Need to Reduce Glare and Harsh Light? Window Film Can Help!

Most people think of window film or window tinting primarily as something that helps in the Summer. It can reduce glare and heat coming through the glass making a room uncomfortable. However, Winter is often the time when glare and harsh light become big issues that create discomfort in a home. There are three reasons this is the case:

1. The sun is lower in the sky during these months which means that it is shining more directly into your windows versus from a more overhead position in the Summer months.
2. There are no leaves on the trees to block the sun. Many homes and commercial properties have foliage in the Summer that serves to offer some shade. In the Winter, with this gone, they have to deal with glare issue that are not present at other times of the year.
3. The refection of the sun off of the snow. When there is a layer of snow on the ground, it acts like a big mirror to reflect the sun’s rays. This can make any harsh light issue even worse at this time of the year as it is actually amplifying the light coming through the glass.

What Can Window Film Do?

The window film we offer is likely not like the picture in your head of a darkly tinted car. Technology has enabled current window films to block a great deal of glare as well as heat without restricting your view. In fact, like a high quality pair of sunglasses, the innovative technology found in window film today actually serves to enhance your views. The harsh light and glare is eliminated allowing your eyes to relax and your home or commercial space to become a more comfortable place to be.

We hope this article served to “shed some light” on how window films can be used to reduce glare and improve comfort in the Winter. If you would like more information, check out the link located HERE and 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 window film solution in your home. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

Over these past couple years many of us have been spending more time in our home. One change has been that we’ve been in our homes more throughout the day causing us to notice things we may not have in the past like hot spots or excessive glare. An unfortunate aspect of the great open feeling windows provide is that they can allow more glare and heat than might be preferrable. This can cause air conditioning systems to work overtime and make it harder to see computer and television screens. If your increased time at home has caused you to notice some excessive heat or irritating glare issues, window film retrofitted to your existing windows can help.

2 Ways Window Film Can Help With Excessive Heat & Glare Issues

Reduce Excessive Heat – While window treatments can be effective at blocking sunlight and reducing incoming heat, they also obstruct the desired view through the windows. A window film applied to your existing glass can reflect or absorb sunlight before it enters the home. In fact, some films can block up to 78% of the sun’s heat. This means the air conditioning does not need to run as frequently and energy bills can possibly be reduced.

Cut Irritating Glare – When direct sunlight causes glare on computer or television screens a window treatment or covering can block the light. However, this also means rooms are darker and more interior lighting is required to account for the loss of natural light. Window films can be used to control excessive brightness and prevents harsh glare without forsaking natural light. In addition, you are able to look out windows and enjoy views and scenery, which has been shown to increase well-being and mood.

We hope this brief article helped enlighten you to how window film can help with heat and glare issues in your home. If you would like more information on home window film, 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, Ogden or Salt Lake City, Utah area home.

With commercial office spaces being reimagined as office utilization changes and rooms at home being turned into offices, we thought this article on all the uses and benefits of decorative glass films was timely. Whether you’re aiming to add privacy, some style or a change of scenery, decorative glass films are a simple and cost effective way to do so. They are very versatile, allow freedom in design and can be customized to fulfill many requirements. Various films can be used to create a custom finished product, whether it is textured, patterned or colored film. These innovative films can also be utilized to influence the transparency of the glass surface as well as its light transmittance. Check out the list below to learn more about seven benefits of decorative films.

7 Benefits of Decorative Window Film

Adds Privacy

Decorative glass films enable added privacy to any space with a window or glass partition.

Improves Looks

Decorative films can transform plain glass into a fully integrated design element in the space.

Saves Money

Decorative glass films allow you to achieve the desired look at a fraction of the cost of custom glass panels. It is also easily removed from the glass if your needs ever change. Custom glass would require the panel to be changed out again at a much greater cost.

Integrates Company Branding

These innovative films enable you to integrate company or product branding, addresses, etc on windows or glass panels.

Creates A Visual Breaks in A Space

Decorative window films allow the creation of a visual break on a piece of glass. This enables the eye to register a break in an unobstructed line of sight.

Easy to Maintain

Often, the texture of custom glass makes it difficult to keep clean as oils and dirt become lodged in the textured surface. Decorative films can be wiped clean easily helping keep the design looking as great as it did the day installed.

Nearly Unlimited Options

While custom glass panels can be expensive and have limitations, using stock and custom decorative films enable you to achieve a nearly unlimited number of options at a fraction of the price of custom glass.

If you would like more information about decorative glass film and how they can be integrated into your commercial space or home, please contact Shaded Glass today by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the entire surrounding area.

With 2022 just underway, why not resolve to have a more comfortable and energy efficient home and commercial spaces this year? While windows open a space to natural lighting, warmth and views of the outside world, there are also downsides. These same windows also open up a space to high energy costs, heat build-up, excessive glare, and the premature fading of interior furnishings. Implementing a high quality home or commercial window film solution can improve the comfort and increase the energy efficiency of the existing windows with minimal disruption.

Some of the Benefits and Information About Home & Commercial Window Film

• More Energy Efficient Spaces – According to the EPA’s Assessment Of Energy Technologies and Research Opportunities, “Virtually the entire commercial cooling load comes from energy entering through the windows (i.e., solar heat gain). The bulk of residential cooling results from window heat gains although infiltration also has a significant role. Future cooling may be a larger share of total demand since U.S. regions with high population growth are largely in warmer climates.” The positive news is that a solar control film retrofitted to existing glass can significantly reduce the energy entering through the window.
• Improved Comfort by Reducing Heat and Glare – Open your blinds, shades, or draperies and let the sunlight in. In addition to blocking heat, architectural window film can reduce glare by up to 87%, making it easier for you to watch television or work on a computer. Because these innovative window films are made with ultra-clear, distortion-free materials, you won’t even know it’s there.
• Reduce Hot and Cold Spots Throughout the Space – Window films can help eliminate hot and cold spots within spaces. This is done by using film strategically to reduce heat gain coming through the glass in hot areas like the south and west exposures. By reducing the heat in these areas specifically, you can create a more balanced temperature across the space which can reduce the load on cooling system.
• Prevent Premature Fading of Furniture and Furnishings – Fading is caused by three primary factors; Visible light or glare, heat and UV rays. The great thing about architectural window films are that they attack all three of these areas. Window film will help reduce heat and glare as discussed above. In addition, most window films will block 99% of the sun’s UV rays from passing through. The combination of window film reducing heat, visible light and UV helps extend the life of furnishings by protecting them from sun fading.

If you think that 2022 is the year to resolve to have more energy efficient home and commercial spaces, you can contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

Evelyn Royer wrote an article for Architecture Magazine called “The Pros and Cons of Window Films” that we wanted to summarize. Solar controlling window film can be a misunderstood product, so we wanted to clear up some misconceptions. These innovative films retrofitted to your existing windows can be one of the most cost-effective ways to boost energy efficiency in both homes and commercial spaces.

With a growing interest in improving energy efficiency, residential and commercial window films should not be a product that is overlooked. Let’s look into what the article says that these films can, and cannot do.

ARCHITECTURAL WINDOW FILM PROS

• Window film can cut utility costs by 30% to 40% that is much cheaper than replacing windows.
• Solar films block 99% of UV light that fades furniture without looking reflective or dark.
• Window films can add security and slow down a break in.
• Window Film can add safety by holding shards together if a window shatters.
• Some films can make a low-cost new window as efficient as a newer low-E, triple-pane unit.

ARCHITECTURAL WINDOW FILM CONS

• Some window manufacturers warn that films will void their window warranty. Check with your window manufacturer if your windows are still covered under warranty by the manufacturer.
• Certain glass lites, latches, and frames make installation difficult, which can impact cost.

Ultimately, experts say the future is bright for solar controlling window film products. We completely agree as the importance of green technologies implemented into existing spaces will only be growing in importance over the coming years.

We would be happy to answer any questions and schedule a free, no obligation consultation about integrating these films into your home or commercial space. You can contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) published an article that discusses how energy saving window film can be a cost effective solution for hotels, or any commercial space, dealing with heat gain issues. The article uses the Department of Energy‘s Energy Saving Calculator to look at the return on investment of retrofitting existing windows with window film versus replacing the windows. According to their research, the analysis shows that a window film installation to existing windows would save enough on energy costs to pay for the job in roughly 2 years.

The article discusses the advantages of window film vs low-E windows by saying:

“There are two options: install new low-E windows or retrofit the existing windows with energy-saving film. A total window replacement with solar-control low-E windows does provide good energy savings; but is a relatively poor return on investment due to high material and installation costs. As a result, the return on investment for window film is faster than installing low-E windows.”

It goes on to say:

“..window film offers hoteliers a great return on their investment due to the combination of reduced solar heat gain and a low material/installation cost. Reduced solar heat gain equates to lower energy costs and material/labor costs for installation of the film is approximately $3.00-5.00 per square foot. Across all four U.S. climate zones, studies have shown that for each dollar available for window retrofit (energy saving film) or window replacement, energy-saving window film provides a greater energy cost savings than total window replacement with new low-E windows.

In reviewing the replacement of windows or retrofit of energy-savings film, the application of energy saving window film should be strongly considered in lieu of window replacement only if existing windows are functionally sound.”

The article used reference pieces from the Department of Energy and the EPA’s Energy Star websites for their research.

If you would like to read the entire article on their website and see their calculations, click HERE

If you would like to learn more about commercial window films that can upgrade your space, click HERE. If you have any questions, please contact us by calling 801-810-8468 or emailing us at info@shadedglass.com. We would be happy to help and arrange a free, no obligation consultation with someone on our team if you are interested. We are located in Orem, Utah and service the surrounding area.