Glass Window Film For Aesthetic and Energy Control Purposes
Window film is one of the quickest and simplest energy control measures you can do to your home or office. It can also be used to achieve a desired aesthetic look.
Window films reduce harmful UV rays by reflecting them or by absorbing them, causing them to dissipate before they reach the interior of your building. This protects fabrics, furniture and woodwork.
Privacy
Window film is one of the most versatile home improvement products available. It can solve a host of problems, including excessive glare and privacy issues. It can also be used to add decorative features to a window or door. These features include etching, stained glass, and even modern geometric patterns.
Decorative window film comes in many different styles, allowing you to customize your windows and doors. This includes popular stained glass and frosted window films, as Glass Window Film well as more contemporary options that use simple designs that work with any style. There are also window film products that are blackout and whiteout, preventing anyone from seeing through your windows at night.
The most effective privacy window film offers an etched glass look while providing great light blocking and UV protection. It’s easy to install as well. Simply cut the film to size, wet the window with soapy water, peel and apply the film. You can also install a squeegee, which will help create an even finish and eliminate any tiny air bubbles.
Unlike other privacy window films that are static cling, this one has adhesive, making it a little bit more difficult to remove from the window once it’s mounted. Be sure to take your time and gently grip the film to avoid aggressively pulling on it. It’s better to be cautious with this fine piece of lightweight silk and keep it in your fingertips at all times during application.
Energy Efficiency
Many customers forget that besides being a more cost effective alternative to replacing windows, window film can save significant energy costs. By limiting heat gain in the summer, the HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the space cool and comfortable. In the winter, window film helps retain interior heat by reflecting a portion of the radiant energy back inside the building.
When choosing the right energy control window film, consider the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and Visible Transmittance rating or VT. Products with a higher SHGC allow more sunlight to pass through the glass while those with lower SHGC reflect more of the unwanted solar energy, keeping the indoor temperature stable.
Also look for the emissivity, which indicates how much of the infrared energy will be reradiated back into the room. The lower the emissivity, the more efficient the film.
Unlike traditional replacement windows, window films can be installed on existing windows to achieve significant savings without disrupting a building’s aesthetics or creating landfill waste. Additionally, window film protects furnishings from sun fading and can prevent glass shards from flying in the event of an earthquake, bomb blast or smash and grab incident. The right window film can even help hold shattered glass in place to reduce injury to occupants.
Safety
A single pane of glass can shatter into dangerous shards during a disaster, natural event or Glass Window Film crime incident. 3M Safety & Security Window Films make the glass harder to break, hold shattered pieces in place, and reduce the risk of injury to people and property.
Installing window film doesn’t require professional tools and can be done in the privacy of your home or business. The first step is to thoroughly clean the window. Be sure to dust any items nearby and spray the adhesive surface of the window film with soapy water. This will help the film stick to the glass and prevent bubbles during installation.
Then measure the window and cut the window film slightly oversized. This makes it easier to trim the edges to the exact size of your window. Spray the other side of the window film with cleaning solution and remove the backing paper. Once the window is cleaned, it’s time to apply the film. Start in the center and work outward, trimming and squeegeeing to remove air bubbles as you go.
These clear polyester films are thicker than standard varieties and use a special adhesive that effectively holds broken glass together. They’re also resistant to scratches and acid etchings, and can be used with 3M’s impact protection attachment systems. In addition to safety features, these films also block 99% of UV rays and help keep buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter, reducing energy expenditures.
Appearance
Many types of Glass Window Film are available for aesthetic purposes including frosted, tinted and specialty decorative films. These offer a tasteful alternative to window blinds, shades or drapes and can be installed at various levels of opacity. Frosted or tinted window films can provide privacy for occupants and reduce outside visibility. For a more sophisticated look, decorative window films can be designed to replicate stained glass or etched glass.
Solar and energy control films can also be used to enhance the appearance of existing windows. These are normally dyed or metallized and may significantly improve a building’s energy efficiency by controlling solar heat and light. These types of films are typically not as effective for reducing glare but they can significantly reduce the amount of solar heat that passes through glass.
Most of the window films that are manufactured today have a scratch-resistant coating. This is applied during the manufacturing process and helps protect the film from damage caused by abrasions and cleaners. This coating is not necessary for every application but it is very useful in commercial applications where abrasions and scratches from commercial cleaning solvents are commonplace. In addition, most manufacturers apply a UV inhibitor to all of their products and this is very important to ensure that harmful UV rays are not passing through the windows.
