1980s came with sunshade. I can't imagine this is a problem.

Exactly. That's why I'm skeptical of all these claims of film causing the proble they think it is.

 

[Zathras]

Unless the shield does not only insulated but also concentrate and intensify energy, it shouldn’t raise the glass’s temperature enough to matter. But if that is a fear, it’s a good reason to choose the mesh type. However, keep in mind Rivian’s dynamic glass option in the R1–which is essentially a translucent shield—and it has yet to be linked to cracking or exploding glass. Auto glass has melting temp of over 2500 F. Cracking is usually due to impact or sudden change in temperature, i.e. sudden expansion/contraction. Heat from sun is not sudden.

That's why we need to put an end to thie fears that tinting films are going to cause glass to shatter. It's not like millions of cars haven't already been treated, and if they were causing such damage, they would be sued out of business. I'm sure there's various qualities of film and one would be smart to do their due diligence to fine high-quality stuff the installer is willing to guarantee it will work as advertised.

 

[WoodChips]

With all the treads on tinting the roof and heat concerns it makes me wonder how many people would opt for a solid top or a reduced, more of a standard sunroof, if it was an option.

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