Window Works USA Received 3M’s Market Leadership Award

February 4, 2019 by Carol S Leave a Comment

We’re both pleased and proud to announce that Window Works USA recently received 3M’s Market Leadership award! The award is just like what it sounds–it’s for market leadership. And in case you want to know what happened last year, we also won last year: Window Works Dealer of the Year Northwest Award.

Window Works USA Received 3M’s Market Leadership Award

One Award in the Four Regions

There is only one award per region. 3M awarded us the Market Leadership Award for the North West at the most recent National Prestige Dealer Conference in Anaheim, California.

This year’s event was hosted by Interwest, Distribution Center. Here’s the Window Works crew, above. From left to right we have the most fabulous cast, as follows:

Hugh Bernardi, Jr. – CEO of Interwest Distribution Center

Em Estanislao – Window Works Project Manager

Paul Vu – Window Works Lead Technician

Asia Bautista – Window Works CEO

William “Bill” Hibbard – National Accounts Manager of 3M Commercial Solutions Division (Window Film & Graphics Division)

Maicca Diche – Window Works Business Operations

Let’s give them all a hand!

Fun with Living Coral: Pantone’s Color of the Year 2019

January 30, 2019 by Carol S 1 Comment

We simply adore Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019. Have you seen it yet? It’s Living Coral! It’s fun and fresh and we love love love it!

How Do You Incorporate Pantone’s Color of the Year Into Your Home?

Good question! This color is quite strong, like a wonderful sunset, so you might want to begin with just pops of color. For instance, you could use some throw pillows, like these we found on Amazon or shadow boxes which include Living Coral. You could also use some neutrals, like a Chalkboard Gray to make the Living Coral pop even more. Grays can be tricky, though, so you may want to move carefully before painting your entire place gray.

interior design terracotta photo — Photo by DesignFolly.com

Walls in Living Coral

Before you paint an entire wall in Living Coral, you may want to see how it looks first. We love the traditional styling of the walls above, with the classic wood furniture and ornate mirrors.

coral pink color photo — Photo by La Citta Vita

Flowers

You may want to add a pop of color, and flowers are a perfect way to add this lively shade of pink without a full commitment. Take a look at the Peruvian lilies above.

orange abstract photo

Artwork in Living Coral

How about a piece of artwork that you can move around freely and change from time to time? A poster or piece of framed art can make all the difference, and modernize your home.

grapefruit counter photo — Photo by City Foodsters

How about a Drink in Living Coral?

There’s also the route of even less resistance, with an adult beverage in Living Color! This way, you can immediately get rid of the evidence if it turns out the color is not to your taste!

Candles in Coral

What about these wonderful some wonderful candles for a pop of color? Again, once burned down, the candles can quietly disappear if you don’t like them.

orange abstract photo

Other Ways to Jazz up Your Space: Window Film

Here are some other ways to add drama to your space–with decorative window film!

How Are You Using Color in Your Space?

Leave us a comment!

The Valuable Ways Window Film Can Change Your Life

December 27, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

The Valuable Ways Window Film Can Change Your Life

The best thing about window film is that when it’s really working you’ll forget it’s there. That is to say, it’s invisible. And yet it can change your life. Let me explain. If you’re interested in your own wellbeing or your long-term health, then having window film is a no-brainer.

Window Film Protects Your Eyes

As you get older, the light becomes more important. Glare can become a problem, and sometimes our vision can become cloudy. Window film reduces glare, which is so important to protect your eyesight. Cataracts can develop from too much UV. Again, window film comes to the rescue by blocking UV light. We’ve discussed window film and your vision before in the article Window Film: Seven Ways it Can Improve Your Life.

Window Film Protects Your Skin

UV light affects your skin and can lead to skin cancer without some form of protection. Using sunscreen, large hats, and staying out of the strongest sun are all important. But what about the UV rays coming in through your windows? Window film is like sunscreen for your home or office. In their excellent article, Window Film: Sun Protection for Your Health and Home, the Skin Cancer Foundation explains that window film can block up to 99.9% of UVA rays from entering your home. If that light entering your home can damage your belongings, think about what it can do to your skin!

Less Sensory Overload

Have you ever been around too many people and just want some peace and quiet? Window film makes your home feel quieter. We’re all visual creatures, primarily, so all the visual stimulation coming in through our computers, phones, and TVs can leave us feeling exhausted. With window film, some of that sensory overload is reduced.

Save Money on Heating and Cooling Bills

In addition to protecting your health, window film saves you money on your heating bill in the winter, and your cooling bill in the summer. With our increasingly wilder weather due to global warming, having some stability is a very good thing. Read more about how you can reduce your bills with window film.

We’d Love to Talk to You!

Have questions about window film? We’re here for you! Call us at 415.623.8700 to discuss window film!

Why Not Use All the Space in Your Home?

December 19, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Why Not Use All the Space in Your Home?

Having natural light pouring in through your huge glass windows can be a beautiful thing if there’s no glare, but what about when there is? Do you have to pack up yourself, plus your dog and cat, too, every time the sun hits your windows at the wrong angle? We know a number of people who used to have to do that exact thing! And it’s really not very fun. But 3M’s Prestige Window Film can block 97% of infrared light for your comfort. Which is really much easier than having a pair of sunglasses near every single window.

Glare on Your Computer Screen

Are you hiding in your loft because the glare through the windows downstairs is simply too harsh? Or maybe you have strategically placed towels hanging over the windows at certain times of the day. That can happen anywhere from homes to businesses. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, space is really at a premium. It’s a shame to not be able to use every inch of your space, as we talked about in our previous article: How to Dramatically Cut Back Sun Glare: 10 Ways.

Glare When You’re Trying to Eat

If you’re squinting as you try to see your friend eat, it doesn’t make for good conversation. Without eliminating the glare, you’ll probably be too distracted to have a very good talk. Maybe you have to keep scootching your chairs around every few minutes so you can see each other–as well as your food. That’s also seriously annoying! If your eyes are already strained, you don’t need to be squinting when you should be relaxing.

Glare in Your Eyes

Maybe you’ve given up on trying to use any of the space near your windows at all. That would be a shame since you may have a beautiful view! Glare can cause headaches, sore muscles, and annoyance. And that indoor UV light can damage your furnishings as well as your skin. We’re getting a headache just thinking about the glare! Not to mention all the ways UV light can damage your skin when it enters through your windows.

Ready to Use All Your Space?

We’d love to help! Give us a call and we can help you find a perfect solution to your glare issues. One that doesn’t include squinting.

This Is What Happens When You Get Enough Sleep

November 29, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

This Is What Happens When You Get Enough Sleep

We hope that everyone is safe and healthy during this holiday season. Besides protecting your family with window film, remember to get enough sleep, too! And here are some reasons why sleep is so crucial to your health.

How Much Is Enough Sleep?

We’ve all been hearing about the benefits of sleep lately, but do you know how much sleep is enough? For too long we’ve been hearing sentiments like “you can sleep when you’re dead,” especially coming from the start-up community. This attitude is really prevalent in the San Francisco Bay Area. People parade their sleep-deprived selves around, proud to survive on very little sleep. In fact, we should really be doing the exact opposite. What if we gave awards to people who could sleep the longest instead? The Sleep Foundation says that most people require seven-nine hours of sleep.

What happens when you get enough sleep?

You Remember More

Your member actually improves when you get enough sleep. If you’re a student or even if you’re not, recalling newly learned information is greatly enhanced by sleeping enough, according to an article by Science Daily. This has to do with sleep spindles, which can be seen and measured with an electroencephalogram (EEG).

Stave Off Obesity

People who are overweight typically do not get enough sleep. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Partly that’s because when you don’t sleep enough, you crave comfort foods, and those comfort foods are typically fattier and unhealthier. Also, hormones that control appetite are thrown out of balance when you don’t sleep enough and cause increased appetite.

Live Longer

According to Matthew Walker, Ph.D., author of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, “Every major system, tissue, and organ of your body suffers when sleep becomes short.” In his book, he writes about a 2011 study that tracked over 500,000 men and women across eight different countries. Shorter sleep was associated with a much greater risk of developing or dying from coronary heart disease. This one study alone should be convincing enough to make us all get some extra shuteye!

Have Less Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease

Did you know that getting enough sleep can help prevent both cancer and Alzheimer’s? Luckily, the cure for both is cheap, noninvasive, and available to everyone regardless of their background. Why wait for a diagnosis of either cancer or Alzheimer’s, though?

A Friendly Reminder

Why not sleep a little extra? Right now, as I write these words, it’s late November, and the nights are longer. This is a perfect time to indulge and sleep in a little.

And If You Need Window Film…

If you need anything, from Daylight Redirecting Window Film to give you more sunlight at home or work, to Thinsulate, give us a call. We’re always happy to talk!

If You’re Sick and Tired of Frightful Weather, You Need Window Film!

November 15, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

If You’re Sick and Tired of Frightful Weather, You Need Window Film!

We usually think of frightful weather in the wintertime. In fact, what’s that line in the song, “when the weather outside is frightful…”? These days, even here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the weather has been too hot, too cold, and more extremes are on the way if you listen to the news at all. As I’m writing these words, we haven’t had rain for a while, but when it does come, it may be torrential!

Window Film and Cold Weather

You’ve heard all about how window film protects you from the heat, but certain window films can also protect you from the cold, keeping your temperature more stable year-round. Wouldn’t you like a little or a lot more stability? We would, too! Here’s an article about how 3M’s Thinsulate window film helps you during the cold weather: How Does Window Film Help You in the Winter?

Hurricanes and Window Film

Window film helps keep your glass together in case of breakage, and although we don’t advertise it for hurricane weather, many homeowners and businesses (such as restaurants) use 3M’s Scotchshield window film in case their windows might break. Usually on the west coast people are more concerned about earthquakes than hurricanes. But strong winds can also cause alarm to homeowners and business owners alike, and window film can help keep shards of glass from flying in case of breakage.

Storms and Window Film

Cyclones and tornadoes, while rare on the west coast, have become more commonplace. Nobody wants to be hit with flying debris, and especially not if that debris is glass! Window film holds glass together so there’s less chance of you or your family being harmed. We think the minimal investment is good insurance. You might like this article: Unlocking the Hidden Secrets of Window Film.

Window Film and Hot Weather

You’ve probably heard tons about how window film helps keep the temperature down in the hot weather. When people choose window film, they tend to be bothered by hot weather when in fact window film can keep temperatures even no matter what.

How Can Window Film Help You?

If you have questions, please give us a call!

Spectacular Window Film that Will Save You Money

October 31, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Spectacular Window Film that Will Save You Money

You’re probably wondering how window film can help you save money. Aren’t you? You will see some cost savings immediately. However, the more important, critical benefits will help you in the long term. Seriously–how do you put a price tag on your health?

Lower Power Bills

With window film, you can save money during both the hot months, with less air conditioning costs, and during the cold months, where your heating bill will go down. Using 3M’s Thinsulate evens out the temperatures year round, saving you money no matter what time of year it is. We’ve written about Thinsulate before, and you might like to read our most recent post: How Does Window Film Help You in the Winter?

Spend Less on Your Health in the Long Run

The science is clear: UV rays cause skin cancer. Most people feel safe indoors, without realizing that UV rays can pass straight through glass, damaging your skin, your eyes, and more. Your family deserves to feel and be safe in your home. So why not invest in your long-term health the way you invest in health insurance? To read more about UV rays and cancer, read more about window film and skin cancer at The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Saves Your Floor, Rugs, and Furniture

Do you love your floor, rugs, and furniture? How about your other belongings? UV light not only damages your family’s skin, but it damages much of your furnishings. Window film can prevent damage to your valuable decor. You’ve probably seen damaged rugs and flooring, but with window film, you can hold onto your cherished possessions longer. Losing the lovely pieces you’ve spent days curating saves you not only money but headaches. Save Money and Beautify Your Home at the same time.

Preserves Your Photographs

Certain of your valuables may be irreplaceable, such as your family photographs. That’s why museums use window film to protect heirloom photographs. You may not be able to put a price tag on your own family heirlooms. Why not protect them with window film so that your family can enjoy them for years to come? Check out Houzz’s excellent article “A Surefire Way to Prevent Sun Damage Indoors.”

Have Questions?

We have answers! Give us a call! We’d be glad to help. Call us at 415.623.8700 to discuss window film!

How Does Window Film Help You in the Winter?

October 16, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

San Francisco photo — How Does Window Film Help You in the Winter?

How Does Window Film Help You in the Winter?

Maybe you’re one of those people who only think about window film in the summer. After all, window film helps with glare and keeping out UV rays. In our experience, people don’t think about window film in the winter nearly as much. Here are some ways that window film can help you in the winter.

Winterizing with Window Film

Of course, 3M has a window film that can help you with climate control, which includes staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You don’t want heat escaping in the colder months, just as you don’t want cooler air to escape during the warmer months. By adding 3M’s window film, you can have the best of both worlds. If you already have a double-paned window, it’s like having a triple-paned window. You might want to read about Thinsulate in our previous article: How to Punch the Solar Vortex in the Nose with Window Film.

Keeping Temperature Stable

If temperatures were more stable year-round, planning would be so much easier, wouldn’t it? But temperatures are all over the map, with hotter days in the summer and colder days in the winter. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we always have to dress in layers so we’re prepared for anything. Having the right window film provides that extra layer so we’re prepared for unstable temperatures. Check out 3M’s website for all the details.

3M™ Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film Keeps You Warm in the Winter…

“30% of all energy used to heat and cool homes in the U.S. escapes through the windows. 3M™ Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film is a low emissivity or “low-e” window film which improves the insulation value of a typical single pane window close to that of a double pane window and the insulation value of a typical double pane window close to a triple pane window.” From 3M™’s website. Keeping your home warm helps you save money on heat. Heating prices seem to be increasing each year. You can check out energy costs, via PG&E, and compare the rates.

And Cool in the Summer

Once summer comes around, you’ll be more concerned about staying cool. And guess what? 3M™ Thinsulate™ Climate Control Window Film does that, too! So you’ll save money in the winter as well as the summer. And we think that’s pretty cool! More about staying cool in the summer here: How to Stay Warm in the Winter and Cool in the Summer.

Have Questions?

Still not sure about Thinsulate or any window film? We can help advise you! Give us a call at 415.623.8700 to discuss window film!

What Happens When a New Homeowner Installs Window Film?

September 30, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

What Happens When a New Homeowner Installs Window Film?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you have window film installed at your new home? Window film is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, enjoy less glare, and keep the UV rays outside. There are a few things you might notice, and some things you won’t notice, too.

Enjoy the Quiet

According to Wikipedia, “Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body’s senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment.” And here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is so much noise that you can easily become over-stimulated. If you’re someone who gets sensory overload, then window film will definitely help your nerves feel less jangly.

No More Glare

Glare can occur inside the home when the sun is setting as well as when the sun enters your windows and gets in your eyes. We’ve often written about people who need to wear sunglasses indoors. If you haven’t read this article about glare, you might like it: How to Eliminate Glare That Will Help You Have a Better Life. Are you someone who suffers from headaches or ocular migraines because of glare? Then you’ll probably notice fewer headaches.

The UV Rays Stay Outside

Most people feel safe in their own homes. But UV rays are tricky; they can penetrate glass and find you where you live. To really outsmart those nasty ultraviolet rays, you need to have a secret weapon. That secret weapon is window film! You may not notice immediately, but over months and years, your skin will look better. According to the American Cancer Society, most skin cancers are a direct result of exposure to the UV rays in sunlight. Here’s their article: Does UV radiation cause cancer?

Temperatures Remain More Stable

If you’re a new homeowner, you might not notice that your temperatures remain more stable inside your home. The extremes simply go away. Thinsulate™ Insulation window film can make temperatures more stable year round–not just in the summer as some people tend to believe. For more about Thinsulate™ window film, see our previous article: How to Punch the Polar Vortex in the Nose with Window Film.

Want to Experience Window Film?

You may not know exactly what kind of window film will be right for your needs. If that sounds like you, give us a call at 415.623.8700 to discuss window film. We’d love to help you achieve your health goals!

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Five Amazing Ways Window Film Can Make You Healthier

September 15, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Five Amazing Ways Window Film Can Make You Healthier

Yes, window film can lower your heating and cooling bills, but did you realize all the many ways that window film can make you healthier? Here are just five!

Better Skin

Everyone realizes that tanning is not healthy, but did you realize that having window film on your windows is like putting on sunscreen when you’re at the beach? Ultraviolet rays travel through ordinary glass and can damage your skin, causing premature aging. UV light damages the DNA of cells, as explained in this Scientific American article: How does ultraviolet light kill cells?

Protects Against Cancer

The link between UV rays and skin cancer is widely known. That’s why the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using window film. People feel that they’re safe when they’re inside, but UV rays can still come right through your windows and get you!

Easier to See without Glare

Have you ever been to someone’s house or business where people have to wear sunglasses indoors? We have! It’s a lot more common than you might think. You might like our article: How to Eliminate Glare That Will Help You Have a Better Life. Window film is a good solution to ward off headaches and ocular migraines.

Reduces Heat

Global warming means more unstable weather at all times of the year. While we’d love to say window film cures global warming, we can’t. But window film can protect you against uneven heat by providing a sort of insulation. For instance, a single-pane window with window film becomes like a double-pane window. And a double-pane window becomes a triple-pane window! And if you’re interested in How to Stay Warm in the Winter and Cool in the Summer, window film can help.

Protects Against Breakage

One benefit many people don’t realize is that during storms, window film can hold glass together. If a window does break, window film holds the pieces together so shards of glass don’t hit your family or guests. For someone like a restaurant owner, protecting your guests could be priceless.

Want to Learn More?

Give us a call at 415.623.8700 when you’re ready to discuss window film. We’d love to help you achieve your health goals!