Window film instead of curtains - a modern solution

Classic curtains are a traditional way of decorating a window, but there are situations when they are not enough to fully protect against external influences; more effective solutions are required. Today, many people use window tint film instead of curtains - a modern material that is becoming increasingly popular. It eliminates the possibility of viewing from the outside without distorting the view from the inside. In addition, polymer products protect against the scattering of fragments in the event of glass damage. They can be used alone or in combination with curtains or blinds.

Sun control film for windows

The double-glazed window occupies up to 80% of the window opening. If replacing it with a more functional one is too expensive, you can upgrade the glass window fill with solar control film. It extinguishes the light wave passing through the glass in various ways.

• Mirror is stronger and more efficient . It sticks to glass for several years and looks beautiful. The metal layer of the material reflects both light and infrared radiation outward.
• Foil made of polyethylene - the most budget-friendly. It is hung on the glass from the inside for the summer. The material is based on thin polyethylene or cellophane covered with foil. The canvas is fixed with tape and removed at the end of the season.
• The tint does not reflect light and IR rays, but absorbs them. The transparency of the material determines the effectiveness of sun protection. The parameter varies from 15 to 60%.

To optimize energy costs, it is better to cover windows on the south and east sides with reflective films. For others, blinds are sufficient.

Scope and characteristics

In general, window films are a multilayer system consisting of a transparent polymer base on which an adhesive is applied.

The thickness of commercially produced film materials is in the range of 60-300 microns. All of them prevent the penetration of ultraviolet radiation (up to 99%) and have a special coating that protects the surface from scratches.

Film materials are quite versatile and can perform several functions simultaneously, however, most often they are used to impart some special properties to glass. They are manufactured on special equipment, and the characteristics and number of layers are determined by their functional purpose.

Decorative film on the glass of plastic windows

This coating performs a decorative function, while possessing different properties.

• Tinting on PVC windows darkens the glass, giving it a bluish, greenish tone.
• Film for tinting windows in a metallic color - looks shaded from the room, but looks impressive from the outside.
• The stained glass coating is formed on the thinnest polymer using the printing method and creates the effect of a translucent stained glass window. The printed material is glued to the inside of the window and must match it in size.

Adviсe

1. When purchasing film materials yourself , you need to check the availability of a certificate for a specific type of film, since it is impossible to visually check its quality.
2. Installing a thermal insulation film on a modern double-glazed window is ineffective and ensures the preservation of thermal energy by no more than 7%. Its use is recommended only when repairing or restoring old windows.
3. Almost all plants need ultraviolet light , so window films cannot be used in greenhouses. In addition, you need to remember that flowers will not grow on window sills equipped with film materials.

Sequence of work with glass

Before installing the film on the windows, to avoid visible stains and air bubbles, the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned. After that:

1. The glazing beads are removed so that the film covering can be hidden behind them. The parts are pryed off with a beading knife. The tint coating is laid on a flat base, after which the excess sheet is cut off. There is a 1 cm allowance on all sides.
2. Windows are washed. Their surface is cleaned of dirt, dust, degreased, washed and moistened before applying tinting.
3. A tinting sheet is glued to the glass. The protective coating is removed from the film, and it is pressed against the glass unit, leveled so that there are no bubbles or folds.
4. The coating is smoothed out, moisture and air are removed from under it. The edges must be ironed especially carefully for reliable fixation.
5. The excess panel is cut off with a sharp knife. Glazing beads are installed. The glass bag is fixed, the edges of the tinting are masked.

In this order, almost any decorative protective film is glued to window systems. Now, knowing the technology of its application, you can transform the window yourself and expand its functions.

Correct installation

Window film is usually applied to the south side of the building. This helps provide complete UV protection on bright and hot days. But at the same time, natural light becomes less intense. This means that you will have to turn on the lights earlier.

What materials will be needed to complete the installation according to all the rules? Let's take:

1. The window tint film itself.
2. Soap solution in a spray bottle.
3. Rubber spatula. Instead, a regular cloth napkin and a plastic ruler will do.
4. Knife of construction, stationery type.

There should be no dust or stains on the glass. The soap solution will help clean the work surface. And the excess is usually removed with a spatula. It is better to repeat the procedure several times to enhance the effect. Window film is cut depending on the size of the glass, but you need to leave a margin of a few centimeters around the perimeter.

The soap solution should thoroughly moisten the prepared surface. After this, the window film itself is carefully glued. The main thing is to completely remove the protective layer on it. A spatula will help smooth out the product.

This allows you to completely remove air bubbles and excess moisture. You need to start from the center and move towards the edges. The allowances are trimmed. After this, the surface is carefully smoothed. The ambient temperature should not be less than plus four degrees.

IMPORTANT! Self-installation is carried out only if the person is completely confident in his abilities. Good long-term results can be obtained not only from high-quality materials themselves, but also from professionally performed work.

If necessary, the stickers can be easily removed. There are no streaks or dirt left on the surface. After removing the protective layer, modern products can be re-glued within twelve hours. There is time to correct mistakes if the finish is not satisfactory for some reason.

Advantages:

1. The cost remains affordable.
2. Long service life, minimum 5 years.
3. The glass is completely protected from mechanical damage.
4. Maintenance will not cause any problems, nor will the installation itself.
5. An original alternative to traditional solutions such as blinds and curtains.
6. Furnishings are completely protected from ultraviolet radiation, as is the surrounding space.
7. It’s easy to choose your own option for any interior, the material is universal.

Heat always leaves the glass, because such a base does not have good heat-conducting properties. For the same reason, in the summer the air begins to overheat.

The reason is cracks around the glass and insufficient thickness. Insulating the frames solves the problem, but partially. The protective coating makes the surface multi-layered, which increases the effectiveness of protection.

Side of application

An important point is determining the location for installation. Most often this is not an easy south side, but it is also part of the room that requires additional protection. Life-threatening fragments will only be contained in the window film if it is placed in the direction opposite to the intended attack.

A distinctive feature of all such protective products is that they can be squeezed out from inside the room, along with the glass itself. This means that it is easier to evacuate from such a window in case of danger.

Glasses used

Usually plain damp glass is enough. And you can carry out installation on triplex, a hardened type of material. The anti-vandal properties of such glass are increased if an additional coating is installed.

IMPORTANT! This type of protection is installed on triplex to improve protection against vandals.

Heat-saving films

This is a type of material created from multilayer composites. Each layer is only a few micrometers thick. Metal macromolecules are applied on top. Usually they are alloys of nickel and chromium, silver or gold. But at the same time, they do not impair the visibility of the window on which the film is glued.

The material has a refractive effect due to this structure. This allows you to get rid of excessive thermal energy that comes from the street.

Advantages:

1. The metal layer traps excess heat entering the room. Because of this, the temperature does not rise.
2. The surface retains only infrared and ultraviolet rays. This means that objects that suffer from such influences will not burn out.
3. The heat generated by the glazing system is retained indoors. Because of this, less energy will be needed to maintain the desired temperature level inside.
4. The product also improves strength. After using this additional coating, the glass will be able to withstand impacts with greater force.

How to use

Window decoration in public and residential premises is now done in a variety of ways. Decorative stickers appeared relatively recently, but have already acquired fans all over the world.

Only the owner’s imagination and stylistic orientation serve as some limitations. Thanks to this solution, you can change the design of any room, spending just a few minutes on it.

The materials depict not only individual objects, but also entire paintings. Well-known manufacturers produce products that fully comply with international standards. It is permissible to use only environmentally friendly materials that do not harm human health. They will be an excellent addition to metal-plastic windows and wooden structures. You can use them in the kitchen and bathroom, in any room.

Usually they choose products with bright designs that fully correspond to the style. The main thing is to choose a harmonious color.

What decor options are most widespread? There are only a few of them. Let's take a closer look:

• abstractionism;
• pictures with cars;
• images of fauna and flora;
• topics with children, women;
• objects of geography.

How to remove film from plastic windows?

You can remove the film from the window:

• mechanically - by prying the edge of the tint with a blade and pulling it with slow movements until it is completely removed;
• heating up to 40 degrees and mechanical removal from the surface;
• soap solution - spraying it over the coating and then removing it with a spatula;
• ammonia - by moistening the cleaned surface with it and covering it with polyethylene to react solar heat with ammonia. With this method, the deformed tinting and bags are removed, the base is washed and cleared of glue, and wiped dry.

Roller blinds

If you still need a curtained window, but classic curtains don’t suit you, hang roller shutters. These are special roll sheets, very thin and practical. They are more aesthetically pleasing than curtains, because you can choose them with any design and pattern, you can even make a full-fledged photo print on them, with a natural or city landscape.

Photo: albertolamaphotography.com