I have just finished renovating my house and am now considering adding UV film to some of my windows (those that catch the most sun). On paper, they sound like a great solution as they reduce the heat entering the house and furniture fading but I have not had any experience with them. I would hate to see my house looking like those crappy cars with the window tint full of bubbles.
Link to NB
Does anyone have any practical experience with window tinting? Are they good? What issues do I need to be aware of?
I live in Melbourne (Aus) so summers hit 40 degrees but winters rarely drop below 5 degrees.
Followup: We ended up getting film on a few windows just to see how it would go. On one glass door, we added a film the the minimum reflectivity and it does cut down the heat significantly without changing the night time view too much.
On our upstairs bedroom windows, we added privacy film. During daytime, these windows look like mirrors from the outside but remain clear(ish) from the inside. They add a strong blue tinge to the inside light. Once you hit twilight, the situation reverses and you get no view outside at all. The film also shows a subtle, oily sort of pattern all over it. We thought this would go away over time - it has not.
We had the film professionally installed. Even for a pro, it was a full day job. The cost was very reasonable, especially compared to the cost of the curtains.
Follow-up to the follow-up: We have external awnings added to our house on some of the windows that did not have film. The awnings are pretty thick but you can still see through them. We have found the awnings to do a much better job that the film. We have just been through a summer with quite a few low 40s days (C). We have two windows on the same wall, 2 metres apart. The door with the film still lets through a lot of heat whereas the window with the awning blocks most of the heat and still lets though enough light that we don't need to turn the lights on during the day.
My experience with tinted film on our own home windows is mixed. I feel that whilst there are advantages like light and glare reduction, heat reduction and UV reduction, the actual glass pane becomes very hot which reduces the efficiency of the film in stopping heat getting inside in the first place. The sun heats up the actual glass pane as it penetrates it and then again as it is reflected back out. So, in affect you end up with a very hot piece of glass (a radiant panel) that radiates heat into the room (as well as to the out side). If you place your hand on the inside of the window tinted with film on a hot day (particularly a very hot day) you will know very well how hot it can get.
In an office block where I once worked the windows were treated with a "silver mirror" type of film and they got so hot you couldn't hold your hand on the window for more than about 5-10 seconds on a hot day before it became too hot to touch. If the film could be applied to the outside of the glass surface then the heating effect would be less as the sun would not be able to penetrate the thickness of the glass as much and thus heat it up.
However, I don't know of anyone who is making a film that can be applied to the outside of the window. I am now shying away from tinted films in favor of roller shutters but, they come with a different set of draw backs but, they do a better job of keeping the heat out as the window is completely shaded/protected from the direct sun in the first place. I am not too sure if more heat is lost to the outside than the inside as a previous person has mentioned. That may be true.
Niall C.' 20.8k1818 gold badges9595 silver badges135135 bronze badges answered Feb 25, at 3:47 RODERICK SALTERRODERICK SALTER 2111 bronze badgeUV blocking window film becomes more prolific with every year that passes. As we witness our ozone layer deteriorating, protecting ourselves from harmful UV rays becomes more of a priority. Are you wondering how does UV film work? We have the answer.
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First and foremost, regular glass does not reflect much heat. Instead, heat passes through glass. Furthermore, glass does not absorb much heat. Instead, heat from the sun passes through windows and doors into our interiors. Hence, the need for air conditioning in the warmer months.
In case you didn't know, there are three types of UV rays: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. According to the FDA, 'UVA rays have the longest wavelengths, followed by UV-B, and UV-C rays which have the shortest wavelengths. While UV-A and UV-B rays are transmitted through the atmosphere, all UV-C and some UV-B rays are absorbed by the earth's ozone layer.' So, most of the UV rays you come in contact with are UV-A with a small amount of UV-B.
We all know that UV rays are credited as a leading cause of skin cancer. UV-B rays have a short wavelength that reaches the outer layer of your skin. UV-A rays have a longer wavelength that can penetrate the middle layer of your skin.
While your automobile windshield is treated with moderate protection from UV rays, the side windows in your car are not, and that is part of the reason people opt-in to window tint. Those inside an automobile are cooler with full window tint surrounding them. Now, let's apply this knowledge to glass windows and doors.
There are numerous reasons to protect your interior from the sun. Yes, sunshine does have its benefits. We need that Vitamin D for our overall health and well-being. But protection from UV-A is important. Moreover, we don't need our interior spaces to feel like an oven or faded furnishings ruining our vibe.
Direct sunlight has the capability of heating the surface of materials through absorption well above the ambient air temperature. Even when the sun's moved around and isn't shining directly in, objects warmed by the sun (like houses, cars, and streets) can still re-radiate absorbed heat into your building or storefront.
With the right protective window film, those UV and infrared rays will simply be transmitted or reflected back out into the world. In fact, UV window film rejects 99.9% of UV rays. Other sun control window films will do the same, as well as reject 97% of IR rays. Thus, the interior of your building will be cooler and protected.
There is a nifty meter tool that can measure the interior temperature of a building with UV blocking window film and other sun control window films. This tool determines the temperature variance you are experiencing. As a consumer, this affords you insight into the results that you can expect both physically and monetarily from utilizing light filtering window film.
UV light blocking and sun control window film are considered top tier technology because they are so effective and are the best return on investment. In fact, they often pay for themselves in less than 3 years. Because applying protective window films to a structure, costs less than a third of replacing or upgrading windows, implementing UV and sun control window film is a wise choice.
Low-e or is designed specifically to reflect both UV rays and infrared light in the summer as well as keep heat 'in' during the winter. It lets in the natural sunlight but prevents the heat and UV radiation from entering your building or storefront. As a result, you get a cooler structure, as well as your furnishings are protected from UV exposure. It can also act as a form of insulation and keep your building warmer in the winter. Needless to say, it's gaining popularity!
Additionally, increased temperatures within your home can and do shift your HVAC system into overdrive. You know what that means ' your electric bill will be rude! If you watched the video above, you saw that UV window film on your windows or glass doors can reduce the temperature inside a structure by up to ten degrees.
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