We have a couple of very cool restaurants here in Cincinnati where you can go to get double-decker and triple-decker sandwiches. The combinations seem endless. You can get a turkey and roast beef double-decker with Swiss cheese on wheat bread. How about a ham, egg and ham triple-decker on white bread with lettuce, tomato and mayo? It is yours, if you order it. When you look at the menu, your eyes glaze over. It is the same feeling you get when you listen to the window film sales pitch. There are so many choices!

Different Films for Different Rooms

If you are thinking of buying window films, you need to make a list. Go room by room. List in order of importance what you want to accomplish in each room. Perhaps heat gain is really important in a west facing family room followed by privacy. The most important concerns in your living room might be fabric fade followed by heat loss in the winter time.

Once you have this list made up, it will be an easy chore to meet with the window film sales person. Without this list, things can get confusing very quickly.

Source of Confusion

Each of the window films you look at has been tested with respect to their effectiveness (expressed as a percentage) to prevent the following:

• Total Solar Transmittance
• Total Solar Reflectance
• Total Solar Absorption
• Visible Light Transmittance
• Visible Light Reflectance
• Ultraviolet Transmittance
• Total Solar Energy Reflected

Different films will have wildly different values in each of the categories. They simply are made to do different things. The values help you to judge which film will work best for you in each room.

A Company called CP Films makes a window film line called LLumar. I have one of their film sample swatches. For each film there is a card that shows the values for each of the listed categories. It is very helpful when looking at different films. Try to get one of these handy tools when you begin to look at films.

Removing Existing Films

As soon as my column on window films appeared, many people contacted me who had existing films. They wanted to know how to remove them.

The trick to removing existing window films is a combination of patience, numerous single edge sharp razor blades, and ammonia based window cleaners.

Start by slicing through the film about 3 inches from a corner. Cut at a 45 degree angle. Try to slide the razor under the film to peel it up. Pull at the same time you scrape. Change blades when they become clogged with adhesive. Remove the old adhesive with a combination of 409 and Windex or a strong solution of ammonia and water.

Warranties and Life Spans

Pay attention to the warranties that come with the window films you intend to buy. Some of them are impressive. Full lifetime warranties for labor and material are out there!

High quality window films can last indefinitely if they are cared for. The biggest problem comes from improper cleaning. If you goof up or are careless when you wash window films, you can begin to scratch them. Although the films are scratch resistant, they are by no means scratch-proof.

Lightly brush/dust or blow away large dust particles on window films. Never clean windows covered with film using a dry technique. You need to introduce a window cleaning solution to lubricate the film as it is being cleaned.

The best advice is to make sure you obtain and follow the written cleaning instructions from the window film manufacturer. If you are dealing with a first class installer, they will give these to you before they leave your home. You say you are going to install the films yourself? Well, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your new nickname isn't Mr. Bubble, Mr. Crease, or Mr. Blister!

Companion Articles:  Window Films,  Window Film FAQ, Window Film - It Works Well, Window Film Companies

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Window Film Comparisons and Types

When the window film salesperson visits your house, make sure you have a clear head. This subject can get complicated in a hurry. You will hear terms like neutrals, dual reflectives, Low-E, spectrally selective, clear or dyed non-reflective, etc. These are all descriptive terms that tell what a window film can or can't do.

The Basics

The least complicated window film is one that is a Clear or Dyed / Non Reflective. The clear films in this category are commonly used for just safety, security or modest fade control. If you desire some glare control on the glass or privacy, then you will use a dyed product. Because they do not have a metallic component they are non-reflective - meaning they reflect little solar energy.

Triple Decker

The next group of window film incorporates an additional layer of polyester film that contains a special metallic reflective coating. These films are either available in Clear or Dyed Reflective. The metallic surface needs the additional layer of polyester film so that it is not exposed to corrosive liquids or vapors in the atmosphere in and around the glass.

The films in this group that are sold or represented as clear actually appear to have a silver, bronze, or gray tint. This coloration is created by the ultra-thin layer of metal that is being used to reflect the solar radiation. If you choose a dyed reflective film, the polyester film closest to the glass is dyed to the color you choose.

Companion Articles:  Window Film,  Window Film FAQ, Window Film - It Works Well, Window Film Companies

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will window films stop fading?

No. They will retard or slow it. 40 percent of fading is caused by ultraviolet light, 25 percent by visible light, 25 percent by heat, and 10 percent miscellaneous causes. To stop fading you must stop all of these from happening.

Do window films hurt plants?

Certain high performance films may cause some plants to suffer slight growth retardation or possibly stop flowering. Others may go into a temporary state of shock while they adjust to the new film. For the most part, there will be little harm done to common house plants.

How do you clean window films?

Obtain a care guide from the film manufacturer and follow it. Use common sense. Apply standard window cleaners to the film and use clean, soft cotton rags. Avoid using cheap paper towels as recycled paper content can contain micro-abrasives.

The above Questions and Answers are courtesy of AIMCAL Energy Management Program Window Film Training Guide

Companion Articles:  Window Film,  Window Films,  Window Film - It Works Well, Window Film Companies

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Window Film Companies & Association

I just know I am going to get letters, e-mails, and phone calls on this list! There are lots of different companies who make window films for different parts of the glass market. In other words, think of all the different types of glass out there. There are hi-rise office buildings, store fronts, automobiles, and the glass in your home. There are specialty window film companies for all of these applications and some cross pollination to boot! In other words, some film manufacturers try to service more than one market.

I have tried to save you the trouble by only listing the companies that make window films for the residential market. I am sure I might have missed one. The ones that are listed below are indeed the major players and you should be able to find a dealer in your area.

If you want to find some installers in your area who might be good business people, consider contacting the International Window Film Association (IWFA). If you find a IWFA member in your town, you should be dealing with a decent company. Here is how you can contact the IWFA and a list of some residential window film companies:

• International Window Film Association
  P.O. Box 3871
  Martinsville, Virginia 24115-3871

• Bekaert

• CP Films
  CP Films makes two brands: Llumar and Vista.
• 3M
  3M makes a product called Scotchtint

• Madico

• Solar Guard
• Southwall
   
• Film Technologies

Companion Articles:  Window Film,  Window Films,  Window Film FAQ, Window Film - It Works Well

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Windows and doors are the largest sources of heat gain and heat loss in an average home. High quality and high performance windows will absolutely save you money over the life of a home. If you are building a new home, it makes great sense to buy the best windows you can possibly afford. Economize on things that are easy to change out like carpeting and vanity faucets!

Common Complaints

One of the most common complaints I get about windows is seals that have failed. You know, the window gets a fog in it or is hazy.

Older style insulated windows used aluminum spacers to create the dead air space between the pieces of glass. Aluminum is corrosion resistant, however it readily conducts cold (and heat). Windows with old style aluminum spacers in a cold climate can lower the edge temperatures of the inner piece of glass dramatically. There have been some recent improvements in insulated glass spacing technology. This new warm edge technology uses different spacer materials that do not readily conduct heat or cold. Be sure to ask what type of spacers are in your windows.

The seals that are between the pieces of insulated glass have had a history of failing. This causes the inner surfaces between the two pieces of glass to fog up. Constant improvements in seal technology and the types of spacer materials have minimized seal failure in recent years, but it is still a possibility no matter what type of glass is in your vinyl windows. Be sure to ask about the warranty with respect to failed glass seals when you are talking to salespeople.

Condensation Problems

Water vapor that collects on a cool surface is called condensation. It can start out as a light fog but builds up to beads of water that run down a pane of glass. Condensation on windows happens when the temperature of the glass equals or drops below the dew point of the air that is in contact with the glass. As the humidity inside a house rises, the dew point generally goes up as well since the warm, expanding air can hold more water vapor.

You can minimize condensation on new windows by purchasing glass that has the lowest U-value (low U-values mean a greater resistance to heat loss or heat gain) and has the best warm edge spacing technology available. Soft coat Low-E glass or those windows that have the invisible Low-E films tend to have the lowest U-values. These windows allow the inner piece of glass to stay as warm as possible. Imagine a cold night with an outside temperature of 0 degrees and a 15 mph wind while it is 72 degrees inside your home. A single pane of glass will register an inner surface temperature of 26 degrees. Regular double pane glass will be 35 degrees. Hard coat insulated Low-E glass will usually be 49 degrees, while soft coat insulated Low-E glass will be a comfortable 62 degrees. The warmer the inner piece of glass in your house the less chance condensation will form. Warmer inner glass surfaces create fewer cold convection currents or drafts.

Condensation can happen when you get new windows. Why? Because the installation of the new windows actually cuts down drastically on air infiltration. Before your new windows were installed, cold dry air could easily mix with the warm moist air inside your house. This effectively lowers the humidity inside your home. Once new windows are installed, indoor humidity levels tend to rise as does the dew point! This means that condensation can start to form on new glass surfaces that are actually warmer than before. You can reduce condensation on your vinyl windows by lowering the overall humidity level inside your home.

Custom Glass

Possibly the best window glass available today contains the invisible heat film that is suspended between the panes of glass. This glass has all sorts of advantages over regular insulated glass.

For starters, it is more comfortable. The heat film stops intense solar radiation and heat from entering your home during the summer months. During cold winter weather, the inside air temperature is warmer because cold convection currents are minimal. Keep in mind that the warmer the surface of the glass is, the warmer you will feel inside. Heat film glass produces the highest indoor glass temperatures.

Heat film glass is also very effective at stopping noise. Some glass systems can reduce noise by as much as 56 percent compared to standard insulating glass. I have witnessed this myself. The noise reduction is significant. It is even more so if all air leaks around the window frame are plugged.

The heat film that is offered by some window companies actually can be customized. In other words, the heat film comes in different insulating and solar control performance levels. For example, you may chose one type for all windows that face south and another specialty film for all windows that face north. Ask your window company about this very cool option.

Broken Glass - It Can Happen!

The manner in which the glass is installed in your vinyl window sash is important. Old wood, steel and aluminum windows allow you to replace broken glass with some effort. This is not always the case with vinyl windows. Some vinyl windows are built in such a way that when and if glass breaks you must replace the entire sash. This can be a disadvantage if for some reason the vinyl itself has changed colors due to poor quality materials or years of exposure to sunlight. The new replacement sash color may not match your existing frame.

Consider purchasing vinyl windows that can be re-glazed without having to buy a new sash. These will give you much greater flexibility.

Warranties

Lifetime warranties are available. Look for these and make sure the company has been in business for 15 to 20 years. Any startup company can offer a lifetime warranty. You are looking for a company with a track record.

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Window washing used to drive me crazy. I went over the edge one month ago, while installing beautiful replacement windows in my own home. I was trying to get them clean and simply made the windows look worse. No matter how much spray cleaner I used and new clean paper towels, there were still streaks. The worst part was when the sun hit the glass. Before direct sunlight poured through the windows, they looked really pretty good, especially at night. But then the next day, Wow! - Streak City!

Take a Deep Breath

When I finally had enough, I just stopped and collected myself. I thought, "Wait a minute. I have seen super clean glass at restaurants, gift shops, car dealerships, etc. I have NEVER seen a professional with a spray bottle of blue liquid and a roll of paper towels or old rags. They use lots of water and squeegees!"

I then picked up the phone and called the owner of one of the largest window cleaning companies in Cincinnati, Ohio. He chuckled as I told my story about my inability to get a perfect job. Once he explained the reality of what happens to window dirt when you don't use a squeegee, the light bulb in my brain went off.

The Right Tools

The tools to clean glass are not extremely sophisticated. There are two different scrubbers that you can choose from to wash the dirt from window glass. The most common one resembles a lambs wool applicator or a medium nap fleece. This scrubber accepts lots of water from a bucket and it washes a moderately dirty window in a flash. You just have to rub the scrubber across the window in curving motions to loosen the dirt and transfer it to the fleece on the scrubber.

If your windows have dried tree sap or some other deposit that is water soluble, then you should use a porcupine scrubber. This tool has medium length synthetic hairs, some of which have small barbs or coarse tips. These tips really do a swell job of getting rid of sticky stuff on glass. If you don't want to buy a fancy scrubber, you can use a tile grout sponge or a natural sponge. You just want a tool that will collect the dirt, not spread it around.

The squeegee is most important. You want a professional one. These differ from many you see at hardware stores, grocery stores and the ones you frequently use at gas stations. Professional ones have replaceable rubber blades. The blades slide into a brass channel. The blades are actually held firmly in the channel by brass clamps that fit onto each end of the rubber blades. Some professional window cleaners change their rubber blades each day. I doubt you will need to do this, but switching them every 2 to 3 months may not seem unreasonable. I would always have at least two spare blades on hand.

You have to buy a brass handle when you buy the squeegee. The total cost for the best 18 inch pro squeegee with a handle - are you sitting down? - is $10.00!

Lint Free Cloths

Are there such things? Every rag I seem to use from my rag pile either produces lint or it doesn't seem to absorb water. You bet you can get absorbent lint free cloths. They are a knit type fabric. The paint store I talk about later in this Bulletin has lots of them. They are inexpensive, and professional window cleaners buy them all the time.

Click here to watch Tim's video on window cleaning tools.

Professional Cleaners

What happens if you don't want to do your own windows? Call in a professional. If you have standard windows, you are going to be amazed at how inexpensive the cost actually is. Keep in mind that most people wash the exterior surfaces about 4 times a year. The inside surfaces are usually washed twice a year. Certain rooms may need more frequent cleanings if there is lots of dirt or grease in the air.

If you hire a professional, make sure that they are bonded and have all necessary insurance documentation. Simply ask for copies of their certificate of liability insurance and their worker's compensation insurance certificate. A bonded company is one that also offers you protection against theft. If a strange window cleaner comes into your house and steals something, you want to make sure that you can get reimbursed. Trust me, it has happened before!

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Squeegee Sources

I did an exhaustive search on the Internet to find high quality companies that make professional window cleaning products. I could only find two. There may be more out there, but they are very well hidden.

One way to always find the sources of high-quality products is to talk with the professionals who use them. Ask them where they buy their tools and supplies. Often you will discover they are out-of-the-way stores and businesses.

Of course the Internet makes it as easy as possible to locate things. Use the search engines to help you find quality products. Always be sure to do a negative search to verify what you may be reading on other websites. A negative search is one where you enter the product name or company name and then the word nightmare or the word problems.

The one company, Ettore Products Company, has got really awesome window cleaning tools and they have superb distribution for the everyday person like you and me.

You can also find great window cleaning tools in your own city or town as long as you aren't shy. The day after I wrote the glass cleaning column I was walking down a sidewalk past a professional window washer. I noted that he was using a solid brass squeegee. This told me instantly that he had the right tool. I asked him where he purchased his tools locally. He said, "That old paint store in Norwood, Ohio. They have reasonable prices too!" I was really surprised to hear this, as I never thought a paint store would have window cleaning tools and supplies. The same may be true in your city.

The old paint store I visited is very close to my house. I drove there and was amazed at the enormous selection of professional cleaning tools, soaps, lint free rags, etc. And guess what? The window cleaner wasn't kidding! The prices were awesome. I could walk out of there with all the tools, soap and rags to clean my windows for six months for under $40. Here is the best part. They will sell to anyone in the USA and ship the stuff right to your door!

Click here to watch Tim's video on window cleaning tools.

Here are two national manufacturers of high-quality window cleaning tools and supplies. I purchased Ettore squeegees and cleaning solution. I have not tied the Haviland products, but assume they are of equal quality.

• Ettore Products Company
• Haviland Corporation

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Ten Window Cleaning Tips

Accckkkk! Many people put off cleaning windows or struggle through it because they make the same mistakes I have made for 47 years. I had it all wrong! Do you want crystal clear windows - just like you see at businesses and commercial buildings? Here is how to achieve it!

Use the Right Tools - You must use the professional squeegees, soap and applicators I have already spoken of. If you don't, your windows will look like they do now!

A Clean Scrubber - Always start the job with a clean scrubber or lambs wool applicator, sponge and/or porcupine cleaner. A dirty applicator can leave dirt behind. Rinse the scrubber frequently if you are cleaning many windows, especially dirty windows.

Click here to watch Tim's video on window cleaning tools.

Watch the Sun - NEVER wash windows in direct sunlight. The sun can superheat the glass and cause all sorts of streaking problems.

Holding the Squeegee - Hold the squeegee at an angle so the water runs down the glass. In other words, mimic the motion or setting of a snow plow. The blade on a plow aims towards where the snow ends up. If a plow simply aims straight ahead, snow flows out of the plow at both ends. You don't want water flowing from both ends of the squeegee.

Wipe the Blade - After each squeegee stroke, you must wipe the rubber blade with your lint free cloth. Placing a wet squeegee on the glass will leave a blade mark. You will get good at quickly wiping the blade.

Don't Cut it Close - Overlap squeegee strokes by about one and one half inches. Remember to angle the squeegee so water flows towards the wet window surface, NOT the area that is clean and dry.

Lots of Water - When first washing the window with the scrubber, use a liberal amount of cleaning water. You want the dirt to come off the window with this solution. Use a decent amount on interior glass surfaces, but not so much as to cause a flood or standing water on woodwork.

Go Sideways - Horizontal squeegee strokes are recommended when at all possible. If you are right handed, the left side of the window pane will have triangles of water left behind with each stroke. You will wipe these at the end with a final vertical stroke going from the top of the pane to the bottom of the pane.

Wipe the Edges - There will always be water marks or spots at the edge of the window pane. After all squeegee action is complete, wipe the entire window edge with the lint free cloth.

Practice First - Practice with the squeegee when you first get it. It may be hard to control. Professionals often use an 18 inch model. You might want to start with a 12 inch squeegee and work your way up to a larger model once you develop good hand/eye coordination.

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Retractable Screens

If you want to bring back some sour memories of my childhood, all you need to do is say "screens". My mom had to work to support my family because my dad was very sick. My sister and I had to jump in and do many household chores in an effort to keep my mom from burning out. Each spring it was my job to clean the window screens. We only had 13 screens that were about 20 inches wide by 40 inches long. They were heavy metal framed screens that fit into the center panel of old steel casement windows.

At the time, it seemed like there were a million screens. My poor attitude about this job made a 20-minute project for an adult stretch into a two-hour ordeal for a 9-year-old grumpy boy who wanted to be playing with his friends. The amazing thing is that this attitude is hereditary! My kids mope and whine whenever I ask them to do the simplest chores. My guess is that this is true for just about every child. Now that I am grown up, I can see that I sure didn't help mom much by my whining when it came time to clean screens!

Forgotten Technology

Retractable screens are not some new, untested technology that will disappoint you. They have been around for over 75 years! One of the major players in the wood window industry actually got its start making retractable screens. Who were they? The Pella Rollscreen Company.

My guess is that the owner of the company figured out pretty quickly that cash flow improved if you made a product that was needed year-round. If you have traveled in Iowa in December and January you find out you don't have much need for screens!

Doors Too!

The retractable screens are multi-functional. Not only can you get them for windows, you can fit them onto doors of any type. They are a handsome addition to any door system and you don't have the problem of getting pinched in between two doors when you are going into and out of the primary door. When it is time to go somewhere, just retract the screen! If you have spent thousands of dollars on a beautiful front door, why in the world would you want to hide it behind a ho-hum screen door? I knew you would see it my way!

Cost

What do these wonderful items cost? Well, it depends upon many factors. They can be a little pricey, but trust me, they are well worth it. One of the biggest things you will save is time. Cleaning screens will become a thing of the past if you use these screens properly. When you close your windows to leave the house or if it rains, etc., retract the screens. Once retracted the screens are protected from dirt. An additional benefit is the unobstructed view from all of your windows. If you have clean glass, the difference is amazing, especially if you have to look through the windows at an angle. With screens in place, the view from a window at an angle can nearly block the view as the vertical screen threads begin to get closer to one another!

If the price to do your entire home is too much, consider installing the screens on four or five key windows. Once you see how well they work, you will figure out a way to outfit the remaining windows.

Call Past Customers

If you want to hear how well these screens really work, I want you to talk to some past customers. Let them tell you how well they like the screens. Ask them about service after the sale. Ask if they would buy them again. I think you will get very positive answers.

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