Carol S

Need Commercial Window Film? How to Choose the Best Company!

March 9, 2017 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Need Commercial Window Film? How to Choose the Best Company!

Drive around the Bay Area, especial in San Francisco, and you’ll see construction sites galore. With all the construction going on, we field a lot of calls about window film. How could you possibly choose the best company to help you install window film? Like that automobile insurance company that helps you choose the best insurance, we’re here to give you a hand!

Here are some things to consider if you are trying to choose an installer.

Go with Your Gut

All things being equal, and they’re usually not, go with your instincts. Do you get a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when you think about the company you’re considering? Does your head start to throb at the prospect of doing business with them? Then they’re not a good choice! Now, we realize that “gut instinct” isn’t what most people believe they’re using, but most people do make their decisions based on emotion.

If you don’t believe us, read this article: The Myth of Rational Decision-Making, by Fast Company’s Vivian Giang. In it, Giang outlines how the stock market fluctuates based on weather. Yes, a sunny or cloudy day determines your portfolio.

Go with Experience

There are a lot of people who say they’re installers. Do they have experience, or did they start last week? Ask to see the installer’s portfolio, some examples of recent work, and ask how busy they are. Do you really want to leave the fate of your commercial building’s window film to someone who’s an amateur?

Check out Their Social Media

Does the installer you’re considering have any presence on social media? What are they posting or tweeting about? Not to brag, but we’ve been tweeting and posting since 2011! You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

See Whether They Have Multiple Locations

A sure sign of success is if a window film business has more than one location, or can service larger jobs. Sometimes a tiny shop isn’t the best, especially for a commercial application.

See Whether They're Affiliated with a Major Window Film Brand

See Whether They’re Affiliated with a Major Window Film Brand

Someone with a strong affiliation with a brand such as 3M signals that the business does high caliber work. We work with 3M window film, by the way. Trust in a brand that has been around for over 50 years!

Look at Their Website

Yes, take a look at other jobs they’ve done and what they’re saying on their blog as well! You may find case studies or examples of other jobs they’ve done to help you decide. Sometimes a picture is really worth a thousand words. Also, the articles on their website may give you ideas you hadn’t thought of, for instance. We have new-school technology, but old-world customer service!

Call Us!

If you want to know what kind of window film would be best for your windows, give us a call. We’re all over the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley (including Santa Clara and San Jose), and points beyond!

Window Film: Spotlight on the Invisible Hero of the Home Remodeling Business!

February 23, 2017 by Carol S 2 Comments

Heroic Proportions

Like Clark Kent, window film does a lot behind the scenes but is mild-mannered and dislikes bragging. Make no mistake, though, window film is a player of heroic proportions in the business! Here are just a few of the reasons that window film is a super hero!

Invisibility

People often forget that their window film is there. Because it’s invisible, it’s like a cloak that you put on once and forget. You don’t have to put on sunscreen to protect yourself from the harmful UV light coming through your windows. Nor do you need to carry a parasol around every time you pass by a big window!

Protects Your Belongings

Your belongings are safe with window film–no fading or bleaching from the sun. Your carpets keep their original colors. And your couch retains its original brightness. You won’t pull back your beautiful oriental rug to see a faded wood floor, either! Your belongings retain their bright colors.

Safeguards Your Health

We are firm believers that without your health, you have nothing. 3M window film is the only film recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Protect your skin and the health of your family and friends with window film. Can any super hero protect you with the same vigilance?

Keeps out the Heat and the Cold!

Do you want to be able to punch the polar vortex in the nose? Of course you do! Just as soon as you figure out if the polar vortex has a nose, that is! Not everyone realizes that window film can even out the temperature in your home, office, or commercial building.

The Coolness Factor

Everyone knows that invisibility is the best super power there is! Was there ever any doubt? Think about the Cheshire Cat and Bilbo Baggins. Then consider the Invisible Woman and the more modern Iron Man. All of these characters and superheroes have invisibility as their super power. For a complete list, see Invisibility – Superpowers.

Now, if you needed a superpower for inside your house, what would it be? Why, invisibility of course!

lake tahoe beautiful photo — Photo by MrMitch

Safety and Security

If you work in a restaurant, you might want window film to protect your windows against break-ins. Window film holds the glass together, making a break-in less likely. And if your area is prone to storms, window film gives you peace of mind, since even if a window breaks, the pieces are held together and won’t hurt your customers!

Cut Down on Glare

Glare can be annoying, and with just a thin layer of window film, that glare can be greatly reduced. Again, it’s invisible, so your guests or customers won’t know it’s there. And the glare simply goes away! In our area, the San Francisco Bay Area, we get glare from the sun and sometimes from light reflecting off the bay.

Are You One of the Cool Kids?

If you’d like to be one of the cool kids, give us a cool! We’ll let you into the Cool Kid Window Film Club!

Solar Heat Gain: Why Should it Matter to You?

February 9, 2017 by Carol S 2 Comments

living room photo

According to wikipedia, Solar gain (also known as solar heat gain or passive solar gain) refers to the increase in temperature in a space, object or structure that results from solar radiation. Designers, architects, and building managers need to know about solar heat gain during the hottest times of the year. But did you know that during the cold times of the year heat gain is an issue as well?

Glass Amplifies Heat Gain

Some materials, such as glass, can amplify the effects of the sun, causing a space to heat up. We’ve all been in a too-warm space during the winter, feeling like hot house flowers well, in a hot house. With no water. The glass can cause the air inside your home to heat up, making you feel like you’re under a magnifying glass.

greenhouse photo — Photo by Drew’s Photo Shoots

Lack of Air Circulation

A fan can help to redistribute the hot air and replace some of it with cold air, but wouldn’t it be better to stop that air from heating up at the source? That is, by keeping the heat outside and a more moderate temperature inside your home.

Can Window Film Help?

Window film can block the UV radiation, and the heat, from entering your home or business. You might have seen our post about window film around the San Francisco Bay Area. Seeing a few real-world examples often helps people to decide that they, too, would like to be able to use all of their home, and not just the coolest parts!

Above is a snazzy video showing how window film works, in just a couple of minutes. The technology has been around for many years–in fact, 3M window film just celebrated their 50th anniversary!

mansion inside photo — Photo by PhotoAtelier

Enjoy Your Home

Don’t wait until you are about to sell your house to make it more comfortable for yourself. Life is short, and you never know whether window film would be the tipping point to make you want to stay! Having window film might make your home so comfortable that you might decide not to sell it. Many of our clients have told us as much. And if you’re thinking about installing window film yourself, read about why that might not be such a good idea.

Is Window Film Right for You?

We’d love to talk to you about window film! Give us a call to brainstorm, or just to have us answer a question. We’re friendly!

Why You Absolutely Positively Need Window Film

January 31, 2017 by Carol S 3 Comments

Why You Absolutely Positively Need Window Film

You probably already know that you need window film, but you need some justification for your decision. Am I right? After all, you’ve already heard about the awesome ways that window film blocks UV light, protects your furniture, and gives your family peace of mind.

In previous posts, we’ve discussed some of the following:

Window Works is All Over the Bay Area–and Beyond

If these carefully considered and–might I add–thoughtful posts aren’t enough to convince you, maybe some of our work will. After all, not to brag, but Window Works is all over the place. From Santa Clara to San Francisco to Tiburon and beyond!

Don’t Block That Gorgeous View

Above is a view of the most gorgeous San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Now you wouldn’t want to block a view like that, would you? Of course not! Rather than big thick curtains, use window film to reduce glare and keep your cool.

Shield Your Eyes from Too Much Sun

You can see how the sunlight hits the windows of this beautiful, modern home, above, in the San Francisco Bay Area hills. Without window film the light would hit the windows squarely and be overwhelming to the residents. Additionally, the window film is used as a barrier to add to and perhaps also to block part of the view.

SAN FRANCISCO photo — View of Alcatraz, San Francisco

Window Film as Design and Landscape Element

Your use of window film is only limited by your imagination! Whether the weather (see what I did there?) is foggy like it is in San Francisco, or bright 365 days of the year like it is in Santa Clara, window film can be used to protect your eyes and your beautiful views.

Insta-Privacy!

Above is an interior in process in downtown San Francisco. The window film gives the residents some much-needed privacy in a busy and crowded office. And it’s beautiful and modern-looking!

Separation Anxiety

In the image above, you can see one way to get a bit of separation between those in an interior of an office building and others in a conference room. You can get a fancy, expensive look without the cost of etched glass by using window film.

Need More Ideas?

We use only the best window film, such as 3M™ window films (see what solutions they have for you). We’d love to creatively apply our window film knowledge to your project, so give us a call!

Best of the Best: 3M™’s Fantastic New Website is a Great Resource

January 17, 2017 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Recently, 3M™ launched a new 3M™ Window Film website. Before you run off to call your local 3M™ window film dealer, check out the site, filled with fantastic resources.

Here is a brief synopsis of our favorite parts of the site.

Commercial Window Film

3M™ was issued the first sun control window film patent in 1966, and their innovative window film products have helped provide protection from the sun’s harmful rays for 50 years. Today, millions of square feet of 3M™ Window Film have been installed all over the world. Upgrade your building with 3M™ Window Film, and you’ll be reaping the rewards for years to come.

Six Top Reasons to Use Window Film for Your Commercial Space?

Here’s a synopsis of some of our favorite 3M™ window film links:

Save Energy Reduce the costs of keeping your building comfortable for yourself and your tenants.
Improve Comfort With more extreme heat in the summer, and cold in the winter, you’ll want to even out the comfort level year-round.
Increase Safety Flying glass is one of the risks you can control. 3M window film helps you reduce the risk during a natural disaster.
Strengthen Security Unfortunately, bomb blasts, break-ins, and vandalism are becoming more common. 3M window film can help.
Enhance Décor/Privacy Achieve privacy while beautifying your office space.
Redirect Light One of the most amazing ways that 3M window film can brighten your office is by redirecting light deeper into your building.

Residential Window Film

If you aren’t convinced yet to use 3M window film for your commerical property or business, there are even more reasons to use window film for your residential needs:

Excessive Heat See some excellent case studies.
Excessive Cold Protect your windows — it’s like going from single-pane to double-pane or from double-pane to triple-pane windows.
Fading Do you know someone whose furniture or flooring is faded from the sun? Avoid that issue with window film.
High Energy Costs We all want the benefit of sun, but without all the side effects. Let in the light, and stabilize your energy costs with window film.
Glare You don’t need to wear sunglasses indoors! Avoid that glare.
Safety and Security When someone’s trying to break into your home, every second counts. Get added security with window film!
Privacy and Decorative Do you like the look of textured glass for privacy?

Still Confused About Which Window Film to Choose?

We’d be happy to walk you through it!

How to Punch the Polar Vortex in the Nose with Window Film

December 27, 2016 by Carol S 1 Comment

As I write these words in December, shivering, because polar vortex–everybody else is also wondering what gives with the extreme weather lately. The citrus trees are frozen in California, and people are buying up heated seat kits for their cars. What is happening, and when do we get to the part about punching the polar vortex in the nose? To distract you farther, here’s our previous article about why not to do your own window film installation.

Polar Vortex: What the Heck is it?

According to NASA’s website, “A polar vortex is an area of low pressure—a wide expanse of swirling cold air—that is parked in polar regions.” Contrary to popular belief, it is not a violent washing machine cycle–although you migt wish it was! If it was, we could just turn it off with a giant button. The weak polar vortex is causing extreme cold weather all over the place, which again is confusing, because you’d think a strong polar vortex would cause cold weather. Like the unstable drunken holiday party guest, the unstable polar vortex causes all kinds of trouble–which is why we’d like to punch it in the nose!

tahoe snowstorm photo — Photo by hillary h

Extreme Weather

You’ve already heard about how window film can keep you cool in the summer, but what about during cold snaps? Most people don’t realize that window film can keep your home’s temperature more stable. So that means warm in the winter as well as cool in the summer. And most people believe that weather is becoming more unstable–that is, colder in the winter, and hotter in the summer. So what’s a good home owner to do?

Does the Polar Vortex Even Have a Nose?

That is an excellent question! According to many sources, including NASA, polar vortexes have eyes. So–stick with us here–we’re going to make the leap in logic to assume that there is a face, of sorts. And most faces have noses. Probably in the 99% range. So there you have it.

Maybe Not So Literal

The point is, we’d like to not feel so afraid when people mention the phrase polar vortex. We’d like to be inside our snug homes and office buildings and feel that the weather, while frightful, would not bother us quite so much.

One Window Film to Rule Them All

There are many types of window films–decorative, security, etc. But in terms of protecting you against the weather, the one we like is 3M™ Thinsulate™. It adds an invisible layer of insulation between you and the outside world. And we think that’s a lot like punching the Polar Vortex in the nose.

Questions About Window Film?

Call our office in Santa Clara, California! We work all over the Bay Area, including the peninsula, San Francisco, and Marin (as well as other parts of the state and country!) We can help.

marin snow photo — Photo by Eric Fischer

Window Film or Window Treatments: Which is Actually Better/More Attractive?

December 15, 2016 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Reducing Energy Bills

Both window treatments and window film can help to reduce energy bills. Here’s a fine article from Houzz about window treatments and how they can reduce your energy bills which includes highly-reflective film. Of course, there are other types of window films, too, such as the 3M’s new Thinsulate window film,

Keep Yourself and Your Tenants Happy

Nobody likes an unhappy tenant, and nobody likes uneven heat inside a building. Window film helps keep the heat at a constant temperature, as this article by 3M explains: Keep your tenants comfortable and you’ll keep them long-term. Window coverings do help somewhat to help moderate heat loss, but not as dramatically as window film.

christmas fireplace photo — Photo by regan76

Reduce Heat Loss

People think of window film in the summer, but window film can also help you stay warm in the winter. 3M’s Thinsulate film helps reduce heat loss, which might be what you’re considering in the middle of winter.

office window photo — Photo by tashmahal

Window Film is More Modern

If your building is constructed with modern material, including lots of steel and glass, then window film is probably the better option for you. Window coverings don’t have to be old-fashioned, but a lot of window coverings have a more vintage look. The words our customers use to describe it are clean, sleek, and stylish.

Window Film Is Less Maintenance

Usually a quick swipe with a cloth is all you need to keep your window film clean. Whereas window coverings may need to be removed and laundered in the case of draperies, or dusted. In the case of an industrial or commercial building, multiply the cost of that cleaning by however many windows you have.

Thank you!

Once again we’re indebted to the fine folks over at JorgMaterialHandling for the blog post idea. Thank you so much!

A1. Infographics with main benefits, cost comparison/longevity versus blinds, curtains or other window treatments. #constchat

— JorgMaterialHandling (@MaterialHndling) October 13, 2016

We’re Expanding!

In case you didn’t know, business is exploding! Our latest big job is in Baltimore at the Hyatt there, and we’re working all over the San Francisco Bay Area, from the South Bay up to Marin County, and beyond! So give us a call! We’d love to talk to you about window film. Window coverings? Not so much.

office garden photo — Photo by Ruth and Dave

DIY Window Film? 10 Reasons to Absolutely Make You Stop

November 29, 2016 by Carol S 1 Comment

You’ve had the idea of doing your own window film for some time. After all, people on YouTube make it look easy! But what could happen if you do? What could possibly go wrong? Here are just a few things that could end up ruining your day!

You’ll Have to Pay Someone to Fix it

We often visit clients who have tried to do their own window film, and we spend hours undoing what they’ve done because they watched a YouTube video and thought they could do it themselves. Don’t be that guy! Or that gal, either.

It Won’t Look as Good

Unless you have years in the field, working as an installer, there’s going to be a crimp in there somewhere. Or bubbles. The best you can hope for is “just ok.” We’ve been installing window film for quite some time, so we’ve made all the mistakes for you. Plus, you or your friend may not be using 3M Window film–so it won’t last as long.

Your Second Cousin is Very Talented

Yes, he’s a great plumber, but he’s not such a great window film installer. But you didn’t want to hurt his feelings when he volunteered to do it in exchange for a steak dinner. You figured that you love steak! So you thought it would be a win-win. What if it’s a lose-lose, though? What if you have to hide every time he’s in the neighborhood and pretend not to be home?

bubble tintp photo — Photo by Luke Hayfield Photography

There Will Be Bubbles

Bubbles are great in your champagne. But not so great in your window film. Every time you look through that window, you’ll see the bubbles and not the beautiful view. Although there are ways to remove bubbles, do you really want to explain to your neighbors what you’re doing with safety pins, credit cards, and hair dryers? Those are some of the tools that people have used to get the bubbles out!

There Will be Debris, Pet Hair, or Fingerprints

Do you know how to remove these, or what to look for if you see them? What if you have all three: debris, pet hair, and fingerprints? Any one of these can distract you from your beautiful view, and remind you of a job that’s not all the way finished.

You’ll Have to Buy Tools

Yes, you love having so many tools, but what if you’re only going to use them once? Where will you store them? How will you keep them clean in case you ever use them again? 3M has tools as well as window film, but a dealer will already have both.

You Don’t Enjoy Doing Windows

And by “doing windows,” we mean getting those windows squeaky clean! If that’s something you don’t enjoy, you could easily outsource to someone who does love doing windows. Doing windows is one DIY project that you can do yourself, however! We like this article from This Old House: How to Cean Windows Like a Pro.

Using the Wrong Chemicals

Maybe some rubbing alcohol and an old sock works well to clean other things in your home or office, but not if you’re going to install window film. And by all means, never use a live sheep! The sheep will get very angry and you’ll have little bits of sheep fur on your window. It’s not a good look.

Your Squeegee Isn’t Pro

Squeegees are one of those tools of the trade that needs to be perfect, without nicks and just the right length. If you got yours at Speedy Mart, it probably won’t be the best. By the way, if you want to know some reasons to get window film, here are a few. Some people even customize their squeegees to their windows. Are you willing to do that?

Who Can You Call if Your Install Goes South?

There is no Ghostbusters for window film installers! But if you hire a pro, you can call them and have them fix any mistakes they may have made. So give us a call. Please. We work all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including Santa Clara, San Jose, and the peninsula. We’d love to talk to you about some window film that’s perfect for your home or business!

Afraid of the Sun? You Should Be!

November 14, 2016 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Recently, during a Twitter chat, a few of us were talking about good blog posts, and Floors to Your Home, an Indianapolis-based Flooring specialist, suggested discussing window film and how it prevents premature aging. So here you go!

A1: Or, for us skincare nerds, how window film prevents premature aging. #constchat

— Floors To Your Home (@FTYHFlooring) October 13, 2016

Sunlight, Your Skin and UV Rays

Sunlight is made up of harmful UVA and UVB that can cause premature aging as well as more serious conditions. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation “UV radiation is considered the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These cancers strike more than a million and more than 250,000 Americans, respectively, each year.”

Window Film Blocks Harmful UV Rays

According to 3M™ “By reducing the amount of heat gained through transmission of sunlight, 3M™ Window Films let in the natural light you love while rejecting heat and UV rays.” And 3M Window Film blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays–the rays that cause skin damage and premature aging. So imagine if you will having sunblock that encases all your windows and protects your skin against premature aging. It’s like that.

Want Younger-Looking Skin?

Stop thinking of window film as a luxury, and instead allocate some money to your health care budget. Window film takes the worry out of blocking UV rays, and it can be used on your home, your business, or your car. Skin damage is cumulative, so a little prevention goes a long way towards keeping your skin healthy. According to WebMD:

“Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin.”

Elastin Keeps Skin Elastic

Without elastin, the skin can’t “bounce back” like it does with children. So keeping out of the sun, or protecting your windows with window film, help to prevent the damage from UV rays that cause the loss of elastin to your skin.

Every Little Bit Helps

While window film isn’t your entire skin care strategy, it certainly helps. Nobody wants to have to protect their skin indoors, but that’s exactly what you need to do if you have windows!

Got Questions?

Call our office in Santa Clara, California! We can help.

When New-School Technology Meets Old-World Service? Magic!

November 5, 2016 by Carol S 1 Comment

Professional marketers are always going on about differentiators. “What makes you different?” they’ll ask. “No, really, what makes you different?” Well, what really makes us different is service. How so? Read on!

Service with a Smile

We really do take it the extra mile in terms of service. On the very rare occasion that a customer is only 99% satisfied, we want to go the extra 1% to make it 100%. And don’t tell us about 110%! There’s only 100%! Sometimes that means working extra time or taking a loss on a product ourselves.

Cheerful Demeanor

We like to have a good time, and by “have a good time,” we mean we love our work! We really will do what we have to so that your window film looks wonderful. We don’t want you to have bubbles or purple film on your building! No way! By the way, here are some things you need to know about window film.

Only the Best for Our Clients

We don’t like to brag, but we only use the highest-rated window film from 3M™. 3M™ window film has recently had their 50th anniversary, and you don’t get to be in business for 50 years without a great product! When you start with such a great product, there is much less to do in terms of customer service, since everyone already knows, likes, and trusts 3M™ window film.

What Defines the “Best”?

Of course there’s a range of what great customer service means. To some, it means having the “customer is always right” mentality. To others it means going out of your way to make someone happy. There’s a great discussion of good customer service over on the SalesForce blog.

Focus on Like and Trust

We are always striving to make things better for our customers because we want them to like and trust us. So we take what you say seriously and incorporate your suggestions into our way of doing business.

Listening Skills

We learn a lot from our customers, and often what they say surprises us! We don’t know what questions they’ll have before we start listening, and that’s part of the fun!

What About You?

What customer service skills do you like to see? We’d love to talk to you! Leave us a comment!