Identifying the tinted house windows pros and cons is essential if you are planning to get your home windows tinted. You might be looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and upgrade the appearance of your house. But there are both benefits and drawbacks of window tinting. So let’s identify what these are.

Tinted house windows pros and cons

If you install the ideal window film under proper installation methods and techniques, it will last for over 25 years. It would increase the energy efficiency of your house and save your utility bills. Hence, you can get a return on your investment within 24 – 36 months. This is why knowing all the correct details about the window films is necessary.

Pros of Tinted House Windows

Pros of Tinted House Windows

Installation of tinted house windows can bring you many benefits considering both your economy and health. So let’s identify the pros of window tinting in your home.

Reduce Utility Bills

Reduce Utility Bills

The utility bills can be immediately reduced up to 40% simply by installing tinted house windows. The average saving would be around 30% for most users. However, depending on other factors, this may even get higher. This is also an affordable option, as the tint films would cost around $6 per square foot. Therefore, it is beneficial to use this upgrade method, than to replace all the windows with tinted glass windows. You would need to replace the whole window only if your house is old and need new windows. To reduce your expenses further, the best energy efficiency is provided by Low-E Window Films that have low emissivity.

Rebate Program to Control Costs

As a step to reduce energy consumption, some utilities offer their customers a rebate program. This is given to people who install window films. In some areas, there are even tax incentives for people with tinted windows. You can use this advantage in both ways. You can save your utility costs while being sponsored for the initial installment of tint. You can even get more benefit from this if you know how to install window films by yourself.

Add Security to Home

When a window film is added over the window glass, it creates a laminated effect on it. This might have a similar appearance to Laminated Glass Windows. If the window is broken, this would prevent the glass from shattering into pieces.

This is ideal for safety concerns. It also adds more resilience to the surface and makes it difficult to break from a simple blow. This security feature prevents any casual robbery or keeps away opportunists from intruding on your house. However, it may not be able to stand the hard blows of a hammer. But adding a window film would slow down the attempt. There are special Security Window Films with enhanced features to prevent burglars from entering through windows.

Block Harmful UV Radiation

Block Harmful UV Radiation

Even a transparent window film can block up to 99% of UV light. This gives you the benefit of avoiding the untimely fading of furniture and fabrics. You can even use dark-colored window tints to keep away the bright sunlight. The reflective effect is also minimized by window films. 

Easy Retrofit Project

Installing window films can be done to get an upgraded look on your home windows. Even the old glass on your home windows can be brought to be as efficient as low-E window films. This can be done by installing window films to the inside and outside of the window. Sometimes, this might not be efficient as the windows have been made with old glass and have a thicker bottom. Then you would have to replace the window with a new one.

Reduce Heat Inside

After installing tinted house windows, the heat inside the house can be reduced up to 55%. You would be able to feel this difference in temperature. This helps to retain the heat inside during colder seasons as well. You can feel a lot more comfortable, simply by installing window films. If you have any other preferences in design and privacy concerns, you can even apply Frosted Window Films. This too would provide similar benefits.

Fix Structural Problems

For some problems with the window panes, you might think of getting the whole window replaced. But the window film can solve most of the structural problems. Tiny gaps can be covered with the film without affecting the efficiency. But if the useful life of the window is almost over, it is better to replace it before the film application. This can give you a good opportunity to renovate your home.

Cons of Tinted House Windows

Nothing is completely good or bad. There are some drawbacks to installing window films too. You might need to know about these disadvantages so that you can choose a good film to minimize these shortcomings.

Warranty Issues

Sometimes, when window films are installed, the window manufacturers would void the warranty they have over windows. This might be because improper installation of window films can even lead to the cracking of window glasses. Although the tint film manufacturers provide a warranty over the film, it would not match with that of the warranty over the whole window. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify these conditions with your window manufacturer before applying a window film. 

This should be taken into consideration, especially if you are a renter and using window film over the homeowner’s windows. It is recommended to get a guarantee in writing before you continue with the work. You might even think of removing the whole window and getting new optimized windows with the required effect so that you can avoid window films completely. This might be problematic for double-pane windows and other designs as well.

Challenges in the Installation

Sometimes the installation of window film would be a challenging task. This is often due to various designs, frames, and latches on the window. Windows might even be placed in higher elevations with difficult access. Sometimes there are indecisive glazing bars on windows. So it should be identified whether the structure has separate glass panes or it is a decorative part built over a single pane. So if it is a single pane, then a tint layer should be installed over it. If this is not done properly, a gap will be created, and the efficiency of the window would be reduced.

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Quality Problems

Checking the product NFRC certification is necessary when finding the perfect solution. Currently, over 250 products are certified under this. The absence of this certification would make the product’s quality and durability questionable. This certification is sometimes required for rebate purposes.

Very often, the manufacturers without proper certification would not offer any additional warranty over their product. So, you might have a higher vulnerability in terms of financial protection. Even if the window films are sold by reputed manufacturers, common problems such as peeling and moisture issues might occur within few years. 

Bubbly Film due to Faulty Application

The installation process creates most of the tinted house windows pros and cons. To get a successful result of the application, the installers need to carefully remove all air and water pockets in between the film and the glass. If the application is poor and flawed, then there is a higher chance of getting bubbles and creases in the outcome. You might even have to reinstall the window film to overcome this. This is why you need to hire a licensed, experienced technician for this task. They would carry out the task properly and meet your expectations. 

Block Too Much Sun’s Energy

Having dark window tint films installed on the windows would block away most of the sunlight. If you are living in a northerly climate, then passive heat gains are more likable. So you should install transparent window films to get the best out of it.

You can even try installing different shades of window films to different parts of the house to get the highest benefit from natural sunlight. After all, indoor plants and pets should also get some amount of sunlight. Not only them, but abundant illumination in the interior also increases your productivity.

Limited Visibility of Outdoors

Having darker windows might reduce the visibility over the windows. Sometimes, you may not be able to see the beautiful surroundings through your windows. This is a major drawback in Home Window Tinting. The reflective window films also have this darkened nature. It would be similar to looking through a reflective pair of sunglasses. You might not find this nature appealing. So it’s always better to check the conditions of your requirements before choosing a window film.

Is Tinting House Windows Worth It?

So as you may have identified, there are both tinted house windows pros and cons. This creates a balance between the cost of investment and long-term savings. The net gain of the window films can often be identified after few months of window installment. This is a cost-effective way to improve the energy efficiency of your residence. So it can be recommended that tinting house windows are beneficial for savings in the long run. You can even use Commercial Window Tinting for your business and industrial needs.

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