White matte film will help protect the room from sunny people and prying eyes, decorate and zone it. It is applied to glass partitions and window panes and is used in homes and offices. It is used:
- When you need to ensure privacy indoors, protect yourself from the views of onlookers from the street and outside.
- When you want to shade a room from the bright sun, but at the same time let in soft diffused light.
- When it is necessary to zone workplaces and at the same time decorate the room.
- When it is important to strengthen the glass of windows and partitions from damage, to increase their strength and protection from flying fragments.
Matting glass with film does not require large financial investments; it is carried out quickly in a few hours, without dust, dirt and for a long time. That is why this service is in great demand in offices, cafes, clinics, boutiques, but can also be used in residential buildings.
No. 1. What does the tint film consist of?
Window tint film is made from polyester, and it acquires specific sun-protection properties thanks to the spraying of a metal layer . aluminum, titanium, nickel can be used .
As a rule, manufacturers recommend gluing the film with a “metallic” layer to the glass in order to achieve the best ray reflection effect and make it easier to remove the film in the future. The film can consist of several layers when it is necessary for the material to be painted in some color. In this case, the production uses a special device for connecting different layers - a laminator. This structure also ensures longer color retention, because the painted layer receives additional protection from negative environmental factors.
Types of tinting for balconies
In addition to film, there are other ways to tint balcony windows:
- During the glass melting process, tinting can be done in the mass. To do this, various dyes are poured into the hot mass.
- The technology of paralysis is as follows. A special translucent metal layer is applied to the hot, freshly made glass by spraying. It reflects the sun's rays and strengthens the glass.
- Vacuum tinting coating is performed in a special chamber. Glass is installed there and a special material is applied to its surface.
No. 2. Advantages and disadvantages of tint film
The wide popularity of tinting is explained by the numerous advantages that can be achieved with its help. Among the main advantages of the material it is worth noting :
ability to dim sunlight , which is a key function of most types of tint films. When the windows face the sunny side, the illumination in the apartment is too high, which does not allow you to stay comfortably in it, interferes with working with the monitor, because glare remains on the screens, and excessive radiation harms furniture and plants. In order not to close the curtains even during the day, a tint film is designed, which will reduce the amount of passing light and allow you to calmly enjoy the landscape outside the window, and you will also be able to get rid of glare;- if the surface on the street side is mirrored, then during the daytime outsiders will not be able to see what is happening inside the room;
- armored films allow you to additionally protect your apartment from burglars;
even the most ordinary film can increase your safety , because if the glass accidentally breaks, the fragments will remain on the film itself without flying apart;- film is an inexpensive and effective way to decorate a room , because any design can be applied to it and even photo printing can be done.
The only disadvantage is the fact that a room with tinted windows will warm up more slowly during the cold period than an apartment with ordinary non-tinted windows; this is based on the structure of the material and its basic properties. When covering glass windows with tinting films, you need to be aware that light transmission will be less, so for windows shaded by trees and facing north, such a solution will be inappropriate.
Recommendations for successful work
In order for your own balcony tinting to be done impeccably, you need to create optimal working conditions and ensure that all rules are followed.
- The optimal temperature range for gluing with tint film is from +10 to +35°.
- The maximum percentage of humidity in the room is 75, the minimum is 25%. Any violation of this regime risks insufficient adhesion of the film to the glass.
- Spraying water and thoroughly wet cleaning the premises (balcony and room) will give a chance to eliminate a certain amount of dust particles, so it is not recommended to skip this stage.
- Spraying glass can solve the moisture problem. You can use either plain water or a mild soap solution. For example, 500 ml of water + a teaspoon of shampoo.
- To reduce the risk of damage to the film with a spatula, it, as well as the working surface, must be moistened with water (preferably a “slippery” solution of soap or shampoo).
- Any small particles remaining on the glass under the film will subsequently lead to the appearance of unsightly bubbles, so keeping it clean is the key to success.
- If you purchased a material with an adhesive coating, then removing the entire backing at once is not the best option for those who are carrying out such an operation for the first time. Tinting without protection can quickly “catch” to any surface that is convenient for it, or simply stick together due to awkward movement, or from a draft. When released, the material is easily damaged, so gradual removal and gluing of the backing - 50-60 mm at a time - is the best way out.
Tinting the balcony is possible from any side, but independent work carried out indoors is optimal. Only the life-saving film located inside will itself be maximally protected.
No. 4. Mirror film
Mirror films are currently widely used, which is not difficult to notice for a resident of any more or less large city. The material is made from metallized polyethylene terephthalate . The main purpose of this material is to reflect sunlight. Manufacturers say the film can block up to 99% of ultraviolet radiation. The material perfectly protects from bright light, heat and solar radiation, allowing you to create a comfortable environment in the room.
In addition, the mirror surface of the film will also increase personal privacy , because from the street it will be impossible to see what is happening inside, and this is an important advantage for residents of the first floors and those whose windows are located in close proximity to the windows of other houses. In the evening, however, when the light is on inside, the reflective effect of the mirror film disappears.
Manufacturers of such coatings also talk about the material’s ability to retain heat in winter, because it reflects heat rays in the direction from which they come.
Mirror films can be of the following types:
- internal . They are installed inside the glass unit or on the glass from the side of the room. Can be painted in one of many shades and be of any degree of darkness;
- external _ Installed only on the street side, they are distinguished by an additional protective coating, which makes the material more resistant to atmospheric influences. There are few colors available: light and dark metallic.
Light transmittance of tinted windows
Tinting film on windows must be applied taking into account construction and sanitary standards.
All basic requirements contain SNiP 23-05-9 and SanPiN 2.2.1/2.1.1.1076-01. These documents regulate the daily amount of natural light that should enter the interior through window openings. Scientifically, this process is called insolation - irradiation of vertical and horizontal surfaces in rooms with sunlight. Since window tinting film blocks the sun's rays, the insolation of the premises may not be sufficient. It is better to avoid this, since a lack of natural light negatively affects the development of plants and human health. After all, direct sunlight kills microorganisms. To prevent bacteria and viruses from developing in rooms, glass tint film should be selected taking into account its light transmittance.
The required level of insolation of living and working premises is determined using special tables and graphs. They contain all the necessary information that will help you find out the required time (+/-10 minutes) of exposure to direct sunlight. To the extent that tinted glass for windows reduces the intensity of the luminous flux, the actual insolation value should be greater than the permissible minimum.
No. 5. Sun protection film
The main function of such films is protection from heating by sunlight while maintaining normal light transmission. Naturally, such films are recommended to be installed only on the south side, and then the room will be cooler in the summer. Athermal film is capable of blocking up to 98% of ultraviolet rays and up to 95% of infrared rays, transmitting about 75% of visible light. On the other hand, in winter, such a film will allow you to retain the heat received from heating devices.
General information
Purpose of architectural film
- Transforming the appearance of the building,
- Creating the effect of one-way visibility, as a way to close the room from prying eyes,
- Protection from ultraviolet rays, as a result, protection of furniture items from fading and burning out,
- Maintaining optimal temperature in the room, which can be relevant for any time of year. In summer, this significantly reduces the cost of using air conditioning, and in winter – on heating.
Types of architectural films
Due to the wide variety of types of films, choosing the right one is not so easy. It will not be enough to study technical specifications, product photos and customer reviews.
First, let's figure out what key characteristics are important to know when choosing a film:
· VLT – this indicator characterizes the transmittance of visible light or the degree of light transmittance of the film itself. The lower this indicator is, the less transparent the film itself will be.
· IRR – shows the percentage of reflection of infrared radiation from the surface. It is this indicator that is important for ensuring the required thermal conditions in the room. The higher the IRR, the higher the protection against infrared light.
· UVR – the indicator determines the percentage of protection against ultraviolet radiation. The higher this indicator, the less ultraviolet rays will penetrate into the room. A high UVR protects not only furniture and interior items from fading, but also the human body from exposure to sunlight.
Architectural films can be divided into four main types:
- Sun protection,
- Decorative,
- Athermal,
- Protective.
In the modern building materials market, the majority of architectural films are presented from manufacturers from China, South Korea, India, and in rare cases America.
No. 6. Protective film
Security film can be an excellent alternative to bars on windows, because it has anti-vandal and anti-burglary properties. Such coatings are recommended for use by residents of the first floors. The thickness of the polymer in this case is 115-600 microns, which is significantly greater than that of the coatings discussed above. Protective films provide protection class A1, A2, A3 . Glass will be, if not impossible, very difficult to break. Moreover, this kind of film allows you to avoid the appearance of fragments, even if the glass was broken.
Manufacturers also offer special film options. For example, there are products that can minimize the consequences of an explosion, and there are those that have fire-fighting properties and can temporarily contain smoke and fire.
No. 7. Matte and decorative films
If necessary, you can use frosted film, which is much cheaper than installing frosted glass. To decorate your apartment, you can use decorative films that give the glass a certain shade or decorate it with an interesting pattern. With the help of such films you can create an original interior and set a certain mood for the room.
No. 8. Color gamut and density
The light transmittance of the film is expressed as a percentage : the higher the indicator, the more light the coating will transmit. Depending on the lighting conditions of the apartment and the purposes, a material of one density or another is selected.
Choosing the right coating color is not difficult, since the range of different shades is huge: from silver and gold to green and purple. When choosing a color, pay attention that it affects not only the perception of the interior, but also light transmission, which is clearly visible from the table.
How to tint correctly?
Window tinting is performed following a number of steps :
- Film preparation. The roll is unrolled on a flat surface, after which the material is straightened. A blank is made according to a pre-prepared template. It is important to mark the cut line with a marker. At the same time, make a margin of at least 2 cm around the perimeter.
- The glass is thoroughly degreased and cleaned of contaminants. Then they go over the surface using a sponge with a soap solution. Then the surface is finally cleaned using a rubber spatula. In some cases, the procedure must be repeated several times depending on the degree of contamination and the installation location.
- Repeated cleansing. If the film does not stick immediately after treatment, it is necessary to re-apply the soap solution.
- Remove the protective composition. They do it themselves. It is advisable to have an assistant involved to prevent damage or displacement of the film.
- The adhesive side can be additionally moistened with a soap solution from a spray bottle. This makes the gluing process easier. Such actions allow you to adjust the location of the film on the glass surface.
- The film begins to be glued from the top. To do this, apply a film to the edge of the glass, after which the part is completely smoothed over the surface. It is important to make sure that each section is well adhered.
- Using a rubber spatula, completely squeeze out air bubbles and moisture from under the film. Smoothing is done from the center towards the edges. At the final stage, the film is cut around the edges using a sharp knife. After this, you need to smooth the perimeter again using a rubber spatula.
An extremely sharp knife must be used. Otherwise, the material will tear, after which it can no longer be used for application to glass.
