Are you looking for a creative and visually attractive solution for the windows of your home that doesn’t cost as much as replacing them? Even Bob Vila of This Old House recommends colouring the windows.
As an Amazon Assistant, I earn my money through qualifying purchases.
But before you start calculating the cost of materials and labour, it is important to know how much you will benefit from choosing a film compared to a traditional window treatment.
Yes, there are a few drawbacks, but they are listed here so you won’t be faced with surprises that could ruin your vision!
In this article we discuss the colouring of windows, the pros and cons of window tinting and answer some frequently asked questions at the end of the article, so let’s get to work.
What is the colouring of windows in a house?
The brief explanation of blinds and shutters has nothing to do with the traditional definition of blinds and shutters.
In the jargon of color theory, dyeing means mixing colors with white or black to make the saturation of a color lighter or darker.
A more appropriate description would be that of film, a process in which transparent films are applied to glass, offering a variety of solutions ranging from decorative improvements to safety issues.
Image source: https://windowtintmcallen.com/
As with the colouring of car windows, there are different classes and applications for colouring windows in the home. Reason enough to read the whole article to choose the solution that gives you the best result and the best value for money.
5 Advantages of installing tinted windows
- Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs by dimming windows. Solar films absorb and reflect up to 99% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, according to the experts at WindowFilmDepot.com. This is why many homeowners prefer films to other window coverings. Once installed it’s easy to maintain the temperature in your home, you reduce or eliminate glare, you prevent the cover from fading because it doesn’t receive direct sunlight and tinted glass adds comfort while saving you money.
- Increase your security and privacy. It doesn’t matter if you live in an area with a lot or little crime – burglars and thieves don’t discriminate, and since high quality films are very thick, applying a clear or silver security film will put an end to your security system. Install it and it’s almost impossible to look out of the windows. There’s something else. The film can protect the glass if someone tries to break it during a break-in by limiting the damage caused by tearing rather than breaking through the entire glass to which the film has been applied.
- Adds a decorative touch to your windows. Decorative films used to be limited to light or neutral colours, but today the sky is the limit. Radically change the look of your home by choosing a bright colour, an engraved pattern or stained glass, or opt for an opaque or matte film that makes the view through your windows an exercise in frustration. You can greatly increase the appeal of your home if your windows leave something to be desired at the moment and you are considering marketing your home.
- Save money. Replacing windows is not only an expensive affair, but also an inconvenience. The film is available in many classes. Installing tinted window film can cost as little as $2 to $4 per square foot if you buy it from a specialty store and install it yourself. If you hire a professional, you will probably spend between $5 and $8 per square meter. According to ImproveNet.com, coloring a 3-square-foot window; an 8-inch window will take you between $40 and $280 if you do the work yourself, and you will also have fun choosing your movie. Maybe you can even get energy tax credits, so weigh the pros and cons when you make your purchases.
- Easy installation. You don’t have to be a union member to do this work yourself if you have the patience and desire to do it. The process is child’s play. Wipe the interior windows with a lint-free cloth soaked in a teaspoonful of baby shampoo dissolved in a litre of bottled water (do not use alcohol), cut the foil with a knife to fit the space plus ½ inch on all sides, and remove the protective foil. Start at the top and spread the foil over the window surface, spraying lightly with a solution of baby shampoo to spray the air bubbles. Allow the binder to cure for 4 to 8 days – unless the manufacturer specifies a shorter or longer curing time.
5 Contraindications for placing tinted glass
- Not all windows adhere to the film. Although most protective and decorative films do not subject the glass to thermal stress, this is not the case for some glasses. For example, the International Window Film Association warns against the installation of solar film because the film’s higher degree of heat absorption can increase the thermal load of this type of glass up to the point of cracking. They recommend avoiding these 3 types of glass when placing a foil:
-Pure annealed glass is thicker than ⅜ inch glass, or with a heat absorption coefficient of more than 50%.
-Toughened and annealed glass with a thickness of more than ¼ inch.
-insulating glass elements which are more than 10 years old or have defective seals.
- The guarantee on your window may be invalidated. Unfortunately, many homeowners have no idea that this can happen to them until they suffer some kind of damage to their window and try to get a refund from the window manufacturer who provided the guarantee on the window. Bob Villa talks about this in his discussion about window manufacturers cancelling the warranties because of the film on the glass. Some guarantees cover this aspect, but others do not. So read the small print carefully and ask this question before you sign the documents for the installation of a new window.
- The stain can reduce solar energy if you put it on windows that are supposed to bring heat into the room. For people living in colder climates or in areas where air conditioning is always on, it is important to understand that any film you apply to your windows reduces the amount of sunlight that can naturally help heat your home. This can be avoided by selectively obscuring only those windows that deliberately block the sun. Don’t forget: Window films can divert up to 80% of the sunlight.
- Showing can be very expensive. Of course, the number and size of windows you are considering shading will determine the amount of film you need. According to Window Film Depot’s case studies, you could end up spending thousands of dollars on a big, important job and not necessarily get a return on your investment because not all homebuyers like the idea of window film. You can also spoil the view from your home by choosing a pattern siding to cover the area overlooking beautifully landscaped gardens.
- Start the installation process and you’re done. For those who have never been confronted with a project they thought was impossible, there are common and innocent mistakes that can make even the most well-intentioned slide editor turn a project into a nightmare. These errors include the following: Do not check the dimensions, do not cut the film properly, do not buy enough film for the job, leave air bubbles between the film and the window and do not wash the windows properly before applying the film to the glass.
Is the shade of the windows better than that of the blinds?
It is difficult to define the word better when making comparisons, because the choice between blinds and window treatments or shades is often dictated by personal taste.
In this case it is both, and these are the most frequently cited reasons to choose one over the other:
- -The pleasures reduce light and glare, are a traditional choice and new styles, designs and colors can be irresistible.
- -Venetian blinds can be cumbersome to clean because they accumulate dust, cobwebs, insects and dirt.
- -Joy does not prevent solar heat from entering the rooms; energy costs can be higher due to heat and energy losses.
- -Skirts are not a perfect protection of privacy, even if they are safe.
- -Venetian blinds do not block the UV rays and do not prevent the fabrics on the interior furniture from fading and may also discolour the murals.
- -Window film is generally cheaper than blinds, curtains and drapes and is very energy efficient.
- Window film is relatively maintenance free and easy to apply and remove.
- -Window film is more hygienic because it does not attract insects and dirt like blinds.
Does window film provide privacy at night?
This may depend on the film you choose, the location of your windows near the street and the location of your windows near your bedroom.
If privacy at night is one of your priorities, consider blackout movies that make sure no one can look out the window.
If your window faces the street, film noir can detract from the appeal of your home. Patterned or matted films can better serve your purpose.
Is residential window colouring worthwhile?
Even dull professionals agree that when it comes to choosing between window film and other window treatment options, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Once installed, window films are easy to maintain with standard window cleaning products and some new films are available with a lifetime warranty.
Colouring windows is especially beneficial for older windows. From energy efficiency to aesthetics and the benefits you get from blocking the sun. Invest in a quality film and you probably won’t suffer from buyer’s remorse!
Assets
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/tinted-home-windows/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tints_and_shades
https://www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-prices/window-tinting-prices
Related Tags:
disadvantages of tinted windows,window tinting the truth,best home window tint,house window tinting privacy,tinted house windows at night,flat glass tint,tinted house windows cost,sunroom window tint,best tint for a sunroom,solar film effectiveness,window film vs new windows,advantages of window film,tinted glass in house windows,what are window films,tinted house windows uk,window tint vs solar screens,pros and cons of window privacy film,nfrc certified window film,window film and plants,does mirror tint reduce heat,envirofilm cost,3m prestige window film,installing window tint on home windows,blinds or tinted windows,does tinting car windows help with heat,house window tinting ,diy home window tinting,llumar dual reflective window film,solar window tint,home window tint walmart,house window tinting near me,patio door window tinting,is tinting house windows worth it,tinted glass windows for houses,residential window tinting near me,green tinted house windows,pros and cons of window film
