Window Film
Window film can provide a number of benefits:
Heat Reduction:
One of the main benefits of window film is its ability to reduce solar heat gain.
The film can block a significant portion of the sun’s heat, making rooms cooler and more comfortable during hot weather.
This can also lead to savings in air conditioning costs.
Glare Reduction:
The film can also reduce the amount of glare caused by sunlight, which can be particularly useful in rooms with TVs or computer screens.
UV Protection:
Many films block nearly 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
This protects people in the room from potential skin damage and helps prevent furniture, carpets, and artwork fading.
Increased Privacy:
Some types of film can increase privacy, particularly those with a mirrored or frosted effect. This can be an advantage in rooms where privacy is desired.
Energy Savings:
By reducing heat gain in summer and, depending on the type of film, possibly retaining some heat in winter, window film can help to lower energy costs.
Improved Security:
Certain types of film can make windows more secure.
Security films can help hold shattered glass in place, reducing the risk of injury from broken windows and providing an added layer of security against potential break-ins.
While these benefits are important to consider, it’s also crucial to balance them against the potential drawbacks based on your specific needs and circumstances.
Natural Light:
The film reduces the amount of natural light that enters the room, which can result in a dimmer interior even during the day.
This can be a particular problem in the UK, where natural light is often limited, especially during winter.
Affects Views:
Depending on the type of film used, it might interfere with the clarity of your window view.
Some films can give a tinted or frosted look that can obscure your view of the outside.
Poor Insulation in Cold Weather:
The film is very good at reflecting heat in the summer months, but it may not provide much insulation during the colder months.
This means you could experience colder temperatures in your room during the winter.
Installation Issues:
The application of window film can be tricky, and if not done properly, it can result in air bubbles or wrinkles, which can diminish the look and effectiveness of the film.
Lifespan and Durability:
Although most window films are quite durable, they can degrade over time due to sunlight exposure, weather, and cleaning.
Depending on the quality of the film, you might need to replace it every few years, which could increase the long-term cost.
Aesthetics:
Some people find that window films alter the look of their windows in a way they find unappealing. This is largely a matter of personal taste.
Privacy:
Window film will only offer privacy during the day; at night, when lights are on in the room, people outside can see through the window film into the room.
Window Warranty:
Applying film can affect your windows’ warranty, depending on the terms of the warranty.
Some glazing manufacturers specify in their warranty terms that any alterations, including the application of window films, will void the warranty.
This is often because the additional film can affect the window’s heat absorption and retention characteristics, which can, in turn, impact the lifespan of the window’s seal or the glass itself.
However, not all manufacturers have this clause in their warranty terms. It’s crucial to check with your specific window manufacturer before applying window film to ensure you don’t accidentally void your warranty.
Some window film manufacturers offer their own warranties, which cover potential glass breakage or seal failure that might occur due to the application of their product.
If you’re considering applying film, it’s worth investigating whether such warranties are available.
Before proceeding with window film, it’s always a good idea to check the warranty details of both your windows and the window film.
While window films can be effective in reducing glare and solar heat gain, it’s important to consider these potential drawbacks when deciding whether or not to use them in your room.
It’s also worth considering other options, such as curtains, blinds, or shutters, which can provide similar benefits and better suit your needs.
Our Thoughts on Window Film:
At The Scottish Shutter Company, we pride ourselves on delivering premium, highly effective, and aesthetically pleasing shading solutions. We believe in offering products that enhance the comfort and beauty of our clients’ homes while also providing optimum energy efficiency.
After careful evaluation, we have decided not to include film as part of our product range. There are several key reasons for this decision. Firstly, films tend to reduce the amount of natural light entering a room, which we believe could compromise the quality of our customers’ living environments, particularly during the darker months in Scotland. Our goal is to ensure rooms are bright, welcoming, and comfortably temperature-controlled.
Secondly, we understand the importance of window warranties. The application of window film can potentially void manufacturers’ warranties on glazing, creating unwanted issues for our customers down the line. We believe in promoting solutions that safeguard our customers’ investments, not risk.
Thirdly, while window film can be beneficial for reducing heat gain in the summer, its insulation properties in winter are limited. Our focus is on providing comprehensive, year-round solutions for glare, solar heat gain, and heat loss. We offer a range of shading solutions, such as shutters and blinds, that, unlike window films, provide excellent insulation in colder months while maintaining a pleasing aesthetic.
Lastly, our decision not to offer window films is also rooted in our dedication to aesthetics and easy maintenance. Window films can sometimes degrade over time or be tricky to install perfectly, which doesn’t align with our commitment to products that stand the test of time and are easy for our customers to care for.
Ultimately, while window film does have certain benefits, at The Scottish Shutter Company, we believe our range of shading solutions provides a more holistic approach to managing light and temperature, preserving window warranties, and maintaining the overall aesthetics of our customers’ homes.
An Alternative to Window Film
Microlouver is an incredible shading solution that performs significantly better than window film. You can read about it here.
March 2023
