Keeping your home secure is essential for protecting your business assets. Security film is a superior window film that adds a large number of layers of protection to the regular home or office window tinting. These extra layers of film offer additional support to the glasses of the windows that can shatter or break in cases of severe or sudden stresses.
Most of the residential windows films are light in weight and have self-adhesive polyester covering that are created with Polyethylene terephthalate [the material used to manufacture plastic water bottles]
Not all security films are worth your money, and that is why you should do extensive research before settling on one type. The following are some of the things that you should know about security window films.
1. Various categories of window film offer different advantages
There are three different types of window films that are installed for different reasons. They include; the solar, security, and the decorative.
a) Solar
It is usually installed to improve the energy efficiency. It is thicker than the decorative film yet thinner than the security film. The solar films reflect or absorb over 99% of the sun’s UV rays. It therefore regulates the indoor temperature, prevents your furniture and furnishings from fading, reduces glare, etc.
b) Security
The security film is installed to prevent storm damage as well as to deter burglars from accessing your home. The security film is the thickest among the window security films. They don’t reflect or absorb a lot of heat. When a hurricane or a home break-in has occurred, that can lead to the damage of a window; the security films keep the window glasses from becoming shattered.
c) Decorative
It is the thinnest type out of the three window films. It absorbs and reflects minimal heat. It is mainly installed to add privacy and beauty to a space.
2. Every window film is not compatible with every type of window glass
Disparate options of window films absorb varying amounts of heat; certain windows are designed to handle more heat than others. The decorative and security films block very little heat, and so you shouldn’t place extensive thermal stress on the windows.
The International Window Film Association encourages people to avoid solar film in an insulated glass that is over ten years old, tinted annealed glass which is over ¼-thick, etc., because the film absorbs a lot of heat and can magnify the thermal stress on these windows and cause the window glass to crack. When you’re not sure, you can check the manufacturer’s manual to verify your window’s compatibility with the window film.
3. Installing a window film can affect the window warranty
Most of the window manufacturers don’t cover damages caused by renovating your window with window film due to the possibility of some types of windows films causing damage to certain forms of window glasses. Before you install a window film, check with your window’s manufacturer if they support the installation of a window film.
4. Tinted home windows save money
Window films are inexpensive because they only cost between $2 and $4 per sq. ft. and you can also install them yourself. All these factors make window films cheaper compared to other types of window treatment that block the harsh rays of sunlight.
