Window Film Confidential: How to Create Privacy Where There is None

August 11, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Window Film Confidential: How to Create Privacy Where There is None

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you know how expensive it is to live here. Nearly every day, there’s an article about how crowded and pricey housing is here. Even if you do find a place to live, there’s probably no privacy. Roommates or neighbors are too close, and you need a little privacy!

What to Do?

You might like to read our previous article about privacy: Ten Day Challenge: More Privacy in San Francisco, for starters.

Block Sound

To block sound, some people prefer to use sound-blocking curtains in their home. Here’s one that we found: Moon Dream Curtains. These would be great if you have a noisy neighbor, and/or you work nights and need to sleep during the day. Their Frequently Asked Questions have additional ideas for blocking sound that you could try, such as rugs, and double-back tape to prevent the sound from entering your home.

Create Room Dividers

Do you use screens or room dividers to create smaller rooms out of larger ones? You’re not alone. You might want to refer to our article: Is Privacy Actually a Big Concern for You? with more tips on privacy. And right now we’re interested in these room divider kits that seem like a simple way to solve the problem of dividing up space.

Use Window Film

Of course, we recommend window film as the best and easiest way to find privacy. Why? It lasts, it’s installed by professionals, it blocks UV light which has been known to cause skin cancer, and it doesn’t take up any space.

Call Us

Confused about which kind of window film would work best for you and your privacy? Give us a call! We’d love to talk to you. Our number is 415.623.8700. We work all over the San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose, Silicon Valley, to Marin County, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and of course San Francisco counties.

It looks like a good day to try window film

July 31, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Of course, in our estimation, every day is a good day to try window film. Why right now, though? And why today? Here are a few reasons!

The Climate is Warming

No matter what you think the reason is for the climate warming up, there is no doubt that everything is getting warmer. For one thing, we’ve had the five hottest years on record since 2010, according to NASA scientists. A few people love the warmer weather, but in San Francisco, fewer do.

The Planet is More Crowded

With a growing population, privacy tends to disappear along with the wide open spaces we knew as kids. And wherever there’s less privacy, window film can help! See our article about privacy here: Ten Day Challenge: More Privacy in San Francisco. Maybe you’ve already tried using plants and folding screens for privacy and want to try the next step! Then window film can definitely help.

Skin Cancer Is a Real Concern

You may have read that avoiding the sun’s damaging UV rays can help you prevent skin cancer. If not, here’s a great article outlining what you can do to prevent skin cancer, from SkinCancer.org: Why Use Window Film? You do know that UV rays are sneaky, don’t you?

Why Window Works?

Window Works has a growing reputation among people in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve become much busier recently, especially after our move to San Francisco. We began working in the South Bay, helping people in the San Jose area, which we still do. But we’ve recently expanded our service area to not just San Francisco, but San Mateo County, Marin County, and Alameda County.

Our Clients

Many of our clients include big corporations and we do not share their names with you. Sometimes we’ll give you small clues, such as the time we shared pictures from “some fruit company.” But more often than not, we let our clients stay anonymous unless they specifically want publicity.

We’d Love to Help You!

The biggest reason to hire us for your residential or business window film needs is that we love what we do! So give us a call if you need window film! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

How to Save Money and Beautify Your Home with Window Film

June 28, 2018 by Carol S 1 Comment

Have you ever considered using window film to save money for your residence in the San Francisco Bay Area? Everyone wants to save money on their home, especially since energy costs in the San Francisco Bay Area continue to rise. According to Electricity Local, San Francisco’s residential electric rates are 8th in the nation. Did you know that using window film can save you money as well as beautify your home? Here’s how that works!

Keep Energy Costs Down

When your home is too hot in the summer, your air conditioner has to work overtime so your cooling costs go up. And as you already know, energy costs in the San Francisco Bay Area have been going up every year. Save money on your energy costs by keeping the heat of the sun from entering your home to begin with. Your home stays cooler in the summer and your power bills stay lower, too. We like this article: Why Window Tinting is the Ultimate Life Hack for Saving Money.

sun room photo — Photo by Hotel Internazionale Ischia

Help Your Furniture Last Longer

You’ve spent a lot of money on that custom couch and that beautiful solid oak flooring, haven’t you? So why not keep it as long as possible? With window film, all your belongings are protected. According to an article in Houzz, “There are three main culprits in the spectrum of light: UVA and UVB rays cause 45 percent of the damage; heat/infrared radiation causes 25 percent; and visible light causes 25 percent…”. If you haven’t read A Surefire Way to Prevent Sun Damage Indoors, you might want to. They go on to say that “Good-quality solar window films, like those by Vista, 3M or Lumor, reject 99.9 percent of the sun’s harmful rays.”

Beautify and Protect

Here’s the part where we talk about the beautification. There are many different types of window films now. You can get stripes, dots, and more. And, as this article in the Denver Post entitled Abundantly clear: Window films can save money invisibly states, “Today’s window films can also inexpensively make clear glass look etched or frosted for privacy or a decorative effect.”

front room window photo — Photo by HYWare

Decorative Window Films

Maybe you missed our series about 3M Fasara decorative window films:

Have Questions?

We’d love to answer your questions! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

The Invisible Power of Window Film You Need to See

June 21, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

The really great thing about good window film is that it’s invisible. When it’s doing its job, you can’t even see it! Of course, that makes it a little difficult to talk about, right? It’s like trying to take a picture of the Invisible Man. He’s there, but how do you explain him to other people? Maybe we could begin by talking about some of the benefits of window film.

Protects You from UV Rays

We’ve all heard that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin and cause premature aging. Because UV rays are sneaky, they can find you when you least expect it. At the beach, in your office, and in your car, among other places. And it comes right through windows unless you have window film to block it!

commercial look photo — Photo by @AnnerleyJohnsonPhotos

Saves You Money on Your Utility Bills

When the sun’s rays don’t enter your home or business, you save money on your power bills. Things don’t heat up or cool down the way they do when you don’t have window film. Here’s a recent article we wrote about how you can save money on your power bills: Window Film: A Quick and Easy Way to Save Money?

uv skies photo — Photo by Robert.Pittman

Prevents Skin Cancer

Preventing skin cancer is a big one for us. The Skin Cancer organization has a whole section on skin cancer, UV protection, and window film on their website. Of course, using common sense when in the sun goes a long way towards preventing skin cancer, too. Staying out of the sun during the hottest times of the day, sporting a wide-brimmed hat, and wearing long sleeves can all help skin damage.

Keeps Employees (and You!) Happy

If you have employees, you want to keep them happy, don’t you? Don’t make the people who work with you wear sunglasses indoors because of a terrible problem with glare! We’ve seen many places where the employees have to wear sunglasses indoors–don’t let your workplace be one of them.

Ready for Window Film?

Give us a call! We’d love to talk to you about window film. We work all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Mateo County, Alameda County, and Santa Clara County.

How to Make Glass Windows More Private

May 31, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

You may be wondering what the best ways are to create more privacy at your home or office. Not to worry! We have some ideas that will make your task much easier!

Window Film Creates Privacy

For the most uncluttered look, try window film. You might have wondered about what kind of window film you should get. But you can always give us a call and we can help advise you. And you might like this recent post about How to Use Window Film to Get Privacy in Your Tiny House. After all, to afford to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people live with roommates or in a tiny house.

Curtains or Half Curtains

Sometimes all you need is a cafe curtain, which is a half curtain. Or you may need a full floor-to-ceiling type of curtain. Either way, curtains can help you have more privacy. The upside with curtains is that they’re easy to install and usually inexpensive. The downside is that for those with allergies they collect dust and need to be cleaned. Also, curtains take up valuable space whereas window film takes up no space at all. You might like 10 Important Things to Consider When You’re Buying Curtains from Elle Decor.

gorgeous home photo — Photo by Serena Snowfield – On Hiatus Until June

Photo by Serena Snowfield – On Hiatus Until June

Shutters for Privacy

Shutters are handy because you can open and close one, two, or more shutters at a time. And they have a classic look which is wonderful in a living room or library, too. And in case you think adding shutters is something you can do casually, here’s an article that talks about how installing shutters the wrong way can ruin the look of your home: All About Exterior Window Shutters.

Screens Provide Instant Privacy

Screens are great because you can move them around. They’re a way to create instant privacy and can be pulled out at a moment’s notice such as when you have a guest over and need to create a private space for them. They can block the afternoon sun in front of a window, or provide relief from people looking in as well.

Call Us to Schedule an Appointment!

We install window film all over the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have questions about window film, please call!

How to Use Window Film that Will Help You Prevent Skin Cancer

April 26, 2018 by Carol S 1 Comment

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Since May is officially Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d talk a little about skin cancer and how window film can be used as part of a strategy to prevent skin cancer. If you don’t know about Skin Cancer Awareness Month, take a look at the Skin Cancer Foundation’s article: May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Skin Cancer is the Number One Most Common Cancer

Unfortunately, many people don’t know how many skin cancers can be avoided through prevention. And skin cancer is becoming much more prevalent. Skin cancer is usually easily detectable and can be treated. The Skin Cancer Foundation has a ton of ways to prevent skin cancer on their website, so take a look if you’re unsure. And you might like to check out our article Ten Quick and Easy Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer.

Window Film to Prevent Cancer

Did you know that 3M™ window film is one of the best ways to prevent the sun’s UV rays from reaching your skin? And that 3M™ window film has the seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation? Check out the 3M website (scroll down) to see the Skin Cancer Foundation badge. You can find automotive, commercial, and residential window films. There are a number of surprising ways to use window film, as our recent article, Surprising Uses for Window Film You Need to Know outlines.

New Sun-Protective Clothing to Prevent Cancer

We are really enjoying the new sun-protective clothing that blocks the UV rays that can harm your skin. Coolibar is one of the best ones we’ve found, with hats, beachwear, and other clothing that look good, too. Another of our favorites is Under Armour. There are many others, but these had websites that were the easiest to navigate. We’ve even seen some sun-protective clothing at Costco–so luckily for all of us, sun protection is getting easier, and awareness has been spreading, too.

Umbrellas, Awnings, and Tents

Do a search on Amazon for UV protection and you’ll find all kinds of nifty umbrellas and awnings, as well as tents. If you don’t know where to start, just choose one item and start there. Like organizing an emergency kit for your car, it doesn’t have to be done all at once.

Have Questions About Window Film?

Give us a call! We’d love to answer your window film questions.

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!

Why Window Film Makes You Healthier and Why You Need to Know

January 25, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Maybe in the past you’d always thought of window film as a luxury, or something for people with too much money. But what if window film improved your health? What if window film could help block the UV rays that cause skin cancer? News Flash! Window film does screen out the UV rays that can cause cancer! Here’s how the sun and UV cause cancer from Cancer Research UK.

Your Eyes and Your Skin Need Protection

You eat healthy food, you drink plenty of water, but do you protect your eyes and your skin as much as they need to be protected? Probably not. It’s strange to think that you might need to wear sun screen indoors! But UV rays travel right through glass. So you might want to know How Window Film Protects Your Skin. Because maybe no one told you before.

Skin Cancer Rates on the Increase

Did you know that skin cancer rates have been increasing every year? And that over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined? Take a look at more statistics about skin cancer from Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation. Prepare to be terrified!

UV Rays Travel Through Clouds

While you might not get quite as many UV rays on cloudy days, UV rays do indeed travel through clouds. So fog won’t protect you, people of San Francisco! Take a look at these Six Common Sun Myths, Exposed, by CNN. 80% of the sun’s rays travel through clouds, which is why you’ll still get burnt on a cloudy day unless you take steps to protect yourself! And 80% is a B (not for you, but for those sneaky UV rays!).

Want to Live Longer and Better?

Preventing UV rays from reaching your skin can prevent wrinkles and premature aging as well as preventing cancer! We’d all like to look better as we grow older, right? Not to mention, we’d like to keep our eyesight in tip-top shape! Here’s an article about protecting your skin that you might like: Spotlight on Skin: Six Ways to Protect Yours Now.

Convinced Yet?

Give us a call! We’d love to talk to you about which kind of window film might be best for you!

The Best Window Film Installations You Might Want to See

October 14, 2017 by Carol S 1 Comment

We see a lot of window film installations since we’re in the window film business. Some of those installations are inspiring. And others? Not so much. So for this post, here are some of our own installations that we hope you’ll like! Because everyone on the staff loves these!

Window Film Installation in Marin County

Above is an example of an artistic and unusual use of window film–on an outdoor divider in a residence in Marin County, California. You can see Mt. Tamalpais in the distance!

South Bay Area

The above installation is one we did for a large fruit company in the South Bay Area. We didn’t want the employees to need to wear sunglasses indoors, so we helped them cut the glare and lower their cooling costs. By the way, if you want to learn more about glare, you might like this article: How to Dramatically Cut Back Sun Glare: 10 Ways.

Santa Clara Installation

The above installation in Santa Clara is one we did for a gym’s waiting room. We really like the clean, uncluttered look of this installation.

San Francisco Highrise Installation

We do a lot of installations in San Francisco, so forgive us if we can’t choose just one. The above installation was done for a search engine, but we can’t name any names! And guess what?! Because of the window film, you won’t be able to see into their offices!

Downtown San Francisco ~ 3M™ Fasara™ Mat Glass Finish

Here’s a conference room that lets the light through without sacrificing privacy. It’s another installation in San Francisco.

Instagram

By the way, some of these images also appear on our Instagram account, and we’d love to connect with you there if you’d like to follow us as well.

Have a Request?

Please give us a call! We’d love to install some window film for you!

How to Dramatically Cut Back Sun Glare: 10 Ways

September 12, 2017 by Carol S 1 Comment

The weather has been frightful lately. With temperatures upwards of 100 degrees in San Francisco, the heat has been terrible. The glare for most people has been awful, too. And our eyes can be harmed by the UV rays and glare from the sun! So what can you do?

Window Film

Our go-to for glare reduction is window film. Your eyes will thank you by not squinting all day. Not only that, but you won’t have to wear sun glasses indoors any more! If you don’t believe us, you might want to read this terrific article on Houzz: A Surefire Way to Prevent Sun Damage Indoors.

Thick Curtains

Curtains are a good choice, but they can be a little unwieldy. Still, they do work to cut back on the glare. If you have a smaller house, or want a clean, uncluttered look, thick curtains might not be your best bet.

Awnings

Awnings can be a good option, depending upon the angle of the sun. Awnings probably are not going to block all the glare for you, though. We do really like the idea of an awning that could also generate electricity, as you can see in this article from the Department of Energy: Energy Efficient Window Treatments.

Plantation Shutters

These are popular in certain types of homes. If your home is more rustic, like a cabin, then you might enjoy plantation shutters. They also remind us of some homes in the tropics or Hawaii.

Drapes

Drapes can be beautiful and dramatic, although cleaning them is never fun. They seem to attract dust! And also, the slatted types often let in a piercing line of bright sunshine. Not exactly the way to prevent glare.

Trees and Shrubs

Shrubs can help cool the house as well as prevent glare and clean the air. We’re big fans of trees and shrubs. This low-tech way of preventing glare can also dramatically lower your energy bills. A little study of where the light hits your house and when can really help!

Blackout Shades

You could use blackout shades, but then why have windows? But if glare is giving you a big headache, this option will certainly work.

Aluminum Foil

You probably have some foil left over from that hat you made, right? Just kidding! There are some other nifty ideas on this Wiki How to Make Your Room Pitch Black During the Day.

Insulated Panels

Panels can be made of foam core or styrofoam and inserted into the interior of a window. And, like blackout shades, you might have to ask yourself why even have windows if you’re going to such desperate measures to block them.

Storm Panels

While not popular around the San Francisco Bay Area, storm panels can indeed help with glare. Many people simply use plywood as protection against storms. But there are also lightweight panels available.

How Do You Protect Yourself Against Glare?

Have you thought of a solution that we haven’t thought of? We’d love to hear from you!