First of all, massive shout out to 3M and William Smith for providing this opportunity. The overall experience was great, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to take their installs to another level.
The facility
From the get-go I was impressed. The 3M centre was something else, and the staff were welcoming. We were shown a huge range of their products, and it soon started to make sense why they’re always two steps ahead. 15% of their employees’ time goes into R&D, which is substantial. From fabrics to batteries to adhesives — they do it all.
The technical side
When it came to the technical side of things, I thought I knew a lot. Which I do. The trainer took us through a thorough PowerPoint presentation that covered all bases.
The issue with window film is: A, there are a lot of cowboys who either don’t know what they’re doing or recommend the wrong products. And B, it’s often smoke and mirrors and very opinionated when it comes to technical info. We learnt about their product range, how to check glass types, and mainly we were able to chat amongst ourselves about how we run our businesses. This was great, because being a professional course meant only the best of the best were there. I’d only been there half a day and not only did I feel confident in my knowledge, I also wanted to start selling their products.
The pricing thing
The price has always been a big thing for me — their film isn’t cheap, and if you got a quote you’d probably have a heart attack. However, as an accredited installer, I’m now able to fill out a checklist, send it to 3M, and they can tell me exactly what film can and can’t be installed. On top of that, they offer a 15-year warranty on their product. Unlike other companies, this covers both labour and materials.
For external film that’s 10 years, but it doesn’t even need edge sealing — and they’re confident about that. Great stuff.
Hands-on
When it came to the practical side, the selection of products we got to test was amazing. Their Silver 20 is thin and hard to work with. Their Prestige 70 is also an incredible product — on a standard double-glazed unit it can reduce the g-value to 0.41, keeping your rooms cool whilst remaining optically clear.
When it comes to security film — if I’m honest, I’d never fitted it. This stuff is super thick, and their 24 mil will mean you never have to lift a weight again in your whole career. It was hard work, but we were guided through the process and I managed just fine.
The assessment
When it came to being assessed, I had to do a splice. Which was near impossible, because I’m terrible with that kind of thing. I’m not very good with a straight edge. My first few attempts definitely showed.
This was the part I was most nervous about. But I gritted my teeth, got it done, and scored 80/100 — which I was relieved about.
Got the security assessments out the way after that, then lastly the solar film applications. That was the practical over, and the hardest bit for me. My skills don’t come through natural talent, just years of fuck-ups and practice. I do feel for those just starting off, because it isn’t as straightforward as you think.
The written test was pretty easy as my knowledge was up to scratch. 90/100 — not bad for a monkey-brained installer.
And that was it. Deep breath. You’ve passed.
So how does it feel?
To be the only 3M accredited installer in Essex, as far as I’m aware… better than it should do.
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