How to stick solar control film on windows: instructions for gluing double-glazed windows

The desire to cover a window with film usually arises during the summer heat, when the merciless rays of the sun penetrate the room. And someone wants to protect themselves from prying eyes. In any case, there is a problem and there is a solution.

Below are instructions on how to apply solar film to windows. The technology is suitable for gluing ordinary wooden windows and double-glazed windows (metal-plastic, PVC).

For your information, you can stick the film on window glass yourself without having any specific skills. A minimum set of tools will be required:

• window cleaner
• mechanical water sprayer
• rubber staple (or plastic)
• sharp knife

According to the rules of pasting, established by the technological characteristics of the film, the ambient temperature should not be lower than 5-7 ° C. It is not recommended to glue the film on a hot day. High outside temperatures increase the elasticity of the film, which can cause it to deform.

How to properly stick solar control film on windows with your own hands

Sun protection film - what is it?

This sun protection material is a window tint that consists of the following layers:

• base – dense and polymer film of varying degrees of rigidity;
• infrared-filtering spraying - a very thin continuous and dense layer of metal oxide applied to the base on one side;
• an adhesive layer designed for reliable fixation of the material on the surface of the glass unit. An adhesive layer is applied to the spray;
• protective film located above the adhesive layer.

On a note ! In order to determine which side the protective film of the adhesive layer is on, you need to stick a piece of tape on both sides of the film sheet, in its corner, and pull them in different directions without sudden movements. With this manipulation, a thin protective film is separated from a denser base.

How to carefully remove the film if necessary?

The service life of window coverings is several years, so periodically it is necessary to replace the old film with a new one. Cleaning glass from used polymer becomes a difficult task for many. To remove used polymer from glass, you can use the following methods:

mechanical - use a narrow, sharp blade to pry the edge of the sheet in the corner and, slowly pulling, carefully peel off the coating;

thermal method - heat the glass with a hairdryer to 40°C and then remove the film;

using ammonia - spray the surface with any cleaning agent containing this component, for example “Mr MUSCLE”, after which the coating will lose its original strength and can be easily cleaned.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar control film

The main advantages of this material are:

• Preventing indoor air from heating up . Thanks to the metal oxide layer, ultraviolet rays are reflected from the window, so even in hot weather the room temperature will be comfortable.
• Protecting furniture from fading . Sunlight softened by window tinting does not lead to fading of furniture, carpets, wallpaper, and floor coverings.

Soft sunlight prevents fading of furniture and floors Source vitebsk.biz

• Reducing heat loss in winter . In the cold season, window tinting prevents heat loss from the room through a fairly large glass unit.
• Strengthening the glass unit . When gluing window glass with a film (simple athermal or anti-vandal), its strength increases by at least 20-30%.
• Protection against electromagnetic radiation. An oxide layer on the surface of the material prevents the passage of electromagnetic waves through the glass unit, which have a negative effect on the human body.
• Availability and wide variety of different types . In the modern market, this type of material is produced by both well-known world brands and small companies. Thanks to this diversity, the range of sun protection films is represented by products of varying price and quality, accessible to all segments of the population.

The disadvantages of this material are the following features:

• Possible defects due to poor quality installation . The result of such errors can be clearly visible areas with unremoved air bubbles, large particles of debris, material lagging from the surface of the glass unit, large gaps between the sheet fixed on the glass and the side strips.
• Low light levels on cloudy days and bad weather.

If it is cloudy outside, window tinting significantly worsens the illumination in the room. Source mirtonirovki21.ru
The cost of installing the film by specialists is quite high, considering the cost of covering several windows.
Therefore, many recommend purchasing ready-made double-glazed windows with climatic coating right away.

Types of solar control film and manufacturers

Before you stick reflective film on the window, you need to choose a high-quality film. To do this, you need to figure out what types of films are right for you, and which brands are most famous.

Types of films

Depending on the design features and additional functions of the material, reflective film comes in the following types:

• athermal;
• mirror;
• anti-vandal;
• decorative

Athermal

This material is a thin and durable film sheet on which a very thin layer of tungsten oxide is applied.

Double-glazed window with applied athermal film Source tonirovka-okna.ru

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the manufacture and installation of doors and windows.

• Thanks to the use of nanotechnology and modern high-precision equipment in the manufacturing process, this film, compared to analogues of other types, has the following features:
• invisibility - due to its small thickness it is practically invisible on the surface of the glass unit;
• high light transmittance - up to 70% of sunlight passes through the oxide coating;
• reliable protection from ultraviolet rays - the material blocks up to 99% of ultraviolet radiation;
• lack of tinting effect and mirror surface;
• a wide variety of colors - from colorless to light blue.

The main disadvantage of this material is its rather high price - from 1200 to 2500 rubles/sq.m.

Mirror

This type of solar control material for windows is the most common and in demand on the market. It is a dense film, one of the surfaces of which is opaque with a mirror finish (glossy or matte).

Balcony windows with mirror tinting Source yandex.net

This material is used not only to shade rooms and prevent the air in them from heating up in extreme heat, but also to protect the privacy of apartment residents from prying eyes from the street. The latter function of this material is especially relevant in apartments with windows on the ground floor next to busy streets, roads, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths.

Important ! Before you stick the mirror film on the window, it is worth remembering that it has the effect of one-way visibility only during daylight hours when the indoor lighting is turned off. In the evening, at night or in the pre-dawn twilight, with the interior lighting turned on, everything that happens inside the room is quite clearly visible. In such cases, experts advise using mirror tinting along with light, adjustable blinds.

Anti-vandal

Anti-vandal film is a material that not only reduces the level of ultraviolet radiation from sunlight penetrating indoors, but also, having high strength, prevents various mechanical impacts (impacts from heavy objects, blast waves, etc.)

Anti-vandal film coating allows you to increase the strength of a double-glazed window several times Source www.apteekkari.fi

ANSWERS ON QUESTIONS

Is it possible to install protective film on glass outside?

This makes no sense. The reinforcing coating should always be located on the side opposite to the possible impact. In addition, the film should not be exposed to atmospheric influences. The ideal place for the film is in the inter-glass space (inside the double-glazed window).

Is there a film through which I will see but not me?

In principle, films with one-sided transparency do not exist, but the use of mirror metallized films allows one to achieve a similar effect. Moreover, this becomes possible if you are on the less illuminated side. That is, if you are indoors and there is bright sun outside, from the street the surface of the glass will look mirror-like. If you turn on the light in the room at night, silhouettes will be visible from the street.

What problems may arise when applying film to glass yourself?

• If you do not properly prepare the window for pasting, the film will stick with defects (there will be specks and bubbles under the film).
• If you make mistakes in cutting, you may not have enough film for all the windows, or you will have to add strips of film to the windows, which will greatly spoil the appearance.

Is it possible to book and tint glass at the same time?

Can. There are explosion-proof and at the same time tinting films. Thickness 125 microns and 54% solar energy reflection - Solarblock Safety IR-cut 5050.

Do glasses with film installed on them require special care?

No special care is required for the tint film. The film has a scratch-resistant layer, so it can be washed with any cleaning agent that does not contain abrasives.

Can protective film replace grilles?

Yes, if the purpose of installing bars is to prevent unauthorized entry into the premises. A blow with a hard object to glass with an impact-resistant film punches a hole in it approximately the same size as the impact weapon. It will take considerable time to widen the gap necessary to gain access to the interior of the room. This means that security staff have the opportunity to respond to an alarm and prevent a crime. In addition, any object thrown into glass with an armor film, be it a stone, a grenade or a Molotov cocktail, bounces off and remains outside. If there is a need to leave the room through a window (for example, in case of fire), then such glass can be easily squeezed out from the inside.

I had such a need from the moment residents moved into the house built nearby. And along with it comes the need to study the types of films and methods of gluing them.

Technology of covering windows with solar control film

Before gluing self-adhesive film to glass, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools and understand the technology of work. Let's take a closer look.

Materials and tools

To cover windows with sun protection, you need to prepare:

• sun protection film;
• soap solution.

The following tools are used for work:

• a sharp utility knife or surgical scalpel;
• plastic spatula;
• special spatula for washing windows (rubber water squeegee).

Rubber squeegee for washing window glass Source shikblesk.com

• manual sprayer (small sprayer with a tank and pumping);
• clean cotton soft cloth.

Briefly about the main thing

Before gluing a solar control film to a window, you need to choose the right manufacturer, determine the necessary parameters for protection against UV radiation and the type of film.

The most popular brands: SunProtect, Velx eurowin, Armolan.

Types of film for pasting:

1. Athermal;
2. Mirror;
3. Anti-vandal and decorative.

After the right choice has been made, they begin pasting. To do this, prepare the glass surface by cleaning it from dust and moisture. Next, gradually freeing it from the adhesive layer, stick it to the surface using a soap solution and a spatula.

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Nuances of operation

You have selected the tint taking into account its characteristics, now the gluing stage.

Pasting

During the gluing process, take into account the air humidity from 20% to 80% and the temperature range from +5 °C to +40 °C.

The humidity of a dry room can be increased using a steam generator or spraying water through a spray bottle.

Tools for work: tape measure, assembly knife, scissors, dishwashing liquid, spray bottle with soapy water, spatula or ruler, dry cloth.

1. Before gluing, carefully wipe off all dirt and dust with a damp cloth.
2. Wash the window and frame.
3. Apply the film with the backing to the damp window and mark the gluing area along the window contour - wet application method.
4. Cut to size with scissors.
5. Dry the window.
6. Degrease its surface.
7. Treat the glass with soapy water using a spray bottle.
8. Separate the backing from the top of the film prepared to size.
9. Apply and fix the film on top of the window.
10. Carefully separate the backing and glue the film to the window, centimeter by centimeter, smoothing it with a spatula or ruler.
11. Level the surface to be glued from the center to the edges, expelling bubbles.
12. After gluing, remove excess parts of the film.

We recommend watching the video instructions for gluing film to a window:

There is another gluing method, but it is more difficult for a beginner. You can immediately remove the entire backing from the protective material and begin gluing. Maximum care should be taken to ensure that the film does not curl up during the gluing process and that debris does not fall on the surface of the window.

If gluing is happening for the first time, practice gluing a small piece in an inconspicuous place. It is more convenient to glue two people together, especially with an impressive size of ramie using the second method.

Care

The film does not require special care. If it gets dirty, wipe it with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water. Never scrub or scrub with a rough sponge.

Removing Film

Over time, the sunscreen product loses its appearance, its shine disappears, and scratches appear. It should be removed from the surface. Branded and high-quality products easily peel off from the surface. You should bend the edge of the film and pull it with force, tearing it away from the glass.

If it is firmly stuck, heat it with a hairdryer and gradually remove it from the surface using a kitchen sponge with a rough surface.

To make the work easier, you can use special film removal products HG STICKER REMOVER, Cosmofen 10 or 5. Pry off the edge of the film with a mounting knife and pour solvent inside. Remove after a few minutes. Residues of glue are removed with a soap solution or using the above solvents.