When it comes to choosing the right solar window film, several questions have to be answered ahead of time. More importantly, these questions need to be answered by you – as the person living in your home, you are the one who makes the decision on what is the best solar film for your home windows.
Here are some factors that you should take into consideration, so that the entire process – from choosing the type of window film right up to the solar film installation itself, becomes much easier.
Understanding infrared radiation, visible light, and UV rays
You may think the most important question when deciding on a solar window tint film is, “How much light will it keep out?” However, an equally important or even better consideration would be, “What kind of light is being kept out?”
Generally, sunlight is made up of visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and infrared radiation – all three of which can cause the interior of your home to heat up. On top of that, visible light is the type of light that affects how dark or bright your room is, whereas UV light is the biggest cause of faded furniture.
Standard window films block or reflect all three types of this solar energy, which automatically reduces the amount of heat that enters your rooms. This is measured by the Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER). However, more specialised types of solar window tints can keep out the different types of light at varying degrees, such as by playing around with the Visible Light Transmitted (VLT).
What do you want your solar window film to achieve?
Now that you have a basic idea of how the different types of solar energy affect your home, you need to decide what you want your window film to achieve. Almost all solar window films block 99% of UV lights to protect against sun damage and keep faded furnishings at bay, so you don’t have to worry too much about that.
What you can think about is how dark or bright you want your rooms to be. If you would still like lots of natural light in your home, you can opt for a solar window film that doesn’t block too high a percentage of visible light. On the other hand, cutting down on heat may be your biggest priority and you don’t mind sacrificing some light to achieve it – this could be the case in a particularly sunny, west-facing room, for example. It all comes down to your personal preference.
Similarly, if you want your solar window film to fulfill other objectives, like reduce glare or provide you with some privacy, the percentage of the different kinds of light allowed to pass through can be adjusted to achieve that, too.
Glare is the term used to describe excessive light, which can be an issue for those prone to migraines or who are simply uncomfortable with overly bright lights. Solar window films with the best balance can cut down glare by blocking just enough visible light without it feeling too dark. As for the privacy function, this is achieved by keeping the inside of the house darker than it is outside. Alternatively, you could opt for a frosted glass which will offer your privacy even at night, when the inside of your house is more brightly lit than the outside.
The decision is yours, but you can get professional advice
Hopefully, all of this information has helped you understand how solar film tinting works a little bit better. Of course, you’re not entirely alone in making your decision. Here at Cleargard Melbourne, our experienced team is more than happy to assist you with everything you need to know about getting a solar window film fitted. Get in touch with us for more information.
