Fragment Retention Window Film: Five Reasons You Need it

April 27, 2022 by Carol S Leave a Comment

If you’re a building or facilities manager for a high rise building, you definitely need fragment retention window film. After all, safety is a top concern for most facilities managers. Here are a few reasons you need it.

Prevent glass shattering

You’ve all seen the YouTube videos where glass falls and shatters everywhere, injuring people close by and even bouncing and hurting people across streets. And those tiny shards of glass are difficult to see. So cleanup is a mess. Fragment retention window film helps to keep glass together when it breaks. Glass still breaks, but with this window film it doesn’t explode all over, as it would without the window film. 3M has an article that discusses why fragment retention window film is a good choice for schools. We think it’s an even better choice for high rise buildings!

Keep bad glass from shattering everywhere

For those unfortunate scenarios where there’s globally sourced glass (we’re talking to you, facilities manager on a budget), using the right window film keeps everything together. If you’ve acquired cheap glass, you need fragment retention window film more than ever, since cheap glass is more susceptible to spontaneous shattering. By the way if you’re a facilities manager, we’d love to connect with you at one of the expos or conferences for Facilities Managers, like this one: The Window Works Crew at the Fabulous Northern California Facilities Expo 2021 in Santa Clara.

If you have large glass windows, they will be more susceptible to stress

Tornadoes, hurricanes, and weird weather are becoming more common

We don’t have to tell you that the weather is changing. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve had all sorts of heat waves, droughts, and downpours. We’ve even had the occasional tornado, if you can believe that! If you’re somewhere that has tornadoes, hurricanes, or even bomb blasts, fragment retention window film can help. When your big windows get hit by bad weather, you want your glass to stay together and not explode into a million pieces.

It’s easy to install

What is that old saw about an ounce of prevention versus a pound of cure? That applies here. The window film is your ounce of prevention. Also, since it’s easy to install (for us, that is), you don’t have to spend days, weeks, or months remodeling. Right now, you may hear from your contractor that building material is stuck on ships or impossible to get.

Size Matters

If you have large glass windows, they will be more susceptible to stress. So if you’re in a high rise, those large windowpanes are at greater risk of shattering from temperature fluctuations, especially during the spring and fall when temperatures tend to change more. For those large windows that are more at risk, use fragment retention window film, in case one of your large windows shatters. Read Bob Vila’s article about the drawbacks of thermal pane windows.

Call us for more reasons!

If you have questions, call Window Works customer care at 415.650.5200. We really are very friendly.

We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the Peninsula and Marin!

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!

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.

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!

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!

How to Stay Cool in the Heat? You’ll Love 3M™ Thinsulate™ Window Film

May 25, 2017 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a way to stay cool? We’re excited about 3M™’s Thinsulate™ Window Film! Thinsulate™ helps you preserve the look and feel of your building. It reduces heat loss and keeps the temperature comfortable.

Save up to 10% of Your Energy Costs

If you have single-pane windows, Thinsulate™ can help you save up to 10% of your energy costs. And here’s the official 3M™ video, if you’d like to hear about it straight from the camel’s mouth:

There are so many benefits to 3M™ Thinsulate™ window film:

Preserves the look and feel of your building
Reduces heat loss
Keeps the temperature comfortable
Rejects the heat in the summertime
Maintains cool in the wintertime

sunlight photo — Photo by Brian Tomlinson

And if you’re trying to stay cool in the summertime,you could use Thinsulate™. And if you’re all bundled up inside your home during the winter, Thinsulate™ is still the answer.

Nearly Invisible

You can see Thinsulate™ window film, but only if you really try! It’s so thin, that you might not even realize it’s there! That’s the beauty of it. It protects you so well, that you forget it’s there.

digital scale photo — Photo by vuvanhahung

Gives You Control

Don’t you like to control the temperature within your own home or office? If you’re not running over to the temperature gauge every other minute, you could be using that time for something else. And with the recent extreme temperature fluctuations, wouldn’t that be a relief?

thermostat photo — Photo by CORGI HomePlan | http://corgi-homeplan-how-safe-is-your-home.org

Photo by CORGI HomePlan | http://corgi-homeplan-how-safe-is-your-home.org

Stabilizes Temperatures

Now the rooms within your home or building can have similar temperatures, instead of one room being so extremely hot or cold.

Less Expensive

Installing double-pane windows can be a pain in the neck, as well as extremely expensive. There is a less expensive alternative: Thinsulate™! And Thinsulate™ is almost as effective as that extra pane of glass.

Thinsulate Window Film Keeps You Comfortable

Comfort

When you’re comfortable, you can work better, sleep better, and feel more at ease. Your employees and family will feel the same way.

Reduce Heat Loss

Thinsulate™ reduces heat loss by up to 38%.

window film photo — Photo by Sigma.DP2.Kiss.X3

Window Film Protects You

To see more about how 3M window film protects you, your family, and your furnishings, check out these articles:

Give Us a Call!

We’re in San Francisco, and service the entire San Francisco Bay Area! We’d love to talk to you!

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

February 23, 2017 by Carol S 2 Comments

Heroic Proportions

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

Invisibility

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

Protects Your Belongings

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

Safeguards Your Health

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

Keeps out the Heat and the Cold!

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

The Coolness Factor

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

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

lake tahoe beautiful photo — Photo by MrMitch

Safety and Security

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

Cut Down on Glare

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

Are You One of the Cool Kids?

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

Solar Heat Gain: Why Should it Matter to You?

February 9, 2017 by Carol S 2 Comments

living room photo

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

Glass Amplifies Heat Gain

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

greenhouse photo — Photo by Drew’s Photo Shoots

Lack of Air Circulation

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

Can Window Film Help?

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

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

mansion inside photo — Photo by PhotoAtelier

Enjoy Your Home

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

Is Window Film Right for You?

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

Why You Absolutely Positively Need Window Film

January 31, 2017 by Carol S 3 Comments

Why You Absolutely Positively Need Window Film

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

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

Window Works is All Over the Bay Area–and Beyond

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

Don’t Block That Gorgeous View

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

Shield Your Eyes from Too Much Sun

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

Window Film as Design and Landscape Element

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

Insta-Privacy!

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

Separation Anxiety

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

Need More Ideas?

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

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

December 27, 2016 by Carol S 1 Comment

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

Polar Vortex: What the Heck is it?

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

tahoe snowstorm photo — Photo by hillary h

Extreme Weather

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

Does the Polar Vortex Even Have a Nose?

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

Maybe Not So Literal

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

One Window Film to Rule Them All

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

Questions About Window Film?

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

marin snow photo — Photo by Eric Fischer