To understand what solar control window film is, it first helps to understand what exactly the window film is trying to control. After all, the word solar conjures so many modern technologies. The true answer turns out to be a little more simple than all that. But like most simple answers, it’s handy to know.
Not just visible light
If you’ve ever spent any time in a windowless room, you know it’s as gloomy as it sounds. Most of us would rather live and work in a place with lots of windows, where plenty of natural light can get in. However, sunlight passing through glass doesn’t just bring visible light with it — it also brings some more nefarious solar rays with it. The same solar rays that chase us into the shade on a cloudless day.
How are windows tinted?
Typically, windows are completely transparent, meaning you can see clearly through them, viewing just as much light on the other side of the glass as there is on your side. When large panes of glass are tinted, there’s typically a thin layer of metal, ceramic, or hybrid materials preventing certain ranges of light from passing through the glass, so it appears darker. Properly installed, these thin layers of film are applied so seamlessly against the window’s flat surface, it seems to be part of the glass. It’s fairly common to see window film in San Diego, being that we enjoy so much sun.
Controlling heat
Where there’s sunlight, there’s solar heat, and controlling one can mean controlling the other. A tinted film blocks visible light rays to varying degrees, mostly based on personal preference. However, effective solar control window film also filters up to 96 percent of the infrared heat conveyed by sunlight. This may significantly reduce the ambient temperature in a room, particularly during the longer, hotter days through spring and summer.
Solar control you can’t see or feel
Controlling light passing through your windows helps defend against glare, and controlling heat proves an effective way of reducing energy costs associated with air conditioning. But there’s another range of light frequency that’s even more beneficial to filter. Solar control window film blocks a solar energy we don’t readily see or feel, even when it passes through 100 percent transparent glass — ultra-violet light. Such UV light has been proven damaging to the skin and eyes, particularly during prolonged exposure at home, at work, or in the car. Installing window film may filter out as much as 99 percent of harmful UV light, reducing the risk for skin cancer and slowing the aging process.
Window film installation in San Diego
To determine whether installing a solar control window film is right for you, it’s wisest to consult with a professional installer of window film in San Diego. Superior Window Solutions offers expertise on commercial, residential, and automotive window tinting solutions. Feel free to Contact us for more information.
