Most bubbles that appear after fitting a sunstrip are water, not air. They are the natural result of fitting with a soapy water solution. Most of them can be squeegeed out at installation. However, if some persist, they will flatten on their own within 24 to 72 hours as the moisture evaporates through the film. No intervention needed.
Air bubbles behave differently and need fixing. Before reaching for a pin, check which type you have.
Water Bubble or Air Bubble: What You Have Matters
Water bubbles are larger, domed, and shift slightly when pressed. They often appear semi-transparent against the glass. They are temporary.
Air bubbles are smaller, flatter, and do not move when pressed. They have a more defined edge and stay in the same position regardless of temperature. These will not resolve on their own.
Parking the car in direct sunlight for a day speeds up evaporation on water bubbles. If bubbles are still present after 72 hours, or if you fitted the strip dry, they are trapped air.
Fixing Air Bubbles
The Pin Method
A sewing needle or pin handles most trapped air bubbles. Angle the pin at roughly 45 degrees and make a single small puncture at the edge of the bubble, not the centre. Press gently from the opposite side of the bubble toward the hole. The air releases, and the film seats flat against the glass.
The puncture is invisible once the air is out. Do not press the centre of the bubble directly. The film can crease.
Heat
A heat gun on a low setting or a hair dryer softens the vinyl and makes it pliable enough to work flat. Hold the heat source 15 to 20cm from the surface and keep it moving. Five to ten seconds of warmth is enough. While the film is still warm, use a squeegee or a flat card to push from the inside of the bubble outward toward the edge.
Do not use a lighter or any open flame. Uncontrolled heat will shrink or damage the film.
When to Remove the Sunstrip and Start Again
Bubbles can be fixed. A strip that has been applied incorrectly cannot.
If the film lifts from the glass in sections, holds a creased shape after smoothing, or shows wrinkles rather than clean bubbles, the application has not seated. Pinning and heat will not rescue it at that point.
Peel the strip back carefully from one corner. Clean the windscreen with isopropyl alcohol to remove any adhesive residue and soap film. We have a quick guide on How to Remove a Pre-Cut Sunstrip Without Damaging Your Windscreen.
If you need a replacement strip, the pre-cut sunstrips range covers a wide selection of vehicles in 11 colours, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3 pm.
For everything you need to know about pre-cut sunstrips, the complete pre-cut sunstrips guide covers legal requirements, colour options, fitting, and aftercare in one place.
