What is Solar Control Window Film?

Solar Control Window Film is a thin layer of film applied to your existing window that adds additional performance. Many windows do not come with additional enhancements like a Low E coating, or elements to reduce solar heat gain, and UV exposure. This is where Solar Control Window Film comes in. An installed thin layer of film can convert regular under performing glass to high performance glass. Making your home or office more comfortable and efficient.

What is Solar Heat Gain?

SHGC, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, is a very important number when looking at new windows, or window film. The lower this number, the better! The SHGC of your glass is the amount of heat that is transferred from the exterior of your home or office to the interior.

If you had nothing but an empty hole in the wall, without any glass, you’d have a 100% heat transfer. Since we don’t typically leave buildings this way, you’re going to add a window. If you were to place a traditional double pane window in that hole, you’ll have an SHGC of approximately .70. Not great, but much better than nothing.

However, with window film, we can change this number, and change your typical double pane window to high performance glass. Solar Control Window Film products can increase your basic double pane window performance from .70 to upwards of .24! This is a pretty impressive upgrade using a small layer of film. Remember, the lower the SHGC, the better the performance in regards to heat reduction. Be sure to keep this number in mind when shopping for windows, or window film.

What does Low-E mean?

Low-emissivity is a thin coating applied to glass to reduce the amount of heat loss through your glass. There is a much larger scientific explanation of exactly how this works, that can be googled, and answered quickly. However in this format the best explanation is loss of heat during the winter or the opposite, cooling in the summer. When it's cold outside, and warm inside your home or office, your warm air is going to try to find the cold air, many times this means exiting through your glass. A Low-E coating can significantly reduce this.

Many windows already come with a Low-E coating these days, but many don't. There are Solar Control Window Films that can add the benefits of a Low-E coating to your glass. This will help increase the efficiency of your windows, without having to change them out completely.

That doesn’t mean windows with Low-E coatings can’t also benefit from Solar Control Film. Windows vary in performance and while you may have a Low-E coating, your windows may still be under-performing in regards to SHGC reduction, and UV protection. Solar Control Window Films can further increase the performance of Low-E windows.

Will Window Film Reduce Fading?

Just like the damage to your skin, Ultraviolet Rays are the main cause of damage and fading to your homes floors, window coverings and furnishings. Most traditional windows do not block UV, making this one of the top reasons Home Owners turn to window film to assist with preserving the interior of their home.

And just like sunscreen, window film won’t completely prevent fading, damage, and discoloration, but it will significantly slow down the process. You can put sunscreen on everyday, but your skin will age, however by protecting yourself daily, your skin will age much slower, and you might even prevent cancer. Window Film works the same way. Perhaps your new floors were going to fade in 2 years, with the addition of window film, you might have just extended the life of your new floors to 10-15 years. While window film can work wonders, it does have its limitations. Take for example Cherry Wood Floors, no matter what film you add, or heat you reduce, these floors were meant to change and darken over time. Window Film will help reduce the time it takes for these floors to darken, but cannot keep it from happening quickly. These floors with film can still change over months vs. years.

Can Window Film add Privacy to my Home or Office?

The short answer is yes, and no. While Solar Control Window Film can do a great job providing daytime privacy, in the evening it’s a different story. Please see our BLOG post on window film for privacy. It addresses all the issues related to this topic.

How much does Window Film Cost?

This is a question we get quite frequently before moving too far along in the estimating process. The truth is, it all depends. Window Film is generally priced per square foot. This square foot pricing generally includes your labor, material, sales tax, and standard warranty. Your window film pricing will be determined on many factors including film type, access, and window type. For instance French Panes can be far more expensive per square foot than larger average sized windows.

At Solar Vision, to ensure the best customer service and installation process for our customers we’ve established a $650.00 minimum purchase for the Denver Metro Area. Minimum pricing outside of the Denver Metro Area varies, please contact us for more details.

For more details on window film pricing, visit our BLOG post on this subject.

Will Window Film Affect my House Plants?

Generally no. If your plants are already receiving enough light to grow, and blossom, window film should not affect further growth. Plants require red and blue light to grow, not UV and most window film products do not affect this light. Changing the visible light in your home might confuse your plants for a few days, but they’ll soon adjust, and continue to thrive with the addition of window film.

Will Window Film Break my Windows?

Window Film has been known to break a window here and there, but the odds are actually extremely low. That’s because glass is extremely durable and made to adjust to different weather, and temperature variables, and actually expands and contracts to meet these variables. When window film plays a part in window breakage, it’s due to thermal stress. Solar Control Window Films are designed to absorb, and reflect heat. When the window film absorbs this heat, it is putting more stress on the glass, add some dark curtains or blinds, and you’ve just put even more stress on these windows. At a certain point some windows can only take so much, and will crack. With that said, for every window that has sadly cracked, there are a thousand that did not.

We hang thousands of square feet of window film every year, and have 6 Installers out hanging film daily, with all this film going up we have approximately 5-7 warranty claims for broken windows per year. That’s a pretty minimal number in the grand scheme of things.

Since the risk is still there, 3M, our window film manufacturer of choice provides a 5 year warranty against glass breakage for all of our residential and commercial customers. They’ll even match your window manufacturers warranty for seal failure. Another layer of protection is 3M’s glass checklist. At Solar Vision, we’ll run your windows through 3M’s glass checklist to ensure there is little to no issue with glass breakage on your particular window film project.

• What About Seal Failure?

  • Well this is an issue that can arise with double pane windows with or without film. While window film will not cause seal failure, it can void your glass manufacturers warranty, which can be a bit scary if you have just purchased new windows. Luckily 3M provides a 40 month seal failure warranty if you currently have a warranty in place, and if you upgrade to 3M’s Platinum warranty, it will match your manufacturers seal failure warranty.

Does Window Film go on the Inside or Outside of my Glass?

Window Film can go on either side, depending on the film type that you choose for your project. While most window film products go on the interior side of your glass, we have some amazing exterior films available as well. It all depends on what benefit you’d like to gain most from the application of window film. Visit our Window Film Information page to see what type of window film will work best for you.

What is Security Window Film, and how Does it Work?

Security window film is a thick layer of film applied to your window to hold the glass together should it break. Security Film works as a system, it requires the film, and then an adhesive to bond the film to the frame of the glass. Without using 3M’s Impact Protection Adhesive to bond the film to the frame of the glass, the system cannot work as designed. This system is designed specifically for commercial grade glass, not residential. For this reason we only apply Security Film to commercial grade glass, and do not offer this service for residential windows. Please visit our 3M Safety and Security Film page for more information.

As stated above we no longer apply security film to residential grade windows, for more information please visit our BLOG Post on the subject.

Can I Just Purchase the Film and Apply it Myself?

Heck no! We are a full service window film company, and want to ensure you LOVE your window film. While there are a few people out there that can install window film without issue, most of us cannot. Our Installers undergo rigorous on the job training to ensure all of our installations meet the visual quality standards of the International Window Film Association. That coupled with 3M’s warranty requirements prevent us from selling film directly to a consumer.