Beyond the Tint: The Story of Spokane Sunscreen's Community Impact
Next time you spot a Spokane Valley Police Vehicle or Sheriff’s Department Vehicle, take a moment to appreciate the work of Spokane Sunscreen. They’re responsible for the vehicle wraps and window tinting on 500-600 police vehicles annually. Surprisingly, cars account for just a third of their business.
Behind the Tint
Spokane Sunscreen has been a family-owned business since 1949, celebrating 75 years of business! In 2019, they expanded their existing facility, doubling its size, and completed a full remodel of their showroom, graphics department, and installation center. Now, their 10,000+ square foot “Super Shop” accommodates their wide range of specialties: Residential, Commercial, Automotive, RV, and Boat Tinting, Transitioning Films, Safety & Security Films, Anti-Graffiti Films, Decorative Films, Smart Films, Ceramic Paint Protection Film, Wraps, Decals, Printed Signs & Banners, and Perforated Signs, among others. Yet, what most people might not guess is that more than 60% of their business comes from tinting commercial and residential windows, not cars.
![Spokane Valley Police Department's blue and white Ford F-250 patrol truck parked outside, with the police badge and emergency contact number prominently displayed.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1.png)
![A sleek white Chevrolet Corvette parked in front of Spokane Sunscreen signage, with blue sky reflecting on the car's shiny surface.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2.png)
![Classic silver Dodge Challenger with black stripes on display inside a showroom, featuring chrome wheels and the Challenger emblem on the side.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3.png)
![Vintage purple and white Volkswagen bus parked outside Spokane Sunscreen with clear blue skies overhead.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4.png)
![Custom graphics on a white pickup truck advertising 'Custom Truck' in bold, neon-style lettering for Coeur d'Alene dealership.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5.png)
“We were at the Home and Yard Show earlier this year, and it was eye-opening to see how many people were unaware of our services beyond auto tinting,” said owner Rick Johnson. The benefits of window tinting for residential homes, such as energy efficiency savings, glare, and increased safety—especially for homes with large windows—are often overlooked. Spokane Sunscreen’s services enhance both the aesthetics and the energy efficiency of your home or office.
“When people design their homes, they often opt for big floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light,” Johnson explained. “However, they soon realize the cost of heating and cooling these homes. That’s when they turn to us. Our tint is virtually invisible, so they can enjoy their view without the inside of their house overheating from the natural sunlight.”
![A contemporary home with a dynamic architectural design featuring a combination of flat and slanted roof sections, finished in dark brown stucco and accented by a patterned stone facade. The front landscaping includes well-maintained, low-lying shrubs, and a modern stone wall that frames the entryway, set against a backdrop of coniferous trees under a clear blue sky.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SSHomeEXT.jpg)
![This image shows a stylish front door area with a peaked wood ceiling overhang and an elegant dark wood door with intricate glass design, framed by sidelight windows. The door reflects a serene outdoor scene, suggesting a calm and inviting entrance, while a modern security camera is visible to the left, adding a touch of technology.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SSFrontDoor.jpg)
![An expansive front view of a modern forest home featuring a large central gabled structure with towering windows and two flanking wings, all clad in a dark brown siding with stone accents. The home is perched above a naturalistic rock wall garden with an assortment of shrubs and trees, seamlessly blending into the forest surroundings.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Home2EXT.jpg)
![A minimalist and modern frosted glass door framed in black, offering privacy while allowing diffuse light to permeate. The door's sleek design embodies contemporary elegance and simplicity, set against a neutral wall, presenting a contrast of functionality and style.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SSDoorFrost.jpg)
Beyond Automotive: Winning the Trust of Local Businesses
Spokane Sunscreen’s work extends beyond the average customer. Their high-quality services are visible in renowned businesses such as The Bank of America Building, The Washington Trust Building and Tower, The Nike Store, The Lego Store, and more. Window tinting for businesses is not just about privacy; it’s also about energy efficiency and safety. Nearly every pharmacy and school in the region has relied on Spokane Sunscreen’s expertise, demonstrating their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
“We use a lot of clear safety film, which is shatter-resistant like a car’s windshield. If the glass breaks, it is held together by the heavy safety film, preventing shards of sharp glass from falling inwards, causing injury while slowing unwanted access into buildings or homes. Johnson added that this would also prevent outsiders from seeing inside if a tinted version was chosen, helping with “smash and grab” thieves seeing valuables. The window film used by Spokane Sunscreen blocks up to 84% of solar energy, insulates during winter, blocks 99.9% of UV rays protecting you and your furnishing’s, and reduces glare by up to 94%.
Spokane Sunscreen recently won the Eastman 2023 Elite Dealer of the Year Award, recognizing it as the West Coast’s largest dealer of Eastman Performance Films products. Rick Johnson noted, “We tint about 20 cars per day. Our work is renowned not just for tints but also for custom wraps and graphics.”
![Facade of Bank of America building in Downtown Spokane on an overcast day with reflections of surrounding structures in the glass windows.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1.jpg)
![Modern high-rise Bank of America building in Downtown Spokane with sunlight reflecting off the upper windows, clear blue sky in the background.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2.jpg)
![Street view of the Nike Store building in Downtown Spokane with Richard's Merrill Wealth Management, pedestrians and vehicles visible.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3.jpg)
![Storefront of LEGO retail shop in Downtown Spokane, showcasing colorful displays of LEGO sets and company branding in window.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4.jpg)
Honoring Heroes
Rick Johnson is particularly proud of a project for fallen officers. “We wrapped a memorial/tribute car (End of Watch) for the Liberty Lake Police Department that resembles a granite headstone on the hood,” he said. “It features a bronze plaque that says ‘the Name and EOW date for the fallen Law Enforcement Officer,’ with a waving American flag down the sides of the vehicle for law enforcement. What’s special about the plaques on the hood is that we make extras for the families of the officers who want them for their vehicles. We have probably made four dozen plaques now, but what they represent is truly amazing.”
![Image of a police car from Liberty Lake Police with emergency lights on, parked on grass, displaying a hood covered with memorial plaques at dusk.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1-1.png)
![Close-up view of a Liberty Lake Police patrol car with flashing red and blue lights, showing a hood filled with police memorial plaques in daylight.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2-1.png)
![Side profile of a Liberty Lake Police vehicle parked in a parking lot, highlighting the patriotic graphics on the car.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3-1.png)
![Detailed view of the memorial plaques on the hood of a Liberty Lake Police car, each plaque bearing the name and end-of-watch date of a fallen officer.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4-1.png)
![Rear angle of a Liberty Lake Police Memorial Car, showcasing the police logo and the "Memorial Car" label, parked on a suburban street.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5-1.png)
![A wide shot featuring two police vehicles, one from Liberty Lake Police, in front of a trailer displaying photos and names of officers lost in the line of duty, titled "Beyond the Call of Duty – Ride to Remember 2021.](https://spokanevalleychamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6.png)
Elevate Your Environment
Spokane Sunscreen stands out as the premiere leader in vehicle wraps and window tinting and as a pivotal partner in the Greater Spokane Valley community through its commitment to enhancing public safety, energy efficiency, and appeal for both residential and commercial spaces and its dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction.