Essential window film information for homeowners, business owners, and building owners who want to improve the comfort, safety, and energy efficiency of their buildings.
Window film is not something that you will buy often.
Buying window film for your home or business is a worthwhile investment. However, your decision to buy window film goes beyond the cost. To make an informed decision, you must research the pros and cons. You’ll also want to find the right window film for your project. It’s also good to understand how window film is made, how it’s installed, and how they perform. These are just a few of the topics we will consider in this article.
Window film is one of the most versatile products we offer, with broad applications for homeowners and businesses. Whether you’re seeking to protect your windows, reduce sunlight, or increase privacy, window films can be a great solution. Here at ClimatePro, we pride ourselves on offering high-quality window film for various applications. But just what is window film? Use this guide to learn about the types, applications, and benefits of window film for residential, commercial, and automotive markets.
Let me first introduce myself, my name is Jeremy Dobbins. My family started ClimatePro in 1979, over forty years ago. I have been working in this industry for almost 19 years. I started working for my grandfather when I was 15 years old. I would help our install teams clean and prepare windows for the installation of window film.
Throughout my 20-year career, our company and I have been involved in almost 29,000 projects and counting. On average, since we started keeping records, we’ve installed 295,000 square feet of window film every year. We’ve installed thousands of rolls of window film at customers’ homes, corporate campuses, small businesses, and even cruise ships. We’re always looking to learn more about our products and offer new and better ways to serve our customers. With this level of experience, we feel confident that we’ve worked hard to hone our craft and become experts.
What does “expert” even mean? Here’s a definition:
We’d like to share our comprehensive knowledge of window film with all who seek it.
Let’s start with the basics.
We have broken this information into six parts:
Estimated reading time: Around 45 minutes, but you can skip ahead to any section by using the links below.
Part 1: Window Film Basics: What it is, Benefits, Types of Window Film and Durability
Part 2: What Window Film Can’t Do
Part 3: Window Film Costs & Pricing
Part 4: Window Film Selection: How to pick the right film
Part 5: Window Film Installation: Professional vs. DIY
Part 6: Window Film FAQs
There is a great deal of information you should know about window film.
In this section we will cover:
What is Window Film?
Window film is a polyester coating that is applied to glass. It is most commonly used to reduce the amount of sunlight that passes through the glass. When used for this purpose in vehicles, it is often referred to as window tint. (Note, we don’t do automobiles.)
Every type of window film uses a polyester film as its base material. Polyester film is produced from the polymer Polyethylene Terephthalate, or more commonly known as PET.
PET is manufactured by combining terephthalic acid and monoethylene glycol, which are derived from petroleum.
PET films are used successfully in a wide range of applications other than window film due to an excellent combination of optical and physical characteristics. Although the final product is quite thin, polyester base films have unequaled strength and toughness while providing excellent stability when exposed to various temperatures, moistures, and solvents during the window film manufacturing process.
Light reduction is far from the only application that window film is used for in automotive and architectural applications. In addition to light-reducing window film, there are films used to reduce heat and glare, and even prevent storm or vandalism damage.
Why Window Film: Benefits of Window Film?
Whether it’s your home, office, or car, window film provides various benefits. The benefits include improving your health, personal safety, privacy, and energy conservation.
Once you understand the positive life-changing aspects of having window film installed, we are positive you will want to contact us to start you on the path to having window film in your life. To learn more about the individual advantages of having window film installed, review the topics below.
1. Benefits – General
By choosing a product that complements the existing elements of your building, Window Film can enhance the existing appearance. For commercial buildings, window films can help to create a modern and uniform appearance to the glass.
If your interest is in energy savings, many types of new windows can be installed to achieve energy conservation. However, window film can achieve the same results at a lower cost. Unlike most building retrofit projects undertaken, you will find that the window film installation is a minor disruption to your busy life. No moving out, no need to not use a certain room for a period of time. Professional installation is fast and easy.
A major concern these days is personal safety. By nature, glass is a dangerous product. Most glass types will shatter when they break. Any window film installed on any glass type will help to keep the fragments intact. This helps to reduce the potential danger of flying glass fragments and large pieces.
Some window film products can be installed to reduce the ability to see inside your building or home. This is an added benefit against vandalism and possible theft. By reducing the view outside the windows, the potential intruder is not enticed to steal your belongings.
2. Enhanced Appearance and Protection
Whether it’s a contemporary look or a uniform design that is desired, there’s a variety of window film options that can aesthetically enhance the exterior of your home, office, or automobile. From virtually invisible films to darker colors, there’s a range of shades to give you the look you want.
All of our window film products, whether designed for residential, commercial, or automobiles, contain the highest levels of UV protection. This allows the films to reject up to 99% of harmful UV rays.
Have you ever wondered about the effects the sun has on your skin? Even during everyday activities like driving your car, standing by a window or going outside, you are exposed to harmful UVA rays. Is this why most of us have the habit of applying sunscreen? Think of window film as sunscreen for your home or office. Window film blocks UVA rays, giving you a layer of protection from skin cancer and visual impairment. While you apply sunscreen when you plan to be outside for long periods of time, have you ever thought that when performing the simple daily activities of driving your vehicle or standing next to a window, the sun streaming in can also damage your skin? By stopping virtually all of the UV rays, window film provides an effective “sunscreen” for your skin against the harmful effects of the sun, including but not limited to skin cancer and vision impairment.
3. Not Only for Automobiles
Automotive tinting is by far the most widely known application of window film. Most drivers want to reduce glare while driving and protect their vehicle’s interior from fading. As we drive around town, we always see companies advertising automobile window tinting. Did you ever think that the same kind of product might bring advantages to your building? At ClimatePro, we’ve never done a single automobile; we focus only on residential and commercial buildings, and for good reason.
Your car is not the largest investment you will ever make; that’s reserved for real estate. Whether it’s a commercial building, your home, office, or a rental unit, real estate is an investment worth protecting. Why not give the largest investment you will ever make the protection it deserves? If you are interested in privacy, safety, energy savings, or appearance, the benefits of window film are numerous. It will bring the same superior levels of protection with a greater return on investment.
The temperature changes that buildings experience are slower and felt more by humans than the changes in your car. Sure, your cars get hot. But you can quickly change the temperature in your car by leaving the windows open or turning on the AC.
However, buildings are not conducive to quick temperature change. Automobiles are small spaces with limited amounts of air which allows air to circulate more quickly. As we all know, trying to cool or even heat a building in which the HVAC has gone out takes quite a while. Adding the right kind of window film on a structure will assist in preventing the amount of heat or cold that escapes from windows.
4. Energy Savings
One of the biggest benefits of window tint, particularly in homes or commercial buildings, is energy efficiency. The two times of the year when energy bills skyrocket are typically the height of summer and the dead of winter. Window tint can’t stop the heat or cold, but it can reduce the amount of sunlight and energy coming into the building. The film manages to accomplish this by reflecting ultraviolet rays from the sun. This can significantly decrease the interior temperature during the summer months. In the winter, the tint can work to reflect heat back into the building. This can result in lower heating costs.
5. Fading & Glare Protection/Reduction
The sun’s rays can also be harmful to both people and furniture. Tinted windows can help to reduce this damage by blocking the UV rays. Left unchallenged, these rays can cause furniture and upholstery to fade. Not to mention the damage that the sun can do to unprotected skin, including increasing the risk of skin cancer.
Installing window film on a building is not as time-consuming as some other retrofit improvements you might undertake. Replacing windows to achieve higher energy savings can cost thousands of dollars for the windows alone. Not to mention the installation costs, the invasive practice of removing old windows, and the cost of inside and outside window trim replacements.
The process of window replacement could leave your building potentially open to the elements. Also, inclement weather could extend the length of the project. There is the potential for damage to any parts of the building exposed during the installation.
Window film can be installed either on the interior or the exterior of your structure. This depends upon the required access and the type of product you choose. Residential and Commercial or Safety products are installed without window removal. The product is applied to the existing glass surface like a surface coating.
After the installation is complete, you will have immediate access to all areas. The only caution you’ll receive pertains to the curing process. It’s important not to clean your windows until the adhesive curing process has been completed. This normally happens within 30–45 days after installation. What could be easier?
You can immediately feel the improvement in heat reduction and still have the crystal clear views you had before. The added benefit of minimal downtime during the installation process means that you can get back to your routine. The benefits to your family and investment are clear.
7. Temperature Imbalances
Window film helps to eliminate troublesome temperature imbalances inside your home or building. Those uncomfortable cold or hot zones from shaded or sun-exposed areas can be a thing of the past. The right window film helps to minimize temperature fluctuations and make your rooms a pleasure to spend time in. You’ll also find that the window film will pay for itself as your utility bills and energy costs are reduced.
Window film can provide up to 82% solar energy rejection versus untreated glass. By controlling the overall unwanted interior heat from the sun, window film helps create a more comfortable interior while reducing cooling costs.
Windows are the heart of your home or building. Today modern architecture has evolved to incorporate our natural desire for more natural light. However, the increased natural light has a downside – the increased solar heat coming through your windows. While visually appealing, the building is now uncomfortable to be in. The application of window film will not only maintain the natural light and crystal clear views you are used to, but it will also reduce the amount of solar heat that comes through the windows. Whether installed in your home or office, window film will improve your experience inside of any building.
8. Like Sunglasses for Your Windows
Our bodies require sunlight to produce and use certain vitamins and minerals. At the same time, too much of this vital resource can damage our eyes and skin. We need the sun to warm our atmosphere so that life can be maintained, but too much heat is uncomfortable.
While sunlight is vital to our existence, it is also dangerous. The application of window film on your glass still allows an amount of both sunlight and heat to be felt while reducing the dangers. Think of it like the sunblock you put on when you are outside or the sunglasses you use when driving. Why not get sunglasses for all your glass panes and see the change in your lifestyle? The cost per square foot of window installed won’t cost more than a set of cheap sunglasses and will come with a return on investment that is almost impossible to measure.
9. Scratch and Breakage Prevention
Many businesses and property owners have experienced firsthand the damage caused by graffiti. This is unsightly and expensive, causing damage to the business or properties’ reputation. Graffiti window film is a great way to protect and prevent this damage. In addition, it allows for the quick removal of graffiti, helping to reduce costs and keep up appearances. These films are applied to the exterior of the glass.
Window film can also help hold glass together in case of accidental or intentional breakage. This creates a strong barrier to keep people out of your home or building. It also protects people from broken glass.
10. Privacy and Protection
Another great benefit of window tint is the privacy that it provides. Standard window tints make it harder to see into a building. This inherently increases the privacy of the building. However, there are window tints designed specifically with privacy in mind (frosted windows are a great example of this). The energy-saving benefits of window film are apparent, but the added privacy that tinted windows provide is a reason to consider making the change.
Related Article: Nighttime and Daytime Privacy is it Possible?
Window Film Types
There is a wide variety of window films and tints depending on the application; some have no tint at all, such as our safety, graffiti, and spectrally selective films.
Window Film Durability
Many window film providers offer a warranty of up to 15 years for commercial installations and a lifetime warranty for homeowners (as long as you own the home). Depending on the film type, glass type, window construction, and the location of the building, some professionally installed window films can last well past their warranties.
Most factory warranties will cover issues such as;
Since we’ve been in business for forty-plus years, we’ve seen many projects and window film types over the years. While the warranties offered with these products are extensive, some other factors should be considered in terms of their lifetime and durability.
What Is Not Covered?
Almost all window films come with extensive manufactured warranties that cover the failure of the product prematurely. However, they do not cover things such as wear and tear, scratches, or damage caused by the homeowner or user, abrasive cleaning methods, or products.
Window film manufacturers apply a scratch-resistant coating on almost all of their film products. It’s applied to the top of the film during the manufacturing process. Its purpose is to protect the film from minor abrasions and cleaning solvents. Some window film manufacturers take more time and effort to make better scratch-resistant coatings which in turn increases the durability and lifespan of the window film.
How Long Does Window Film Last?
As we discussed previously, there are many different types of window film for various purposes. Not only do these window films serve different purposes they’re also made of different materials which affect the lifespan of certain products.
The length of time that window film lasts also varies depending on the application. Some factors are;
These are just some of the factors to consider when determining the lifespan of a window film. In most situations, you determine the estimated lifespan by examining the window film manufacturer-backed warranty.
What Types of Windows Can You Install Window Film On?
Glass is designed to act as a barrier from exterior elements (i.e., wind, rain, and snow) while providing a natural view of the outside world. When solar energy or sunlight, composed of heat, light, and UV rays hits an untreated window, almost 90% of the energy is transmitted through the glass that’s why your home or business gets warm on hot days.
In contrast, once a solar control window film is applied to glass, nearly 80% of solar energy can be blocked. The special dyes, metals, or thin nanotechnology within the film, act as a solar energy barrier by either absorbing or reflecting a percentage of the energy from passing through the glass.
The level of absorption and reflectance is dependent on how the film is constructed. Dyed films contain no metal and are considered non-reflective because they absorb solar energy. They are not as effective in controlling solar heat and light because they do not provide any solar reflectance. On the other hand, metalized or spectrally selective films provide both solar absorption and reflectance. They do a much better job of solar control since their construction properties control both heat and light from passing through the glass surface.
Understanding these key points guides what type of windows you can install a window film or a tint on. In reality, almost any kind of window or glass can be treated with window film. The key is selecting the right window film, as not all window films are compatible or recommended for every type of window. It’s as simple as that. It’s best to contact us for help with recommendations. We can help you select the correct product for your window and application.
Window film can be applied to the following window type of windows;