Explanation

Window Films are thin, multi-layered pieces of optically clear film that are retrofitted to the inside surface of glass to help you save significantly on energy costs, maintain a more comfortable and productive environment, reduce interior fading and improve exterior appearance. Films are sputter-coated with durable, exotic metals such as titanium, stainless steel, copper, gold, silver, inconel, chromium, aluminum and other alloys. These varying combinations of metals are what give exceptional solar performance capabilities and colors. This allows not just the blockage of light, but to actually block out heat. All of our window films are also protected with a scratch resistant coating, inspected using state-of-the-art equipment and put through some of the most stringent endurance tests, leaving you with the highest quality window film for your home or building.

How is it applied?

A professional installer would come into your home and take all blinds and obstructions out of the way. The air conditioning and fans in the room must be turned off to keep the tiny dust particles from contaminating the film or the window. The window surface and surrounding frames and sills are then thoroughly cleaned. After this is accomplished, the film is cut to size and the adhesive is activated. Once the film is on the window all air bubbles are worked out and it is pressed firmly onto the glass. The film can take up to 8 weeks here in the valley to dry completely to perfection.

What Does it Do?

Think of it as sunglasses for your building. While darker glasses will typically reduce the feeling of the sun’s intensity, it is not always the case. The key is to find a reflective film that will reflect unwanted wavelengths. By using metals and high tech processes in the film, select wavelengths are blocked and kept outside (or inside) the building. Because film selects the rays that we’d like to block, we are able to reduce harmful UV, micro, and infrared rays, while filtering out intense light to choose the brightness of the room. In with the good light, out with the bad…

Is it Expensive?

At comparable prices to sunscreens, you will find that it will save you far more money than it will cost you. That’s not to mention the fact that there will be no extra maintenance cost associated with window film’s cleaning or care. We offer multiple lines of window films to balance high technology with high value so we can not only meet your needs, but your budget.

Energy Efficiency

Reflective window film can reduce summer solar heat gain by up to 49 percent & reject up to 89% of solar energy! That can have a dramatic impact on the comfort of your south-facing rooms. Different types of clear glass and window systems will reject 13-29% of the solar heat. With window films, up to 90% solar heat rejection can be obtained. And your summer electricity bills will be easier to handle as well – manufacturers say for every 100 square feet of window film you install, you’ll save one ton of air conditioning capacity!

Safety Benefits

When glass breaks, usually someone gets hurt. One of window film’s great properties is that if your window was ever hit or crashed into, it would tend to keep the glass together– and away from your loved ones. We do offer extremely thick versions (security films) to keep thieves and golf balls from penetrating or doing even more serious damage, but any one of our films will help reduce, if not eliminate, glass fragments when a window is broken. Think of all the times this might come in handy:

• Kids wrestling on a bed or floor near a window
• A dog jumping through [what looks like] an open window
• A rock thrown from the lawn mower
• A baseball from a pick-up game out in the back yard
• A golf ball from the course behind your house
• An innocent game of catch in the family room
• Those pesky teenagers throwing eggs on Halloween
• A bird trying to fly through your window

Glare Reduction

Does the afternoon sun set on your television screen? Can you barely stand to be in a room at certain times of the day when the sun funnels in to the point of glare torturing your eyes? If glare is bothering you, consider a window film that can cut glare by 87%. Cutting the glare is not only good for your eyes, but makes working in the kitchen, office, and living area much more bearable.

Clearer Views

With absolutely no obstructions, window film will keep your view crystal clear and sharp. Don’t worry about losing your million-dollar view. You will get to keep it along with the added efficiency. You will be able to see your kids easily by the pool and don’t worry about nighttime “mirroring” if your night view is important– we have films for that too! Unlike the mechanical approach of sunscreens, solar films focus on blocking rays, not views.

UV Protection

By choosing which rays are allowed to enter your home, window film will successfully block out 99% of all UV rays. This means fading protection for your artwork, furniture, and carpets– not to mention protection for your family’s skin. There are six factors affecting fabric fading:

1. Ultraviolet Light
2. Visible Light
3. Heat & Humidity
4. Chemical Vapors (including ozone)
5. Age of Fabric
6. Dye Fastness

Clear single pane glass (1/8″ to 1/4″) will reject 23-28% of the ultraviolet light from the sun. Insulated glass is slightly better, rejecting 36-41%. Our window films installed on glass reject 99-99.9% of solar ultraviolet light. No window film can eliminate fading. It can, however, offer maximum protection from fading due to solar ultraviolet light and solar heat. Notice what can happen to a laminate floor that has not been protected from UV.  Our sun’s incredible heat can force some incredible heat, and ultraviolet light into anything from your furniture, to your paintings, to your floors, to your window coverings.  By properly protecting your valuables against those 2 harsh elements you can add many years to the life and significantly decrease the fading!

Privacy

Window films have many properties that involve reflection. By reflecting visible light, one has the ability keep a room from getting as hot, but also can keep unwanted eyes from viewing into your home or office. Obviously not all window films produce privacy; but if that is one of your goals let us know. We have a selection of films that will reflect outward more so than inward for better nighttime privacy, too!

There are plenty of good reasons to get window film. The US government just made it even better. For 2009 & 2010, you can receive tax credits of up to $1,500 just for saving yourself energy costs for your home… you can save even more for tinting a commercial project! In order to follow the proper process and download the proper forms, simply keep your receipts that we give you for tinting and follow the proper instructions for residential credit or the commercial credit. Consumers should use the 2009 version IRS Form 5695 when submitting their taxes.  This form is currently available from the IRS. The window film credits fall under “insulation” in the Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency program.  For more information visit the Energy Star web page for Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency. What you need to know:

1. Only windows, skylights and door windows with wood or vinyl frames qualify.  Windows with metal frames do not qualify.
2. If unsure about glass type, use the more conservative value.
3. Window films qualify as insulation on IECC 2009 code.
4. Qualifications are based on IECC 2009 & amendments.

To receive the tax credit, consumers are required to submit IRS Form 5695 with their 2009 Income Tax Return. Retain your original film invoice illustrating the cost of the window film only and a copy of the product’s certification from Madico for your climate zone. They do not need to be submitted with your taxes, but should be kept for your records.

We have been washing glass for a while now, but it was listening to our customers that got us into the window tinting business. Our 5 Star Commitment to our customers won over customers who quickly became friends. In a world of frustrations dealing with service providers, customers valued our commitment to them. It was only natural that when customers kept asking if we tinted windows we dreaded telling them “no”. We soon realized that our service combined with Arizona’s hot sun really gave us no other choice… Our experience with sunscreens gave us several special pieces of knowledge:

• Sunscreens are difficult to clean. Even though we have perfected our cleaning techniques for screens, it can be quite expensive to keep them looking nice.
• Sunscreens don’t age well. Just because we can clean them well, doesn’t mean we can turn the time machine backward. Over time they become saggy, discolored, and tear.
• Customers consistently complain about the distorted view out of their sunscreens, or the aesthetics from the outside.

With this in mind, we knew that we must get going on what customers were raving about: window film. So here we are.

Window Film	vs.	Sun Screens
A film applied to the interior of the window to reject heat and unwanted rays	vs.	A fabric stretched over a metal frame to shade your window from light
Professional tint will not degrade over time in the sun’s heat	vs.	Screens will degrade over time in the sun’s heat and show signs of tattering, dry rot, & frame bending
Blocks out 99.9% of all UV rays to protect carpet, furniture, and blinds	vs.	Filters light through opaque material, allowing in all rays, filtering out the light along with some UV rays
Allows a perfect view through the window no matter how dark the tint gets, while cutting glare	vs.	Your view will be obscured by the material shading your window, the more light that is blocked (ie. 70%, 80%, 90%), the more distorted your view will be
Cost to clean a window with tinting on it: regular price (typically $3/ pane)	vs.	Cost to clean a window with sunscreens on it: regular price + $4/ screen (typically $7/pane)
Permanent (can be removed for a cost, though)	vs.	Removable
No drilling into your home, adheres to glass (comes with varying glass warranties)	vs.	Drill into stucco and/ or window frame (typically voids any window warranty)
Provides privacy by reflecting light away	vs.	Provides privacy by blocking light
Will look pretty much the same whether it’s clean or dirty	vs.	Will look great when new and/or cleaned, but holds dirt and starts looking dirty over time.
Darkness chosen by degree of heat rejection	vs.	Darkness chosen by tightness of weave