- R Silver Series Window Films
- Reflective Window Film: Everything You Need to Know
- What is reflective window film?
- Why would you want to install reflective window film?
- Increased privacy
- Control internal temperature in hot weather
- Protect against UV rays
- Reduce glare
- Prevent windows from shattering
- They look great
- What is the difference between reflective and regular window film?
- Are there any downsides to reflective film?
- How is it installed?
- How long does it last?
- Does it come with a warranty?
- What options are there?
- A useful and cost-effective solution to many problems
- A Guide to Reflective Glass Film
- What is Reflective Glass Film?
- Energy Efficient Reflective Glass Film
- Reflective Glass Film: Two Birds With One Stone
R Silver Series Window Films
Delivering Comfort, Energy Efficiency & Bold Aesthetics
With their bold aesthetics, the Avery Dennison Reflective Films deliver a strong visual statement while improving a building’s energy efficiency, the occupants’ comfort and overall value to the commercial building owner.
All R Silver interior and exterior window films provide:
- 99+% UV block to limit fading and sun damage
- High level of heat rejection to reducing energy required to cool building
- Excellent solar heat and glare reduction for enhanced occupant comfort and productivity
- Bold aesthetic upgrade while maintaining daytime privacy
Reflective Interior Films
R Silver i
Designed for attractive appearance and excellent solar heat rejection at a competitive price. Available in two Light Visual Transmission (LVT) levels.
R Silver i Low E
Provides year-round comfort and energy efficiency. Maintains interior heat in the winter while rejecting solar heat from the exterior in the summer.
R Silver Safety
Combine the reinforced protection of security laminates with superb heat rejection and UV block. Available in both 4 and 9 mil thickness based on level of security required.
Reflective Exterior Films
R Silver X
Designed for attractive appearance and excellent solar heat rejection. Compatible with glass window systems. Available in multiple VLTs.
R Silver X Poly
Performs similarly to the R Silver X but engineered for installation on polycarbonate and other rigid plastic substrates.
R Silver XTRM
Engineered using a robust, metallized polymeric-based film. Delivers exceptional heat rejection with durability you’d expect from an internal film. Offers up to a 15 year limited warranty when installed on compatible glazing systems by a certified Avery Dennison XTRM installer.
R Skylite XTRM
Exterior film engineered to withstand the demanding horizontal and sloped roof applications. Blocks harmful radiation and lowers heat gain and glare by up to 80%. Up to a ten year warranty when installed by an Avery Dennison certified XTRM installer.
R Skylite XTRM Poly
Like the R Silver X Poly films, the R Skylite XTRM Poly film has been engineered for installation on polycarbonate and other rigid plastic substrates. Requires installation by a certified XTRM installer for a ten year warranty.
Reflective Window Film: Everything You Need to Know
If you are looking for a way to add extra privacy to your home, reduce energy bills or even just give your house a striking new look, you may be thinking about applying tint to your windows since this is an inexpensive way to achieve all these results and more.
However, you may also have heard about reflective window film and be wondering about the relative advantages and disadvantages it has over regular tint. For anyone pondering this or any other related questions, here is everything you need to know about reflective film.
What is reflective window film?
Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is reflective window film?
In short, reflective film is a type of film that you can apply to your windows – whether they are the windows of your home, an office building or your car – to create a mirror effect when viewed from outside.
This means that from outside, you can’t see in – but the people on the inside can still see out, offering great levels of privacy.
Why would you want to install reflective window film?
There are several reasons why people choose to fit reflective window film, so let’s have a look at the most important ones now.
Increased privacy
As have we have mentioned, due to its reflective properties, reflective film is highly effective at increasing privacy levels. If you don’t want people to see what you are doing, reflective film is an ideal solution.
Furthermore, even though people outside can’t see in, most of the natural sunlight from outside can also still penetrate the room.
This makes it much more pleasant than simply drawing the curtains or blinds since it leaves the room less gloomy. With reflective film you can have the best of both worlds – privacy and sunlight.
Control internal temperature in hot weather
Due to its reflective nature, this type of film does a great job of helping control the temperature of a room during a hot day. These films reflect a large proportion of the sun’s rays, preventing them from passing through the window and heating the room.
This means that during the hottest part of the year, you will end spending a lot less on air conditioning, potentially saving you lots of money on your bills.
Protect against UV rays
Related to the point about controlling temperature, reflective film can also protect you against harmful UV rays from the sun. Most people are well aware of the dangers posed by these rays, and many reflective films can block out up to 99% of UV, helping protect your skin.
As well as protecting your skin, this can also help prevent or slow the fading of your furniture or carpets, which is also due to exposure to UV rays.
Reduce glare
Reflective film can also help reduce glare from the sun. This could be important when you are driving, and it can also be beneficial in a working environment, reducing fatigue and even improving productivity since most people work better when they feel comfortable.
Prevent windows from shattering
Another reason for installing film on windows is for safety since it can help prevent the glass from shattering if it is smashed, something that could help avoid a serious injury.
They look great
Many people may simply love the look of shiny reflective windows. A car with reflective windows can turn heads as it drives past, while office buildings can look stunning when the reflective windows catch the light of the sun.
Some people might even enjoy having this effect on their home, and adding reflective film can give a house an ultra-modern look.
What is the difference between reflective and regular window film?
As you can see, there are many great reasons for installing reflective film on your windows – but how does it differ from regular tinted film? Let’s look at this now.
In the simplest terms, the difference between reflective windows and tinted windows is that tinted windows use film that blocks light but doesn’t reflect it.
This means that when you look at a tinted window, it looks dark rather than like a mirror.
This means tinted windows can give you a good level of privacy, depending on how dark the tint is, but they can’t match reflective tint in many of the other areas.
For example, while regular tinted film can help prevent shattering and does a good job of reducing glare, it can’t equal the performance of reflective film when it comes to blocking out UV rays or heat.
While tinted film can certainly help with these things, a good quality reflective film will simply do a better job.
Are there any downsides to reflective film?
It is important to remember that reflective film isn’t a magical solution for everything, and in some situations, it might not be the ideal option.
While reflective film provides excellent privacy during the day – when it’s brighter outside than inside – at night when you have lights switched on inside, the effect is reversed, allowing people outside to see in.
For this reason, if you are looking for day and night privacy, this might not be the right option.
If you are thinking about installing reflective film on a vehicle, you should also make sure your check local regulations concerning window tint. Laws vary from state to state, and in some places, it may be illegal to use reflective tint in your car windows.
Finally, bear in mind that while you might like the way your house looks with shiny reflective windows, your neighbors might not appreciate it.
Windows with this kind of film can reflect the sunlight off your house and directly onto other houses, and if your neighbors suddenly find themselves dazzled every evening as the sun goes down, you might find you’re not the most popular person on the street.
This means it might be better to consider how your neighbors will react before investing in reflective film.
How is it installed?
One of the great things about reflective film is that is extremely easy to fit. There are a couple of different options, and the simplest is film that attaches to the window simply by static.
To install it, you just use soapy water to help it stick and a squeegee to apply it and remove any bubbles – and you’re done.
With static cling film, it’s almost as easy to remove, making this a good option if you don’t want anything too permanent – for example, this could be a great solution in rented accommodation.
More permanent versions also exist that are fixed to windows by adhesive, but they are hardly more difficult to install.
You need to be more careful not to make a mistake while working as you can’t correct it as easily, but once in place, you can expect one of these films to stay attached to the window for many years.
How long does it last?
As we just mentioned, there are many different types of film, some of them more temporary and others more permanent. However, if you invest in a top-end film, you can expect it to stay up for as long as 20 years or more.
Does it come with a warranty?
Different films come with warranties of varying lengths. Some of the least expensive ones might be guaranteed for only a year, but if you choose one of the highest-quality options, you can expect a warranty of as long as 10 years.
However, even with a warranty of this length, you can expect the film to last considerably longer.
What options are there?
As we noted, films come either as static cling versions or ones that stick using adhesives.
Different grades are also available, depending on which direction your window faces. For example, if you need a film for a south-facing window, you will need a darker version to protect your room from the full power of the sun.
However, if you have a north-facing window, you should choose a lighter option since you won’t need to worry about the force of the summer sun on your window but you might like to maximize the amount of light it lets in.
Reflective films are also available in a range of colors, allowing you to customize your house or car further. For example, you can choose a reflective film that includes a blue or red tinge, depending on the style you prefer.
A useful and cost-effective solution to many problems
As we have seen, adding film is an inexpensive way to achieve a number of results, including increased privacy, heat reduction, improved aesthetics and more, and in many cases, choosing reflective film is a better option than choosing a simple tinted film.
You can pick from static cling film or film that is attached with adhesive, and there are many other options, including darker or lighter films as well as films with color.
Whichever type you decide to go for, we hope that with this introduction, you have learned everything you need to know about reflective window film.
A Guide to Reflective Glass Film
Often, homes with many west, east, or south-facing windows are subject to the «greenhouse effect,» where sunny bright rooms quickly turn into unbearably hot greenhouses. Reflective glass films are simple, cheap, and cost-efficient additions for all styles of glass and windows—including double and triple-pane—and can quickly pay for themselves. Read on to learn more about reflective glass film and what to look for while shopping for these window coatings.
What is Reflective Glass Film?
Reflective glass film, or reflective glass coatings, for the windows and other glass around your home and car comes in several different varieties, offering homeowners plenty of options to match their individual needs. Insulating reflective glass film reflects the sun’s heat in summer and minimizes your home’s overall heat gain, keeping your home cooler and reducing air conditioning costs. An insulating window film is also able to retain up to 55% of your home’s heat in winter, which means that your home will stay warmer. This type of reflective glass film can also help eliminate color bleaching and other sun damage to your home’s furnishings by reflecting as much as 99% of UV (ultraviolet) light.
Like insulating window coatings, glare reducing static-cling glass films are made to also block 99% of UV rays. This type of film is also removable and reusable. Although they allow infrared light to pass and consequently allow for more heat gain, glare reducing films can still be used to minimize television and computer screen washout. This means that you will be able to easily work on computers or other electronic devices in a light-filled room.
Reflective glass film is a great choice for a home with many west, east, or south-facing windows. | © CC BY 2.0 flickr.com / Jon Rawlinson
Energy Efficient Reflective Glass Film
When shopping for reflective glass film for your windows, there are several critical terms and values to know. For instance, a film’s total solar energy rejection (TSER) measures the film’s ability to keep infrared heat, UV rays, and visible light from entering your home’s interior. The higher the number, the more effective the film.
Additionally, a reflective glass film’s visible light reflectance (VLR) measures the percentage of visible light reflected by the window film. The larger the number, the brighter and better the window will be.
A glass film’s visible light transmission (VLT) measures the lightness of the film. This number will be lower with darker coatings. In finding a reflective glass film with a VLT around 50%, homeowners can potentially give their home an equal ratio of visibility and glare.
Finally, the film’s UV radiation rejection will reflect how well your home is protected from the sun’s ultraviolet light. The film’s shading coefficient gives homeowners an idea of the overall heat reduction after adding reflective glass film to their windows. Generally speaking, reflective glass film with a shading coefficient of .5 or lower is recommended for the home.
Reflective Glass Film: Two Birds With One Stone
Summer and its warmer weather can make it challenging to keep your home cool and comfortable. Fortunately, with the help of reflective glass film for your windows, you can reduce energy bills and maintain your home’s privacy. Reflective glass film is a cheap and simple to fix common problems with windows today.