Has anyone actually had window film installed
 

We just had a proposal for 3M Prestige 50 film on our west-facing windows. Does anyone have experience with this product?

I have placed window film in my Alabama home, goes this count? I did it myself, having done it I would never pay anyone to do it if you can operate a razor blade, however It is your money. It did help, it was a 80% solution as compared to low e glass

Some of our neighbors have done it and it seems too dark. Homes look like windows are burnt out.

I am familiar with 3M Prestige 70 which I thought looked fine. That is the one that lets in the most natural light while cutting out a lot of the bad effects of the sun. (But this was up north so I am not sure if Prestige 70 is used in the same way in hotter climates.)

3M has a lot of information on their website about the various films.

The sales rep should give you a sample of each one of the Prestige line of film to tape on your window to look at from inside and out to see how you like the appearance.

3M's film has evolved over the years to do a good job while not looking so obvious. But my only experience with it is in the north in a home that had a wall of windows facing west. The homeowners also had shades on those windows but wanted to enjoy the view and also protect the furniture, etc. As I recall, it was a decorator who had suggested the use of the film to protect the room contents from fading, as well as providing all the other advantages of film, including cutting down some on glare. I did not think the 3M Prestige 70 looked dark on the inside but I did not look at it from the outside. In fact, I did not think the Prestige 70 was very noticeable on the inside unless you were looking for it.

If I were you, I would read everything about it on the 3M site. Prestige is a somewhat more expensive film but it seems to offer some things that other films do not.

You might also ask your sales rep where you can see an installation. Sometimes commercial properties have Prestige on their windows.

If you decide to do this, you might want an experienced installer--even though it should not be that hard to do, there is some technique involved. And they should do a really good job of cleaning the windows first because you do not want to enshrine a big streak under that film.

(Geez. I fell asleep way too early tonight, woke up, and now here I am writing a dissertation on 3M window film at 3AM. Oh well, hope this helps. Study up on that 3M site. I think 3M is a good company and might even be the company that invented window film way back when. It's come a long way since.)

When we we lived in NC, we had Madico film installed , its prime function was for security and storm damage--it was the brad used on our overseas embassies--it also reduced UV and a/c costs

We had 3M "Night Vision 15" installed last December in our south facing dining room and entry windows to cut down the UV and heat and protect the furniture, flooring and wall pics.
The large bay window in the dining room has had heavy thermal blackout drapes for a few years but those made the room too dark all the time.


We like it.

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We had it installed about 9 yrs ago on the windows in our sun room. As mentioned above, there are various grades. We had a darker one on the window that got the afternoon sun and a lighter one on the others. We don't even know it is there, have had no problem with it.

We were told by the company that enclosed our lanai that having film installed voided the warranty on windows

3M salesman (a very big company) said it wasn't an issue.

Has "lifetime warranty" to original purchaser.

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ToyMeister,
Where did you buy the film, I was looking around a few months ago, and was unsuccessful for any local suppliers, all were purchase with installation.
Thank you, VT

Our advice is don't do it. Several years ago we had a 3M window film product installed. (Hopefully the current product is improved.)
At first it seemed wonderful but over time the glass appeared distorted. We eventually had the film removed but it was next to impossible to get it off. I would never do it again.

I think 3M also makes a security film in the Prestige line. If the security film is as tough as it is supposed to be, I would not be comfortable using it in a residential stationary window--one that could not be opened, in case there would be a need for emergency egress from the home.

(But maybe that's just me. I also find that stores that clog their aisles with way too many displays bring out my inner Fire Marshall, too.)

We had it tinted windows for 10 yrs in our old house and now 2 yrs here. It cut our a/c bill drastically. We also put in on our BR windows and unless lights are on, neighbors can no longer see in. I'm not sure it was 3m though as I filed away the documents. There is a man who lives in TV that installs it and is more reasonable and very knowledgeable. He gives a 5 yr warranty If anything happens to the film or your window.

Amazon. Search solar widow film. 3M sells through dealers. Does that mean they have a better product?, Perhaps.

Will it be better enough to off set the savings of DIY, not a chance. It is your time, it is your money...

3M Prestige has no metal content. Metallic content could interfere with cell phone reception. I don't know about other brands, but if using one, it might be a question to ask.

Here is the spec data for 3M Prestige:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/4...csi-format.pdf

I was looking specifically for 3M films, which seem to be sold only through dealers that do the installation, but using a Google search, I found other competing films that I may look at. my problem was I wanted to install on the WEST facing bathroom GLASS BLOCK windows, and none of the installers I contacted were interested in doing glass block, so I am still looking for info on doing this. For example, use one big sheet, and cover the joints, or use 18 smaller pieces for each glass block? Glass block is not completely flat, so will the film conform to the slightly contoured surface? Search for info continues....

You can buy a 3 x 15 piece of 3M Prestige film on Amazon delivered to your door for about $65...

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There is so much dirt that settles on the outside of our homes here that I have not looked further into film, because of being not sure it can be cleaned as often and as thoroughly as it might be needed here.

Maybe 3M installers don't do glass block because it would not be covered by the warranty.

In a recent post here in this thread, Fraugoofy said the film is available on Amazon. Might be worth a DYI try. (I just looked at our shower's glass block and I can see glass block would not be easy, either in one piece or a bunch of little squares.)

We had 3M film placed on our only East facing window to try to keep the room from heating up in the morning. Unfortunately, we find no difference. The room remains hotter by several degrees than the rest of the house.

We used Advanced Solar Tinting--Larry Barney--lives in the Villages and he did a great job and his price was half of the others because he owns his own company and does the work himself--this was two years ago

Simple to do yourself or handyman

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Home depot or Ace or Lowes

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Not sure it's the same stuff. Does not say Prestige

I have Googled until my head is spinning. Searches just retrieve adds for installers. The few customer reports that turned up were 5 or more years old.

Hi Buzzy,

I have seen Prestige 70 and it looks good. I hope it works as well as 3M says it does. In Post #16 I linked the spec page from the 3M site. It has not only science stuff but also has some good general information. It says there that Prestige 70 is clear and Prestige 50 has a light tint. The Prestige 70 I saw was in Ohio. I wonder if Florida sunshine requires more of a tint. That is something the sales rep could tell you.

The person I know who has Prestige 70 likes it so far. They wanted to enjoy their view to the west, cut down glare, protect their furniture, artwork, and.......the wine in the built-in wine rack in the kitchen.

Thanks. I have seen all the product specs & literature. I would choose the 50 over 70 just for the Florida heat reduction. Nothing inside needs protection. The salesman was informative but obviously biassed. Looking for confirmation from customers.

For what its worth .. We looked at a significant number of resales before purchasing in the Villages. All of the homes that had film placed on the windows were discarded from consideration, as we deemed them to be too dark and depressing: it didnt matter if the homes had solar tubes etc. Obviously others might have the opposite attraction / perspective.

What ever happened to blinds ?

I am considering various window solutions myself, including film, but I'd NEVER put film on glass block. Consider awnings, shades, etc

I have it on windows in my north Florida home. Makes the house too dark. My wife took it off some of the windows.

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Sure, there are already blinds on those windows.

Bought a roll of window film from Home Depot, cost about $175, installed myself in a couple of days.

I used it in my Phoenix AZ home and it cut down sun and heat tremendously, well worth the cost.

That's great
What difference did you find? Less heat coming through the glass? Was your a/c working less?
I've read through all the posts and only 2- people said it worked and 1- said it didn't? How many people noticed a major difference? One person I spoke to said his friend had it installed and he was able to put a heat gun on the glass and the inside stayed cool?

No good for me . Makes the house too dark.

window block
 

My husband did it in our home and it makes a great relief in the temperature right at our dinig table,. We explained to the man at Home depot what we needed it for and he suggested the type to use. Cost about 60.00 rather than the 195.00 we were quoted:pepper2:

Couple houses in our neighborhood have this on their windows and we don't like the look of it. First time I saw it I thought my neighbors had moved away and the house was empty!

I guess what I'm asking is not so much this particular tint product from 3m, but tinting your windows in general.
Is tinting your windows worth the time and money? Does tinting make a significant difference to justify the cost?