One of the most breathtaking features of living in Western Washington is the beauty that surrounds us - panoramic views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier are just a few of the natural splendors that make us want to leave our curtains, blinds or shades open all the time.

Unfortunately, viewing this beauty can also come with a price. Leaving window coverings open for extended periods of time can cause accelerated wear on your furniture and interior furnishings. This is especially true in the Seattle area, where the sun's damage can be exceptionally dangerous. The damage is inevitable, no matter if your furnishings are exposed to strong sunlight for a short period of time, or weaker light on overcast days for longer periods.

How can you solve this issue? It's easier than you think. Window films (or window tinting films) by ABC Sun Control are specially designed for upscale homes -and eliminate up to 99.9% of harmful ultraviolet radiation. UV sun damage is a major cause of fading, cracking and peeling. They help to preserve the color brilliance of fabrics from draperies and bedspreads to upholstery and carpets. Antique furnishings, valuable artwork and hardwood flooring are also protected.

But this window tint film does more than just save your furnishings. It is virtually undetectable, even on overcast days -a crucial element with our weather pattern. Easy to clean, ABC Sun Control window tinting film is scratch resistant and can easily cover the shape of any window no matter what the design, making them more versatile than traditional window coverings.

ABC Sun Control’s Solar Window Tinting Films can provide up to 80% heat and glare reduction, and all of our solar films provide you with protection from damaging ultraviolet rays by reducing UV by 99.9%.

There are 3 main technologies that produce our films and each has benefits:

1) Traditional Metallized Films
2) Ceramic Films
3) Spectra-Select Films

Traditional Metallized Films

These films have been around for 50+ years and were primarily developed and perfected by 3M and CPFilms, the makers of Vista Window Films

Pros:

• Great visibility on the inside
• Privacy from the outside
• Very high heat and glare reduction (up to 80%)
• Lifetime residential warranty/ 15-year commercial warranty
• Typically the least expensive of the Solar Films
• Can be hard to detect on glass

Cons:

• Reflective “shiny” appearance on the outside and some difficulty seeing out at night
• Privacy only at night, only works during daylight hours

Ceramic Films

These films were developed almost 10 years ago from the research done by German engineers. Pioneered by Huper Optik Window Films.

Pros:

• Very hard to detect any film on the glass
• Heat and glare reduction up to 60%
• Non reflective appearance, great visibility at night (night-time view)
• Most popular choice for “view” properties
• Lifetime residential warranty/ 15-year commercial warranty

Cons:

• Can have minimal privacy
• Cost is about 30% higher than Traditional Metallized Films

Spectra-Select Films

Developed almost 10 years ago by the window film industry, an “invisible” film with very large heat rejection percentages.

Pros:

• Excellent heat rejection (up to 70%)
• “Invisible” appearance, almost impossible to detect on glass

Cons:

• Much lower glare reduction percentages than Traditional Metallized Films or Ceramics
• Residential lifetime warranty/ 15-year commercial warranty
• Almost twice the cost of Traditional Metallized Films

Dyed Films

The original window film. The technology for dyed film is almost 50 years old

Pros:

• Minimal reflective appearance
• Inexpensive, similar in price to Traditional Metallized Films
• 3M’s Night Vision films are excellent dyed films, and come with a residential lifetime warranty/ 15-year commercial warranty against discoloration

Cons:

• Poor track record for fading in appearance

All ABC Solar Window Tinting Films have a lifetime warranty against bubbling, peeling, fading and cracking, and also cover our workmanship.

Each type of film has definite benefits as well as shortcomings. No film can do it all. One of our expert estimators will walk you through the process and help you to choose the type of film that best suits your individual needs, tastes, and budget. Contact Us today for a free estimate.