10 Reasons You Need Window Films For Your Home

Windows are one of the most essential parts of your home. They let natural light in, help you keep your house cool, and let you enjoy the beautiful world around you. But sometimes windows can be a little too welcoming, inviting too much light in, or worse – prying eyes.

Fortunately, window films can help with both of these. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the several ways 3M™ Window Films can be a wise investment for any homeowner, from protecting loved ones from harmful UV rays with 3M™ Sun Control Window Films to ensuring nosy neighbours can’t see in with privacy window films.

What Is Residential Window Film? 

3M™ Residential Window films are a great way to protect your home and family. Made of thin layers of transparent polyester, the films are applied to the interior of existing windows and glass doors to upgrade the performance of the glazing.

At Convenience Group, each of our 3M™ Residential Window Films can generally be categorized into one of two types –

sun control solutions and safety & security solutions. Both of these exceptional films can provide your home with beauty, protection, and peace of mind, whether applied together or separately.

10 Reasons You Need Window Films For Your Home 

Residential window films are a smart investment for any homeowner. Not only are they affordable and easy to install, but they can be used for a multitude of applications, from increasing safety and security to improving energy efficiency and UV protection.

To demonstrate just how valuable they are, here are 10 reasons why 3M™ Residential Window Films are a wise investment: 

1. Increased home comfort

Windows can bring an abundance of natural light into our homes. But too much of it creates unwanted heat and a less comfortable and inviting atmosphere. That’s where 3M™ Window Film comes in. By combating solar heat gain, the sun film for windows enhances the comfort of your home immediately following installation. In fact, 3M™ Sun Control Window Films reject as much as 66 percent of the heat coming through the windows, delivering increased comfort and energy savings by reducing air conditioning expenses and offering greater temperature control and stability. And it doesn’t stop there! In the winter, the film reflects interior heat back into the house, reducing your heating costs, and providing you and your family with increased comfort all year round.

2. Protect yourself and your loved ones from UV Rays

UV rays streaming through your home’s windows can be incredibly damaging to your health. These harmful rays are the main culprits responsible for skin cancer, skin damage and premature skin aging, including wrinkling, age spots, and fine lines. They can also contribute to eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

When installed correctly, 3M™ Window Films block 99 percent of UV rays, helping keep you and your loved ones safe from the damaging effects of the sun’s powerful rays. Window Film is even recommended by skin specialists for individuals with sensitivity to the sun, skin cancer, and other skin-related diseases. 3M™ Window Film, specifically, is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as a safe and effective preventative measure and sun protection product.

3. Reduce energy costs year-round

Did you know that more of your home’s energy is lost through its windows than through any other source? Each year, over 50 percent of all homeowner’s heating and cooling costs are attributed to loss of energy through windows and doors. 3M™ Sun Control Window Film can help you mitigate this financial loss by making your home more energy efficient.

It does this by creating an invisible thermal shield that reduces heat transfer, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, saving you money on energy bills year-round.

With 3M™ Sun Control Window Films, you can expect to run your air conditioning system less frequently and lower overall costs by up to 40 percent.

4. Glare Reduction

Do you ever find yourself squinting at your computer screen or TV because of glare? You’re not alone... Glare is a major issue for many homeowners. It can cause discomfort, strain your eyes, and make it difficult to see clearly.

In simple terms, glare is the result of too much light entering the eye. It occurs when there is excessive brightness in the surrounding environment. This can be a result of direct sunlight, bright indoor lighting, or even reflections from large glass surfaces. In fact, there are four recognized types of glare: distracting glare, discomforting glare, disabling glare, and blinding glare.

• Distracting glare: the result of light being reflected as it moves from one optical medium to another. This type of glare is often experienced at night in the form of “halos” around headlights or streetlights.
• Discomforting glare: results from direct or reflected glare. It can be caused by bright sunlight and occurs in varying degrees of intensity. However, even in its mildest degrees, it causes discomfort.
• Disabling glare: Also known as veiling glare, this form of glare is more intense than the above types. It results from excessive, intense light, like when we are directly facing the sun. Disabling glare may inhibit or even block one’s vision.
• Blinding glare: results from light reflecting off smooth, shiny surfaces like water, sand, and snow. Blinding glare can be strong enough to block vision and in severe cases may even cause long-term vision disorders.

3M™ Sun Control Window Films are optimally designed to reduce all types of glare. With unsurpassed anti-glare properties, they can be applied just about anywhere– from windows and doors to skylights.

Work, relax, or catch your favourite TV shows from any room, any time of day, without the added eyestrain with Anti-Glare Window Films.

5. Preserve floors, furniture, and furnishings

As much as we love the sun and the natural light it brings, it can wreak havoc on our home’s interior. Allow us to explain. Sunlight is made up of three elements, each of which contributes to interior fading – visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light. While each of these contributes to fading, UV light is the leading source, accounting for 40 percent. Visible sunlight and solar heat follow, each responsible for 25 percent of all fading.

The sun’s harmful UV rays are damaging to all kinds of materials, from wood furniture and leather couches to valuable art pieces and precious photographs. In fact, estimates show that 40 to 60 percent of all damage to floors and furniture is the result of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Protect your valuables without sacrificing natural light by reducing the effects of fading over time with 3M Residential Window Film. The films reduce the effects of solar heat and visible light while blocking up to 99 percent of the sun’s UV rays.

While no window film can eliminate fading completely, 3M™ Window Films come pretty close... They drastically slow down the process, allowing you to protect your investment and keep your building’s interior looking vibrant for the foreseeable future.

6. Ensure safety from glass breakage

Broken glass is a serious hazard to your family’s safety. Whether it’s the result of a neighbourhood baseball or violent weather, broken glass is something that can happen at any time, and the results can be catastrophic for anyone in your home.

Trust 3M™ Safety and Security Window Film to ensure your loved ones and home's protection. The shielding window films simply adhere to the surface of windows and hold the glass shards in place in the event that it becomes shattered, substantially reducing the risk of serious cuts and injuries while also minimizing property damage to your home.

Whatever the cause may be of your windows or glass being smashed, 3M™ Safety and Security Window Films offer increased protection against flying glass shards, debris, wind, and water. And if you’re looking for protection from all the elements, 3M™ Sun Control/Security Combination Films offer more than just security. With 3M’s high-performance combination films, you can reduce heat and glare all while protecting your property from the elements.

7. Boost home security

Temperatures aren’t the only thing expected to rise this summer. Home invasions and burglaries also tend to increase throughout the summer months.

In Canada, residential break-ins happen every 90 seconds, according to insurance company SGI Canada, and more than 80 percent of these invasions occur during daylight hours.

Even at a more local level, the statistics don’t look good. Data from the Toronto Police Service shows that a total of 6,121 break-and-enters were reported in 2022, 49 percent (3,001) of which happened in residential properties.

Arm yourself against these threats with 3M™ Security Window Films. These tough, high-quality, and easy-to-install window films are designed to protect your home and family from forced entry by creating a barrier between your property and potential intruders. Solutions are offered in various levels of protection, so you can find the one that best aligns with your family’s needs.

8. Increase Privacy

If you live in a busy neighbourhood, it can be natural to want to shield your home from prying eyes. But how do you reduce the sight lines into your home without ruining its aesthetic? Convenience Group has the answer.

We offer a number of 3M™ Privacy Window Films that instill privacy, without sacrificing the look of your windows, sidelights, or glass doors. These films have been designed to provide an unobtrusive solution that allows you to enjoy the view outside while keeping others from seeing inside.

Available in several finishes and patterns, you can find a film that fits your needs while still seamlessly matching your décor.

9. Create custom looks

If you’re looking for a way to add a touch of personality and design to your home, 3M™ Decorative and Graphic Window Films are the perfect solutions.

Designed to further enhance and complement your interior design, the flexible film can be applied to windows, mirrors, glass doors, or other flat surfaces in your home.

Whether you’re looking for something classic and timeless or modern and chic, we’ve got options. There are hundreds of 3M coloured and decorative graphic films, with styles ranging from simple and unadorned to intricate and ornate. We even offer custom designs, which can be precisely cut to any size or geometric pattern. With such a wide range of possibilities to choose from, it’s easy to incorporate decorative design elements that accentuate the features of your home.

10. Easy to maintain

Another great reason to invest in 3M™ Window Film is its low upkeep. Window film isn’t as porous as glass, so it doesn’t accumulate dirt as quickly, which means you won’t need to clean it nearly as often as standard window panes.

When it does come time to clean the film, household cleaning supplies like Windex or a mild dishwashing detergent will suffice. If using a mild dishwashing detergent, fill a spray bottle with a solution of the detergent and warm water and cover every inch of the window film. Then dry off the window film with a clean dry cloth, and you’re done.

Pro-Tips for Maintaining 3M Window Films 

Although cleaning window films seems simple, there are some things you should be aware of beforehand. Here are some pro tips our experts have put together for maintaining your 3M™ Window Films. 

• Never use bristle brushes or abrasive cleaning materials.
• A soft cloth or clean synthetic sponge is recommended for washing. Do not use the same towel or sponge for wiping sills or frames. Paper towels and/or newspapers are not recommended.
• A soft squeegee is recommended for the removal of cleaning solution from the film.
• Do not apply heavy pressure in any cleaning operation.
• Never leave the film wet.
• Make sure to use a different sponge, cleaning cloth and water bucket to clean the windows outside and inside.
• Additional caution should be used when cleaning spliced areas. Always clean in the direction of the splice.

Get the Most Out Of Your Windows With 3M™ Window Film 

3M™ Window Film is a great way to get the most out of your windows – from helping you control the amount of natural light coming in and ensuring the privacy of your home to deterring intruders and keeping your loved ones safe.

As an authorized 3M™ Window Film dealer, providing a wide range of window film solutions for both commercial and residential applications for over 45 years, Convenience Group can help you find the ideal solution for all your needs.

Our knowledgeable representatives will work with you to determine which of our innovative products best meet your unique needs and budget requirements so that you can enjoy maximum benefits from our solutions.

To get started, contact us today by filling out the following form or giving us a call at 416-233-6900. We look forward to working with you on your unique project.