Isn't Window Film Expensive?

The average installation costs less than most other window treatments. Actually, your investment in window film will return dividends in the form of reduced air conditioning and heating costs, and protection against costly fading.

Will Window Tinting Stop The Sun From Fading Fabrics?

There are six factors affecting fabric fading:

• Ultraviolet Light
• Visible Light
• Heat and Humidity
• Chemical Vapors (including ozone)
• Age of Fabric
• Dye Fastness
• Clear single pane glass (1/8" to 1/4") will reject 23-28% of the ultraviolet light from the sun. Insulated glass is slightly better, rejecting 36-41%. Our window films installed on glass reject at least 99% of solar ultraviolet light. Different types of clear glass and window systems will reject 13- 29% of the solar heat. With window films, 80% of solar heat can be rejected. No window film can completely eliminate fading. It can, however, offer maximum protection from fading due to solar ultraviolet light and solar heat.

Are There Any Special Cleaning Instructions?

Windows with film applied are easily cleaned without damage to their appearance as long as a few common-sense guidelines are followed:

• Use a soft clean cloth, soft paper towel, or clean synthetic sponge.
• Use a soft cloth or squeegee for drying the window.
• Use any normal glass cleaning solution which contains no abrasive materials.
• The availability of scratch resistant coatings as a standard feature of quality films has virtually eliminated the need for extra special precautions in cleaning.

Will Window Film Kill My House Plants?

In most cases if a house plant is already receiving adequate light the use of window film will not harm it. New growth or flowering may be retarded, and, for a few days, a plant may go into a state of shock while it adjusts to the light change. If a particular plant normally wilts by the end of a sunny day, it will actually thrive better with film installed. Although there are some obvious guidelines in determining what, if any, effect window film will have on a plant (for instance, dark green plants need less light than lighter colored ones), there is one sample test which can be done prior to film installation: merely move the plant to an area with less sunlight for a few days. In addition, most nurseries or local agriculture agencies can advise you whether a particular plant needs closer to maximal or minimal light.

Will Window Films Cause Glass To Break?

Glass breaks when stressed. There are five types of stress which may cause glass breakage:

• Thermal Stress--from absorption of solar radiation.
• Tensile Stress--from the weight of the glass itself.
• Mechanical Flexing Stress--from wind.
• Impact Stress--from flying objects, hail, baseballs.
• Twisting Stress--from building or window frame sagging or settling.
• The first type, thermal stress, is the only one which film may affect. The use of window films will increase the thermal stress on sunlit glass. However, there are also other factors which will increase thermal stress such as: partial shading of windows from overhangs, tightly fitting drapes or blinds, signs or decals on windows, heating and cooling vents directed at glass. In addition, different types of glass (annealed versus tempered, clear versus tinted) have different solar absorption rates and will withstand different degrees of thermal stress.

The window film manufacturers have recommended film-to-glass tables for use by factory-trained dealer installers. If a consumer is ever in doubt, he/she should request a copy of such guidelines. Listed are some glass types or conditions where the use of a solar control (not clear safety) type of window film is not recommended without extreme caution.

• SINGLE PANE GLASS LARGER THAN 100 SQUARE FEET.
• DOUBLE PANE GLASS LARGER THAN 40 SQUARE FEET.
• CLEAR GLASS THICKER THAN 3/8 INCH.
• TINTED GLASS THICKER THAN 1/4 INCH.
• WINDOW FRAMING SYSTEMS OF CONCRETE, SOLID ALUMINUM, OR SOLID STEEL.
• GLASS WHERE SEALANT OR GLAZING COMPOUND HAS HARDENED.
• VISIBLY CHIPPED, CRACKED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED GLASS.
• REFLECTIVE, WIRED, TEXTURED, OR PATTERNED GLASS.
• TRIPLE PANE GLASS.
• LAMINATED GLASS WINDOWS