“My windows are burning my grass, or my turf, or my deck, or my new patio furniture. What can I do? I heard 3M Exterior Film can help”. This is a phone call we get at Solar Vision numerous times a week, and while we we’d love to have the answer to this problem, we’re hesitant to suggest an exterior film as a surefire solution.
Generally this damage is caused by intense glare, and sun beams reflecting from your Low-E glass. Our Exterior Window Films are designed to absorb and reflect heat while reducing interior glare, but they are not designed to redistribute concentrated glass distortions that cause these irritable light beams.
With the addition of an Exterior Window Film the intense sun glare will still be reflected to the same place, but at a lower temperature than without film. Which may or may not help with your turf burn. 3M recently released this bulletin to explain how exterior film may help with these damaging light beams, but they do not guarantee the efficacy. Simply put, sometimes an exterior film will help or mitigate the damage, and sometimes they won’t.
Other products on the market like solar screens could work, because it’s a screen with tiny holes, and those holes can assist in breaking up the damaging glare caused by your glass, and dispersing it more evenly. There are also some window film products on the market that claim to do the same thing, but unlike traditional window films, they may distort the view and give your glass a hazy look.
The good news is that you are not alone and there are ways to mitigate the issue. We hope you’re able to find the right solution for your home, and are always here to answer any questions you may have. Simply call 303-862-6376 or email us at info@coloradosolarvision.com.
By, Shelley Meador
Grass damage from Light Beam, not the dog. :)