5 Important Things You Need To Know Before Tinting Your Home Windows

Are you unhappy with your weak, energy-inefficient, or dated home windows?

Tinting home windows is an easier and affordable way to boost your home's safety, energy efficiency, and curb appeal. The best part is you can do this without replacing your windows.

Most importantly, many glass windows allow you to add a window film. A lot goes into this process, though, from the choice of the film to the method of application. This guide makes it easy for you to get started.

Before tinting home windows, keep the following tips in mind:

Window films are of three types, and each has a unique role to play:

This option helps to improve energy efficiency . These films can reflect or absorb up to 99% of UV rays. Thus, the tinting reduces glare, exposure to harmful UV rays , regulates indoor temperature, and ensures that interior furnishings don’t fade.

Ultimately, it improves indoor comfort and increases energy savings. The film usually comes in a neutral tone, which may range from copper to silver.

If your main concern is to avoid storm damage or keep burglars at bay, then install security film. It's the thickest film type. Most security firms don't reflect or absorb much heat.

In case of a home intrusion or storm that damages the window, these films help to prevent a complete shattering of the window. The damage spreads to a large crack, thus allowing the window to hold together.

This is the thinnest window filmthat can absorb and reflect less heat. Its main purpose is to add beauty or privacy to a room. It comes as a bold or clear colored film in various etched patterns, stained glass motives, or even opaque designs that keep prying eyes off.

As mentioned above, each type of window film absorbs a varying amount of heat. Most decorative and security films block a reduced amount of heat. Thus, they don’t put a lot of thermal stress on your windows.

Therefore, you can apply them to all the major types of window glass. These include heat-treated, annealed, and insulating glass. You can do this without the risk of damaging the window glass.

But, according to the International Window Film Association, you should avoid solar film on some window glasses. This is because the film has a higher absorption rate that may increase the thermal stress of these window glass types such that they crack:

• Tinted annealed glass, which is over ¼ thick
• Clear annealed glass with over 50% heat absorption rate or thicker than 3/8-inch
• Insulated glass that's more than ten years old

If you aren’t sure, always check the manufacturer’s guidelines to know a compatible window film.

Most people contact window manufacturers over the damage. But they learn that they made the warranty invalid by adding a window film to the glass panes. Most manufacturers won't cover defects that arise from using window films on glass.

This is because some types of window film have the potential to damage certain window glass. Thus, don’t start applying films before confirming whether the warranty supports tinting.

About home improvement planning, it’s easy to install window films on your glass windows. It will cost you between $2 and $4 per square foot to purchase an aftermarket film and install it yourself. It will cost between $5 and $8 per square foot to get a professional to install it.

That means, for a window pane of 3’8’’ by 3’8’’, it would amount to only $27 to $54 if you have to do the installation yourself. These calculations show that applying window films is cheaper compared to other window treatments.

One example of such treatments is solar screens (fabric shades known to reflect and absorb heat). They cost between $40 and $280 per window for do-it-yourself installations. The other example is cellular shades (these are fabric covers that absorb heat in honeycomb-like cells), which cost between $45 and $220 per window for a DIY project.

So, as you can see, applying a window film is by far, economical.

Do-it-yourself home renovation projects have been prevalent for years. While handling a project on your own could at times help you save more money, this isn’t one of those projects. Here are three reasons to engage a professional when installing the window tint:

Applying a window film to your home window isn’t a simple task. If you are rough, for instance, the window may rip, which might render it useless. Furthermore, if you don’t apply it the correct way, you might end up with bubbles on your window.

Bubbles are not only unattractive; they could also lead to easy breakage. A professional has handled many similar projects in the past and will use that experience to install the tint properly the first time.

There are different window films, and each of them fits on a different type of glass window. An incorrect home window tint installation can damage your windows. A professional knows which window film fits your glass type.

Thus, hiring a tinting expert will help you use the right film on your glass. A professional window tinting companywill also help you choose a window tint that suits your preferences, budget, and needs.

Tinting home windows can help to make your home more secure, energy efficient, and attractive. But, before you carry out this project, you should know the effect that each type of window film brings.

You should also know whether applying the tint could void the manufacturer’s warranty. For more tips on how window tinting can benefit your home or office, visit our website or set a free in-home estimate.