Why Is Now A Good Time for Window Film?

June 15, 2021 by Carol S Leave a Comment

There are lots of reasons to get window film, even in foggy San Francisco. Here are ten of our favorites.

Your furniture needs protection

Let’s face it, you’ve spent hundreds of hours on Pinterest and Etsy searching for the perfect chairs. We know because we do the same thing! Now you’re going to leave those gorgeous handmade Italian leather chairs in your bright living room where the sun is going to scorch and bleach it? Noooo!

Because it’s summer… and there’s more heat and light

During the hot summer months, we feel more heat. And sometimes that heat gets uncomfortable. So you may want to block not only the heat with window film, but some of that extra light. Recently, we wrote about light-blocking window film. You might want to read about light-blocking window film.

You love the light, but want to protect your skin

Yes, UV rays can travel right through windows, but window film protects your skin. While UV rays can damage your skin, window film is one way to prevent skin cancer. You can see some of the other recommendations of the Skin Cancer Foundation to prevent cancer. Using sunscreen, wearing wide-brimmed hats, and and donning sunglasses are three ways to prevent skin cancer—the world’s most common cancer.

Climate change

Every year, temperatures get a little warmer, and sometimes a lot more uneven. Window film can help even out those fluctuations. Why not take the plunge and invest in window film now? Along with donating some of your time and money to help curb climate change, of course.

Monthly discounts

Since we’ve now been in business ten years, we’re giving you the savings! For each month, we have a special. Check on our Twitter or Facebook pages to see what those new specials are.

Holds glass together

If you’re in a restaurant or school, you might be concerned about being hurt by flying glass during a storm. Window film can protect you and your littles by holding that glass together.

Energy savings

According to the International Window Film Association“While the energy savings of window films are comparable to replacement windows, they may cost about one-tenth the cost of replacement windows and their installation.” Your energy bill is already too high, but with window films like 3M Thinsulate you can reduce the need for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. We’ve talked about Thinsulate before:

Even out heat imbalances

Do you have a part of your home that’s always too hot? Window film can help correct that. With window film, you won’t have severe hot spots where the sun pours into your home and heats up that part of your home.

Creates privacy

If space is tight for you and your neighbors can peer into your home or office, window film is the perfect way to go. Yes, we’ve written about privacy before. You might like What are the Best Window Films for Privacy?

It’s beautiful and decorative

There are many beautiful, decorate choices in window film. So if you’re concerned that window film will be too plain, not to worry. We’ve got you and your windows covered!

Still need some guidance?

Give us a call! We’re super-friendly and always here to brainstorm.

How to Use Window Film for Energy Efficiency

April 30, 2020 by Carol S 1 Comment

As we ease back into our new normal, many people have been asking about window film and energy efficiency. They want to know if having window film will help their building be more efficient, and how it will affect their energy bills. According to 3M “An estimated 33% of cooling expenses are due to solar heat gain from windows.” There’s also this: “The Department of Energy considers window film a top-tier technology for energy conservation with one of the fastest paybacks — approximately three years.” By the way, here’s our last article about the New Normal: How the New Normal Will Eventually Make Life Better.

The Planet Is Getting Warmer

Nearly everyone now agrees that the planet is warming. For sensitive individuals, even a degree or two can have an impact on their health. With window film, you can avoid much of the solar heat gain from your windows. And that means that your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool. You might like this article about global warming: Window Film and Global Warming: What You Need to Know.

Comfort is Key

If you’re comfortable in your home or office, it stands to reason that you’ll spend more time there. When a room is too warm, you’ll probably avoid that area, right? So one of the hidden savings is that you’ll get to use more of your home or office if you have window film, rather than always moving to another area of your building. And since we’re all spending more time indoors and at home, being comfortable is even more critical. Also, in places like San Francisco, there isn’t much space to begin with–many of us live in very small apartments or condos.

Utility Companies Offer Incentives

You may have to search a bit to find the rebate forms for your area. In the San Francisco Bay Area, PG&E offers rebates for certain energy efficient products. Some, such as solar, are more well known than others. Your CPA may be able to help you locate tax incentives.

Where to Start with Window Film?

You can start with a call to us–we can discuss your options and give you suggestions. We also have a lot of information on our website, including our blog. We also recommend the 3M window film site, which you can find here: 3M Commercial Window Film. Some other suggestions are:

Pinterest has many ideas — use it as a search engine.
Houzz–you may find windows and window film that you like here
Online interior design magazines, such as Design Milk
Architectural Digest

This Is What Happens When You Make Your Home A Sanctuary

March 26, 2020 by Carol S 1 Comment

Remember a few weeks ago, when the world seemed normal? For us here in San Francisco, March came in like a lamb and like a lion. Usually, it’s the other way around. Suddenly, everyone was afraid. We’re keeping that six-foot distance, and following all the recommendations. And we’re staying at home. If you, like us, are keen on making your home a place you love instead of just tolerate, stick around. Here are some ideas.

Organize That Spot You’ve Never Organized

It doesn’t have to be your sock drawer, but surely there’s a place that you’ve always been meaning to organize and you haven’t. Be ruthless in getting rid of those things you no longer use or love. As Marie Kondo says, it should “spark joy.” After that first pass, you’ll just have the things left that you really enjoy.

Organizing Your Space Makes You Feel Good

Create An Altar

For some people, an altar is a spiritual spot, filled with religious items. Your altar could be filled with photos, trip souveneirs, and all the things that lift your spirits. Maybe a candle and a beautiful piece of fabric could go there. You could add a letter or card from your friends or family.

Does Your Home Suit You?

Now that you have some extra time, look around at your home. Does it really fit your lifestyle? Do you have old gear that is broken or doesn’t suit your lifestyle any more? Why not give it away to someone who’ll enjoy it. Not the broken stuff, of course, but the things that don’t work for you any more. Someone else might really enjoy it!

What About the Colors and Textures?

If you don’t love the colors and textures you see around you every day, why not change them? Painting is an excellent and easy way to change the mood. You might also think about adding textures to walls, or moving furniture around. Although it’s a difficult time right now, we can always take advantage of the time we have at home to make it into our own private oasis. Feeling safe and cozy in our homes goes a long way toward creating a sanctuary.

Window Works Accepted to Turner School of Construction Management

February 20, 2020 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Window Works just got accepted to the Turner School of Construction Management! We’re super excited about this and how it will help not just us but how we manage our San Francisco Bay Area jobs! That means our clients will benefit from our added knowledge, too.

What Are the Details?

Turner Construction and Union Bank are kicking off the 2020 San Francisco Turner School of Construction Management training program February through April at the San Francisco International Airport. Classes include Accounting Basics for Contractors, Estimating, Field Operations, Insurance & Bonding, Management, Business Development/Marketing, Project Delivery Systems & Contract Risk Management, Safety, and Scheduling. This is a thirteen-week course, so it is very thorough.

Turner Construction Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Construction Management Course

Last year, Turner Construction celebrated 50 years of the construction management course. Established in 1969 in an effort to improve the economic viability of under-represented business enterprises and increase the number and quality of opportunities available to growing businesses, it quickly became a successful path for Turner to develop strategic business relationships in the communities where they build. They have graduated more than 30,000 people from this valuable course.

How Will the Construction Management Course Help?

Each class provides networking opportunities between other business owners and Turner industry experts that lead the classes. The Estimating and Scheduling classes have an additional hands-on exercise that offer participants real-life work experiences. We are sure that the emphasis on estimating, safety, and risk management will intertwine to give us an even better edge. And, although we already have real-life work experiences, we may be able to mentor those who don’t. In any event, networking with those in the industry is always a positive experience.

Speaking of Networking

You might be thinking that we’re already doing a lot of networking. That’s true. In fact, in case you missed it, here’s a link to our Women in Construction Luncheon in San Francisco. We’d love to see you there! It’s Thursday, March 5th in San Francisco. You don’t have to be in the window film business in order to attend–nor do you have to be a construction worker. You can be involved in any area of construction–from accounting to risk management.

Onward!

We look forward to finishing the course work and adding even more value to our business.

Why Is 3M’s Night Vision Window Film So Crazy Popular?

January 30, 2020 by Carol S Leave a Comment

happy photo

We’ve talked about the different kinds of window film before, but 3M’s Night Vision is one we have not discussed much. 3M’s Night Vision Window Film is loved by everyone, hands down. And in case you missed it, here’s our last post about Prestige Window Film: Why 3M Prestige Window Film?

Overview of Night Vision Window Film

Night Vision:
- Is dual reflective (meaning reflective but less reflective from the interior at night or with darker lighted interior scenarios than all others)
- Offers enhanced views with low interior reflectivity
- Has very high heat rejection properties
- Does not reduce heat or infrared (IR) on contact like Prestige does
- Rejects up to 71% of the sun’s heat and helps reduce eye discomfort
- Has the most aggressive glare reduction in the Industry
- Blocks the amount of harmful UV rays that cause fading to your furniture and valuables
- Is scratch-resistant
- Has centric pricing, not a high-end material like others

Prestige Window Film and Night Vision Window Film are 3M’s marquis products. Prestige is best-in-class in our industry, yet Night Vision is America’s Number 1 selling window film (and 3M’s, too). For more details about Night Vision, see 3M’s Sun Control Window Film Night Vision Series.

Why Night Vision?

For many customers, pricing is an issue. For those budget-minded folks, we find that Night Vision window film is a very good option. Perhaps that’s one reason why this window film is so popular. After all, it still has the great 3M name backing it up. It still reduces glare and has heat rejection properties, too. But why take it from us? Why not let Wayne Newton explain how he uses 3M’s Night Vision to protect his estate and valuables?!

Choose Your Level of Protection

3M^TM Sun Control Window Night Vision Series is available in a variety of tint levels to meet your needs.

We’re Available to Talk

Want to know more? Give us a call and we can help guide you through the available options. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, including Marin County, the peninsula, and the East Bay.

Visit the Northern California Facilities Expo 2019 October 9-10

September 25, 2019 by Carol S Leave a Comment

We’d love our local friends to come and see us at the Northern California Facilities Expo. The Expo will take place Wednesday and Thursday, October 9th and 10th, 2019, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054. It’s very close to Levi’s Stadium.

The DeFacto Facilities Show for Facilities Engineers in the Bay!

Attendees come with around 100 keys jingling from saving their buildings from floods, to black-outs, to roof cave ins… it’s THE solutions market place for Back Room heroes who run our buildings across Silicon Valley. So if you have a solution, or if you’re looking for one, you need to be here!

Window Works’ Focus This Year

This is our fifth year at the Expo, and we’re the only-ish Window Film Vendor at the Expo. We’ll have a double booth, so be sure to stop by!

We’ll be focused on fast but durable solutions for buildings such as
- Anti-Graffiti Film to mitigate Glass Damage around door push bars (keys are often the culprit)
- AG Film to mitigate etching
- Metal Shield Films that look like Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Gold Stainless
- Mirror Shield for Etched Windows, too
- Samples of new Prestige20 that just launched!
- Don’t forget to stop by to see our 3M Territory Manager to ask questions

The DeFacto Facilities Show for Facilities Engineers in the Bay

Energy Modeling Expert at Interwest Distribution

Don’t leave out a visit to our Energy Modeling expert from Interwest Distribution both Wednesday and Thursday if anyone is interested in dramatic Energy Savings from Window Films or Rebates from PGE.

But Wait–There’s More!

The Expo is absolutely free of charge! If you know anyone in Facilities Management, be sure to let them know.
We’re excited at the list of scheduled talks. You can get a list of the talks here.
Hope to see you there!

Have a Friend in Facilities Management?

Please let them know about this free expo!

Women in Construction Week Speed Mentoring & Networking Detonated

March 20, 2019 by Carol S 1 Comment

Women in Construction Week Speed Mentoring & Networking detonated! Participants such as Ms. Bridgette Peace Foresyth and Millicent Evans came from Atlanta and the UK respectively to the San Francisco Bay Area, along with many other local and regional participants.

Mentoring, Networking, and Friendship

We sped our way through Mentoring, Networking, and Friendship making as only we women can do for a fast and spontaneous hour then we got to enjoy each others company for the rest of the afternoon!

Future Plans in Atlanta and Dallas/Houston

After learning and networking, we are making plans for a teaser Lunch & Learn in Atlanta and the Dallas/Houston area in the coming summer months! So stay tuned!

Speed Networking at Women in Construction Week

Appreciation to all!

Thanks to our sponsors who made this event worthwhile and meaningful–thank you all! We couldn’t have done it without you and you have our sincere appreciation! Thank you to all our sponsors:

The San Francisco Builders Exchange
Avery Dennison
Pilot Construction and Management Inc.
Interwest
3M
AON
T&B 4syth, LLC.
Fashion Drapery Inc.
New York Engineering, Inc.
and all of our participants!

Women in Construction Week 2019: Speed Mentoring & Networking

February 21, 2019 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Be a Part of the Annual Women in Construction Week!

Women in Construction Week 2019 will be at the San Francisco Builders’ Exchange in partnership with Window Works 3M Window Film.

Click here for tickets.

Did you attend our first Women in Construction Week in 2018?

Come join us for Speed Mentoring/Networking & a special Luncheon!
Join us for BBQ and much more!
Introduce yourself & meet other successful and up & coming Women in Construction
Three Main Sponsorships Tables will be available in the Main Area
We will spend one hour going around in 10-minute sessions (six total) of Networking & Mentoring
- Network with other women who can enrich your Professional Lifestyle
- Ask your peers about tough-to-handle scenarios
- Find potential Mentors, Clients & Professional Friends
- Luncheon will be available for $15 for all participants

Join at One of Four Levels!

Sponsorship Packages AVAILABLE
- Platinum Level – $100
  1. Two weeks of Social Media Marketing in targeted posts on Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram the week of March 4th thru March 8th
  2. Marquis placement with logo & live links embedded throughout at the top
  3. Marquis Placement on all Marketing Collateral – Emails, posters, digital instruments
  4. Table for Marketing & Networking on-site at Luncheon
  5. Name introduction on-site at Luncheon
  6. Carte Blanche to use content as your own to post
  7. Two Tickets for Speed Mentoring Sessions
  8. Two Tickets for Luncheon Meals
- Gold – $75.00
  1. Two weeks of Social Media Marketing in targeted posts on Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram the week of March 4th thru March 8th
  2. Logo & live links embedded throughout Material – Emails, posters, digital instruments
  3. Table for Marketing & Networking on-site at Luncheon
  4. Name Introduction on-site at Luncheon
  5. Carte Blanche to use content as your own to post
  6. Two Tickets for Speed Mentoring Sessions
  7. Two Tickets for Luncheon Meals
- Silver – $50.00
  1. Two weeks of Social Media Marketing in targeted posts on Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram the week of March 4th thru March 8th
  2. Logo & live links embedded throughout Material – Emails, posters, digital instruments
  3. Table for Marketing & Networking on-site at Luncheon
  4. Name Introduction on-site at Luncheon
  5. Carte Blanche to use content as your own to post
  6. 1 Ticket for Speed Mentoring Session
  7. 1 Ticket for Luncheon Meal
- Speed Mentoring & Networking Luncheon – $15.00
  1. 1 Ticket for Speed Mentoring Session
  2. 1 Ticket for Luncheon Meal

Tickets available through EventBrite.

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!