San Rafael, CA Window Film

A very common customer request – A window that you can see through during the day, but can give you privacy at night, even with the lights on.

Sadly, we have to inform you there is no such thing. There is no film that is transparent (allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen) during the day and at the same time blocks the view from the outside at night when you have the light on inside.

All glass in windows reflects a certain amount of light; the percentage reflected depends on the type of glass in the window. The higher the efficiency of the window, the more light it reflects. During a very bright day, a passerby would probably not be able to see through a high-efficiency window into your home, this is because the amount of light being reflected is greater than the amount of light coming out of your house.

The same principle applies at night when you are inside your home. If you try to look through your window at night in a brightly lit room, you would probably see your own reflection, because the amount of light being reflected is greater than the amount of light coming from the outside. Furthermore, since a window only reflects a percentage of visible light, the light that is not being reflected is going through the window and into the dark street. This, of course, would enable any passerby to see through your window.

This question is probably one of the more important questions because the wrong window film can, in fact, cause your glass to crack. The reason that window film can make glass crack is due to the film absorbing too much heat. This is why it’s important to know whether your glass is a single pane or dual pane because there are certain window films that are appropriate for each one.

With proper window film selection (that’s where we come in) there is little risk to your windows, seals, or frames. In fact, we offer warranties against such things as thermal breakage and seal failures (when applicable). Contact us for more information.

If you love your house plants and are worried that window film will harm them, take heart. 3M Sun Control Window Tint (also called sun control window film) blocks UV rays but not the red and blue rays that plants need to live. These two colors are not part of the UV color spectrum, which can be harmful to humans.  Window film also helps to regulate room temperatures and moisture. It really contributes to creating a stable environment for your plants by minimizing intense sunlight. In most cases, the best practice is to see how plants fair in spaces with new window film. Most plants will adjust to window film just fine.

Window film is one of the more cost-effective window treatments you can install. In terms of how much window film costs, prices vary based on several factors. The type of window film, the size of the job, the working conditions, and the timeframe.

Window film prices are generally based on the square footage of glass your project has, and just so you get an idea of numbers, on average, a solar film can cost anywhere between $8/sqft to $18/sqft. Our team will be able to go into further detail about pricing when they meet or speak with you and can show you different samples of what you are interested in as well as what they cost.

For more information on pricing, you can read our cost and pricing article here.

You can also get a quick online estimate from us in your email here.

We can remove any window film without damaging your glass surface. While window film can be removed, it isn’t easily removable in the sense that you need to worry about it falling off over time. If properly maintained, window film can last several years in both residential and commercial settings.