Are you in search of the best kind of window tints for your residential home? Here’s a disclaimer: you might be overwhelmed by the number of choices available in the market today. Installing a new window tint can also range from being cost-effective or expensive, thus, make sure to do some research prior to making a final decision.
First, you must understand what you want to do or achieve with the window tint. The main question is — how bright do you want your home to be? In terms of natural lighting, when does bright become too bright? Meanwhile, certain sections of your home may need to be shaded for privacy reasons. You can darken those windows with curtains or blinds, but a suitable kind of window tint is designed to solve problems that may be bothering you for quite some time.
Choosing the best type of tint for house windows can be challenging. With this article, we’ll break down the essential information to help you sort out your research and narrow down your options. Keep reading to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each one against each other in order to determine what type is best for your Bria house and lot.
What is a Window Tint?
A window tint or film is a type of treatment applied to windows and glass surfaces. Tints for house windows are made of thin and lightweight polyester materials that are usually self-adhesive or water-activated. The best tint films also have scratch-resistant surfaces.
Window tints are applied on existing windows as a low-cost alternative as compared to installing energy efficient ones. This helps reduce the amount of solar heat transmitted through the glass, wherein it allows light to enter, increases solar reflectivity, and reduces heat and glare.
Tints do not hinder the ways to bring natural light into the space, instead it can add privacy and ambience. It even offers enhanced protection from accidents, break and entry, and broken glass.
What are the Benefits of a Window Tint?
Window tints come in a variety of styles, prints, and purposes. There are several types that can enhance the function and appearance of your glass windows. Sorting through the options can range from helping with heat reduction, anti-glare, security, and decorative coatings to improving your Bria Homes’ aesthetic. Here are the other ways that window tints can benefit your home:
- Save money on heating and cooling during warm or cold weather.
- Keeps you safe from ultraviolet (UV) rays – UVA and UVB.
- Darken spaces that are too bright and sunny.
- Increase privacy without obstructing the view.
- Helps with outside noise reduction.
- Hinders break-ins because it can hold broken glass shards together.
- Protect your furniture and carpets from the sun.
- Glare reduction for televisions and computers.
- Creates even temperatures near windows.
- Simple method for removing graffiti damage.
What are the Best Types of Tints for House Windows?
- Heat Blocking Window Tint
Most people install window tints to make sure that their homes do not get too hot during the daytime and that air conditioning units would not need to work overtime. This type of film can block up to 85% of infrared rays from entering your home and ensures that the room can retain heat during colder days. It also has a 25% visible light transmission (VLT), which keeps the room dark and private. From the outside, it will appear like a one-way mirror. It also helps block out almost all of the UV rays that enter the room. This is beneficial for skin protection, especially if you have a skin condition, and prevents your furniture from fading.
- Solar Window Tint
The Solar Window Tint, also called “solar control film,” is one of the most popular options today. This is because it is one of the most effective tints for heat reduction, making it an ideal choice for households living in hotter climates, like the Philippines. During the summer, solar tints regulate indoor temperatures and lead to significant energy savings, but make your home well-ventilated to have a cooler and comfortable living space.
You can opt for 80% window tint percentage, which can block 20% of the light that hits your window. Meanwhile, some manufacturers have films that can absorb and reflect up to 99% of UV rays. With its ability to help protect your skin from the sunlight, it also helps control and manage the temperature inside your home. Another feature is its scratch-resistant film that keeps your window protected from any damages.
- Decorative Window Tint
If you want security and privacy for your home, the decorative tint is ideal to enhance the appearance of a room or block window visibility. Decorative or “dyed window tints” adds an aesthetic appeal to your plain glass windows. It comes in a wide spectrum of colors, designs, and patterns. It can be colored, translucent, frosted, or opaque.
Most decorative tints are visible from the inside, where visitors from outside your home will only see an opaque tint. However, keep in mind that some decorative tints do not block UV rays since they are the thinnest type of window tint. Meanwhile, it is also a great choice for bathroom windows, shower glass, and interior walls and doors at your Bria Homes house and lot.
- Metalized Window Tint
Unlike decorative tints that use dye, metalized tints use tiny particles of different metals. This includes copper, aluminum, or nickel, depending on the brand. Metalized film is gaining popularity and it is one of the strongest kinds of window tints you could get. It does not fade as fast as the other kinds of window tints, but you need to pay a higher price for it.
This window tint is similar to a solar tint, but it helps deflect heat and light inside the room due to the small pieces of metal inside it. The film is also thick and durable, making it shatter-proof. On the outside, you will not see the metal particles. It will also look like a one-way mirror, which is perfect for those who need security and privacy.
- Carbon Window Tint
With the carbon inside of the film, this tint is non-reflective and creates a matte finish on your windows. This is the perfect choice for homeowners who want a unique aesthetic that does not block out everything from the outside. Instead, it will block around 40% of infrared lights, which makes your windows energy-efficient but it will still get a little bit hot at times.
- Security Window Tint
For Bria homeowners who need a little more peace of mind, security window tints are usually the thickest films available and are made up of one or several layers of laminated polyester film. As compared to the solar film, it does not reflect sunlight and heat, but it can minimize the damage of shattering glass and makes it difficult for intruders to see inside your home. This reduces the risk of break-ins or damage from natural calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes.
What Type is the Best for You?
Natural lighting is great at illuminating your Bria Homes interior, however, there are situations where the light can get a little too bright. This causes glares on computer or television screens and reflects off your mirrors or furniture, which affects the mood and atmosphere in your room.
Your window tint of choice will boil down to your own personal preferences and factors considered in your home, including your budget, objective, quality, aesthetic, among others. It is important to reach out to a professional for assistance first before installation. Window tinting prices may vary based on the type, size, brand, and quality of the product.
Written by Gianne D. Inumerable