The #1 Reason to Tint Your Home Windows

Today, more and more homeowners are considering tinting their home windows or glass doors. There are a variety of reasons to consider this home upgrade, though the most common is to prevent fading. Over time, sun damage from the light entering your home through windows can cause fading of your items. This can include flooring, rugs, furniture, artwork, and other items found in your home.

Fading is something that is not often thought about by homeowners until after it is already a problem. Tinting your windows can help you proactively address this common issue before it damages your precious items. In this article, we’ll explore the #1 reason to tint your home windows, along with some extra benefits. 

Tinting Windows to Prevent Fading

Some people are surprised to learn that many museums and art galleries choose spaces without windows! This is precisely to avoid potential sun damage and fading. While windows are a must-have in a home, you can eliminate fading by tinting your home windows and glass doors.

In areas with high sun exposure, fading is inevitable. Many homeowners spend lots of time researching and exploring the furniture they choose to put in their homes. The last thing you want is for your beautifully picked items to get faded by the sun! Not only can the sun fade your furniture, but it can also fade your flooring. Hardwood flooring is one of the most beautiful, yet expensive, types of flooring for a home. The sun can damage the finish over time, leaving a less-than-perfect look. More can be learned here.

How Fading Happens

Over time, the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause damage to items in your home. UV rays are responsible for up to 40% of the fading caused in home items. Visible light and solar heat are responsible for 25% of fading, while 10% is caused by miscellaneous factors. As you can see, fading caused by the UV rays is the primary component leading to the fading of household objects.

To target this, specially designed window films can help block the number of UV rays that enter your home. They can block up to 99.99% of UV rays from the sun through the window film! These are known as 3M Window Films, which come in various varieties. Window films allow you to customize the window tinting in your home, which gives you control of the amount of visible light blocked. Not only do these window films block the UV rays entering your home, but they can also help reject some of the sun’s heat.

Help ensure your home furnishings and household items stay just as beautiful as new by considering window tinting for your home’s windows and doors. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause items to lose their color and pigment, and even begin to show other signs of wear over time. While window tinting is an investment, it is a smart one. It will help you protect and prolong the lifespan of your furniture, artwork, rugs, and other household furnishings. Next article found here.

Other Benefits to Tinting your Home Windows

While the number one reason to tint home windows is to prevent damage and fading, there are several other wonderful benefits you’ll receive from tinting your home windows. Below are some of the primary benefits of home window tinting. 

Conservation of Energy

Another attractive feature of home window tinting is its ability to help homeowners reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the home. This can, in turn, help you save on your monthly energy bills. Regular glass windows allow the heat from the sun to penetrate, which raises the temperature of your home. Window tinting works to block this sunlight and heat allowed into the home. As such, this results in a lower temperature inside the home. You’ll love spending less every year on air conditioning bills throughout the brutal summer months!

Increase your Home’s Value

Not only will you be able to enjoy the benefits of tinted windows in your home, but it will also help increase your home’s value when it comes time to sell. Window tinting is a smart investment that can result in an increased home value. This feature will be an attractive talking point to attract potential homebuyers down the road. In addition, it is unique, as not all homes have tinted windows.

Added Privacy and Security

Another benefit of window tinting is the benefit of enhanced privacy. There are many types of window films available, some of which provide more privacy than others. If you’re looking for privacy from neighbors or others passing by in your neighborhood, the extra privacy window tint provides will be a bonus!

Along with privacy comes security. Window tinting not only can deter burglars due to the enhanced privacy, but it can also hold glass together in the event of an emergency. If a potential burglary did occur, window tinting can keep dangerous shards of glass from scattering everywhere. This can help prevent injuries caused by glass flying. In areas that are prone to severe weather or storms, windowing tinting can be smart to prevent glass injuries.

Choosing window tinting for your home’s glass windows or doors can be a smart investment to help prolong the lifespan of your belongings. By blocking UV rays and solar heat, your items will stay colorful and bright without potential sun damage. This means your items will have a prolonged lifespan! In addition to preventing fading, window tinting can help enhance your home’s privacy, security, value, and even help you save on monthly energy bills.

How Solar Control Window Film Can Block the Sun Before it Gets In

What is Solar Control Window Film?

Nothing creates a better atmosphere in your house than opening the windows and letting in the sun’s natural light. However, without film, your windows also let unnecessary heat flow in during the summer and the chilling cold creep in during the winter. Not only does this make your home’s temperature more uncomfortable, but it also raises your cooling and heating costs as well.

That’s where solar control window film comes in. These products work at both controlling your home’s temperature, as well as protecting you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The best part is that window films can do this without restricting natural light. Here’s how a good solar control window film can block the sun before it gets in.

Control the Temperature and Control Your Costs

Although curtains and blinds certainly help with heat control, they also eliminate any natural light from entering your house. For that reason, solar control window film is a better option. Window films can block the sun’s heat while still allowing its light to pour through. In fact, 3M Window Films can even stop as much as 78% of the sun’s heat from entering your home.

In addition to blocking heat in the summer, solar control window film also does a great job of keeping cold air out in the winter. Specifically, Low-E window films increase your windows’ insulation power by reflecting and dispersing heat back into your house. As a result, the increased heat retention you’ll get from solar control window films will make it feel like you’ve added an entirely new windowpane.

Because solar control window films work as increased insulation, you’ll ultimately save money on your energy bills all year long. In the summer, you can keep your house cool without overrunning your air conditioning. And in the winter, the heat retention can give your furnace a break. More here.

Reflective and Non-Reflective Window Films

But how does a simple film over your window really manage to keep your energy costs so low? Most solar window film comes in one of two versions. Each version has its own unique properties that perform different functions.

The first type of solar window film is reflective. One of the major properties of reflective films is its ability to absorb energy. In addition, reflective solar window film can successfully reject solar energy.

Non-reflective window film is the second type of solar control film. These films are specifically designed to absorb any unwanted light and heat from the sun. 

How Does Solar Control Window Film Work?

No matter which solar control window film you look at, however, they all strive to filter out and deflect varying degrees of energy from the sun. Simply put, the sun transmits its energy through waves through different lengths: UV, visible light, and infrared. Since all of the sun’s waves arrive at once and represent different forms of energy, it would be challenging to develop a single window film that blocks all of them.

As a result, experts have developed a number of solar performance measurements used to grade window films. The two most popular measurements are Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

TSER measures a window film’s ability to reject the sun’s heat. The measurements are calculated in percentages. As TSER percentages increase, so does the film’s effectiveness. In addition, window films with higher TSER ratings also tend to have a darker tint.

On the other hand, SHGC measures how much solar energy that passes through the film. In addition, SHGC accounts for the heat energy transferred into the room due to sunlight heating the glass and film. Unlike TSER, better SHGC measurements are lower numbers.

Interior Window Films Vs. Exterior Window Films

Believe it or not, exterior solar control window films are a recent invention. While window films in general have been around for quite some time, until recently, they were primarily installed on the interior of the window. Interior window films work by allowing the sun’s heat to first pass through the glass before hitting the film and bouncing back.

And while this works well for single-pane windows, it can cause major problems for people with double-pain windows. The issue is that the sun’s energy can pass through each pane twice. Ultimately, this results in serious heat buildup between both panes.

On the other hand, exterior solar control window films are installed on the outside of the glass. As a result, you can block the sun before it even gets in. This is especially beneficial for people with dual pane windows since you can prevent the heat buildup between the two panes. Next article here.

Another benefit of using exterior window films is increased protection against scratches made by children or pets. Exterior films are also great solutions to tint windows that are difficult to access from the inside of your home.

3 Great Window Films

With so many options available for solar control window films, choosing the right one can be a challenge. In addition, many people want to find a window film that not only works well but can also be purchased at an affordable price. Depending on your needs, one of these three great solar control window film products may be the perfect fit for you!

3M Daylight Redirecting Film

One of the simplest yet most effective window film is the 3M Daylight Redirecting Film. The main feature of this window film is that it redirects close to 80% of all sunlight towards the ceiling. As a result, you’ll be able to provide natural right as deep as 40 feet away from the window.

This window film is particularly ideal for businesses. Studies show that natural light from the sun positively corelates with workplace productivity. An added bonus is that the deep vibrant light brought in through this filter can help make you less reliant on electric lighting. 

3M Sun Control Window Film

Another great option is the 3M Sun Control Window Film. This film does a great job at blocking both infrared light and UV rays from the sun. In fact, it can reject as much as 97% of all infrared light.

In addition to lowering energy costs, this film also provides more comfort and extra protection against the sun’s harmful rays. Since it effectively rejects UV rays from entering the room, it can also protect your personal property from fading. 

Another benefit of this window film is its environmentally friendly properties. One feature is that within six months of installation, this film becomes carbon negative. Additionally, it’s resilient to corrosion and doesn’t cause signal interference due to its non-metallic properties.

3M Safety & Security Window Film

The 3M Safety & Security Window Film is one of the most reliable solar tint films on the market. At a low cost, this film provides phenomenal protection against hazards caused by glass shards. In addition, this film also does an exceptional job at rejecting heat from the sun.

This reflective film also reduces external glare while also enhancing privacy. Featuring silver tones, this film also looks stylish on most house exteriors. Overall, this solar control window film gives you great heat control and UV protection at a very reasonable price.

No matter which product you choose, solar control window films give your home a major upgrade. By blocking the sun’s harmful UV rays and providing heat control, a good window film protects your belongings from fading while keeping you comfortable. 

In addition, the increased insulation will ultimately save you money on energy bills all year long. With solar control window films, you can continue letting natural light flow in without the sun’s harmful effects.

Maintaining Car Window Tint FAQ

Alongside the other challenges of owning a vehicle, adding window tinting creates a further responsibility. There’s a lot to consider, but you can start by finding professional installers like Perfect Reflections Window Tint and asking them for advice on maintaining car window tinting.

Our 5 Most-Heard FAQs On Window Tint Care

1) How Long Will My Window Tint Take To Set?

Most window tint films are installed with an adhesive, meaning they might need a week or more until the glue sets and cures into place. In some areas and climates, the adhesive can require up to a month. Whoever installed the tinting should give you a more exact estimate. During that time, also avoid touching the window tinting.

If you clean or roll down the tinted windows before fully set, the adhesive might end up weaker or take longer to set, along with other potential damage. If water gets on the tinting – or between the tinting and the glass – then the moisture may get stuck there permanently, which creates something like a hazy layer or other imperfections such as bubbles.

2) How Should I Clean My Tinted Windows So They Stay Clear?

Dirt and oils can make seeing out of windows more difficult, so you will need to eventually clean your tinted windows – yet moisture can end up trapped beneath the tinting or peeling away at the edges. This is why the process for cleaning tinted windows is both a bit more complex than other windows and also far more important.

a) Where and When you should clean Tinted Windows

Clean your tinted windows roughly once every week or two. Wash other sections of the vehicle first, so that dust from other areas won’t drift to the window tinting. Before cleaning, bring your vehicle into a dark area away from the sun, because that sunlight might make the cleaning solution partially evaporate before you can wipe it off and leave behind streaks which tend to show up more on tinted windows. Only clean after checking for damage to the window tint so you can avoid any such area.

b) Safe products and solutions to use on Tinted Windows

Any cleaning solutions with hard water, ammonia or other abrasive chemicals will likely change the color of your window tinting or dig into the film, and cause even more damage. For this reason, you should use cleaning solutions specifically formulated for tinted windows, yet you don’t need to buy anything expensive. Simply mix together warm water and any mild ammonia-free soap, such as a drop of dish soap. Another good mix is enough distilled water to fill a bottle, then three to five drops of baby soap and two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, swirled together. Using rubbing alcohol is best at removing grease and oil, as well as disinfecting the window tint surface. Or try equal portions warm water and white vinegar, which is best at removing smells and smudges. Additional information.

c) The best cleaning tools for Tinted Windows

Always use clean microfiber cloths, with two or more so that you can use a fresh one to dry the surfaces off. Another good tool is a clean and soft rubber squeegee, or a Mr. Clean sponge with a little water. Never use rough cloths and kitchen towels, as these can make the window tinting start to peel or leave behind scratches and streaks of fiber.

d) How to safely clean your tinted windows

With cleaning solution and tools in hand, fill a fresh spray bottle and dust the surface you want to clean, then gently wipe away the moisture with a microfiber cloth. Occasionally spin or turn over the cloth to use every section. If this wiping starts to leave streaks, change out the cloth for another. When using the squeegee, spray again and slide either from top to bottom or horizontally until the surface is dry. Avoid getting a lot of your cleaning solution on the window tint edges and always completely dry the window with a second microfiber cloth after cleaning. Also avoid pulling at the edges of your window tint, which could cause the film to begin peeling away. To check for any moisture or material left on the window tint, walk around the outside of your vehicle, or drive your vehicle back under full sunlight and look out from the inside.

3) What Are The Best Ways to Maintain My Tinted Windows?

Keeping your tinted windows in the best possible condition is a sound investment in helping them last for years. Along with the considerations for cleaning them, there are many useful tips to consider in terms of maintenance.

First, clean the outside of your vehicle as usual, since window tinting should only be on the interior surfaces. Take care and use a cover when cleaving a vehicle with tinted windows under trees, since otherwise falling pollen and sap will force you to clean the windows more often.

On the inside, use your microfiber cloths from cleaning when you need to remove dust from window tint. Roughly twice a year, wax your car windows to prevent dirt from sticking to them. Avoid steam cleaning your vehicle when you have window tinting, or at least roll down the windows if you do, because the steam can really hurt the window tinting. To remove the sticky residue left behind if tape or glue is applied to your window tint, apply a little acetone to a microfiber cloth and wipe clean. Another great article.

4) What Should I Do If The Window Tint Forms Bubbles?

Some products for cleaning window tinting will start a process of bubbling and peeling if you fully soak the edges, so avoid that vulnerable area. Additionally, washing your car too soon after installation or rolling the windows down when the tint still needs time to set may cause bubbling. Whoever installs the tinting should give you exact instructions, but generally you should wait at least one week.

 

When you spot a small bubble starting to form, try wrapping a microfiber cloth around any small plastic card. A razor blade or anything too sharp would cut and damage your window tinting, so avoid them. Use the soft scraper to slide against the bubble from one direction, moving the bubble towards the closest edge of your window tint cover. This should be done gently so that no harm comes to the tinting in the center of your window. Then lance the bubble at the edge with the sharpest thin needle you have and let the air inside escape. The bubble should almost vanish from sight over time.

 

If one bubble grows too large or many bubbles start to form, you might need to return to the window tint installer for help. Once any bubble grows large enough to crack open, the only thing left to do will be to replace the tinting. An open bubble will cause the film to start peeling away.

 

5) Will My Window Tint Fade Over Time?

Window tinting can fade or get scratched if owners don’t use safe care products (see FAQ 2 above) or if the window tint is improperly installed. You can further prevent tint from fading by parking your vehicle in naturally dark areas such as indoors or under dense shade, keeping away from unnecessary exposure to the sun. With these steps, the product should last for many years while remaining effective at filtering out the majority of UV rays. How long exactly depends mostly on window tint quality.

Summary of Do’s and Don’ts For Window Tint Care

• Do
  • check for damage, bubbles and other imperfections that might grow over time
  • use cleaning solutions specifically formulated for window tinting
  • use two soft and clean microfiber cloths and / or a soft and clean rubber squeegee
  • clean the outside of your vehicle as usual, since window tinting should only be on the interior surfaces
  • make sure your window tinting installer tells you when the adhesive will be set and what cleaning products they recommend
• Don’t
  • don’t clean or roll down your windows for a week or more after installing the tinting
  • don’t use cleaning products with ammonia on tinted windows, because these harsher chemicals can hurt the window tint, make it brittle or change its color
  • don’t clean with scouring pads, paper towels or newspaper
  • don’t use sharp scrapers or razor blades on your window tint
  • don’t leave any moisture or residue on window tinting after cleaning

• Wrapping Up

Window tinting is certainly more complex than normal windows, from needing time for the adhesive to set and requiring special cleaning considerations, to maintenance issues like parking in the best places or handling bubbles and fading.

Yet the costs of window tinting are often outweighed by the many benefits, starting with protecting the occupants and interior from almost all of the harmful ultraviolet rays in sunlight. These UV rays damage your skin in the same way as a sunburn while causing the upholstery to fade. Window tinting also gives you more privacy and looks great, and some window tinting will block heat energy, keeping your vehicle more comfortable in summer. To learn more about all of these advantages, click here.