faq

The lifespan of window tinting depends on various factors, including the quality of the film and the conditions in which it is installed. The professional grade premium quality window tint we use, will in most cases last a lifetime when installed on interior applications.

Tired of people outside being able to see into your home? Would you like to see out while preventing others from seeing in?

Your privacy is precious, but don’t sacrifice the view or sunlight for it by keeping the blinds closed all day. Nothing is darker than windows that are always covered up for privacy.
So keep those blinds open, the sunlight in, and maintain that privacy with reflective daytime one-way window film (mirror tint).

Modern glass entrances in homes look fantastic, however they unfortunately allow others to see in with ease. Having a frost film installed is an excellent choice for 24hr privacy needs while still allowing natural light in. It transforms glass at a fraction of the cost to changing the actual glass itself.

The easiest way to answer this is, as dark as you’d like the window film to be.

We offer a wide variety of window film options from optically clear all the way to blackout (and everything in between).

We would be happy to show you sample options during a free consultation.

There are neutral window films that aren’t reflective in appearance if needed, however reflective window films come in a wide variety of shades, reflections, and heat reducing specs.

We would be happy to show you some options and leave you with a sample during a free consultation and quote.

When it comes to reducing the Suns glare through windows, you can choose between a large variety of window film tint shades to block anywhere from 10% up to 99% of the suns glare coming through windows.

Window film! Depending on the type you choose, solar window films can reduce the Suns heat passing through windows by up to 89%, and they come in a variety of tint/shade options.

Solar window films significantly keep the interior of your home and/or office much cooler in summertime and save you money in the long run making them a great investment.

Depending on the type you choose, solar window films can reduce the Suns heat passing through windows by up to 89%,  and they come in a variety of tint/shade options.

Solar window films can keep the interior of your home and/or office significantly cooler in summertime and save you money in the long run making them a great investment.

Window films come in different thicknesses which offer a variety of insulating U-values (Similar to an R-value but for glass) to keep thermal/radiant heat from escaping windows during winter. To see a more detailed explanation of U-value consider question 33 below.

Beat the winter temperatures by adding window film with an insulation value that is equivalent to adding an addition pane of glass, making them much more energy efficient.

The percentiles (such as the “Total Solar Energy Rejection” percentile) are calculated not by the manufacturers of the product, but rather by separate agencies that operate between governments and the window film industry. These agencies are the same ones that place stickers on all windows/doors to let consumers know their true energy ratings.

The “National Fenestration Rating Council” independently tests, certifies, and labels window films for their energy efficiency. They are an independent non-profit organization that establishes objective window, door, and skylight energy performance ratings. They do not sell, service, or recommend products, or endorse manufacturers. Rather, they simply provide objective energy performance ratings so that consumers can make more informed decisions.

“Energy Star” is a program run by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and U.S Department of Energy that promote energy efficiency. In Canada, they are administered by Natural Resources Canada, their program is internationally recognized and users include various levels of government, public service companies, manufacturers, retailers and environmental organizations. Behind their label is a product, home, building or industrial facility that is certified to use less energy and reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. In addition to administering the program, Natural Resources Canada oversees the promotion of its symbol and compliance with strict certification standards. Their qualified products include home appliances, office equipment, consumer electronics, heating, cooling and ventilation equipment, lighting and signage equipment, commercial and industrial products, and windows and doors.

The “International Window Film Association”, are a third-party industry source for accurate technical information on window film products and their uses. They educate industry influencers and consumers.

In our years of experience, when clients are looking to get a quote for window film to be installed, it is important for us to know specific information about the type and size of your windows. We can only get this information when we come to give a quote.

Saying that your windows are “average size or type” is not sufficient enough due to the size of windows varying significantly from one another, even within the same building. Without our specific measurements and the window type information, we truly cannot provide an accurate exact quote. We do not do rough estimates or ball parks as they only cause future misunderstandings/miscommunication.

Instead, allow us to come get the exact measurements of each window that needs film installed and determine the additional details about the windows, such as their shape, location, and the type of glass used, as these factors can also affect the installation process. We will then know the amount of film required, the time it will take to install (the time is not the same for all windows), and the unique challenges to the project. This will allow us to let you know the exact actual cost of the custom project to give you an exact free quote.

By allowing us to get precise information about your windows and the project, you can ensure that you receive an exact/accurate quote and that the installation process goes perfectly smooth if you decide to go ahead with using us.

There are a very wide variety of window films on the market, however see the science and technology behind how some window films are manufactured for yourself on the episode of “How Its Made – Window Film” linked below:

Premium grade window films use considerably higher quality materials and manufacturing processes than low budget films, which result in far better lifetimes, durability, and resistance to fading or discoloration.

Rather than cheap dyed films, premium window films utilize sputtered nanoparticles and carbons of various periodic table elements/metals such as Antimony Tin Oxide, Aluminum, Titanium, Silver, Gold, Nickel, Copper, Tungsten, and Ceramics. 

Because premium grade films do not rely on dyes or pigments to achieve their tinting, rather they use versatile and effective elements/metals, their effectiveness and colour do not simply disappear or go/fade away over time from the Sun as do budget window films.

Additionally, most premium grade window films come with extended lifetime warranties for residential applications that guarantee their effectiveness and color stability for many years to come.

Window films have been in use for over a century, and the technology has continued to evolve and improve over time. The first window film was developed in the early 1900s, when seeking a technology to make glass more shatter-resistant. The first films were made of cellulose acetate and were primarily used in industrial and automotive applications.

In the 1960s, the technology behind window films began to improve rapidly, and new materials and manufacturing techniques were developed that allowed for more advanced window films with a wider range of properties. For example, metalized films that used metals like aluminum or silver to reflect sunlight and reduce heat transmission through the window were developed during this time.

In the 1980s and 1990s, window films became more popular for residential and commercial applications as consumers and businesses became more aware of the many benefits of tinted windows, such as improved energy efficiency, UV protection, glare reduction, and privacy. During this time, new materials and technologies, such as ceramic window films and nano-ceramic coatings, were developed that provided even greater performance and durability.

Today, window films are much more widely used in residential, commercial, and automotive applications around the world than ever before, and the technology continues to evolve and improve. In some areas that in times past had milder weather, window film seems like a newer technology (due to global warming and the increasing needs for energy efficiency), however hotter countries/locations have been using this technology for quite some time. 

Modern window films can provide a range of properties and benefits, including solar heat rejection, UV protection, glare reduction, shatter resistance, and privacy, all while still allowing natural light to pass through the window.

A free quote/consulation includes us coming by to discuss window film options to care for your needs, drop off samples, measure, and give a free vocal quote.  Your PDF quote will then be sent to you by email within the next 24 business hours for you to consider.    

We must however be clear and transparent about the limitations of the free quote.

While we are thrilled to offer our expertise and provide you with an initial free quote/consultation, it’s important for us to outline the limitations of our complimentary services, which are required in order for us to survive as a business.

Our free quote includes one complimentary site visit consultation and approximately two hours of correspondence afterwards if required. During this time, we will diligently work on understanding your needs, assessing the project scope, providing you with an accurate/exact quote, and happily answer the questions you may have.

However, it’s essential to note that any additional site visits or consultations requested by you beyond the initial one, as well as correspondence exceeding the two-hour threshold, will have to become subject to being billed hours.

We believe this is necessary to ensure that we as a business allocate the appropriate time and resources to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients, primarily the ones who have accepted to proceed with projects and have entered into a business relationship with us beyond the initial free quote.

We do value your partnership and want to ensure that we are on the same page throughout the process.

Thank you for considering our services, we look very forward to working with you to bring your vision to life.

In the event that a property is sold to a new owner, any pre-existing warranties, services, or agreements which were made exclusively with the original property owner at the time of installation, are non-transferrable to the new owner.

If the property is sold to a new owner, the new owner cannot claim or expect any services based on preferences that differ from those of the original client. Any requests for alterations, upgrades, removals, or repairs by the new owner will be treated as a new and separate project under current standard terms and pricing.

We value transparency and consistency in our service, ensuring every client, new or existing, receives the same high level of care and professionalism.

Without doing a home energy audit both before and after window film is installed, the exact reduction in interior temperatures of a specific home prior to having solar window film installed is challenging if not impossible to exactly predict for several reasons:

1. Variable Environmental Factors: The effectiveness of solar window film for each home/window depends on various environmental factors such as the angle and intensity of sunlight, outdoor temperature, humidity levels, and geographic location. These factors can vary significantly from one home/window to another.

2. Window Orientation: The orientation of the windows (e.g., north, south, east, or west-facing) and the amount of direct sunlight they receive throughout the day play a crucial role. South-facing windows, for example, may receive considerably more direct sunlight and thus have a different cooling effect compared to north-facing windows.

3. Type of Film: Not all solar window films are equal. Different films have varying levels of solar reflectance, absorption, and thermal insulation properties. The type of film chosen/used will however have a spec sheet to show the percentage of how much solar heat it rejects.

4. Home Design and Insulation: The overall design of the home, including factors like insulation, window size, and the presence of other cooling or heating systems, can influence how much the interior temperature is affected by the window film.

5. Climate Variability: Climate patterns can and are changing over time, making it difficult to exactly predict long-term effects accurately. A film that works well in one season or year may differ in another.

6. User Behaviour: How occupants of the home use heating or cooling systems, blinds or curtains, and their preferences for indoor temperature can also affect the perceived temperature reduction.

7. Measuring Techniques: Accurately measuring changes in interior temperature before and after window film installation requires precise equipment and methodologies. Even with such tools, results can vary due to differing outdoor temperatures.

Given these complexities, it’s common for manufacturers and experts to provide percentage ranges of solar heat reduction rather than exact temperature figures. When considering having solar window film installed, it’s advisable to consult with professionals who can come assess your specific situation, take into account your home’s location, windows, and climate conditions, and provide percentages of how much solar heat will be rejected by having solar windows film installed.

Newly installed solar window films typically take about 7 days to dry/cure in most cases. When exterior temperatures are below double digits however, the drying time can take 30 days to fully cure, though this timeline can vary depending on factors such as the type of film, weather conditions, and exposure to sunlight. 

While sunlight helps speed up the drying process by warming the glass and accelerating moisture evaporation, it also temporarily highlight visual effects like streaking, haziness, or fogginess during the faster drying process. These effects are both normal and to be expected during the curing period and will gradually disappear as the adhesive fully bonds to the glass and any residual moisture vapours evaporate. 

Regarding anti-intrusion security films 6 mil or thicker, it is completely normal to see water bubbles during the drying process. This is simply residual moisture and vapours beneath the thick film, which gradually evaporate as the film cures and fully adheres to the window. Over time, such bubbles will disappear. Depending on the conditions and exterior temperatures, it can take anywhere from 60-140 days for water/vapours behind anti-intrusion security films to fully evaporate and for the film to cure completely.

If you have concerns about the appearance of your window film during this time, rest assured that these effects are temporary and will not impact the film’s performance or clarity once cured. Like paint, it has to dry!

While professional window film installation technicians do everything in their power to shoot for 100% clean installations, micro-contamination is an unavoidable aspect of commercial and residential window film installation. Even in the cleanest of environments, tiny particles such as dust, pollen, or other microscopic debris are present/airborne in the air and may become trapped under the film during installation. Did you know that depending on the location and environment, on average there are about 100,000 to 1,000,000 particles in a single cubic foot of air. While professional installers take every precaution available to minimize contamination, unavoidable minor imperfections should be very small if not unnoticeable, and do not affect the film’s performance or longevity. 

When it comes to any larger contamination, in most all cases it is very much avoidable.

Pricing is based off of the following:

1. We assess which window films can safely be used on the projects windows/doors (glazings differ in types/panes, some examples are annealed/plated, tempered, single pane, double pane, triple pane, low-E, dye/tint, laminated). We also assess the glazings conditions, frames, any caulking/paint on perimeters, etc. 

2. Once we’ve assessed which window films can safely be used on the projects glazings, the square footage required for the project is then calculated once we have all our required measurements for each individual pane. We measure each pane even if a client tells us “they are the same”, this is due to the countless times that windows are not indeed “all the same” (even while in the same home).

3.  We consider and include any cost of scaffolding/ladders/planks/lifts etc that may be required to safely access the glass on the specific project.

4. Additional travel costs that are out of the norm (boat, lodging etc.) are then also added. 

Once all of this information is known, we can confidently provide an exact and unchanging  quote for the custom job. As no two projects are the same, we do not do “ball park” or “estimates”, but rather only perform exact quotes once we have assessed all of the projects glass, unique needs, and have all our required measurements. Which allows us all to best avoid any surprises.

U-value, also known as thermal transmittance, is a measure of how well a building element (such as a wall, roof, window, or door) conducts heat. It is a critical factor in determining the energy efficiency of buildings. The U-value indicates the rate of heat transfer through a structure divided by the difference in temperature across that structure.

Unlike with R-value numbers, the lower a U-value number is, the better insulation properties the material has, meaning less heat is lost and the material is more effective at insulating.

Standard double-pane windows without low-E coatings typically have U-values around 2.8 to 3.0 W/m²·K. The higher the U Value, the more a building material allows for a high rate of heat transfer out of the building, resulting in energy loss.

For high-quality double-pane windows with low-E coatings, it’s common to see U-values of around 1.0 to 1.5 W/m²·K.

Adding premium window film to even a standard dual pane window (even without low-E ), would bring its U-Value to approximately 0.5 W/m²·K. Meaning that a standard double-pane window would go from having a U-Value from around 2.8 to 3.0 W/m²·K (without window film), to around 0.5 W/m²·K (with window film).

Ultimately, lower U-values mean better insulation, which translates to considerably less energy required for both heating and cooling. This can lead to significant reductions in energy bills.

Premium window films can provide several significant benefits for HVAC systems by improving energy efficiency, reducing their load, and enhancing indoor comfort.

Window films are designed to reflect a substantial portion of solar radiation, especially infrared (IR) radiation, which is a major contributor to solar heat gain inside buildings. By reflecting this heat away, window films help keep indoor temperatures cooler, reducing the amount of work the HVAC system needs to do to maintain comfortable temperatures.

With less demand for heating and cooling, the overall energy consumption of the HVAC unit decreases. This leads to lower utility bills and can contribute to significant cost savings over time, as when HVAC systems do not have to work as hard or as frequently, there is less wear and tear on the equipment. This can extend the lifespan of HVAC components, delaying the need for repairs or replacements.

Window films act as an additional insulating layer on windows, similar to adding extra panes of glass. This improved insulation helps maintain a more stable indoor temperature, reducing the need for frequent HVAC adjustments.

As a result, buildings with window films can achieve greater energy efficiency and cost savings while maintaining a more comfortable indoor environment.

Many of our clients notice their HVAC units turn off after having window film installed, and their home is finally being able to maintain a comfortable indoor climate.