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Home Decorating Windows Design Dilemma

Solar Window Tint Film

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

The back of our house faces west and for a few hours each day it is difficult to use our living room and dining room because of the light coming through the windows. Not only does it get warm but we also get a glare on the TV and light shines in strongly through the windows. We have looked into getting our windows tinted with a solor control window tinting film. However, we are concerned how it will look on the windows plus the warranty on our windows is void if a film is applied. The company we contacted does has a side program where we pay an additional charge to have a similar warranty on the window through their company.

Wondered if anyone has had any positive or negative experiences with having a solar film installed.

Thank you.

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Comments (5)

PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
3 years ago
3M is probably the largest provider of films and if memory serves me, they supposedly....definitely check for yourself....provide a supplemental warranty on IGUs.

Don't take my word for it though. Check with your window manufacturer and 3M.
Lisa Somero thanked Windows on Washington Ltd
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I dislike window films since on a cloudy day you still have a dark room I always use solar shades they control light and heat still allow the view and on a cloudy day roll them up. I aslo agree that window film is a warranty issue with some makers
Lisa Somero thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
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nomadh wrote: It seems that in San Diego I should be able to keep a greenhouse a nice warm temp all year without power. Unless you have something for storing heat like barrels of water and insulate the greenhouse with a solar pool cover the greenhouse will eventually take on the outside temperture if it stays low for any lenght of time. Greenhouses do heat up in the day time well above the outside temperture but that heat is quickly lost if not stored. Also in the summer without ventilation the tempertures can exceed 120 degrees or more. Natural ventilation is not enough unless you remove the sidewalls and have roof vents and a very good shade cloth. You also will need some way to circulate the air for the health of the plants and the tortise. Do you plan on using solar fans? With good insulation and heat storage you should be able to gain 5 or 6 degrees which would be ok as long as you don't go below 40 outside.
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I would recommend solar shades. They would offer you a stylish way to maintain your view and guard against glare. Bali Blinds has a large selection of colors and textures with varying degrees of solar openness. Use their free mobile app to select swatches and use the My Decorator tool to see your selection in combination with your wall, floor, and furniture colors. Check it out on www.baliblinds.com
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You can do a DIY install but it is not something we recommend, particularly if you like the view. DIY installs are always dirty and take much longer than you think. LLumar Select Pro dealers meet the highest standards in the industry and have access to the best technology and widest range of products available to meet your needs. Good Luck! http://northamerica.llumar.com/find-a-window-tint-dealer
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Removing sticky film left on windows is never an easy thing.. right? It can be sometimes very tricky to remove a window tinting but there is solution how to remove window tint. Use your hairdryer! It is very effective at removing old window tint from the house window. If you are planning to install window tint again, I can recommend you a brand called Veilish. Recently I purchased and used it. It's very easy to install and remove by myself!
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
We did solar films on the west facing windows on our ranch and we love it- it was mid pandemic and we had to go darker than we had selected but we ended up loving it. Bonus was we have more privacy too (long street side of house)
Lisa Somero thanked HALLETT & Co.
Kate
3 years ago
We put solar film on East window and it cracked the window from the heat build up between, window and window treatment. Might not have been an issue if I didn’t have a window treatment too. The sun is very intense in Colorado. Only happened on one window, none of the west facing had a problem.
Lisa Somero thanked Kate
tedbixby
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Many years ago I had the 3M product applied to the whole back of the house that faced SW in AZ. Purchased it at the time because it was the clearest yet most protective on the market. But I still had to draw the drapes and blinds in the afternoon to keep the heat out. I felt it helped in the sense of fabric protection but not much more than that. And the film started to deteriorate after about 12 yrs which was about the time I sold the house. My partners parents have solar shades across their west facing wall of windows and I feel that is a better alternative to the film.
Lisa Somero thanked tedbixby

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