Warm sun rays often cause significant discomfort in a residential building. Penetrating into rooms, they not only irritate the eyes, but also cause a noticeable increase in the temperature in the room. For those who do not want to protect themselves from this unpleasant phenomenon with dense curtains, there is a good way out - window tinting.
Features:
Even if the room is on the shady side, everyone is probably familiar with such unpleasant phenomena as:
- overheating of the apartment in the summer heat;
- fading of wallpaper and furniture from constant exposure to sunlight;
- discomfort from glare of rays when watching TV or working at a computer.
If you shade the room with blackout curtains, then this will not solve the problem of overheating of the apartment. In addition, curtained windows make the room darker.
That is why they use a special film, the main function of which is athermal. It creates darkening and effectively solves all problems of overheating and color fading on interior items.
Tinting film is a material that filters sunlight well. Thanks to this protection, up to 80% of the ultraviolet radiation is reflected, therefore, in the summer, the room is kept cool.
The advantages of tinting are obvious:
- Typically, the tint is attached to largely dim the intense glare of the sun that hits the glass.
- Tinting reliably keeps heat in the apartment. This is true in winter, when the film does not allow warm air to pass outside, minimizing the appearance of any "cold bridges".
- Any tinting film has a mirror surface, so it is impossible to see what is happening in the apartment from the outside.
- Modern decorative films can become a stylish accent in the interior; photo prints are often applied to them, which emphasize the overall design concept of the interior.
- If the glass breaks, then its fragments are usually scattered throughout the room. This does not happen if the window is tinted. With any mechanical damage, glass fragments remain on the film. This makes it safer to dismantle the glass unit and troubleshoot.
- Some manufacturers produce films with armored properties. Such options can protect the apartment not only from unwanted light, but also from illegal entry from the outside.
- When using the film on the windows, the screens of the monitor and TV do not glare, which allows you to work calmly or comfortably watch your favorite program.
- The wide range of films offers different dimming options depending on the user's wishes.
- Houseplants often die from scorching rays and contact with hot glass. During tinting, the optimal supply of light and heat will be ensured for the representatives of the flora growing on the windowsill.
- Among other things, the film protects the coating well from any minor damage and chips.
Of course, film is not a perfect solution. It has its drawbacks:
- If the window faces the north side or is in shade, then the general atmosphere in the room after tinting becomes rather gloomy. This is due to the fact that the film transmits rays of only a certain spectrum, therefore, for example, if a silver-colored film is fixed on the glass, then the room itself will acquire grayish shades.
- Most of the sunlight on contact with tinted windows is reflected, so very few rays get inside, which significantly reduces the degree of heating of the apartment. This is noticeable in cold weather and on rainy days.
The principle of the protective film is similar to that of sunglasses, which reflect waves of a certain type, size and characteristics. Such a film is produced by mechanically rolling several layers of polyester, and the number of these layers largely determines the film thickness and filtration capacity.
How to choose?
The most effective protection can be achieved using factory-tinted glass, but most often ordinary consumers resort to films that can be applied independently at home.
There are several options for film coating:
- mirror;
- protective;
- sunscreen.
Thanks to mirror tinting, you can create the visual effect of a mirror with a wide variety of shades on the glass.
Such a coating reflects 80% of sunlight and 75% of heat, creating effective protection from heat, scorching sunlight, radiation and ultraviolet radiation, due to which the inside of the room is kept cool and a healthy microclimate is formed.
A wide range of shades allows any interior and even facade to acquire a stylish and luxurious look. In addition, toning 100% protects residents from the prying eyes of neighbors - everything that happens in the house is completely hidden from prying eyes.
Keep in mind that mirror film is only effective during the daytime; by the evening, its effectiveness decreases significantly. Therefore, after turning on the light in the house, it is worth using curtains or blinds.
Sun protection films also reflect 80% of the light. This tinting is used to protect computer and television equipment from sun glare - it is very convenient on a clear day.
Modern sun-protection coatings make the facade of the building more aesthetic and stylish. The undoubted advantage of the material is its low cost. It is much cheaper than its counterparts. In addition, such films contribute to the formation of a comfortable indoor air temperature for adults and children.
Protective films have an additional function - they are distinguished by increased impact resistance and resistance to other types of mechanical damage . Such coatings can protect glass from destruction due to impact, and they also prevent intruders from getting inside. Some modifications even save bullets.
DIY tinting
Experts say that the highest quality glass pasting with tinting films is possible only under factory conditions. However, it is necessary to consider how you can tint windows with your own hands at home.
This will require the following materials and tools:
- directly sun-protection film (do not forget to measure the area of the glass sheet in advance, the film will need 3-4 cm more);
- liquid soap solution (it is preferable to use colorless, stirred with water in a ratio of 1 to 3);
- spatula with a soft sponge;
- spatula with a hard rubber tip;
- rags.
First you need to dismantle the glass unit. Of course, many are trying to do without it. Let us immediately pay attention to the fact that in this case the dimensions of the coating after drying may decrease, and areas on which there will be no coating appear on the glass surface. Therefore, within the framework of this article, an option is considered in which all technological stages of toning are observed.
During the gluing process, the material will take time to dry. During this time, the film takes on its final dimensions. The process can take more than one day, so you can temporarily install a sheet of plywood or stretch a dense polyethylene film in place of the glass. Then the procedure looks like this:
- First, the surface to be treated should be degreased, then the glass is washed with clean water, and the moisture is removed with a spatula and sponge.
- Using a spray bottle, apply an even layer of soapy water to the glass, then blot most of it with a sponge.
- The film is placed on the glass back side, after which the protective layer is carefully removed.
- The film is carefully turned over and fixed on the upper part of the glass, after which it is necessary to glue it evenly over the entire surface from top to bottom with a bead with a rubber tip.
- In the process of pasting, air bubbles inevitably appear. They are removed with a rag in smooth movements from the center to the edges. Please note that it will not be possible to completely get rid of bubbles in this way - microscopic elements will remain in any case. If the sticker technology was followed correctly, the bubbles disappear during the drying process due to the internal pressure created as it dries.
- After final drying, the edges of the film are cut in accordance with the dimensions of the glass surface.
- After the film is fixed, you can fix the glass unit back into the structure. With the help of glazing beads, the coating acquires the most effective fixation.
Keep in mind that in the future, when cleaning windows, you do not need to exert effort and rub the glass with special zeal. In this case, the film may be damaged or displaced on the glass.
Tips
Feedback on the use of tinting films is positive. This is an affordable and at the same time quite effective tool that allows you to quickly and easily rid your living quarters of excessive sunlight and exhausting heat.
Not everyone can install a split system or even a window air conditioner, so tinting is optimal for those who have to escape from the heat with a limited budget.
This method is also effective in summer cottages and summer houses where people do not live permanently. In such cases, spending several tens of thousands to install an air conditioner in a room is simply irrational.
The only drawback noted by consumers is the difficulty in removing the film. It's no secret that over time, the film may lose its aesthetic appearance, or it will no longer be needed. In this case, getting rid of the coating is not so easy, despite the fact that any film is removable. Therefore, experts suggest using one of the proposed methods:
- You can remove the tint using a steam generator. This device provides the effect of chemical treatment without the use of reagents due to the strongest steam pressure. Such processing is an excellent alternative to chemistry and rather quickly removes the film from the surface of the glass unit. After that, you need to wipe the surface of the window with the "Komet" powder.
- If, after removing the film, small pieces of tinting remain on the surface , do not rub them vigorously with abrasives. Try using the Sanita Cream kitchen surface cleaner or equivalent. This paste is optimal for earthenware and stainless steel, it is also suitable for glass, from which it effectively removes any stains that remain after removing the film.
- The "Shumanit" "lethal" agent , which housewives use for the most severe blockages, helps to eliminate the tint film from the glass. However, keep in mind that this method can only be used with glass windows. Plastic double-glazed windows under the influence of "Shumanit" are simply deformed.
And of course, do not forget about safety measures when working with this aggressive composition. All processing should be carried out with protective gloves, you can even use a respirator.
If the film contains polyethylene terephthalate (lavsan), then it will be very difficult to get rid of such a film. The only possible method here is mechanical - the coating is removed with a thin stainless steel blade.
For information on how to tint a window with your own hands, see the next video.