Residential Window Film

Memorial Day is behind us and the hot days of summer will be here before we know it. For many of us, the warm summer weather is something we look forward to all year long. However, it often also brings higher energy bills as we use our air conditioning to keep our home cooler and more comfortable. When you combine this with the climbing costs of energy, it can get very expensive to have a comfortable home this summer. To help combat this, we wanted to share some ways that residential window films, retrofitted to your existing home windows, can help you save on energy costs this summer season. These films can help reduce the load on your air conditioning system. This saves you money not only on the energy needed but also HVAC system maintenance needed from increased use.

The first thing you may be wondering is how these films can lower your utility bill by reducing the load on your air conditioning system. The simple explanation is that window film installed on the interior surface of your existing windows will reduce the amount of the sun’s heat coming into your home through the glass. By stopping a portion of the heat from entering at the window, your home does not get as warm and the AC system does not need to work as hard to keep interior temperatures comfortable. This reduction in work by your AC unit saves you on energy costs by reducing your usage at the best time of the day as many utility companies charge a premium at peak hours.

For example, on a hot summer day your air conditioning system might be struggling just to keep up with the demand to keep your home comfortable. Unfortunately, this demand for air conditioning is also happening all throughout your area at the same time. This spike in demand for energy allows the utility company to charge a premium on the energy you use during this period.

The good news is that residential window films are reducing the heat making its way into your home through the windows during these peak hours. This reduction allows your air conditioning to not work as hard, and use as less energy to keep your home comfortable during these peak hours.

In addition, as a side benefit, the home’s air conditioning system will not need to run as often to keep up with demand. Not only does this save you money on energy costs as mentioned above, but will also reduce you system maintenance costs from wear and tear from extended use on the AC system. Your air conditioning unit consists of numerous components that each have an effective service life.

The longer, and harder, a unit is forced to run, the faster these parts will wear out and need replaced. Furthermore, as parts degrade they often do not work as efficiently as they did when new. The resulting system inefficiency translates into more energy being needed to get the same results in home cooling.

We hope is that this brief article shed some light on how residential window films can help save you money on home energy costs and system maintenance not only this summer, but for many years to come. If you would like more information about these innovative home window films and how they can be retrofitted onto your home’s existing windows, click HERE. If you have questions about our services, call 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 a window film solution in your Orem, Utah area home before Summer.

This is always an exciting time of the year! Spring has officially arrived and Summer will be here before we know it. This time of the year also brings in longer daylight hours and plenty of sun. While most of us typically look forward to this time of the year, that extra sun can play havoc in your home, with your health and on your budget. In this article, we wanted to focus on 3 ways that home window film benefits can help make all that extra sun more enjoyable.3 Home Window Film Benefits3

Home Window Film Benefits

• Window Films Can Save Money on Energy Costs – The extra sun that Spring and Summer brings also often brings high utility bills because your air conditioning system is working overtime. Through the use of modern window films, you can dramatically reduce the amount of heat entering your home through the glass and subsequently reduce how hard your AC unit has to work to keep the home cool. If your AC system is working less, you are using less energy and your utility bills will reflect that savings.In addition, although not specifically a utility bill, your AC unit working less throughout the Summer can extend the service life of that unit and reduce maintenance costs. So, window film can actually save both on the energy cost of running the AC and the maintenance costs associated with the usage of your AC.

 

• Window Films Can Make Your Home More Comfortable – The longer days of Spring and Summer can also bring about things that make your home less comfortable. Specifically, many homeowners deal with excessive glare and hot spots in the home at this time of the year. Whether it is for watching TV, using a computer or just kicking back with your favorite book, glare can make a room an uncomfortable place to be.By using window films strategically in your home, you can reduce the glare in rooms where that is an issue. Additionally, does your home suffer from hot and cold spots at this time of the year because one side is in sun most of the day while the other side is in the shade? You can use window film on the side of the home with excessive sun to reduce the heat entering in that area and equalize temperature throughout the home.
• Window Films Can Preserve Your Furnishings and Your Health – The extra sun that Summer brings can also bring about fading issues with your flooring and furniture. Most windows offer no protection from the UV rays pouring through that account for a full 40% of the factors that cause fading. With modern window films, even the lightest shades block 99+% of the UV rays from entering through the windows. By eliminating this major cause of fading, you have taken a major step to extend the life of your flooring and furnishings.Also, The Skin Cancer Foundation has warned that this UV entering your home can also be detrimental to your health.In an article, they state, “While it’s understood that taking sun safety precautions is important outside, few people realize they can sustain sun damage indoors, too. While both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun can harm the skin and lead to skin cancers, UVB is effectively blocked by glass. However, at least 50 percent of UVA rays can pass through windows. Window film is an increasingly effective solution, offering substantial indoor protection by blocking up to 99.9 percent of UVA radiation.” The use of window film can help block these harmful UV rays and preserve your health in this area. You can read the entire article from The Skin Cancer Foundation by clicking HERE.

So, don’t avoid the sun, but welcome its arrival by embracing these home window film benefits. If you would like more information on these innovative products, click HERE. If you have any questions, please contact us today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about home window films and schedule a free assessment and quotation for your home. We are located in Orem, Utah and serve the entire surrounding area.

We wanted to share information from a recent article in Million Acres by Matt Frankel, CFP that discussed the pros and cons of having home window tint retrofitted to your existing windows.

In this article, we are going to primarily summarize the benefits as the only negative the article mentioned was the potential out of pocket cost up front. Other than that, home window tint and film provides a fairly substantial list of positives. The great thing about this home improvement is that in most cases window film can be installed directly on your existing windows with very little disruption to a household. So, without further delay, here are the pros of home window tint.

The Benefits of Home Window Tint and Film

• Reduce Excessive Heat or Eliminate Hot Spots: In general terms, sunlight generates heat, and utilizing tinted windows allows less sunlight in. The result is less heat entering the home through the windows. This can be used to cut heat in a room that has a south or west exposure and gets too hot during the day or in targeted areas to eliminate a hot spot in a very particular area of the house. The article quotes a HomeGuide claim that tinted windows can block as much as 85% of the heat generated by sunlight, which can mean a difference of as much as 15 degrees in the interior of the home. While the amount of heat reduced depends on the particular windows installed, home window film is an effective way to reduce heat from entering though the glass.
• Help Prevent Sun Damage: As the article states, “natural sunlight isn’t just hot, it can be damaging to the inside of your home“. Wood floors and furniture are especially vulnerable to long-term sun damage. This sun damage is caused primarily by a combination of UV rays, heat and natural light. Window films can reduce the combination of these three primary elements to help prolong the life of your furnishings.
• Lower Energy Costs: This goes hand in hand with reducing excessive heat. The goal is to maintain a comfortable environment in your home for the least amount of cost due to energy usage. The article explains that, “as sunlight heats the air in your home to an uncomfortable temperature, you probably use your air conditioning system to cool it. Reducing the sunlight in your home means you’ll run your air conditioner less, which can save you money on electricity.“
• Improved Privacy: The article states that, “tinted windows make it more difficult for people to see into your home, which can add to the feeling of privacy (and security) in your home, without the need to keep your shades drawn at all times“. While this is true of some window tint during the day, when it becomes dark outside others will be able to see in. That being said, there are specific window films that can be used to give you privacy both day and night.
• Cut Irritating Glare: Like a quality pair of sun glasses, window film can be used to cut irritating glare. The article says it this way, “tinted windows help eliminate glare caused by sunlight. As a personal example, I can’t use my home office after 3 p.m. without my blinds down. The glare is too intense for me to see my computer screens comfortably. Window tint can solve this sort of problem“.
• Add a Decorative Element: In addition to films that reduce the light transmission, some types of window film come in attractive textures, designs and patterns that can add both decorative and privacy elements to your home.

If you would like to read the entire article in Million Acres, click HERE.

We hope that this summary of the article gave you some insight into all the great things these innovative home window tint and films can do. If you would like more information about the home window tinting films mentioned in the article, click HERE. If you have questions about our services, call 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 a window film solution in your Orem, Utah home.

It’s that time of year again when many people are scrambling to come up with gift ideas. With most of us spending

It’s officially that time of year again! People are often scrambling around to come up with gift ideas. Why not give a gift that continues to provide value well into the future? Considering that many people are spending more time in their home since the beginning of the pandemic, we wanted to share what we thought might be the perfect home gift. Who couldn’t use a gift that will improve comfort, save money and help preserve furniture, floors and furnishings in your home? That is exactly what retrofitting a window film to the existing glass in your home can do. Sound interesting? Let’s learn more!

3 Reasons Window Film Is The Perfect Home Gift

1. Help Save Money On Utility Costs – As a result of spending more time at home, many have noticed their heating and cooling system working harder to maintain the desired comfort level throughout the day. When these systems are working harder, they consume more energy. Window films retrofitted to your existing glass can help reduce the demand on your system by making your windows more energy efficient. With the projected significant rise in utility costs this upcoming year, this reduction in demand on the system can result in some nice utility savings.
2. Improve The Comfort Of A Home – Nothing impacts the comfort of a home more than being too hot or too cold. That is exactly what often happens in areas of the home near windows. You can experience hot and cold spots throughout the home that the heating and cooling system cannot address. A properly chosen home window film can help eliminate these hot spots in the summer and cold spots in the winter, making a home more comfortable all year round.
3. Preserves Floors, Furniture & Furnishings – A home window film retrofitted to existing glass will block virtually all of the sun’s UV rays as well as a portion of solar heat and visible light. These are the 3 main factors related to sun damage and fading. By reducing this combination of 3 factors through the use of window film, you can extend the life of floors, furniture and furnishings.

We hope that this article explained why we feel might be the perfect home gift idea this holiday season and beyond. If you would like more information about the residential window films we offer, click HERE. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free, no obligation assessment and estimate, call 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 retrofitting a house window film solution onto your home’s existing windows in the Orem, Utah area.

With the cost of utilities rising and expected to go even higher, most of us are looking to save a little money these days and would love to take a bite out of these high utility bills. However, we also want to maintain a comfortable house as many are spending a great deal more time in our homes these days. We wanted to do our part to help by summarizing five energy saving tips provided by Duke Energy in a recently published article. While this is not meant to be a comprehensive list, this could get you on the way to saving some money each month.

Five Energy Saving Tips From Duke Energy

1. Use ceiling fans and set them to rotate in the proper direction for the season. Fans allow users to set thermostats in a way that can reduce energy use.
2. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced and change the air filter each month or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Date the filter or set a reminder to help track when it’s time for a new one. This can help the unit run more efficiently.
3. Install attic insulation rated R-30 and seal attic leaks. This will reduce heating and cooling escaping and could qualify for bill credits. Check with your utility company for more information.
4. Install home window films or keep blinds, curtains and shades closed during the hottest part of the day, especially on south and west facing windows. This helps keep heat out and the AC from running constantly. However, most of us do not want to keep our blinds or shades closed, and this is where we can help. Modern home window films that can block a significant amount of this heat without even changing the appearance of your windows. We even have low-e options that can potentially save energy in both the warmer and cooler months. Contact us for more details.
5. This is an area most people are unaware of. Unplug phones or other electronic devices once fully charged. Many chargers use energy even when they aren’t connected to a device.

The article at Duke offer several more tips as well and you can read the entire piece by clicking HERE.

We hope that this summary gave you some energy saving tips that you could use to start driving down your utility bills. If you would like more information about the home window films mentioned in the article, click HERE. If you have questions about our services, call 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 a window film solution in your Orem, Utah home.

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.