Window Works

What’s the Best Winter Window Film?

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Maybe you’ve been considering window film, but don’t know what the best winter window film is. Or even if there is a best window film for the winter! Well, surprise! The window film you have installed in the winter isn’t the same window film you might enjoy in the fall. We’ve written about our favorite window film for the fall here. Low-e window film, also known as climate control window film, is a thin window film that can help control the temperature in your home or office.

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?

If you didn’t get your favorite gift for the holidays (whether that’s Kwanza, Christmas, or Hannukah), maybe it’s time to get yourself something special. After all, you’re an adult, so it’s ok for you to buy yourself a little something. Something that will last and upgrade your place and maybe even save you some money on your heating bill! It’s a gift and an upgrade at the same time!

Temperature control in the winter

Did you know that window film doesn’t just protect you in the summer? Window film can also stabilize the temperatures in your home year round. And in the winter, what are you thinking about? Hint: If you’re wearing mittens, a coat, galoshes, and a puffy jacket inside, maybe you’re cold? Just an idea. Anyway, if that sounds like you, window film can help.

Window film that gives back

Are there certain parts of your home that have icicles? We’re exaggerating, but you know what that means. It’s too cold for the most warm-blooded members of your household. Window film can help with that! Get those frigid temperatures under control with window film! Not only that, but you’ll be able to use all of your house, not just the part near the heater. In addition, window film can increase your property value, making your building more desirable because of its better energy efficiency.

Single pane windows become double pane

With low-e window film, single pane windows get an upgrade to double pane. And double pane windows? Those act like triple pane windows! If you already have triple pane windows, hats off to you! You probably already know that you can lose a lot of your heat in the winter through those windows. And in the summer, the reverse is true–you get heat coming through those same windows. We’ll write about spring and summer window films in upcoming blog posts.

Ready for some great window film for the winter?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can help keep you and your home or business warmer. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

Five Fantastic Reasons to Avoid Cheap Window Film

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Maybe you’ve considered installing your own window film, and you found some on Facebook marketplace or eBay. That’s all well and good, but did you consider the down side to buying and then installing that cheap film yourself? There are a few reasons, but here are the top five. We’ve written about all the reasons window film is not a DIY project, but we thought this adjacent post was a good idea.

You’ll void the warranty (if there even is one!)

Many of the major window film manufacturers will provide a warranty, but the window film needs to be correctly installed. And by that, we don’t mean by your brother-in-law who has a few extra hours on the weekend! We are professionals here and have installed window film at many homes and businesses. The cheaper film probably doesn’t come with a warranty, so there’s that, too.

Install failure and inferior adhesives

Even with the best intentions, sometimes things happen. Ladders slip, people fall down, and window film can be destroyed. And occasionally, all three of those things can happen at the same time! Not to scare you, but it’s safer to let a pro handle your installation, especially on larger windows or in tricky situations. Cheaper window film often has inferior adhesives, so that makes installation even more difficult.

Bubbles and creases

Installing window film can be tricky. For instance, you can get bubbles and creases if you’re not careful. If you don’t know how to install film and remove the bubbles, your film could look really bad. And as we’ve said before, the best film installations are when you don’t even know it’s there. With cheap film, bubbles and creases are more likely.

Poor heat or UV protection

With high-quality window film, you’re protected against UV radiation (depending upon the film you choose). But if you choose cheap film, you never know what could happen! Maybe the film won’t protect you even if their marketing promises that it will. Not only that, but promises of heat protection probably won’t happen, either.

It’s ugly

Do you care about how your window film looks? If so, avoiding the cheap stuff is highly recommended. When your family and friends come for a visit, do you want them to make the face they make when they eat something they don’t like? NOOO! And that’s a pretty good reason to avoid the cheap stuff.

We can answer your questions!

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you have already decided what you want and need us to install some window film. Otherwise, give us a call and we can give you advice on choosing the best window film for your building. We’d love to help you choose! We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

Window Film and You: Six Things You’re Dying to Know

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We know you lie awake at night thinking about window film. Just like we do! Others have visions of sugar plum fairies. But you? You’re not like that! So in order to help you sleep at night, here we go with some frequently asked questions you’re dying to know about window film!

What types of window film are available?

There are so many types of window film that we couldn’t possibly list all of them here. But in the past few months, we’ve covered some of the most popular, such as Safety Film, Low-E film, and Smart Film. But there are so many more films than that! There’s decorative film, frosted film, privacy film, and so on.

How to choose the best window film?

Sometimes people call us because someone they know has window film and they like the way their office or home feels. That is, the temperature is more regulated, there’s less glare, or the film matches the decor. We have lots of ideas and can help you narrow down your choices.

Can I install window film myself? Why or why not?

Technically, you could install your own window film. However, our installers are professionals. That’s pretty much all they do (install window film). Well, they also love spicy food and pizza, but that’s another story! You could install your own but…do you really want to risk it? Your measurements need to be perfect, and you need all the equipment. It’s so much easier to have a professional install it. Also, if you install your window film yourself, you could end up voiding the warranty, as Bob Vila explains.

How long does window film last?

We can’t give you an exact time frame for how long your film will last. We do know that it has to do with the quality of the film. Low quality film will only last about five years. High quality film will last about ten to twenty years. And of course if you scratch or abuse the film, it won’t last as long (but you already knew that!).

What are the benefits of different tints?

Some window tints offer glare reduction, some reduce UV rays and block heat. Some help insulate your windows. And there’s also safety film. You might have a problem or two choosing. And that’s because all window films sound excellent! Who doesn’t want a safer building or less glare? Nobody, that’s who! Back in the day, we installed automotive window film. And now many cars come with window film already installed. So that tells you how popular it has become.

Are there any drawbacks to window film?

We think there are drawbacks to badly installed window film. If you’re driving around, you might see film that’s cracked, peeling, or turning purple on some car windows. It’s likely that people installed their own film in that case. There’s also the cost of installing film, which comes with any home or business improvement.

We can answer your questions!

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you have already decided what you want and need us to install some window film. Otherwise, give us a call and we can give you advice on choosing the best window film for your building. We’d love to help you choose! We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

Five Things You Didn’t Know about Low-e Film

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Low-e window film can convert a single-pane window to a double-pane and convert a double-pane into a triple-pane window. You probably already know what a double-pane window can do as far as insulating your home, since nearly everyone has seen a double-pane window. But low-e film can do a lot more for a lot less than simply replacing your windows. Here are some fun facts you might not know (yet!).

Low-e window film reflects heat rather than absorbing it

If you’ve ever held up your hand to a window during the heat of the summer, you know just how hot a window can get. If you have low-e window film installed, the heat will reflect off that window and feel much cooler to the touch. The same holds true during other seasons (that is, when it’s cold outside, the window will feel warmer to the touch).

It reduces heat loss in winter

Just as low-e window film can help with heat in the summer, it can help reduce heat loss in the winter. What you want is window film that keeps the temperature stable year round. This can help you reduce your heating bills–which only seem to get higher and higher every winter. For some other ideas on reducing heat loss, see PG&E’s Home Energy Checkup.

And it reduces heat gain in summer

Heat gain is the increase in temperature in a space due to heat entering from an external source. That external source would be your windows! That solar radiation can mean a lot of discomfort for you, your friends, employees, kids, etc. You probably also avoid that part of your home or office if it’s too warm! So a hidden benefit is you’ll probably use more of your home or office if you have low-e film installed.

Low-e film costs a lot less than replacing your windows

Right now money is tight for a lot of people. We hear you and know what you’re going through. You’d still like to save some money, but without breaking the bank to do it, right? So an easy way to save on your energy bill is to install low-e film. Even if you already have double-pane windows, you can still add low-e film for even more savings. How much does it cost to replace your single-pane windows with double-pane ones? You can estimate your cost with this article from This Old House.

Savings on your energy bill

Everyone wants to save on their energy bill. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or facilities manager, installing low-e window film helps you lower your energy bill. By the way, we’ve talked about energy savings before. You might like: How to Use Window Film for Energy Efficiency. Also, you’ll be a good citizen if you use less energy.

Give us a call!

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can give you advice on low-e window film. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

2026 Color of the Year

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2026 Color of the Year

While writing this post about the 2026 color of the year, it occured to us that maybe some of you (gasp!) might have thought we were trying to get you to click on this article! But we weren’t trying to create a clickbait post, promise! It’s just that around this time every year, dozens of articles about colors of the year appear. We’ve written about the color of the year before, too. And if you’re interested in interior design or even just painting your house, what are you supposed to do? Here are some ideas for you.

Look at the compilations

Martha Stewart has a fun compilation of every paint color of the year because of course she does! But you know what? That was last updated in September, 2025 and there’s still more time left in the year! Which makes us think. Is this like every store in town putting out their Christmas stuff in July? I mean, c’mon, Martha! At least publish something closer to the end of the year!

Choose three favorites

Whenever we’re presenting something to a client, we narrow down the choices. So if it’s you who needs a new paint color, why not first narrow the choices? For example, in Martha’s article linked above, we like Melodious Ivory, Warm Mahogany, and Epernay. You could look at the colors you definitely don’t want, and then take it from there. When you have three contenders, put it up to a vote with coworkers or family members. But remember–you have veto power!

Go back in time

You don’t even need a way-back machine for this one. There’s already an article that you can use! Here’s every single Pantone Colour of the Year for the past 25 years! It’s interesting to read some of the history, too. ‘It is one long, continuously flowing conversation among a group of colour-attuned people.’ says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute. So it’s not a bunch of people sitting in a room for one day, drinking, and voting like we all imagined. Although that might be entertaining, too!

Color blocking with window film

In case you were wondering, you can add color to your home or office with window film, too. For instance, you can try color blocking with window film. And since colors definitely influence your mood, and winter is coming, why not use some upbeat colors to make you feel perky? You don’t even need a prescription for this mood-altering solution!

Want to see what window film can do for you?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can give you advice on best color choices or window film. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

Best Window Film for the Fall?

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Maybe you’d like to get window film, but you think it’s not the right time of year. Would it surprise you to know that there are window films for different seasons? And for the fall season we’d have to say that security window film is the best choice! There are other things you can do to ensure your safety such as having home security cameras, but to cover all your bases, window film really helps.

What is security window film?

Security window film holds your window together so the glass doesn’t turn into shards that can injure people. Security film can also provide UV protection so your window also protects your skin and your belongings at the same time it keeps the glass together in case of breakage. We’ve talked about safety and security window film before. You might like Safety and Security Window FIlm: What’s up with that?

Fall isn’t just about pretty autumn leaves

We love autumn leaves as much as the next person, but if your windows aren’t protected, you might not enjoy those pretty leaves. We’d love to help you stop worrying and sleep better at night. Fall is also the time to think about your own safety and preparing for the winter. And one of the best things about safety film is what you don’t see about it–its invisibility. As they say on the 3M website, “Nothing can shatter your confidence more than a break-in.”

Protect yourself this fall

Want to make your customers, friends, and neighbors feel safer? If you’re in a big building, installing security window film can help! Even in a not-so-tall building, your glass might be subjected to strong winds which could cause breakage. And let’s not even mention thieves wanting to smash, grab, and go! Windows are among the weakest points of your home or business, and where thieves are most likely to enter, so installing window film makes the most sense for your security.

Safety film makes you feel safe

Whether it’s someone trying to break in, or high winds causing your glass to break, safety film gives you that feeling of security. Before the holiday festivities begin in earnest and the weather gets too crazy, why not consider some safety film? Our weather has been getting more extreme, so it’s good to be prepared. For more information about safety and security film, check out the Safety and Security window film Wikipedia.

Ready for some safety window film for the fall?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can help keep you and your home or business stay safer. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

Why Birds Love Window Film

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Image of bird looking in window

The 2025 bird migration season is well underway, with birds flying overhead in huge flocks. You can take a look at the numbers via the BirdCast Migration website, or just go outside at night with binoculars. The Colorado State University and Cornell Lab of Ornithology produce the graphs, which are updated frequently. Since we love birds (and who doesn’t love birds?), we keep track of the migrations and the ways we can help prevent birds from hitting windows. Stick with us here. Window film is just one way, but there are others, too. By the way, we’ve written about birds and window film before, but that was three years ago. It’s time for an update!

Over a billion birds die from collisions each year

That’s an incredible number, isn’t it? But there are many ways to prevent bird deaths. Short of putting out orange cones with complex arrows to signal detours around your house or office, here are some other things you can do. Birds see what’s around or behind your glass and assume there’s a clear flight path, and end up hurtling into your windows! Even people run into glass, especially if it’s kept clean.

Light and Landscape

The way you light your landscape has an enormous effect on what birds see at night and whether they miss your big glass windows or keep flying. By turning down your lights–both interior and exterior–you can help prevent bird deaths. If you have shades, draw them down at night, and keep lights pointed down and away from the night sky, according to the Bird Collision Prevention Alliance. It’s especially important to turn off lights where your indoor greenery meets glass, as this is like the proverbial Halloween candy for birds.

Innovative design

Glass treatments

Glass treatments, such as our custom bird film, shown above, has evolved over the past few years. “Feather friendly” options now include many more patterns, such as dots, squares, and even UV film that birds can see but are nearly invisible to humans. Fritted window film is window film which includes patterns to help birds avoid glass. And, just like other types of window film, some could even be seen as decorative.

Birds hit buildings near water

Buildings near water seem to be places where birds most often collide with windows. Birds are attracted to the landscapes near water, and also to the water itself. There are many buildings like this around the San Francisco Bay. Often, facilities managers don’t realize that there’s a solution. So if you have a big commercial building (with lots of windows) near the water, we need to talk!

Need to explore your choices?

We’d love to protect the birds in your neighborhood with window film! Give us a call at 415.623.8700 when you’re ready to save the birds! We’d love to talk to you and answer all your questions! We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the Peninsula and Marin. And we’ve expanded into Southern California, too!

NorCal Facilities Expo Sept 30-Oct 1: Five Reasons We Love it!

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In case you didn’t know, the NorCal Facilities Expo is coming up soon! We’ve been going for about 1,000 years. If you’re on the fence about going, here are some reasons you should join us! And we’ve written about the NorCal Facilities Expo before–here are some of our previous posts:

Sign up is free

Not only is sign up free, there’s free parking at the Santa Clara Convention Center, too! How many events are free any more? None, that’s how many! Here’s the sign-up link. At the very least, you can meet a bunch of people (including us!), listen to some good lectures, and learn a few things, too. On another note, the venue is pretty great, too. The Santa Clara Convention Center has huge glass walls, which you’ll see as you walk in.

Interesting events

No matter who you are, you’ll love attending an event or two. Here’s the schedule for the events. This year, the keynote will be all about AI. On Tuesday, there’s a talk about The Five Generations in Today’s Workforce–which everyone needs to understand. On Wednesday, there’s a talk about the Nation’s First Net-Zero Energy Mass Timber Civic Building, nearby in Redwood City. Note the giveaways and happy hour, too.

Meet other professionals

Whether you’re a facilities manager, maintenance manager, or just someone who’s curious about what’s happening in the facilities world, you’ll get to meet people and learn something new. Everyone is always very friendly and willing to talk. And people ask some of the craziest questions, which we’re happy to answer. We really love the emphasis on prevention that we’re seeing at the Facilities Expo, too.

The swag!

Some of our favorite swag comes from the Facilities Expo. There are markers, small tools, candy, and mugs. Last year, there was a potted plant given out as a prize at one booth. And we love all the unusual swag such as the tool card blueprint, webcam cover, and bottle openers we saw last year. Some of our favorite swag comes from our friends at Atlas Copco. They’re also sponsoring the Happy Hour, by the way.

Come by and see our window film!

Come by our booth (right down the center aisle, near Atlas Copco!) and learn how we can help keep you and your home or business cooler and safer. We expect to field a lot of questions about our new safety films. In the past, we’ve met people from the commercial, industrial, government and institutional sectors. And many people we’d never expect to meet. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Do You Need Smart Window Film?

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Business meeting inside glass-walled conference room.

First of all, what is smart window film? Is smart window film going to be smarter than you, and if so, do you need to dumb it down? Will it be talking to your smart appliances? If all the smart things are talking to each other, can you get into that conversation, too? Smart window film isn’t smart in the way that smart appliances are smart, although maybe in the future it will be.

Smart window film definition

Smart window film can switch between opaque and transparent so you can choose how it operates. Opaque (or transparent) window film can give you the privacy you want. Since you might not always want the opaque film, you can switch it on or off as needed. And it operates quickly, unlike bulky shades or window coverings.

Who uses smart window film?

Anyone who needs privacy can use smart window film. That includes homeowners, especially in places where there’s little privacy (think San Francisco or any big city), architects, building owners, etc. It can also give you security, since people can’t see in. It’s also used to control light in upscale luxury homes, retail outlets, and hotels. You might like this article: Create Privacy without Compromising Style.

Smart window film provides flexibility

Say you have a big office with conference rooms. But you don’t want to commit to any one kind of window film on your surface. Smart film lets you have the flexibility you need so you can have a transparent wall or switch to a more private setting as you need it. Also, smart window film makes you and your office look modern–because you are modern!

Public buildings need it

Airports, lobbies, and other high-traffic areas can switch from transparent to opaque in an instant. So your facilities manager is probably the person who would be likely to provide smart film to your building. By the way, if you’re a facility manager, you might like: Why Would a Facilities Manager Need Window Film? In addition to the convenience of smart film, all the benefits of regular window film apply.

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Although Trains, Planes, and Automobiles is a terrific movie from the 80s, all three modes of transportation can use smart film to reduce glare and create privacy. Ask the next shower curtain ring salesman (John Candy’s job in Trains, Planes, and Automobiles) you happen to see whether having smart film would be useful as they travel the country. And of course they’d say yes because nobody likes glare (and also, everyone wants more privacy).

Want to hear more about smart window film?

Give us a call and we’d be glad to tell you what we can do. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California and Scottsdale, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700. Or, if you’ve already decided you need our services, fill out the convenient form right at the top of our website.

Safety & Security Window Film: What’s up with that?

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Safety & Security Window Film: What's up with that?
Safety & Security Window Film: What’s up with that?

Did you know that you can reduce forced entry into your home, business, or school? Or that you might be able to protect yourself against storms and the glass shards that could result? Or that your glass could be held together in a frame to prevent shattering when it hits the ground? Safety and security window film is all that, and more. Read on to find out what else you can expect.

You might think there’s nothing you can do

If you feel hopeless sometimes with an increase in storms in your area, you can protect yourself. Really. Window film not only protects you and your skin from UV light, it can help protect you against storms. Storms can damage your home and business not only from rain, but also windstorm events and the debris that can pile up afterwards.

Feeling helpless is not an option

Doesn’t it feel better when you take action, rather than feeling victimized? We do! A little preparation now makes you feel more in control when things around you are changing quickly. The climate is changing, and everyone can do a little something to offset those changes. You might like our article about climate change: How does window film battle climate change?

Reduce spontaneous glass breakage

Have you ever seen glass break spontaneously? We’ve seen it, and it isn’t pretty. Often, entire city blocks have to be shut down to clean up the mess and ensure that no one is injured. Although glass is beautiful, when it breaks it can leave an awful mess. Here’s some more info, via Wiki, about spontaneous glass breakage. You can’t always see an imperfection in glass, and occasionally breakage occurs.

Delay intruders

Just a few seconds can thwart an intruder. While window film alone won’t stop an intruder, any delay can make an intruder move onto easier targets. Think about how quickly car thieves can break into a car. The same applies to windows at your home. If a burglar is nervous about someone seeing them enter a home, they’ll move on and try someplace else.

Have more peace of mind

Peace of mind is critical to better sleep, and feeling happier. Less worry about your safety and security helps you feel better in many ways. Why spend your time worrying when there’s something you can actually do to feel that peace of mind? Although we’re big proponents of yoga and meditation, we’re also big fans of window film–in case you hadn’t guessed!

Ready for some safety and security window film?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can help keep you and your home or business stay safer. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Locations
6991 E Camelback Rd Ste D300 Scottsdale, AZ 85251
850 South Van Ness San Francisco, CA 94110
400 Reed Street Santa Clara, CA 95050
3555 Harbor Gateway S. Costa Mesa, CA 92626
           

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