Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How Do I Schedule an Estimate For my Home or Office?
A. Please call (623) 570-5585 or use our contact page 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. Isn’t window film expensive?
A. No. Actually, the average installation costs less than most other window treatments (i.e. vinyl replacement windows, curtains, shutters) and with a potential pay back of 2-5 years, it is pretty economical. Your investment in window film will return dividends in the form of reduced energy costs, fade protection and protection against vandals which other window solutions can’t offer.
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, Window films will not cool your home for you, they allow you to cool your home using less a/c energy. 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. Vista and LLumar window films are designed to be clear as the glass, clean like any other window and last virtually as long as the glass is functional.
Q. Does window film have any benefits during the Winter?
A. Definitely. During the Winter months the sun is lower in the sky and shines more directly into your windows. More sun damage and fading occurs during the winter than any other season. Not to mention, Vista and LLumar window films help to retain heat inside rooms on cold days. See EnerLogic Low-E film.
Q. Isn’t Residential & Commercial window film the same as “car tint”?
A. No. There are many different kinds of window film, each with a specific purpose. Residential & Commercial window film is specifically made for home & business applications and cannot be used on automobiles just as automobile window film cannot be used on homes or businesses. Each film has characteristics pertaining to its use.
Q. Will window film help keep my furniture and window treatments from fading?
A. Vista and LLumar residential window film has a UV Protection of 99.9% and 99%, which means that the window film will block almost all of the damaging rays that fade furnishings and window treatments. Nothing will completely stop your furnishings from fading; however, window film can prolong the damage ensuring they will last a very long time.
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. 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 can offer 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. Our window film manufacturer CP Films and Eastman warrant seal failure and glass breakage with approved products. Many window films are tested and designed to be safe for your glass. Use a professionally installed window 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 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 a 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 and door insulating properties of most reputable window and door manufacturers, also tests window film insulating 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 CP Films and Eastman.
Q. Can I use window film on plexiglass?
A. Most films are not recommended due to the fact that plexiglass will off-gas causing the film to bubble. The film has adhesive and this will not release from the plexiglass once applied. There is one product designed for plexiglass, for more information contact us.
Q. Don’t blinds and window coverings do the same thing as window film?
A. Blinds are great for aesthetics and controlling privacy, but window film blocks the heat before it enters the room, reduces glare and 99% of UV rays, yet maintains the view through the windows. Blinds and window film make the perfect combination when used together as film protects the blinds from the sun as well as adding energy savings.
Q. Will we lose natural light?
A. There are a variety of films with different shading levels that we use. Storefronts or homes that need protection from heat and damaging UV rays can use a ceramic or spectrally selective products which are virtually invisible, allowing visibility in, while still reducing heat and UV rays.