Not SunTek but 3M, installed at my parents' 47 years ago on the big west windows. The only issue was a housekeeper who used a scrubby on the kitchen windows above the sink and prep space right next to the cooktop. There were a lot of splatters and she scrubbed. Nope.

We had it put on the big windows of our last house. No issues...until the painter used a blade to scrape after he painted the window frames.

In both cases the film was still intact, never flaked off or anything, just had scratches. Btw, these were not Arizona windows. I don't recall if my folks had film on their AZ house, but they faced north-south with a couple of east windows, so it wasn't too bad.

Great stuff. You really don't have to baby it, it can take a lot of cleaning, but don't abuse it.

Sammy - Thanks! That’s very good to know! I’m definitely putting the motorized shades in the addition and thinking of adding the uv film also. I dont have pockets to hide the shades for the rest of the house, and there are pretty large overhangs, but still the uv gets in. I dont know about my window warranty for existing windows - they were custom made in 2011 and the company went out of business. But I can call the manufacturer for the new windows in the additions. The uv company said they pay for $500 for the replacement, but that doesnt help much with these windows as they are pretty expensive.

Bp - that’s good to know! I guess it’s okay if the film gets scratches, as long as it’s not the glass.

I get worried that the glass could shatter with the uv film - that’s why the window companies dont warranty the windows. The glass heats up as the uv doesnt allow the heat to dissipate into the house. If there is a little crack, maybe behind the framing, the glass could shatter. This happened to someone at work.

Even before glass breaking - the seal can break and they can fog. Why could you not put the tint on the outside which would reduce the heat in the glass?

Your picture looks like you have a huge overhang so if you are having issues, I am guessing these are West facing.

It seems to me that a huge con is that the transmitted light is reduced. So you spend all this money on windows and then block the sun? Seems counterintuitive.

Sorry that you are having issues with fading. I would get motorized shades or plants some trees.

You’re welcome as always, rockybird. I Googled “exterior solar shades” last night because I knew that there wereissues in your addition with the pockets for the motorized shades. But since that is apparently no longer an issue, what do you think about that idea for your existing walls? I can show you what I found if you’re interested. :)

David-that’s the problem my friend had with the uv film - she had condensation behind it. The company removed it, but in the process badly scratched her windows. My kitchen windows are west/northwest facing. I’m in AZ and we get a lot of sunlight, so it compounds the problem. There are clear uv films that wont reduce the transmitted light, which is what i would use. They only block the UV light which is not visually noticed. Looking outside or in will look the same with or without the film (or so they tell me).

I did find some exterior uv film which I will look into. Maybe that is the solution.

Sammy - thank you! Yes I would love to see what you found for existing windows. Thankyou! :)

So here are some of the things I found. Sorry it took me so long to share them!

BTW, I could have sworn that your house was in the California desert, like in the Palm Springs—Rancho Mirage area! Oh well. Just another sure sign that I’m in need of a vacation. I need to recharge!! ;)

Thanks Sammy! These are great. The problem is that I dont want to see the box holding the shades. :( I think it would really stand out given how minimal the exterior is.

I put window tint on all the windows that face the bright sun (and have our newer wood floors inside). We have double-paned Milgard windows, and are in SoCal. I don't recall the brand of window film, but from a reputable guy, and maybe it was 3M or Suntek. You can't tell they're there unless you look carefully at the edges, which the installer cut and aligned very nicely. My husband was against it, because he thought it would block the light, but he never even noticed a difference after they were in. Yes, it probably negated any window warranty, but since we're not original owners, Milgard doesn't stand behind the windows anyway, so i figured I wasn't giving anything up. They've done fine. No breach of the windows, no cracked glass, it's all fine, and it's been 2 years.

I should put that window film on all the windows..... I like it that much. It's nice to know my floors and furniture and other stuff isn't fading.

That’s reassuring, Mrs. S, especially since the sunlight you get in Southern California is probably closer in intensity to the sun rockybird receives in Arizona than my sunlight here in the Deep South—you know, apples to apples and all that.

I get what you mean about the attractiveness of the cassettes (I think that’s what they’re called), rockybird. I wouldn’t want to see all that on your beautiful house, either! Surely there’s a way to make it disappear. Have you made any inquiries? And forgive me if this has already been discussed elsewhere, but have you looked into applying a UV-blocking product on the cabinets themselves?

I'm able to install window film - probably by 3M as they seem to have good reviews and when I looked out my windows with their sample sheets, the perceived diminution of light appeared less with a higher level of UV blockage than the other brands who came out to bid the project.

I am in a high rise with a wall of windows facing East so I get extremely early morning sun but I also get a lot of light (but not direct sun beams) during the day until twilight.

I am installing solar blinds as well - the kind that block some of the sun but retain the view but don't like the claustrophobic feeling I get with any kind of shades down so I would only want to use them perhaps in the morning if I am sleeping or if there is extreme glare in a room.

My windows are extremely old (1965 vintage) and obviously have no kind of E-certification.

I would be installing the film solely to prevent damage to fabrics and wood floors and I assume that having both systems - solar blinds plus film would be the best for what I am want - mostly to prevent UV damage without blocking my unobstructed views.

Thank you Mrs S! Very good to know. Your experience really helps and I am reconsidering calling the UV co. To install the tinit.

Thanks Sammy! I think I’ll go with the UV film, but start small because of the expense and also to see how I like it. I think for one 12 foot stretch of glass I will have to eventually get blinds because it faces west and the sun is so intense in the afternoon. For the master addition and hallway, I will use recessed solar shades on a timer and uv film. I will look into a protectant for my furntiure too! Great idea!

Helen, thanks! I am thinking of the same type of solar shades. I want them on a timer or ap so they lower when the sun hits the glass directly. If you get your soon, please post how it goes!

@rockybird - On the recommendation of my designer, I went with q-motion as she said they were high quality and priced better than Hunter Douglas. I didn't opt for the ones that are on a timer as I didn't particularly need that functionality since mine is morning sunlight and easy enough for me to lower the shades at night and then raise them up after the direct sunlight is gone.

I did opt for the upgrade to some kind of Wifi option so that I could operate them through my iPhone and not have to keep track of yet another piece of electronic equipment. I have to use a tote at this point for bed to keep all of the remote devices accessible - phone, iPad, remote for television; remote for adjustable bed and an additional remote for the shades would be a bridge too far. Not to mention that I am going to have my phone near me versus having to keep track of a remote in the living areas.

I had UV film installed on transom windows in my new home six years ago and never had any problem with it. Unless you look at the transom windows and the windows below them, it is very hard to notice that the UV film is actually installed. The light still comes in through the windows without the harmful impact of direct sun on your furniture, flooring, etc.

I did install the window film but am still waiting on the solar shades - everything takes four times longer to finish than I could possibly have dreamed when I started this remodel on April 1.

I went with the Avery Dennison film on the recommendation of my designer since it was less expensive than the 3 M and the specifications were actually better as it not only reduced the UV rays by 99% but also had some climate control functionality.

I can't see any difference in terms of it feeling less bright - I say this as I write with the glare of the Eastern sunrise since I don't have shades yet to block the direct glare :-).

Thank you Helen and Gary! This helpful!! I will look into the Avery Dennison film. I am also looking at 3M as it looks like they have a lot of newer technologies available. I also dont think I have LowE windows!!! THis explains why everything is fading. The 3M installer said they would test the glass to see. But I am wondering if the installer of my windows didnt think I would like the green glass with Low E. Anyway, when I get the estimate they will be able to see. I am really glad that you all are having a good experience with the film. I am defintely going to add it after the holidays.

Helen, thanks also for the rec for the blinds. I know what you mean about the remodel time! I’m doing two additions and I think the pyramids were built faster!

@rockbird - Whatever you choose, get a few bids as I found significant price variation with different installers.

The first 3M installer quoted me $3500 for film that was functionally equivalent to Avery Dennison which quoted me $1800. There was a climate control 3M that was $5400 from the first 3M installer.

I had my designer get a quote from another 3M installer and the apples to apples bid from the second 3M installed was $2400 versus $1800 for Avery for what appeared to be the same technology.

Both brands had various options available but I wanted something relatively simple - I wanted to block the destructive UV rays without having to have shades drawn constantly since I have a bank of windows with a view so there is always light but since it's an Eastern exposure, I don't have the relentless sun of a Western exposure.

I didn't want something extremely dark nor did I want anything with a mirror finish on the exterior since I wasn't using these for privacy or really for climate control.

The Avery Dennison installer said that the film I chose would have a slight impact on climate control but the main benefit is UV protection for furniture and floors.

When they come out, they have cards with the film and you hold it up to the window to get a sense of how dark the windows will appear with each possibility.

Hello all!

I'm curious if any of you have experience growing plants indoors with UV film?

I live in California with all my windows facing WSW and I'm looking into options for protecting my plants without sacrificing growth. So far I have sheer curtains that offer protection but they slow down the growth rate. I'm wondering if I could let the plants get blasted with the full sun all year just by applying UV film? The sun is extremely bright and hot in the WSW windows so I get lots of heat/light stress if I don't use the curtains. All of the UV film manufacturers of course claim that their products protect plants but I need to hear this from a real houseplant grower! I may try to get some samples to test on a single window.

I posted this already in the gardening forums but just thought I'd ask here to see if any of you also are growing houseplants!

Thank you