solar films.
A south-facing glass front is pleasant two months a year. Heat-rejecting films, privacy films, security films that slow down a break-in: we treat your existing glazing without replacing a single window.
Solar film works on three things at once: the heat coming in, the glare on screens and the ageing of the materials exposed to it. Depending on the orientation and the type of glazing, we choose how reflective the film needs to be. Too strong a film needlessly darkens a room that is already dark in winter.
Security films answer a different need: they hold the glass in place when it breaks, which slows an intruder down and limits injuries. They are fitted the same way, on the existing glazing.
Fitting calls for perfectly clean glass and a controlled temperature. It is usually done in a single day, with nothing dismantled and no dust.
from survey to fitting.
questions we are asked.
What does a solar control film actually change?
Three things, to differing degrees: the heat coming in through the glazing, the glare on screens, and the view from outside. A film replaces neither air conditioning nor a blind. It cuts solar gain while daylight still comes through. On a south-facing glazed façade, the difference is felt. In a room that is hot for other reasons, it will change little.
Will it darken my offices?
That depends on the film chosen. Some are very discreet and filter mainly the heat, letting most of the visible light through. Others, more tinted, darken noticeably and close off the view from outside. We start from the actual problem: heat at the end of the day, reflections on screens, being overlooked. Where doubt remains, we fit a sample on site before deciding.
How do I choose between the different grades of film?
By what you want to settle first. Against heat alone, a barely visible film is often enough. Against being overlooked by day, a reflective film is needed, effective as long as it is brighter outside than in. In the evening, with the lights on, the effect reverses. For privacy round the clock, we move to frosted film. We look at the orientation and the use of the rooms first.
Can a film be fitted to double glazing?
In most cases yes, but it is checked beforehand. A film makes the glass absorb heat, and some combinations of glazing, size and exposure cope badly with that stress. We record the type of glazing, the orientation and any shadows falling across it, then tell you which film is suitable. If none suits a given window, we say so rather than fitting one.
How do I look after filmed glazing?
Like a window, but more gently. Soapy water, a soft cloth or a soft squeegee, never a scraper, scouring powder or an ammonia-based product. The film goes on the inside face, and that is the side you clean. Wait until it has dried fully before the first clean. A haze and small water bubbles may appear at first; they clear on their own.