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!

What Happens When a New Homeowner Installs Window Film?

September 30, 2018 by Carol S Leave a Comment

What Happens When a New Homeowner Installs Window Film?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you have window film installed at your new home? Window film is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, enjoy less glare, and keep the UV rays outside. There are a few things you might notice, and some things you won’t notice, too.

Enjoy the Quiet

According to Wikipedia, “Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body’s senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment.” And here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is so much noise that you can easily become over-stimulated. If you’re someone who gets sensory overload, then window film will definitely help your nerves feel less jangly.

No More Glare

Glare can occur inside the home when the sun is setting as well as when the sun enters your windows and gets in your eyes. We’ve often written about people who need to wear sunglasses indoors. If you haven’t read this article about glare, you might like it: How to Eliminate Glare That Will Help You Have a Better Life. Are you someone who suffers from headaches or ocular migraines because of glare? Then you’ll probably notice fewer headaches.

The UV Rays Stay Outside

Most people feel safe in their own homes. But UV rays are tricky; they can penetrate glass and find you where you live. To really outsmart those nasty ultraviolet rays, you need to have a secret weapon. That secret weapon is window film! You may not notice immediately, but over months and years, your skin will look better. According to the American Cancer Society, most skin cancers are a direct result of exposure to the UV rays in sunlight. Here’s their article: Does UV radiation cause cancer?

Temperatures Remain More Stable

If you’re a new homeowner, you might not notice that your temperatures remain more stable inside your home. The extremes simply go away. Thinsulate™ Insulation window film can make temperatures more stable year round–not just in the summer as some people tend to believe. For more about Thinsulate™ window film, see our previous article: How to Punch the Polar Vortex in the Nose with Window Film.

Want to Experience Window Film?

You may not know exactly what kind of window film will be right for your needs. If that sounds like you, give us a call at 415.623.8700 to discuss window film. We’d love to help you achieve your health goals!

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How to Have a Zen Experience with Window Film

August 31, 2018 by Carol S 4 Comments

Something we haven’t heard anyone talk about is how window film makes everything more…zen. Maybe it’s the lack of sensory stimulation once glare is removed. Window film makes everything quieter, which if you’re sensitive to overstimulation is a very good thing. By the way, you might enjoy our post about window film and what happens when you try it for the first time!

Block a Bad View

Having an ugly view can really mess up your day, and take away from that zen experience you’re seeking. If the first thing you see is your neighbor’s garbage can, you’ll want to pull the covers back over your head and go back to sleep. Have you read our post: Window Film Confidential: How to Create Privacy Where There is None?

Block UV Light

By now, you’ve probably heard about how much damage UV light can do to you, your family, and your furniture and belongings. You don’t have to be a museum curator to benefit from having window film to protect your belongings. If you haven’t heard about how UV light can damage your furniture, you might want to read SF Gate’s article: How to Avoid UV Light Damage to Furniture.

Protect Your Skin and Eyes

UV light damages your skin and makes you age prematurely, not to mention that UV light has been shown to cause skin cancer. And too much of it also damages your eyes. This is one reason that the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the use of window film.

Use Your Entire Home

Have you been avoiding some part of your home because of glare or because your neighbors can see in? Here in the San Francisco Bay area, space is limited. That’s why you need to use every square inch of your space that you can. With window film, you don’t need to avoid the windows because you’re afraid the locals can see in. And that’s a very good thing.

Give Us a Call!

We’d love to provide window film for your home or office! Give us a call at 415.623.8700 when you’re ready to discuss window film. We’d love to talk to you and give you the zen experience!

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!