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How Window Film Can Actually Help Simplify Your Life

April 11, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

You might not have considered how window film can simplify your life, but it seriously can! Here are a few of the ways.

Eliminate Drapes

If you’re tired of cleaning your drapes, have no fear! Once you have window film, you may want to get rid of the drapes or other window coverings. Also, if you’ve been laundering your drapes, that’s another thing you can take off your to-do list. And when the drapes are gone, away goes the dust that collects on the drapes, too! For people with allergies, that can be a game-changer!

A Sleek Look

Do you have clutter all over your home? Window film looks clean, sleek, and modern. You can avoid a cluttered look with one simple decision: installing window film. For other ideas on avoiding clutter, see the excellent Wikipedia How to Remove Clutter From Your Home.

Sunscreen for Your Home

You can feel safer in your own home because window film protects your family’s skin and eyes. Some types of window film help hold your windows together, too, which is helpful during storms or in case of break-ins. We help both residential and commercial property owners with window film. For more information on how window film protects your health, see Why Window Film Makes You Healthier and Why You Need to Know.

More Privacy

Perhaps you’ve thought about installing awnings or privacy walls to protect your family or employees from prying eyes. With window film, you can get more privacy without any of that silliness. You might like our recent article Ten Day Challenge: More Privacy in San Francisco.

Keep Employees Happy

If you’re an employer, you can keep your employees happier, which in turn makes your life simpler. When window film does its job, your employees won’t even notice. The temperature is more regulated, and they can even stop wearing sunglasses indoors. The 3M Window Film website has all kinds of ideas on window film (scroll down to the simulator!).

We Work All Over the San Francisco Bay Area!

We started in the South Bay, in Silicon Valley, but we’ve expanded to San Francisco. And we travel to the East Bay, to Marin, and to the Peninsula as well. So call us and we’ll see what we can do for you!

A Shrewd, Invisible Enemy Is Stealing Your Greatest Asset

April 27, 2017 by Carol S 1 Comment

What if someone told you that something you’d thought was purely positive wasn’t? Well, it’s true! The sun’s rays can hurt you. The sun is the enemy that is stealing your greatest asset–your health! And it’s happening little by little every day.

Sun Damage is Cumulative

There’s no backing up the tape or do-overs in the world of sun damage. Every time you go outside unprotected, or are exposed to the sun’s rays (even in the comfort of your own home), your health is jeopardized. The damage that UV rays can do to children’s skin is worst of all! Unlike compounding interest in your bank account, cumulative sun damage is not a positive thing!

For a fun article on staying cool, you might like Bigfoot’s Guide to Beating the Heat.

humboldt beach photo — Photo by The Moonstone Archive

Is There Anything You Can Do?

Why, yes, there is something you can do. Thanks for asking. Here’s a list of quick and easy things you can do protect yourself and your family from sun damage:

Avoid the sun from 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest
Wear sunscreen when you’re in the sun (you can get sun damage indoors, too!)
Use enough sunscreen (other tips from Consumer Reports on sunscreen)
Sport a big hat, with 3″ or larger rims
Use sunglasses to protect your sensitive eyes

Here are some other things you can do, from a previous article: Afraid of the Sun? You Should Be!

At Home and at Work

Window Works offers window film to protect you and your family from the harmful rays that can travel through glass. Did you ever realize that the sun was so sneaky? Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined.³

Glass Does Not Protect You from UV Rays

You might think you’re safer if you’re inside your own home, but did you realize that some UV rays can travel through glass? For instance, Window glass blocks most UVB radiation, but only 30 percent of UVA radiation, according to the Melanoma Education Foundation An umbrella won’t always protect you from UV radiation, either, as sand (for instance, at the beach) may amplify those sneaky UV rays.

Window Film is Sunscreen for Your House

What if you never had to worry about damaging UV rays inside your home or office ever again? Well, you can stop worrying if you get window film. It keeps the harmful UV rays out.

We’d Love to Work with You!

We’d love to kick some ideas around with you if you’re thinking of window film.

Ten Quick and Easy Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer

April 6, 2017 by Carol S 1 Comment

Spring has sprung and with it, thoughts of being outdoors. But before you head to the beach, won’t you protect yourself against skin cancer? What if we promise that there are some easy ways to give your skin a break? After all, about 20% of Americans will develop some form of skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology says skin cancer is the most common type of cancer.

Clothing Is Your First Line of Defense

Big hats and long sleeves can be chic! Don’t roast in the sun like a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. The Skin Cancer Foundation has some detailed tips on sun-safe clothing that you might want to try. They recommend long sleeved shirts with a tight weave, for instance. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation “Look for garments with a UPF of at least 30 so that you know you’re getting effective sun protection.”

Protect Your Eyes

You might want your eyes to be fashionable, but your eyes also need protection. Big glasses, like the ones Jackie O used to wear, will give you lots of protection. Make sure your shades block both UVA and UVB light. The Skin Cancer Foundation has a nifty article on how to select the perfect sunglasses, by the way.

Hint: Your sunglasses should block 99-100 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Check the tag on the packaging to ensure this, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Giant Hat

Think Beach Blanket Babylon. Not really, but a big hat that covers your face, with at least a 3″ brim, will help a lot to prevent cancer. And also, big hats are cool! Baseball caps aren’t the best choice, since they leave your ears and neck exposed. You want a real hat, not something that’s necessarily the most chic.

tanning photo — Photo by earthlydelights

Sunscreen

You already knew this one, right? And the SPF should be at least 30, which filters out about 97% of the harmful rays, if used correctly. The American Cancer Society has a terrific article on how to choose the right sunscreen. In it, they suggest a broad spectrum sunshade. That is, a sunshade that protects against both UVA and UVB.

Timing

Staying out of the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when sun is the strongest, is one of the simplest way to avoid overexposure. Here are some more ways to avoid exposure, according to the American Skin Organization. One simple way to know when sun is the strongest, they say, is the saying Short Shadow, Seek Shade.

Avoid Indoor Tanning

Despite what we know about the dangers of tanning, many people still use tanning beds. They also use tanning lamps to get what they consider a “healthy glow.” But that healthy glow is anything but. Indoor tanning is especially popular among teens and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “A tan is the body’s response to injury from UV rays, showing that damage has been done. It does little to protect you from future UV exposure.”

Be a Shade-Seeking Beast

If you must be in the sun between 10 and 4, then be under a big umbrella, wearing a big hat, with giant sunglasses and sunscreen. If you must be out with your friends who love the sun, practice shaking your head at them when they suggest you wear skimpy clothes and frolic in the noonday sun. “Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out in the Noon Day Sun” you can say to them. They’ll wonder what you’re talking about, but they’ll sneak off to look it up on Google.

Shade Cloth and Awnings

Shade sail canopies and awnings are wonderful ways to prevent sunburns and overexposure. If you do a search on Google or Pinterest, you’ll find some very pretty options to prevent overexposure for you and your bbq guests if you live in a sunny area, such as California. Even in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we’re famous for foggy days, UV rays are a problem–UV rays penetrate clouds and fog. Look for shade cloth that protects from harmful UV rays.

Use Extra Caution Near Water, Sand, or Snow

Water, sand, and snow can intensify the negative effects of the sun, and result in sunburn. We all know someone who’s come back from skiing with the raccoon eyes they got because they skipped the sunscreen. Don’t be that raccoon!

Our Favorite – Window Film

In case you didn’t know, window film is like putting sunscreen on your windows! Your furnishings will absolutely thank you for the assistance. Without window film, your couch, your rug, and your skin can be damaged by the sun coming through your windows. Here are some articles for more information:

Have An Unusual Way to Avoid Skin Cancer?

We’d really like to know! So leave a comment, please.

Spotlight on Skin: Six Ways to Protect Yours Now

May 24, 2016 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Now that summer’s almost here, you’ll need to protect your skin. Go beyond simple sunscreen this year. And by the way, if you’re behind glass, you’re not protected from harmful UV radiation! That’s right, ultraviolet radiation is harmful to your skin even if you’re indoors.

Clothing with Built-In Sun Protection

Did you know that there is now clothing with built-in protection? REI has a very thorough article on the benefits of sun-protective clothing. It’s an easy and modern way to increase your protection when you have to be in the sun. By the way, we have no affiliation.

“Slip! Slop! Slap!^®… and Wrap”

We really like this way to remember how to prevent skin cancer, from the American Cancer Society. It’s a handy way to remember what to do:

Slip on a shirt.
Slop on sunscreen.
Slap on a hat.
Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them.

Shade Sails

People, being the ingenious creatures we are, have come up with clever ways to protect ourselves from bright sun. If you spend time outdoors on your patio or deck, do a search on Amazon and you’ll find some attractive and inexpensive shade sails. We’ve even seen them at Costco!

Ask the Experts

Who better than OSHA to ask about how to protect yourself from the sun? Their advice includes covering up, wearing sunscreen, and wearing UV-absorbent shades. If you’d rather ask Bigfoot about sun protection, he’s got an opinion, too.

Window Film: Our Favorite!

You might not remember to slather on sunscreen when you’re inside your home. Window film is sunscreen for your home or business’ windows.

What Did We Leave Out?

If you have a favorite way of protecting your skin, we’d love to hear from you.