Ceramic Window Films... What's the Difference?

So, is there pottery in the window film? Not hardly.
 
In the late 1990's the term "ceramic" was just becoming associated with window film. The term came from the fact that some metals, when applied to film and exposed to oxygen would oxidize and become a form of ceramic. This is not the same ceramic as in insulators or the tiles on the Space Shuttle. Certainly not the same as a ceramic flower pot.

The design idea was to create a window film that offered the performance of traditional reflective films without the shiny, reflective appearance. The product was a success! Unfortunately, it was more expensive and was not available in the darker, glare reducing shades.

Over time, manufacturers have modified the traditional films to resemble the ceramic films. For example, our Optivision 35 and Day Dream 35 look almost identical to it's ceramic counter part. The performance was not compromised, but the cost was substantially less.

Spectral Selective films are a little difference. These films offer the performance of a 35% light transmission film and are almost invisible on the window. This is great for homeowners that do not want to alter the look of their windows. Our Firewall window film is one of these products.  But, as with all high tech products, it does cost more. We also offer Sun Gard Nova 70. This very light film will  not darken the room and still reduce heat by better than 50%. Nova is slightly less expensive than the ceramic films.

At Clear View my goal is to provide a quality product at a fair value. That's why in many cases I suggest homeowners look past the high tech  products and the fancy sales pitch for the better value for the money.

3M Fasara Venetian Adds a New Look

Recently Clear View Window Tinting www.tintcolorado.com installed 3M Fasara Venetian decorative window film at the Urban Drainage District office in Denver. The idea was to create increased level of privacy into work spaces and conference room. The film is a "gradient". This means the lines are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. This creates privacy at the lower portion of the windows and almost clear at the top.

There are literally hundreds of options in decorative window films. Visit our decorative film website www.denverdecorativefilm.com

Visit Our Sponsors!

Looking for other services in the Denver area? Window repair, curtains or shades and much more. Visit one of our guest advertisers! Simply click on one of the links to the right and you're there!
                                                                                                                                

Clear View Residential Sun Control Window Tinting

Clear View provides professional window film applications in the Denver metro area. Applied to the indside of your windows residential window tinting films will make your home cooler and more comfortable on those hot summer days. Your home's interior will be protected from the harsh effects of the sun's UV rays.

There is a wide range of shades and performance levels for just about any home. We are a Gold Star Member of the Denver / Boulder BBB with an A Rating!

Call for a free in home quote! 303-697-6499 www.tintcolorado.com

Conference Rooms Need Privacy

 

Frosted glass window film for privacy

 

To prevent distractions durning meetings, this Centennial law office chose to add a simple two foot  (24") wide stripe of white frost window film to there conference room windows. The film obscured the view just enough to prevent clients from feeling as though they were being watched as this room is situated immediately inside the entrance. With the top and the bottom of the glass untreated the rom still has a very open feel to it.

Clear View also added a 30" frosted stripe to each of the office windows that faced into the hallway.

www.tintcolorado.com  /  www.denverdecorativefilm.com

Castle Rock Homeowner Selects Day Dream 25

This Castle Rock home originally had it's windows tinted back in 1999. The new owners had no idea what type of window film had been installed. What they did know was it looked horrible. The film was bubbling and had severe distorion. To make things worst, the painters had applied masking tape to the edges of the windows directly on top of the film. Sadly, when the tape was removed, the film was damaged.

Because the home had large windows in the family room, they knew that if they only removed the old film the house would be almost impossible to cool on hot summer days. Also, their furnishings would be subjected to damaging UV rays.

After visiting with Clear View they selected Day Dream 25. This amazing window film will reduce solar heat by almost 60% while blocking UV by 99% and cut the bright glare just the right amount. And, their new window tinting is now backed by a Lifetime Warranty!

Almost immediately they noticed a difference. The family room was instantly cooler and the windows no longer were an eye sore.

Just look at the difference Day Dream 25 made in their view!

Day Dream 25 on left. No film on right.

www.tintcolorado.com

Does window film cause seal failure in insulated windows?

Countless times I  have heard consumers comment that the "glass guy" told them that window film causes seal failure in windows. Seal failure occurs when the sealant between the two panes of glass breaks, subjecting the airspace to the surrounding environment. Since the seal acts as the moisture barrier, if the seal breaks, condensation can develop in the airspace of the insulating glass window, making it look cloudy or filled with moisture droplets.

The environment inside an insulating glass unit can be affected by its external environment such as temperature and air pressure. Changes in temperature and air pressure put additional stress on the seals. The use of less resilient sealants in the construction of the insulating glass unit can also cause the seals to fail. Most manufacturers, however, design and test their products to withstand significant changes in air pressure and temperature, thereby reducing the chance of failures. Nevertheless, seal failure does and will continue to occur simply because of the way in which insulated units are manufactured, shipped and installed. In fact, the insulating glass manufacturers association (SIGMA) has found normal seal failure to be at a rate of 1.5% of the insulated units.

So, does window film cause seal failure? Not likely. The window film industry has conducted a number of tests to evaluate the affect of window film on sealed glass units. Results indicate that on a clear insulating unit, window film designed for residential and commercial application only increases the summertime airspace temperature by no more than 22 degrees, a pressure increase of only .55 psi (pounds per square inch). Put into perspective, most manufacturers of the glass units design their products to withstand a pressure change of 3.30 psi, over six times the film's potential pressure increase.

What can you do? We advise our customers who have seal failure concerns to contact their window manufacturer. If your window manufacturer voids the warranty on the window when film is installed, you should ask for their test data supporting these warranty limitations.

www.tintcolorado.com

House Hot? We can help!

Clear View Window Tinting offers a range of window film products designed to reduce the volume of hot sun entering your windows. Making your home or office more comfortable and energy efficient.

 

Like the light, but hate the heat.... Our Firewall 70 and Nova 70 both provide a nice reduction in the heat while maintaining almost all of the light. All the performance of the darker films without a "tinted" look.

Want to reduce the heat and the glare? Our Optivision and Day Dream films will provide up to 75% solar heat reduction and soften the harsh glare associated with bright sun light.

Regardless of your selection, all of our sun control window films provide 99% UV protection.

Keep your cool this summer with Clear View Window Tinting.

www.tintcolorado.com

LoHi Athletic Club

Recenetly Clear View Window Tinting installed SOLYX Frosted Sparkle window film to the Yoga / Aerobics room at LoHi Athletic Club located at 2010 W. 30th Ave. in Denver. The owner, Jim Baraglia wanted to provide some privacy for members utilizing the Yoga and Aerobics classes. Sorry, no photos at this time.

LoHi Athletic Club offers a no-nonsense approach to fitness. This club has an intimate feel, not found in the larger mega clubs. Learn more about this unique health club at www.lohiathleticclub.com

www.tintcolorado.com

How does window film help to reduce solar heat entering windows?

Window (tinting) film, designed for solar heat reduction, can be significantly  effective. Solar heat is composed of 3 components: UV 3%, Visible light 47.5 % and Infra Red light 48.5%. By effectively removing a portion of each of these components heat reduction is achieved. You can see that in order to reduce the most amount of heat you must address each component.

• Almost all window films will block UV by 99%, thus making this component almost irrelevant.
• The darker films will almost always block more heat than the lighter products, since they remove more of the visible light. This is why dark "car tint" blocks more heat than the lighter shades.
• Reflective window films often provide the highest heat reduction numbers because they reflect the heat away before entering the penetrating the glass.
• Films that block or filter high amounts of IR light can also provide good performance without the loss of too much light.

Finding the right combination for your specific needs is the key to a good balance. For example, our ASWF Day Dream 15 will block as much 75% of the sun's heat by reflecting a large portion of the heat at the window surface, but will also reduce the volume of light entering your windows making some rooms darker. On the other hand, our Firewall 70 and Nova 70 will allow in a greater amount of light. While the heat reduction performance is not the same, it will none the less reduce the over all volume of heat coming in.

When considering which product is right for you remember, more expensive does NOT mean better performing. Nano-ceramic window films are effective, but often do not provide a very good return on investment. Be a wise consumer and look closely at the numbers. "Brand name" products often cost much more and in the end, you don't receive any additional benefit.

www.tintcolorado.com

Clear View Partners with American Standard Window Films

Now available from Clear View.... American Standard Window Films!

 

 

Manufactured in their state of the art facility in Las Vegas, Nevada ASWF is made to the highest standards. All ASWF Architectural Films feature:

• Durable scratch resistant coating
• Clear, robust mounting adhesive
• Ultraviolet rejection of 99%
• Variety of sizes to fit most windows
• Wide array of shades to address specific needs
• Residential Lifetime Warranty

The Daydream series is a dual reflective film designed specifically for the residential market. This series of films reduces solar heat gain and cuts annoying glare while introducing minimal interior reflectivity.

The Sky series diminishes glare inside and out. This dual reflective film provides ultra-low reflectivity in low-light conditions. The dual nature also performs year-round, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Firewall is a high performance heat rejecting flat glass film that offers very high visual light transmission. Firewall is a 2-ply, 1.5 mil film laminate that utilizes the latest generation of exceptionally stable ceramic nano-particulate technology and installs with a clear dry adhesive (DA). The ceramic pigment allows the film to block IR energy (heat) while remaining nearly transparent to the viewer. Absorption levels are low enough to provide for safe installation on dual pane glass.

The Nature series provides a neutral, natural view. This sputtered film offers exceptional clarity and low reflectivity. The result is superior performance without any distortion, for the clearest, truest view.

There's an American Standard Window Film just right for you!

www.tintcolorado.com

Grand Lake Home Cuts Glare and Heat With Optivision 25

 

 

This Grand Lake home had so much sun entering the windows it was becoming unbareable. It was too bright to watch TV and the heat was to the pint of being uncomfortable. The homeowner wanted to maintain the amazing view and wouldn't think of covering up the windows with blinds or shades. They resolved the issue with Sun Gard Optivision 25. The heat was under control and they no longer had a problem seeing the TV.

 

Can you tell which windows were NOT treated with Optivision? The top photo was taken before the top 2 windows were treated. In the next photo you can see a significant difference. Yet, the sky is still blue and the trees are still green. The view is enhanced and the homeowner can breath a sigh of relief.

www.TintColorado.com

Introducing NOVA series window film from Sun Gard

Now available from Clear View Window Tinting..... Nova series window film. These unique window films offer high visibility and outstanding heat reduction. Our Nova 70 will block 46% (TSER) of the solar heat entering your windows and still allow in almost all of the light. The Nova 50 will block as much as 57.4% of the heat on dual pane glass.  Your rooms will remain bright and cool.

This is a perfect film for homes with darker rooms and want to maintain the light. And the best part is Nova costs less than "Ceramic films".

Photos coming soon.

www.tintcolorado.com 

http://www.madico.com/window-film/architectural/sun-gard-architectural-film/century-series/


Serving Denver  and the Front Range of Colorado. Commercial and residential window tinting services.

We'll Buy Your Groceries!

Clear View Window Tinting is pleased to announce our new customer referral program. Here's how it works....... Simply refer a friend or family member to Clear View. Should they decide to have tinting installed by Clear View we will send you a $25 gift card from your choice of  Safeway or King Soopers. It's that easy.


Minimum purchase of $250 required to receive gift card. No limit to how many gift cards you may receive. One gift card per client referred. Call for complete details.

 

www.tintcolorado.com  /  303-697-6499

www.clearmountainview.com/residential-tinting

Residential Window Tinting ..... Does it really work?

The short answer to that question is a definite YES!

Window film, when professionally installed will provide a wide variety of benefits.

• Block damaging UV rays by up to 99%, a major cause of sun damage to floors and furnishings.
• Control annoying glare. See your TV screen or computer moniter without closing blinds or shades.
• Reduce solar heat entering your windows. Window film can reduce heat entering your windows by as much as 75%, making rooms more comfortable and reduce cooling costs.
• Enhance your view. Window film makes your view even more brilliant. The sky is bluer and the trees are greener.

All without hiding behind closed shades or blinds!

Regardless what your concerns are, Clear View has a window film just right for your home. Our Sun Gard films are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Visit our website to learn even more!

www.TintColorado.com

 

303-697-6499

 

Let the sun shine in!

Sun Gard Window Film

Clear View proudly offers Sun Gard Window Films by Madico. Sun Gard along with Madico has had a long and proud tradition in the window film industry. Learn more about Sun Gard at www.sun-gard.com

Beauty, safety, and energy savings. It’s amazing what a thin layer of window film can do for your home. Sun Gard window film is offered in a variety of styles and hues, giving you the freedom to design as bold or as subtle as you’d like.

Save energy and reduce CO2 emissions
Window films can keep out up to 86% of the sun’s heat, dramatically lowering air conditioning costs. In the winter, the same film helps retain interior heat, reducing heating costs.

Extend the life of valuable furnishings
The sun can take a costly toll on your fabrics, furniture, flooring and art. Sun Gard window films block out up to 99% of damaging ultraviolet rays, protecting your furnishings, and keeping them looking new for years to come.

Optivision Series
Sun Gard's Opivision film offers outstanding performance coupled with low interior reflection, even at night. Optivision is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty when installed on homes.

 

Made in the U.S.A.

You'll like the look and you'll love the lower cooling costs! There's a Sun Gard window film just right for you.

Check out our website for photos and additional information: www.tintcolorado.com

Website Updates

Recently we made some updates to our website.

Stop by and check us out!

 

www.TintColorado.com

UV Protection For your windows

It is said that in Colorado we have over 300 days of sunshine a year. Along with that sunshine comes  the harmful UV rays that cause our floors and furnishings to loose their new look and become old and faded looking before their time.

Did you know that all of our sun control window films are effective against harmful UV rays. In fact, most block as much as 99% of the damaging rays. So, whether you select a dark or a light product, you will get the same UV reduction.

Since UV is not the only reason our furnishings fade from the sun, it is important to consider a window film that will reduce "some" light for the best results.

Click the picture to visit our website

 

 

For those that wish ONLY to block UV without a "tinted" look we offer our clear Museum Film. Optically clear, this unique window film product blocks out 100% of the UV light.

 

For more details give us a call 303-697-6499  www.tintcolorado.com 

 

Control the Glare and Keep Your View

This Evergreen homeowner had so much sun entering their windows that they could not see their TV for several hours a day. One solution was to have window coverings installed. But that would block their view and cost a small fortune because of the size and shape of the windows.

To help reduce the bright glare the selected Optivision 15. The window film was just what they needed. They told me they could tell the difference before I was even finished installing the film. In the top photo, the window on the right and lower windows do not have the film on them. It's easy to see the difference. The bottom photo shows all of the top windows treated.

 

There's a Clear View window film just right for your home!

 

www.tintcolorado.com

Archive Room in Arvada Gets Makeover

The ARCHIVE ROOM in Olde Town Arvada is well known for their great food and service. Well, the owners have decided to give the place a new look with a great new menu. If you live in Arvada or just in the area, drop in and check out their new look.

www.oldetownarchiveroom.com

One of the changes made was to accent the bar area windows with a red frost window film. With the kitchen just on the other side of the windows, this film was selected to obscure the view into the kitchen and brighten up the bar area.

Clear View Window Tinting 303-697-6499

 

www.tintcolorado.com