Residential Window Film

Are you aware of the benefits of glare reducing window film and why it might be even more important in the Fall and Winter? We wrote this article to explain why glare is worse at the time of the year and how these innovative films can help.

It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s not your imagination, the sun’s light and glare actually appear brighter in the Fall and Winter. From October through Spring, the sun is much lower in the sky and that presents itself as an irritating glare that you might not notice as much at other times of the year. This lower angle of the sun’s rays hitting your windows results in a corresponding lower angle light passed through into the space. The combination of a brighter sun and the lower angle of the rays result in excessive glare that make a space less comfortable and make seeing a computer or television screen more difficult.

Furthermore, when you combine this lower angle and brighter sun with reflection off water or snow, the resulting glare can be even worse. Finally, the leaves on tress that provide a barrier to glare in the warmer months are missing giving the sun an unobstructed path to your windows.

For these reasons, Fall and Winter are the best time to consider retrofitting your existing windows with a glare reducing window film. Much like a quality pair of sunglasses, window films can significantly reduce the glare and increase visibility and comfort without negatively impacting your views. In fact, when the glare is reduced, your eyes can actually relax and result in an enhanced view.

In addition, significant glare problems are often accompanied by the issue of floors, furniture and furnishings getting sun-bleached prematurely. An added benefit of this innovative window film is that it also will typically reduce 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, which is the primary contributor to fading.

If you would like more information or have any questions about glare reducing window film, contact us at 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to provide a free, no obligation consultation and estimate of implementing these solutions in your Orem, Utah area space.

Many people have been making investments in their homes in these past months. With the investment in home improvement, it only makes sense that you would want to protect against sun damaged floors and furniture. This article is designed to explain the true causes of sun damage and why window films retrofitted to your existing windows can be a good solution. If you don’t want your new floors or furniture to end up looking like the floor above or to the right, check out the information below.

WHAT CAUSES SUN DAMAGED FLOORS AND FURNITURE

First, let’s discuss what causes this type of fading and sun damage. A common misconception is that the sun’s UV rays are what cause sun damaged floors, furniture and furnishings. While UV rays are certainly the largest component that causes fading, as the chart below illustrates, they actually only account for 40% of the total. Solar heat, or the heat you feel passing through your windows and the visible light streaming through are also major contributors. These factors account for an additional 25% each of the causes of fading. The last factor accounts for the remaining 10% and is listed as “other”.  It is comprised of a variety of things that are harder to control like interior lighting, humidity, etc.

One thing this chart might help you realize is that you cannot “stop” fading completely. The facts are that unless the items you want to protect are placed in a dark, climate controlled room, they will typically fade over time. However, most of us plan to have the flooring and furniture in a place that will be exposed to UV, heat and light. This being the case, the most you can do is attack these major contributors of fading. By significantly attacking these contributors, you can slow down this fading process and extend the life of floors and furnishings. With that in mind, one of the best ways to attack these primary causes of sun damage and fading is with window films.

WHY ARE WINDOW FILMS A GOOD SOLUTION?

As mentioned above, you cannot completely stop fading and most people do not want to “close-up” their home in an effort to stop the damage from occurring. So, assuming windows will not be covered, you need to attack these fading factors before they enter the home. Window films are a great option because they attack all 3 major contributors of fading before they pass through the glass and enter your home.

Most professionally installed window films will block 99%+ of the UV rays, so that is nearly 40% of the factors removed. In addition, many window films can significantly reduce heat coming through the window, so that eliminates part of that 25% piece. Finally, it is possible to block up to 60% of the visible light coming through a window without noticeably darkening the window. When you combine the overall reduction in these 3 fade factors, you can take a significant portion of the fading pie shown above. The best part is that this protection can be accomplished while continuing to retain the open feel of your home through the use of window film.

We hope this article has served to shed some light the factors of sun damaged floors, furniture and furnishings and how utilizing window film can be one of your best options to address this issue. If you would like more information, click HERE and contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We can provide you with a free, no obligation assessment and estimate on the work you are considering. We are based in Orem, Utah and proudly service the surrounding area.

We recently came across an article published by Proud Green Home that discussed how house window tinting could make your house more energy efficient. However, in addition to energy efficiency, the article mentioned six additional noteworthy benefits of utilizing home window films. We have summarized them below as thought you might be interested in all of the ways that window film can compliment your next home improvement project.

7 Benefits of House Window Tinting

• Reduces Glare – Applying tint to your home windows can result in blocking significant amount of the sun’s glare from passing through the glass.
• Protects Your House Interiors –The sun’s UV rays penetrate through windows of your house. With prolonged exposure, your house furnishings, carpet, rugs and upholstery can become faded and damaged. Window tinting offers a great solution for fading issue as it typically blocks 99% of the UV while still allowing you to enjoy your windows.
• Energy Savings –Window tint can act as a window insulator keeping heat out in the Summer and retaining heat in the Winter. This can help home owners decrease their utility bills by reducing how hard their heating and air conditioning system needs to work to keep the house comfortable.
• Increased Privacy – Window films can be used strategically throughout your home to offer additional privacy through certain windows without the need for blinds or curtains.
• Enhanced Safety – Accidents happen and a window can bet broken. When this happens with a typical home window, the glass breaks in a way that can be dangerous. Home window film can keep the broken glass in place and reduce the danger.
• Added Security – Security home window film exists that can provide the other benefits listed and make uninvited entry into your home more difficult. This makes these types of films a perfect compliment to a home a security system.
• Affordable Alternative to Window Replacement – At some point nearly any window may need to be replaced, but by using home window films you may be able to significantly extend the useful life of your existing windows while achieving the benefits you desire. Having a professionally installed window film applied is much less costly and far less disruptive to your home than window replacement.

We hope this list helped you understand the variety of ways house window tinting can help on your next home improvement project. If you would like more information, click HERE and contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We can provide you with a free, no obligation assessment and estimate on the work you are considering. We are based in Orem, Utah and proudly service the surrounding area.

As we move through the end of Summer and into Fall, most of us likely have a list home improvements we plan on working on in the coming months. With the increased time many of us spent in our homes this past year, that list of wants and needs might be longer this year than most. In this article, we are going to give you 3 reasons why implementing a high quality window film should be on that list.

3 Home Improvements Possible With Window Film

Increased Home Comfort – Window films work to block excessive heat and glare from entering your home through the glass. Most homes have some windows that get a lot of sun throughout the day. In these areas of the home, there can be hot spots from the heat entering which is often accompanied by irritating glare. Often, in an effort to keep these areas of the home comfortable, your need to adjust your air conditioning. The problem then becomes that the home is often too cool in other areas where the sun is not shining in. By using window films on these specific windows, you can reduce the heat and glare specifically where the problem lies without covering the window with a blind, shade or drapery.

Reduce Energy Costs – Continuing with the point above, if you have windows that are allowing excessive heat to enter the home, your air conditioning is likely having to work overtime to keep your home comfortable. All that extra running is costing you money. When you reduce the heat entering the home, your air conditioning will not need to work as hard to keep the home comfortable and you will save money on utility bills as a result.

Preserve Floors, Furniture. and Furnishings – Our guess if that other things on your home improvement list may be things like new flooring, furniture, artwork, etc. If that is true, you want to be sure to protect those things from premature fading and sun damage. The primary sources of sun damage and fading are UV, Heat and Visible Light. Window film works to reduce all three of these primary areas of sun damage. In fact, most films reduce over 99% of the sun’s UV rays which accounts for 40% of the total causes of sun damage. In addition, it also helps block the number 2 and 3 factors of fading which are light and heat. The overall effect is to extend the life of your furnishings.

Hopefully, this article helped open your eyes to the reason you should consider placing window film on your list of home improvements. If you would like more information on home window film, click HERE. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a free, no obligation assessment of your home and how window film can help, please contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We service Orem, Utah and the surrounding communities.

We came across an article from This Old House Magazine that was titled “12 Surprising Design Uses for Window Film and Appliqués“. From the article, we wanted to focus in and share the four favorite design uses for decorative window film that are highlighted in the article.

Decorative Window Film Mimics the Look of Etched Glass

Acid-etched glass—which became popular in the mid-1800s as a way to shield bar patrons from view—elevates a plain front door. While actually acid etching a piece of glass can be expensive and is not reversible, decorative home window film can mimic the look of acid-etched glass for a fraction of the price. You can either cover the entire window or have a decorative design as pictured. This is a great way to give your house a high-end custom feel without the cost of a custom glass panel. In addition, you can always remove the window film if your design or preferences change.

Decorative Window Films Prevent Visibility Through Front-Door Sidelights​​​​​

 The article states that “handsome sidelights on your Craftsman-style door are a great accent that also happens to give passersby an unwelcome peek inside your home. Put yourself at ease by installing decorative window film that won’t detract from your entryway’s scheme.” There are a large variety of decorative designs and textures to select from that will fit nearly any situation, decor or desired effect.

Decorative Films Obscures Kitchen Cabinet Contents

  As the article states “Glass-front cabinets may make some people feel self-conscious. Hide mismatched dinnerware and chipped mugs”. A frosted window film can be retrofitted to your existing cabinet glass to obscure the contents behind. The other nice feature of window film versus actual etched glass in this application is how easy it is to clean. While window film typically needs just a quick wipe down to look pristine, the etched glass surface can trap dirt and oils and make it hard to keep the glass looking tidy. In addition, it can always be removed if your needs or design preferences change.

Decorative Films Provides Shower Door Privacy

The article states that “An expansive glass shower may have been a great design statement for a couple to make but now that it’s become a shared family bath – not so much.” If you do not want to feel like you are on display while taking a shower and would like to make morning prep more private, a decorative home window film on your glass shower doors can help. These films come in a large variety of looks and designs to fit nearly any decor. They can also be customized locally with regard to what parts are frosted and what parts are clear to suit your specific needs.

We hope that this article has given you some fresh ideas on how you might be able to use decorative window film in your home. If you have any questions or would like more information about how these innovative films can enhance your house, Contact Us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to discuss the options with you and provide you with a free, no obligation quote of implementing a decorative window film product into your home. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

Have you ever considered a residential window film for your home? In this article, we wanted to explain the variety of ways that professionally installed home window film can upgrade the existing windows in your house. Unlike window film products of years ago, modern, innovative window films let in desirable light, block harmful UV rays, add insulation against outside climate extremes, and bring aesthetic upgrades to homes. It can be a solid return on investment when you work with professionals who know what they’re doing. Despite this, there are still some unfortunate misconceptions carried over from more than two decades ago. We wanted to address these and explain a bit about how this new generation of window films work.

Does a window film alter the color of the light in your home?

The short answer? Nope! For homeowners with a passion for interior design, there’s a misconception that a window film will alter the hue of the sunlight coming in from the window and affect the color palette in the room. While this mat have been the case in the past with older technologies, the world of window films has changed a lot since its early days. The reality is that window films today can absorb heat and UV rays without using a dark or a metallic tint. While these films did reflect the sun and heat, they often did so while changing the look of a home and the nature of the light entering the home. Newer technology in window films enable you to get heat rejection, glare reduction and UV protection while barely being noticeable on the glass. There are a variety of films to suit nearly any need, budget or desired appearance. To the original question, if you want great protection without a changing the color of the light, ask for color-neutral films.

Can window films reduce my energy costs?

If your home has a lot of windows that get sun throughout the day, air conditioning is likely needed to keep the rooms comfortable. Modern solar control window film act to stop the heat at the windows and reduce the amount of heat from the sun that enters your home. By reducing the amount of heat coming in, your air conditioning will not have to work as hard to keep the home at the desired temperature. The end result is less energy used and less wear and tear on your unit as it is not working as hard. Savings vary by particular house, number of windows, type of existing windows and the specific orientation of the home to the sun.

Does residential window film stop fading?

A common misconception is that UV rays are what cause faded floors and sun damage to furnishings. While they are certainly the largest component, as this chart illustrates, they only account for 40%. Solar heat and visible light are also major contributors, accounting for 25% of the problem. The last factor is comprised of a variety of this we simply put under the heading “Other”. These are things like interior lighting, humidity, etc.

The great thing about modern window films is that they work to typically block 99+% of the UV portion of the chart, but also work to reduce the contributing factors of visible light and heat. A properly specified window film cannot completely stop fading, but it can significantly reduce the primary causes of fading and dramatically extend the pif of floors, furniture and furnishings in your home.

We hope this article opened your eyes to a couple ways modern residential window film can help upgrade your home. If you would like to learn more, click HERE. If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a free, no obligation consultation at your home, call us at 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com. We can walk you through the beautiful, innovative and functional window films available and help you get exactly the right film to fit your home.

Are you interested in way to modernize commercial buildings? We came across an article in Commercial Construction & Renovation written by Mike Pallerino that discusses how professionally installed window films can help modernize commercial buildings in a variety of ways. The article states that “provides comfort to building inhabitants by reducing heat and glare as well as blocking the sun’s harmful UV rays. It also saves money by controlling a building’s energy consumption – keeping heat out in summer months and retaining heat in the winter. It offers an added layer of safety by holding together broken glass during a natural disaster or intrusion. And gives any commercial facility a modern, updated look.” We wanted to summarize the main points of this article in the post below.

Ways Window Films Modernize Commercial Buildings

• • Aesthetics – Window film is a flexible, adaptable product that can be retrofitted to enhance the unique aesthetic appeal of any commercial building. While it doesn’t need to stand out, it can be used to enhance the style of a building exterior. There are also decorative glass films that add extra style to glass panels. You can achieve the look of etched glass or other custom glass options at a fraction of the cost of designer glass at a fraction of the cost.
  • Energy Savings – Per the International Window Film Association (IWFA), the return on investment is higher for commercial building owners when renovating with window film verses any other method. Up to 30% of any building’s cooling and heating load is lost through windows. Installing window film will reduce the stress on a facility’s HVAC system as it’s designed to keep heat out, even during the hottest of summer days.
  • UV Protection – Window film blocks up to 99 percent of UV rays, and reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s energy. Blocking UV rays helps reduce glare on computer screens, and protects and prolongs the life of furniture, carpets, artwork, draperies, and woodwork.
  • Security – Safety and security is an important benefit for commercial buildings. On the security side, professionally installed safety and security film can delay an intruder’s attempt to enter through the window. The film holds the glass together and prevents it from shattering, delaying the intruder’s entrance, and allowing local authorities to get to the scene in a timely manner.
  • Safety – On the safety front, in the event of a natural disaster, acts of terrorism or something similar, window film can manage how the glass panels break and limit the amount of dangerous flying glass shards.

If you would like to read the entire article, click HERE If you would like to get more information on how commercial window films can modernize commercial buildings, click HERE. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation assessment and quotation at your facility, call us at 801-810-8468 or email us at info@shadedglass.com.

Residential window tinting can be a very cost-effective way to reduce energy, minimize glare, protect your furnishings and increase the security of your home. The best part is that this film can typically be done as a retrofit to your existing windows with very little disruption to your home.

Top Benefits of Residential Window Tinting

• CUT YOUR HOME COOLING COSTS UP TO 50% – According to the EPA Energy Star Buildings Manual in the United States, approximately half of a home’s utility bills are wasted by loss of heat and heat gain through untreated windows. Home window tinting can significantly improve energy efficiency. With a thin, virtually invisible addition to your home’s existing windows, window films can help you save up to 50% on cooling costs.
• REDUCE HEAT AND GLARE – Open your blinds, shades, or draperies and let the sunlight in. In addition to blocking heat, home window tint reduces glare by up to 87%, making it easier for you to watch television or work on a computer in the comfort of your home. Because home window films are made with ultra-clear, distortion-free materials, you won’t even know it’s there.
• LESSEN THE EFFECTS OF HARMFUL UV RAYS – Most fabrics, furnishings and artwork can fade simply by allowing daylight to pass through an untreated window. Home window tinting will block up to 99.9% of all UVA and UVB rays, helping to protect your family and preserve the color of your furnishings, fabrics and carpets.
• CORRECTS TEMPERATURE IMBALANCES – Window films can help eliminate hot and cold spots within your home by using film that reduces heat gain coming through the glass in hot areas. This will create a more balanced temperature across the space and reduce the load on your air conditioning system.
• PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY – Glass can be a real hazard in the home when broken from accidents, storms, or break-ins. Safeguard your family and your property with home safety window films. This transparent but powerful barrier helps hold glass in place should an impact occur, help keep an intruder out and help defend you against the unexpected.
• AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO REPLACEMENT WINDOWS – While damaged or deteriorating windows simply have to be replaced, home window tinting provides an affordable alternative to replacement when your goal is to improve energy efficiency. In fact, the cost for quick, professional installation is about one-tenth the cost of replacement windows!

We also found thus excerpt from an article written by Jessica Brown that appeared in How Stuff Works that discussed the top benefits of having your home windows tinted. “Curtains, furniture and even flooring can fall victim to the effects of the sun. One of the leading culprits in fading your valuables is ultraviolet light. To keep those home furnishings and decorations looking their best, a window film with a high percentage of ultraviolet light rejection would be a good choice. Many films can now block almost 99 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet light can not only fade your furniture, but too much of it can affect your health. Ultraviolet rays are the reason for sunburns and are also seen as one of the risk factors for cancer.

According ­to the Report on Carcinogens released by the Department of Health and Human Services, ultraviolet radiation is a known human carcinogen [source: National Institutes of Health]. For working to prevent sun-induced skin damage, several types of window film have even been given the Skin Cancer Foundation‘s Seal of Recommendation [source: The Skin Cancer Foundation]. Some window films offer another benefit in the area of safety: shatter resistance. The film’s shatter resistance comes from its ability to hold glass shards together and act as a barrier between the interior of the home and the glass. Along with the safety benefits, window tinting can also help to reduce the glare on your television when viewing the big game. The percentage of glare reduction is usually related to the visible light transmittance. The lower the amount of light transmitted through the film, the greater the glare reduction inside the home.”

If you would like more information on the benefits of residential window tinting, Click HERE. If you have any questions, call us at (801) 810-TINT(8468) or fill out a form at HERE. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home.

The sun gives off UV rays that can be rather harmful. Most people use sunblock because of this very reason — to help protect their skin. However, are you aware that these same harmful UV rays can cause sun damaged furnishings inside of your home? It’s true. Just because there are windows in your house that are blocking some of the UV rays that the sun gives off, that does not mean your furnishings are 100% safe. In fact, that is far from the case.

Luckily, inventions like window film exist. Not only can window film help reduce the rate of fading, which we will cover in greater detail later, but they help to eliminate excessive heat and glare from the sun. Can you imagine a world where your TV doesn’t have any signs of glare during the middle of the day? That life is possible with window film.

You might be wondering how window film works, and how it can actually help protect against sun damaged furnishings in your home. Here are the exact ways the window films we carry at Shaded Glass help reduce rate of fading:

• Block up to 99% of harmful UV rays — the principal cause of fading
• Reject solar heat, which can continually heat fabrics and other surfaces, causing them to break down and discolor over time
• Filter visible light, which can accelerate fading

There are plenty of bonuses with window film. For instance, this great technology can help lower energy costs and eliminate hot spots. Everyone has that one room in their home that they don’t go in during the day because it is filled with heat from the sun shining in. With window film, these hot spots can help to be reduced.

Five Things in your Home Susceptible to Sun Damage

• Fabrics and Upholstery
• Window Treatments
• Wallpaper
• Natural Wood Floors
• Photos , Paintings and other Furnishings

Window films are a brilliant option to help preserve these items for a longer period of time. Don’t let the sun fade and ruin your furnishings. If they aren’t protected, they can be very expensive to replace. You may not notice your furniture fading after a week of sun exposure, but you will see a difference over time as your furnishings start to fade.

Window treatments help reduce hot spots, glare and sun damage to your belongings but that comes with a cost. With window treatments, natural light and your view is also being blocked out. With window films, you continue to maintain your view and let the light in.

There is a way to prevent sun damaged furnishings in your home and protect your furniture, art, hardwood floors, etc. The solution starts and ends with window film from Shaded Glass. Give us a call at (801) 810-TINT(8468) or fill out a form at here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home.

Spring In Orem, Ogden and Salt Lake City Area Is a Great Time To Consider Home Window Tinting

On some of these cooler days it may not feel like it, but Spring is literally just around the corner! With the warmer weather on the way, this is the perfect time of year to consider home window tinting. So, while you wait for the sun and warm weather to arrive, consider these three reasons you should consider retrofitting your existing windows with home window tint as your Spring home improvement project this year.

THREE BENEFITS OF HOME WINDOW TINTING IN UTAH

• Greater Energy Efficiency – Modern window films can be used as a retrofit to nearly any window to improve their energy efficiency. By improving the insulating properties of your window unit, window film improves the comfort of your home while reducing the load on your air conditioning system. The result can be a more comfortable home with lower utility bills.
• Protect Furnishings from Fading – UV rays, heat and glare from the sun can cause sun damage to your floors, carpets and furniture. Home window tinting works to block the contributors to fading and extend the life of your furnishings.
• Add Privacy and Decor – Decorative window films can be used on any window where additional privacy is needed. From bathrooms to entryway windows, there are many options to add privacy without sacrificing looks. These films can also be used to add a custom decorative element to nearly any glass panel.

We hope this brief article gave you some ideas on how home window tinting can be the perfect addition to your house this Spring. Give us a call at (801) 810-TINT(8468) or fill out a form at here. We would be happy to arrange a free, no obligation consultation and discuss how you can implement a window film solution in your home.