The Benefits of Solar Window Film from Arizona Solar Control

Read below about comfort, fade protection, saving energy and lowering utility bills, elegance and privacy, security, our professional installation and then let us answer some of your most frequently asked questions. If you have any additional questions, you are always welcome to contact Arizona Solar Control - the window film specialists.

Read About Safety and Security Window Films

Why do you need Solar Window Film?

• Why install window film?
  
• What is window film?
  
• Will window film peel?
  
• Will window film scratch?
  
• Will window film bubble?
  
• What does the film warranty cover?
  
• Are films safe for insulated (double-pane) windows?
  
• Does Arizona Solar Control have a film that controls fading and heat damage, while letting maximum light into the rooms?
  
• Will window film change the appearance of my windows?
  
• Will I be able to see out of the windows at night?
  
• Do I need to wash my windows prior to my window film installation?
  
• Does Arizona Solar Control install window film for cars?
  
• Why use Arizona Solar Control?
  
• What areas does Arizona Solar Control cover?

Why install window film?

To control heat buildup, fading and glare.

What is window film?

Window film is extremely thin layers of metal, making up what you see as tint, enclosed between two pieces of clear polyester plastic.  Older films used chemical dyes to provide the "tint".  These have largely given way to the sputterized (metalized) film.  Dyed films were notorious for fading and even changing colors.  Dyed films typically had 5-7 year warranties; today's sputtered films typically have ten-year or lifetime warranties.  Modern films adhere to glass with adhesives that no longer form gas pockets (bubbles) after a few years.

Will the window film peel?

Peeling (delaminating) is not a problem with modern films.

Will the window film scratch?

Modern films have excellent scratch-resistant coatings.  Older films had no scratch-resistant coatings and some were ruined the first time they were cleaned unless extreme care was used.  Today's films have very hard scratch-resistant coatings that allow for normal cleaning.  The manufacturers recommend that no abrasives be used.  A scratch-resistant coating does not mean scratch-proof; care should be taken when working around filmed windows with paint scrapings or other metal objects.

Will the window film bubble?

Bubbles can be caused by inexperienced installers or adhesive failure.  Arizona Solar Control uses only highly experienced installers and films that no longer form gas pockets several years after use.  In fact, Panorama and SolarGard films use a dry adhesive that has been on the market since 1977 without a failure of any type!

What does the film warranty cover?

Film warranties cover virtually anything that has happened to films in the past such as but not limited to peeling, bubbling, crazing, demetalizing, etc.  Maybe the most important thing about film warranties is that they are not prorated.  If a film with a ten-year warranty fails after nine years, the manufacturer is contractually obligated to pay a dealer to remove the old film and install new film at no cost to the warranty holder.  The warranties also cover glass breakage from heat cracks and seal failure on insulated (double-pane) glass because most glass manufacturers will void their own glass warranty after window film has been applied.

Are films safe to insulated (double-pane) windows?

Modern window films like Panorama are safe for double-pane windows.  In fact, the manufacturers of these films warranty the film for life.  They also warrant the windows for stress fractures and seal failures.  Panorama warrants stress fractures for five years and seal failures for three years.  Panorama also offers modestly-priced warranties that take over the manufacturer's warranty, word for word.  As an example, if the window manufacturer warrants the window for seal failure for twenty years and seal failure occurs after 18 years, it is the film manufacturer's responsibility to pay for the new window.  Panorama covers cost of the window, the labor to install it and the cost to re-film the new window.  (Many window manufacturers don't cover labor!)

Does Arizona Solar Control window tinting control fading
and heat damage while letting maximum light inside?

The films that accomplish this are called spectrally selective.   This is because they reject almost all of the ultraviolet light and the majority of heat that comes through the window while transmitting most of the sun's visible light.

Will window film change the appearance of my windows?

The answer to this depends on which film is chosen.  Panorama has films that are very dark as well as those that are very light.  The lightest films are those that are spectrally selective.  These films are so light that they are used on retail store-front windows where clarity is mandatory.

Will I be able to see out of the windows at night?

The best films for this are the spectrally selective films.  They only reject small amounts of light and so do not reflect the light back at the viewer.  Panorama has installed thousands of square feet of spectrally selective films in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills and in the hills and high-rise condos of San Francisco, where keeping the night view was of considerable importance.

Do I need to wash my windows prior to my window film installation?

No, Arizona Solar Control installers prepare each window thoroughly prior to installation.

Does Arizona Solar Control install window film for cars?

No. Automotive window film installation is a specialty, just as residential and commercial window film installation.

Why use Arizona Solar Control?

Arizona Solar Control has been serving the Phoenix area since 1984.  We specialize in residential and commercial installations.  We use some of the finest films on the market (films whose manufacturers restrict distribution to only the top dealers).  In addition, Arizona Solar Control uses only installers with many years of experience installing all types of flat-glass films.  Arizona Solar Control has many satisfied customers around the Phoenix metro area who ask us back for additional work and recommend us to their friends and neighbors.  References are always available upon request.  We have probably done residential or commercial work very close to you.

What areas does Arizona Solar Control offer window tinting service?

Arizona Solar Control does work all over Arizona, as well as New Mexico, Nevada and California.  We have done many installations in and around Flagstaff, Prescott, Payson, Tucson, Sedona, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Avondale, Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear, Lichfield Park, Sun City, Queen Creek and Ahwatukee, AZ.

Please contact us to set up an appointment for a free consultation.

ARMORCOAT SAFETY AND SECURITY WINDOW FILM

Every facility, regardless of size, construction or location, has areas of vulnerability. Those areas are where attacks can be made on a company’s most valuable assets – their employees, guests or tenants, their property, and their information. And no matter how well guarded, structurally reinforced or fortified, every facility shares the same chief vulnerability – its glass windows.

Windows introduce a number of threats into the workplace. When shattered, razor-sharp glass pieces become airborne, causing injury, property damage, and even fatalities. Then, an opening into a building resulting from a broken window allows for another assortment of potential problems such as robbery, looting and damage from exposure to the elements. Additionally, even without breakage, glass windows are defenseless against a host of new, information-gathering technologies which can be used to rob a company of its intellectual property and secure data. 

Armorcoat safety and security window film offers the most complete protection available against these glass-related threats. Consider it an invisible peace of mind. The thick, optically clear barrier film bonds to the inside of windows, helping to keep broken glass safely in place upon impact. And the solar control version can dramatically increase a property’s energy efficiency, reduce solar load, improve climate and diminish glare and heat gain.

Armorcoat window film has been installed in some of the most safety-intensive facilities in the world, including the Pentagon, FBI Building, Department of Energy and numerous other global military and governmental installations. Armorcoat is made from only the highest quality materials and is available in a variety of thickness in both the solar control and clear versions.

Once professionally installed by Arizona Solar Control, Armorcoat security window film offers these invaluable benefits:

● Reinforces glass

● Helps hold broken glass together

● Greatly reduces chances of injury and property damage

● Performs constantly, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year

● Blocks nearly 100% of damaging ultraviolet light

● Solar control version provides additional sun-related benefits

And to increase the level of protection selected for your windows, talk to us about attachment system possibilities. By applying a sealant around the window perimeter and securing the film to the frame as well as the glass, you will increase glass resilience. With a simple professional installation by Arizona Solar Control, your facility can go from a potential disaster target to a fortress of safety for your employees, property and information. This strong, resilient film has long been the most trusted name in protection, keeping millions of people around the world protected from the hazards of broken glass. 

RELIABLE BLAST MITIGATION

When an explosion occurs, glass shatters and becomes airborne, causing devastation for anything in its path. The origination of the blast is surprisingly irrelevant – whether at the building itself or at a location several miles away, an overpressure is created, which can blow out windows and project glass particles at speeds up to 150 mph. This is where Armorcoat saves lives.

Because Armorcoat is flexible and able to stretch, it can absorb a significant degree of the shock waves from an explosion. Ordinarily the force would push glass inward to the point of breaking, then send shattered glass flying throughout the building’s interior. However, with Armorcoat, even after the glass breaks, the film is able to “bend” with the force of the wave. After it is pushed from the frame, its bond holds the broken glass shards to the film – safely away from people and property in this manner. Armorcoat greatly reduces the risk of injuries and damage during an explosion.

SMART SECURITY WINDOW FILM

The Armorcoat line also has a special version of safety film that offers protection against a newer, more calculated crime – the theft of intellectual property. With all of the data that is continuously transmitted these days, a new breed of crook has evolved; however, he still uses the weakest point in any facility to gain entry – the glass windows. Armorcoat’s superior composition incorporates full spectrum attenuation technology, putting up an “invisible wall” and protecting your company from having these highly confidential emissions intercepted.

● Radio frequencies, such as PDAs, laptops, computer monitors and other wireless networks

● Optical bandwidth emissions, such as computer monitors and other display screens

● Infrared transmissions from IR communication systems, laser microphones, laptops and PDAs

THE 24-HOUR CRIMESTOPPER

No matter what industry you’re in, your business is susceptible to vandalism and theft. And to a thief, a broken window is an open door to the valuables locked inside. Your merchandise, electronics equipment, office furniture and other costly materials can all be damaged or gone in a matter of minutes after a criminal gains entry. Luckily, Armorcoat eliminates a burglar’s easiest access route – a broken window. By holding broken glass together after breaking, illegal access is much more difficult and less likely to occur.

Armorcoat has demonstrated its effectiveness as a crime deterrent again and again, all around the world. From deflecting molotov cocktails at a Promobank in Haiti to keeping would-be burglars at bay from a commercial facility in Michigan.

WEATHERING THE STORM

In the same way that Armorcoat protects and saves lives during a blast or explosion, its superior glass-retention properties are equally effective during storms and natural disasters. When high winds, hail storms, earth tremors or the like threaten the stability of a building, Armorcoat does its job by holding windows and glass firmly intact – away from the people and property it could cause harm. 

Even large-scale facilities are susceptible to damage during violent weather or acts of nature – once a window is shattered, the building’s envelope is unsecured. Then, anyone or anything inside can fall victim to harsh weather and damage resulting from exposure.

Because weather and natural disasters are completely unpredictable, one of Armorcoat’s best features is its 24-hour protection. Once installed to your windows, Armorcoat will be on the job all day, every day. You don’t have to be on site to ensure its performance – it will be hard at work, protecting your property, whether you’re inside or far away.

Contact Arizona Solar Window Film Professionals Today