Why Window Film?

Seven reasons why you should consider window film or tinting for your home, vehicle or commercial building.

The window film industry has been in existence since the early 1960s, when the idea of manufacturing specially designed window film to assist in the control of heating and cooling buildings was first commercialized.

In its simplest form, window film has a layer of mounting adhesive on one side, with the special protective coating on the other. Tinting is the process of laying solar control (and safety protection) window film to vehicle and building windows.

In recent years the uses and benefits of using window film and tinting has grown considerably. This is mainly due to the development of new window film products and tinting processes.

THE KEY BENEFITS OF WINDOW FILM AND TINTING
Why is tinting becoming increasingly popular? Consider these key benefits and advantages and how they may apply to you.

1. REDUCTION IN HARMFUL UV RAYS
In recent years research has shown how the greenhouse effect is contributing to the increased amount of UV rays that enter the atmosphere. As expected, this effect poses a number of health risks.

There are three types of UV rays: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. UV-A rays are considered to be the primary cause of visible skin aging (which is why you will find a lot of beach bunnies with premature wrinkles), while UV-B rays are the primary cause of sunburn. In fact, prolonged exposure to these UV-B rays can lead to skin cancer.

It is important to understand that even if you are in a building or vehicle, these harmful UV rays are still getting through. In other words, they are not being reflected off the windows. So if you are driving in your vehicle on a hot day with the air-conditioner on, do not think that just because the vehicle is keeping you cool, the UV rays are not affecting you. They are.

So how do you protect yourself from these UV rays? Tinting. Because tinted window film reflects a higher percentage of solar energy from the sun, less of these UV rays are able to get through. In fact, with the right tinting film it is possible to get rid of almost 100% of harmful and damaging UV rays.

Reducing the impact of harmful UV rays and the associated risks is a key benefit of having windows tinted and is one key reason why tinting has become more popular.

2. LESS FADING
Not only can UV rays cause damage to your skin and pose a risk to your health, they can be just as brutal to your furniture and fittings such as carpet, drapes and even artwork.

UV light is the main cause of fading, and so the reduction in UV rays can be of great benefit to those who want to reduce this fading risk.

On a regular basis we see, particularly when we visit commercial buildings and houses, just how badly light has affected furniture and fittings. It is most noticeable on properties where one part of the property gets a lot of sun while the other side of the property gets hardly any sun at all. What we see is the carpet, drapes and furniture of the sunny side is far more faded.

How much can fading be reduced through tinting? In the US, a National Bureau of Standards study conducted in the 1950s showed that blocking UV radiation would slow the rate of fading in most cases by a factor of three. This simply means that a fabric that would normally take 3 years to fade to a certain level under normal UV conditions, could take ten years to fade to the same level if UV radiation was eliminated.

Faded furniture is not attractive to look at. And it can be costly to replace. And while no tinted film or glazing product will totally prevent or stop fading, it can go a long way to reducing fading and extending the life of your valuable furniture and fittings.

3. BETTER HEAT CONTROL
Entering a vehicle or building that has been hit by the searing sun can be very unpleasant for many people. Indeed, in the summer vehicles and buildings can act like an oven in that they retain the heat that the sun provides.

What window film does is block solar heat, which in turn can keep the building or vehicle cooler. It will mean you will not have to use the air conditioner or fan as much, which will save on electricity bills. Most importantly it means that sitting in your home or workplace, or vehicle will be much more pleasant.

4. REDUCED GLARE
Window film is designed to reduce the amount of glare and light reflection that enters a building or vehicle. This is an important feature from both a safety and visibility aspect.

In terms of safety, reduced glare and light reflection can be very beneficial when driving as it will improve visibility when driving at night and reduce the daytime glare. This will also make it easier on the eyes.

When at your home or office, less glare and light reflections mean it will be easier to work on the computer, watch tv or read a book...even though the sun may be streaming in from outside.

5. ENHANCED APPEARANCE
These days there are a wide variety of window films that can be placed on buildings and vehicles. For instance, window film comes in various shades from dark to light and also comes in different colours such as gold, gray and bronze.

The variety of films available mean that window film can enhance the appearance of a vehicle or building in many different ways.

6. PRIVACY AND SECURITY
One popular reason people get their windows tinted is an issue of privacy and security. For example, many tradespeople such as builders get their vans tinted because they do not want prying eyes to see what is inside. This is especially important when they're carry valuable tools or stock.

The same reason applies to those who get the windows of their home tinted. They just want to keep the prying eyes away and figure that if would-thieves have trouble seeing what is inside their home, they are more likely to more onto the neighbour's house.

7. SAFETY
One recent innovation in the window film industry has been the development of security/safety film. This is a special type of window film that is designed to protect windows from damage caused by man-made or natural events.

CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you would like more information about window film and window tinting, feel free to call us on 0800 367 3456. You can also request a free ProFilm Sample Kit, containing samples of our most popular films. So call us on 0800 367 3456.