Last Updated on September 15, 2012 by Mike

Many businesses shy away from the idea of installing window film because they don’t really “get” it.  It seems expensive, almost an extravagance, and they’re not sure how it will benefit them. So, here we’re going to list five features of window film, and explain exactly how those features can benefit your business.

1. Improve the Look of Your Building

Many people imagine window film as being simply a dark tint applied to the entire building. In reality, there are a wide range of aesthetic options. Window film can be virtually invisible – you’ll never see the tint.

Window film options that are visible can lend a more uniform appearance to a storefront. In a commercial property with clear glass, each office typically has their blinds set at different lengths. Window film will make all the glass the same color tone and shading. From outside the building, everything looks uniform, and that has a lot of appeal for architects and designers.

There are also decorative options that allow you to present a branded, professional appearance. For example, you can cut decorative window film into patterns, and place your logo on your storefront.

2. Reduce Glare

Window film will reduce the amount of visible light that’s being transmitted through the glass, which in turn softens the light that’s being transmitted. You’ll be able to reduce up to 90 percent of the glare with window film, which can have a big impact on productivity. Less glare means less eye strain, headaches, and fatigue.

3. Heat rejection

One of the main things window film helps you do is control the climate in your building.  It accomplishes this by significantly reducing the amount of heat that’s transmitted through the glass. The sun’s rays get reflected away from the building and the people inside, making your offices a more comfortable place to work.

Many commercial buildings are built as large, hollow shells, with the inner walls added in later. This can cause problems with hot spots or uneven heating and cooling.  Often the outer offices are significantly hotter than the inner offices, and the ventilation system hasn’t been designed to handle different rooms at different temperatures. Window film can solve this problem, reducing the strain on your building’s HVAC system.

The reduction in heat gain also gives you significant savings on energy costs, which is something that you should consider if you’re concerned about the cost.  The company that’s installing your window film can tell you precisely how long it will take for your energy savings to pay back the initial cost of the installation. The pay back time varies, depending on the project and the type of film, but it’s possible to have a pay back in as little as 2 and half years.

4. UV protection

Most modern window films use polyester as their base, which is a material that blocks 80% of UV rays. Additional UV absorbers are then added to create window films that cut up to 99% of UV radiation. This can protect your furniture, fabrics and artwork from fading. More importantly, this protects your employees from the harmful health effects of the sun, including skin cancer, which is responsible for 12,000 deaths every year.

5. Privacy and Security

By darkening or changing the properties of the glass you can also add significant privacy by reducing visibility. You can darken the glass, make it more reflective, or add a decorative, frosted appearance that will prevent people from seeing through. This kind of privacy can also bring a measure of security.

Window films can also add a layer of protection by holding the glass together if it’s ever broken or smashed in the course of a break-in.  There are even security films that are designed to resist bomb blasts, and safety film is used in almost all existing government occupied properties.

I’ve been in the window film industry for more than ten years, and I’ve found that many people balk at the idea at first. They don’t quite understand the benefits, and they think it’ll be too expensive.  The fact is, it pays for itself over a period of time by reducing your energy bills up to 30% each year.

Many people have been turned off to the idea of window film because they’ve been the victim of poorly executed installations in the past. To keep this from happening, make sure you hire a company with the right credentials. Ask them if they’re certified with a major manufacturer, and with the IWFA (International Window Film Association).

With professionals doing the job, your window film should last 20 years, and will yield a significant return in the money it will save. Every customer I install window film for is happy they did it, and many say the wish they’d done it ten years ago.

Order and energy audit from a major manufacturer or installation company, because they can calculate the precise benefits for your building. You might find you’ve been throwing money out the window.

Bill Valway is CEO of Absolute Perfection, Inc. who specialize in commercial window film for large contracts in the Baltimore, MD and Washington DC area.