FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Do I Schedule an Estimate For my Home or Office?

A. Please call or e-mail us to schedule an appointment.

Q. How Long Does an Estimate Take?

A. A friendly qualified representative will visit your home or office promptly within a day or two if you want a proposal. Proposal time can vary depending on questions and measurement time.  Usually 30 minutes to an hour at no cost.

Q. How long does a normal installation take?

A. Installation time will depend on the size of the project.  A set of patio doors can be done within an hour.  A complete home, 20 – 30 windows may take a full day.

Q. Can the film be removed in the winter to allow for the sun to help heat my home and then reused in the summer time?

A. No, but, Window films will not cool your home for you, they allow you to cool your home using less a/c energy in the 9 months of summer. Tinted cars heat up in the winter from the sun, in fact sometimes here in AZ, we need air conditioning in the winter, especially behind glass. If you are not cooling the space it will still heat up. The fact is that daylight hours are shorter in the winter time allowing for less solar heat gain. Heating costs in the Phoenix area primarily occur at night and in the morning when the sun is not warm enough to heat your home. Window film also helps to protect from fading. The sun is damaging in the winter due to its location in the southern sky, coming deeper into the home, fading furnishings and fabrics. Window film will normally pay for itself within 3 years if not sooner here in Arizona. LLumar window film is designed to be clear as the glass, clean like any other window and last virtually as long as the glass is functional.

Q. Do I need sunscreens or do I need window film?

A. I have customers that use both. Most windows don’t block the heat that well. Even double pane glass needs extra protection at times. Both window film and sunscreens are great solutions. Weigh the benefits and disadvantages. Gather enough information to make a good decision based on your priorities and you will be happy.

Q. Will sunscreens and window film change the look of my home?

A. Window film keeps the original glass architecture intact where sunscreens eliminate any glass features of the home. Both give daytime privacy – window film appears like a more expensive glass and screens eliminate the glass features

Q. Will window film or sunscreens void my window warranty?

A. Yes, both can, when installed improperly. Sunscreens installed to any part of the physical window or encasement can void the warranty. Some window manufacturer’s void their warranty when a window film is installed. Many window films are designed to be safe for your glass. Use a film that is tested to be safe and enjoy the benefits while keeping clear views.

Q. Is window film safe for my glass?

A.There are window film products that are not safe for certain glass types. Single-pane, double-pane and triple-pane glass types are tested by some manufacturers with the different window film products. Window film manufacturers put together a chart that tells you which product is safe for which glass type. If the film has been tested to be safe on the glass, then the window film manufacturer will warrant the glass. Normally 2-5 years on the glass and 2-3 years on the seal. Single-pane and double-pane glass have many safe window film options. Triple-pane glass has very few safe options.

Q. Is there any government oversight of window film testing?

A.NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council), the same organization that tests the glass properties of most reputable window manufacturers, also tests window film properties. This will be stated somewhere on the original packaging. Some products go through very stringent testing to include blast resistance and impact testing. The intricacies of testing that is done from the solar properties to the physical properties is phenomenal by some manufacturer’s.

Q. Can I use window film on plexiglass?

A.Not recommended due to the fact that plexiglass will give off-gas causing the film to bubble. The film has adhesive and this will not come off the plexiglass once applied.