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How to Make an Invisible Theft Deterrent: New Window Film

April 14, 2016 by Window Works Leave a Comment

For commercial or residential property, there are a variety of ways to deter thieves. You can install alarms, lighting systems, monitors to record activity nearby, or have a trained guard dog. Here are some ways we have found that work wonders.

Window Film

Window film helps keep you, your family, and your business safe because it holds glass together. Every second counts when a thief is trying to get into your home. Don’t let the “crime of convenience” term be associated with your home–take aggressive steps to make it difficult for thieves to break in! And if you want to know how to keep your family’s skin safe, see our Dangers of Indoor UV Radiation: How to Protect Yourself. More about safety film below.

Own a Dog

Some dogs are better than others at protecting your property. You probably wouldn’t choose a tiny dog, unless it had a huge bark and a huger bite. But a Doberman or a German Shepherd with adequate training would do a great job. Both are on the Top Ten List of Dog Breeds for Protection. And if you own a dog, you might also want to post a Beware of Dog sign. By the way, here’s how Big Foot Beats the Heat. Big Foot is definitely big enough to help deter thieves.

Install Lighting

Motion detector lighting is one simple way to deter thieves. You can adjust the lights for different times of year, how long the lights stay on, and the distance-range setting. You may want to improve your security by pointing lights at all points of entry to your home. Here’s an excellent article on How to Choose and Install Motion Detector Lighting. You want to avoid having places for thieves to hide, such as behind bushes or doorways.

Have a Home Security System

There are a number of smart home security systems now available without the costly monthly fees. Be careful when choosing your home security system. Consumer Reports recently reviewed three of these home security systems, and found that they mostly deliver what they promised. Another deterrent is to post signs letting potential thieves know that you have a security system. If you decide that you do want to buy one of the big-name security systems, Huffington Post has a good article about how to choose one, and emphasizes ways to get discounts!

keynote photo — Photo by Ignite New Zealand

Get a Home Security Check

Many police departments offer security checks. Ask your local officers in blue to come by and walk around. They’ll give you suggestions to help beef up your security. Some tips are quite simple, such as locking doors, installing peepholes, and keeping exterior areas lit up. The San Jose Police Department has a good, five-minute video on preventing burglary. They emphasize that burglars are looking for easy entry into homes.

open fence photo — Photo by AJU_photography

Be a Good Neighbor

Being a good neighbor sounds like a cliche, but we’ve all known people who don’t even know their neighbors! If you don’t know yours, today is the day to change that! A batch of cookies and a walk through the neighborhood will quickly end the problem of living next to strangers. Or, if you’re too shy to walk around with cookies, you could take a digital approach and join a Facebook group, or a local NextDoor.com group.

Avoid Mentioning Travel Plans on Social Media

Of course you want to keep your friends updated, but why not share after you’ve returned? Those wonderful photos of you on the beach can surely keep for another day or two. Here is a list of things not to post on Facebook before or while you’re on vacation. For instance, don’t say you’re going to buy some diamonds and will be out of town for a few days.

window lock photo — Photo by Alain LE GUEN

Window Locks

Since windows are one of the least secure spots in a home, spending a little of your security budget can have a big impact on your home or business’ security. Window locks are an inexpensive option that does not detract from the style of your home. One of the best deterrents is a hefty window lock that is visible from the outside, as outlined in this excellent article, How to Burglar-Proof Windows.

3M Safety Film

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is this video about 3M safety film worth? Above, two industrious burglars try to break into a clothing store in Dallas, Texas, and eventually give up and drive off. They try hitting it and even throw a garbage can at it.

Safety Film is Invisible But Results Aren’t!

You’ll probably forget that you have safety film once it’s installed. But rest assured that it’s protecting you! It requires no feeding, no additional monthly fees, and very little maintenance other than occasional cleaning!

Give Us a Call!

Ready to install safety film, or have questions about whether it’s right for you? We’re in Santa Clara, near the San Jose Airport. But we travel all over the San Francisco Bay Area!

Referral Agent Program

September 2, 2015 by Window Works Leave a Comment

Referral Agent Program

Are you an Interior Designer, Energy Consultant, Window Treatment Shop, Flooring Rep, or other trade related to Interiors, Homes and Energy Savings? If so, and your clients have a need for Energy Savings, Window Film, Fade Reduction or Safety Film; then become a Referral Agent by sending them to us and receive a commission!

Excluding your coworkers and family, think of someone you know that would be happy to win $200 right now. Don’t move until you’ve thought of someone. The RAP provides our agents with opportunities to build stronger relationships with existing clients and future contracts.

Do you have someone in mind? Great! Here is the link so that you can refer customer leads to Window Works:

go.3M.com/Refer-WindowWorks

Compensation

Once the window film is installed and payment collected, the 3M dealer (WindowWorksCA) will send you a check for up to 10% of the gross.

Our Window Film Product

Super cool protection.

The first of its kind, the 3M™ Ultra Prestige Series films are made from up to 42 micro layers of clear, tear-resistant film.

That strength is combined with Prestige Series sun control films to reject up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows and 97% of the sun’s infrared light.

These films also reject 99.9% of harmful UV rays, reducing the effects of fading on your furnishings.

Ultra Prestige Series films allow 50% to 70% of the natural light into your home. The result is films that offer all the benefits of sun control with safety features built in.

With these films, you’ll block heat, reduce hot spots and damaging UV rays, while also helping to hold glass together in the event of break-ins or severe weather.

Want More Info?

Here are Seven Ways Window Film Can Improve Your Life. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area (near the San Jose Airport), and we service businesses and homes in the Bay Area.

Residential Window Film Can Protect Your Family

July 29, 2015 by Window Works 2 Comments

You have the best health insurance, including dental and emergency coverage. You always use seat belts in the car. And you make sure that your kids look both ways before crossing the street. But did you know that ultraviolet (“UV”) light could be hurting your family? Yes, it’s true. Let us count the ways.

Premature Skin Aging

While the sun has positive benefits, UVA rays penetrate the atmosphere and can cause your beautiful skin to age prematurely. Excess radiation can cause damage at the DNA level and can lead to wrinkles, sun spots, and skin cancer. UV light can penetrate ordinary glass and cause it to multiply its negative effects. Fortunately, window film blocks the UVA light that enters your windows. This film blocks up to 99.9 percent of UV radiation and lets in up to 80 percent of visible light. For more information about UVA and UVB, see this excellent article from Skin Cancer.org.

Keep Your Family's Eyes Safe with Window Film — Keep Your Family’s Eyes Safe with Window Film

Eye Damage

The sun can cause damage to the eyes which accumulates in later life. Conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts can be caused by too much solar radiation. At the beach, sunscreen and sunglasses, as well as a large hat, should be used. The American Optometric Association has guidelines for caring for your eyes. Luckily, window film will protect your family’s eyes in your own home by keeping UV radiation from entering your windows.

The sun can severely damage your furniture

Damage to Furniture

Fading, discoloration and fabric breakdown are three problems that can be easily preventable with window film. Even if your area is foggy, UV radiation can cause damage to your rugs and beautiful furniture, as outlined in this article from Houzz on how to prevent sun damage indoors. And by the way, if you have big windows, applying window film is not a DIY project–we recommend that you call in an expert. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area if you need us.

Skin Cancer

Exposure to UV radiation puts you and your family at risk for skin cancer. The time of day, time of year, cloud cover, and altitude all change the strength of the UV rays. Outdoors, clothing and skin protection can help alleviate some risk. Indoors, much of this risk can be avoided by applying window film.

Children Are More Vulnerable

Severe sunburns as a child severely increase an individual’s risk for developing skin cancer. Children need to wear hats, sunscreen, and avoid the sun when it’s at its most harsh, between 10 am and 4 pm. Indoors, you can use window film to protect the little ones.

What's More Important Than Your Family's Health? — What’s More Important Than Your Family’s Health?

Protect Your Family

We’d love to talk to you about different types of window film for your home. We’re near the San Jose Airport, and travel up and down the San Francisco peninsula all the way up to San Francisco.

How Window Film Protects Your Skin

June 24, 2015 by Window Works 4 Comments

You might think that window film is only aesthetic: it makes your car or building look snazzy and reduces glare while you’re driving or seated near a window. But did you know that window film also protects your skin? Here are a few ways it can protect your epidermis.

Ultra Violet Radiation

Ultra violet (“UV”) radiation travels through both your home and car windows, and can damage your skin. Some people think that glass protects them from UV rays, but only car windshields block UVA and UVB rays. On the side and rear car windows, most UVA is not blocked, as explained in this article from the Melanoma Education Foundation. Window film blocks this dangerous radiation, protecting your skin.

Ultraviolet-A Rays Penetrating the Atmosphere

Left-Side Cancer

Drivers with left-hand drive develop more skin damage and cancer. Even with the windows up, UV radiation gets in and hits your skin, causing more damage to the left side than to the right. “Long-time drivers are found to have rougher, more pigmented skin with greater solar damage on their driver’s side,” noted Albert Kligman, MD, PhD, emeritus professor of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, according to a post from the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website. In countries where drivers sit on the right side, there is more right-side cancer.

Long-Wave UVA Rays

Most car windows offer little to no protection from the long-wave UVA rays that can cause serious damage to your skin. Sometimes the front windshield can offer a little, as mentioned above, but nowhere near what you would get with window film. But window film blocks up to 99.9 percent of UV radiation.

Exposure to UV Radiation is Cumulative

Those UV rays are sneaky and the damage is cumulative. Even if you can’t see the damage with your eyes, the damage is occurring. Wrinkles, sun (or “liver”) spots, and cancer are three of the ways that your skin can be damaged. And it’s not always easy to remember to apply sunscreen or wear a hat, so window film protects you even when you’re not thinking about protecting your own skin.

Window Film Can Help Prevent Skin Damage

In addition to wearing sunscreen, avoiding the sun between 10:00 and 2:00 (according to the Mayo Clinic) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, window film is one of the best investments you can make to prevent skin damage. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends window tint as part of a comprehensive skin care program.

Need Help Deciding Which Window Film Is Best?

Give Window Works a call to see which window film would be best for either your car or your building. We are located in Santa Clara, near the San Jose Airport, and our crew travels throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

3M Daylight Redirecting Film: Five Ways it Can Change Your Life

June 10, 2015 by Window Works 1 Comment

Chances are you’ve never heard of daylight redirecting film, or known that it could change your life. But it can! We’ve written about window film and its benefits before, but daylight redirecting film is completely different. In case you didn’t know anything about this wondrous film, here is an introduction.

Daylight Redirecting Film Can Decrease Absenteeism

People react positively to natural daylight. And many builders create larger windows to allow more light into buildings. However, you can use 3M’s Daylight Redirecting Film rather than installing larger windows. And having more light makes a better work environment, which decreases absenteeism. See the video below to find out how.

Daylight Redirecting Film Works At All Times of Day

Even if the sun is low in the sky or there’s not that much light, 3M redirecting film can redirect sunlight and brighten up your office or home. The film can be modeled using software to redirect light according to your building’s orientation, weather, and time of year.

The video below shows a timelapse of 3M Daylight Redirecting Film in a building:

3M Daylight Redirecting Film Throws Light Deep into Buildings

We couldn’t say it any better than this 3M website: “New to the world 3M Daylight Redirecting Film, utilizes micro-replication to redirect light that would have originally hit the floor a few feet from the window, up onto the ceiling, helping to light the room as deep as 40 feet from the window.”

3M Daylight Redirecting Film Reduces Glare

Without window film, people often use shades or black-out curtains to block all light, which keeps the interior of a room dark. Without glare, people feel comfortable without the addition of curtains or shades, increasing their comfort.

Daylight Redirecting Film Increases Comfort

3M Redirecting Window Film is Cool

And by cool, we mean literally cool. And in the summertime, having a cooler home or office means less cooling costs.

Questions?

If you’re wondering about window film, give us a call! We recently moved to Santa Clara, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Window Works Has Moved!

April 29, 2015 by Window Works 3 Comments

3M Prestige Window Film Dealer Window Works has moved to Santa Clara!

We had three great years at the amazing Car Condo community Club Auto Sport but we have grown out of our quarters!

We found a great place to call HQ right on the other side of the San Jose Airport in Santa Clara.

Our New Address:

Window Works
400 Reed Street
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408-644-5200
877-677-0067

We will still have Automotive Installs at Club Auto Sport for 3M Crystalline, so don’t worry–we’ve got your cars covered!

Window Works is your Authorized 3M Prestige Window Film Dealer for 3M Residential, Commercial and Decorative Window Film. We service and install in San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and all of the San Francisco & South Bay Areas.

Have a Question?

Give us a call! We’re friendly!