Are you struggling with your weak, outdated, or energy inefficient windows? Probably you are experiencing more energy bills in cooling your house than normal. The best remedy for this is using tinted windows to block off heat, reducing your AC use, and lowering bills. Using tinted windows is rated as one of the energy-efficient ways of blocking off heat, increasing privacy, and boosting your home’s appeal without changing your house windows. It works efficiently as long as you have glass windows. The residential window tints are self-adhesive, lightweight, and easy to apply. However, not all are fit to use. Here are some important tint facts you need to know.
1. DIFFERENT FILMS PROVIDE DIFFERENT BENEFITS
There are three different tint films you can use for your home, each having its benefits. These include solar films, security films, and decorative films that help block the heat out of your home. The solar film is the most energy-efficient tint, and it’s a bit thick, which helps to absorb or reflect UV rays. With the absorption and reflection of rays, they enable you to control your home temperatures without incurring additional energy bills. The security films are the thickest of all films, and they don’t absorb or reflect much heat but protect your house from window damages, including glass shattering, since they hold the pieces together. The decorative films are very thin and absorb less heat but add beauty or privacy to your home. They come in different colors, both opaque and transparent, to choose from.
2. NOT ALL FILMS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL GLASS
The window tints in the market are varied and function differently, as explained above. They absorb or reflect varied heat degrees with some fitting on some glasses while not suitable to the other types. According to window experts SmartFilmAZ.com, it is important consulting the window professional for the type of film that will fit your glass and one that will give better results according to your needs. For example, you should avoid solar films in clear annealed glass thicker than ⅜-inch, glass over ¼-thick, insulated glass over ten years old, or one that had seal failures. It’s important to have an expert check your windows to determine the best tint to use that will give you better, satisfying results.
3. INSTALLING TINTS CAN NULLIFY YOUR WINDOW WARRANTY
If you recently bought the glass windows, it’s important discussing the same with your insurance company since the process can nullify the warranty cover. This is because some window films are permanently and can significantly affect the lifespan of your glasses. Such happens when you use the wrong film to the wrong window. What’s recommended for this? Never tint your windows before checking the material they are made of and the manufacturer’s warranty advice. It is important to talk to film specialists to know the right tint that can fit your windows without damaging them or their warranty.
4. WINDOWS WITHOUT ENERGY-EFFICIENCY COATINGS ARE SUITED FOR TINTING
Before introducing the energy-efficient windows, most houses were constructed using normal glasses without low-emissivity and metal oxide to block out the heat. These are the glasses you can effectively apply tint and get the advanced benefits of blocking out the heat. What about modern glasses? The modern glasses come fully equipped with low-E coatings that help block out heat and are energy efficient. This situation means it is not necessarily applying the tint unless you purchased the normal glasses. Applying the film to the coated glass may tamper with the windows’ normal functioning or reduce indoor comfort.
5. TINTED WINDOWS ARE ECONOMICAL
Compared to other blocking heat methods out of your home, windows tint is very affordable and fast. You can either apply it yourself for smaller, few windows or get experts to do it for larger houses with large or many windows. Whatever the application mode used, its cost is way cheaper than solar screens, cellular shades, and other means and lasts longer while giving your house an appealing look. If running short of budget, you can buy the films and install them yourself by following the manual provided.
6. THERE ARE RENTER-FRIENDLY OPTIONS AVAILABLE
You can get the solar, decorative, and security window films in three types: the temporary types, semi-permanent varieties, and permanent varieties. This means if you have rented a property, you can apply either the temporary or the semi-permanent types, depending on your stay period. Most decorative films are temporary which can be used on festive or special occasions, with solar and security films coming with semi-permanent and permanent options.
Having a tint over your windows reduces so many expenses, including changing your windows, installation costs, and much more. It’s important to get a professional who will guide the best windows to buy according to your glasses, wants, and preferences.
