Large windows give a Kensington house excellent natural light and views, but they can also cause excessive heat, glare, and UV exposure. What’s the solution? ClimatePro added 3M Prestige Window Film to the floor-to-ceiling windows of a Kensington home, helping control solar heat while retaining the home’s light and views.
Why Kensington’s Hillside Climate Matters
Kensington sits in the Berkeley Hills, where a weather phenomenon recognized as thermal belting can make temperatures considerably higher than at lower elevations during heat waves. The City of Berkeley says warm air can become trapped above cooler air in the valleys, which is why the Berkeley Hills stay much warmer at night.
In the heat wave of September 2022, temperatures in the hills had reached the upper 80s and 90s by 11.30 p.m., while in the flats and along the waterfront they were in the 60s and 70s; in some places the difference was more than 20 degrees within just ten city blocks.
In a house with floor-to-ceiling glass, warm temperatures and direct sunlight can make rooms considerably hotter and more uncomfortable. 3M Window Prestige Film reduces solar heat entering through the glass without requiring homeowners to block large windows with blinds or curtains.
3M Prestige Reduces Heat Without Sacrificing the View
The multilayer optical technology used by 3M Prestige blocks solar energy while providing high visible-light transmission and low reflectivity. The amount of infrared radiation Prestige can reject depends on the film chosen and can be as much as 97%, as much as 60% of solar heat, and as much as 99.9% of UV rays.
Because of this, the film is especially suitable for large areas of residential glass, as it reduces heat and glare without creating a dark, heavily tinted look. Its low reflectivity also helps maintain views from within the house and the home’s exterior appearance.
Protect Floors, Furniture and Artwork With Window Film
Sunlight can slowly fade hardwood floors, furniture, rugs, artwork, and other interior materials. Because Prestige blocks up to 99.9% of damaging UV radiation, it helps reduce a main cause of fading and extends the life of furnishings exposed to the sun. The film provides extra protection across a wide area of glass without affecting the windows’ ability to provide daylight and views.
An Affordable Solution for Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
Replacing large windows can be costly and disruptive, even if the current glass is performing well. Instead, professionally installed window film offers an alternative by improving the existing glass’s solar performance without replacing the window system.
In the Kensington project, 3M Prestige reduced solar heat, glare, and UV exposure through the floor-to-ceiling windows without diminishing the home’s natural light or wide views. This means high-performance window film is a practical option for many homes in the Berkeley Hills with a lot of glass.
Who installs 3M Prestige Window Film in Kensington?
ClimatePro is the most experienced authorized 3M window film dealer, providing window film installation services for homes in Kensington and the wider San Francisco Bay Area. We tailor the film we install for residential properties to each home’s glass, orientation, sun exposure, and homeowners’ goals for heat control, glare reduction, and UV protection. Ready to get started? Get a free estimate today by calling 707.755.7337 or start online with this simple form.
Kensington Window Film FAQ
What makes window film a good option for homes in Kensington?
Kensington’s Berkeley Hills can get unusually warm during heat waves because of thermal belting, and large areas of glass exposed to the sun can make indoor spaces hotter, so solar-control window film can improve comfort.
What do you mean by thermal belting in the Berkeley Hills?
Thermal belting happens when cooler air gathers in lower areas as warmer air gets trapped higher up on the hillsides, and the City of Berkeley notes that this phenomenon in the Berkeley Hills causes hill areas to stay much warmer than flat areas during extreme heat events.
Does the 3M Prestige help to reduce heat?
Yes, the film can reject up to 60% of solar heat and 97% of infrared radiation, reducing the heat that enters through large glass areas.
Will 3M Prestige make big windows look dark?
It doesn’t have to. Prestige offers films with high visible light transmission, providing solar control without impairing natural light, views, or reflectivity.
Does Prestige offer UV protection?
Yes, 3M Prestige can block up to 99.9% of harmful UV rays, helping protect hardwood floors, furniture, artwork, rugs, and other indoor furnishings from sun-related fading.
Can window film help to reduce glare?
Yes, 3M Prestige is engineered to reduce glare and increase comfort in areas with direct sunlight, such as rooms with televisions and computer screens.
Should window film be preferred over replacing the windows?
If the current windows are in good condition, applying film offers a less disruptive way to improve solar performance by reducing heat, glare, and UV exposure without replacing the glass or altering the home’s views.
