Photo Courtesy: Diesel Demon
Whether it is home or office, a window tint may serve different purposes. For some, heat control and energy conservation might be a priority while for others, privacy scores over everything else. Some people may also choose to install a window tint for purely aesthetic reasons.
Whatever may be your desired function for a window tint, you will find that there is an overwhelming variety available in the market. So how do you go about picking the right window tint for the job? Consider these tips to narrow down your choices:
Window Tints For Office Use
The requirement of a window tint at a workplace is a little different from that at home. Typically, in an office, window tints are used to reduce glare and make the environment comfortable for employees who spend long hours in front of the computer screen. Privacy may be another factor. In the former case, a standard tint will do the job just fine because it provides maximum protection against heat and glare at the lowest cost. However, if privacy is a concern, you may need a mirrored tint or one that lets in less than 25% of visible light.
Window Tints For Homes
Home owners mainly use tints for privacy or aesthetics, although a increasing number of home and office owners are using tints to reduce heat and save up on air conditioning costs. If you are going to get the tint installed at home, it is advisable not to opt for a darker shade as it can block out daylight and make your living space feel dark and dingy. An ideal tint for home use should let in more than 20% and less than 40% of visible light. You may want to choose a lighter tint if you do not want it to interfere with the beautiful view outside.
Window Tints For Heat Reduction
Window tints let in light but they also let in heat and harmful UV rays. Did you know that a standard tint can help reduce your indoor temperatures by about 15%? That translates into huge savings on the energy front. However, you don’t have to choose a dark tint for the purpose – nowadays, clear tints can offer all the protection against the sun without making your interiors dark and depressing. Another advantage of installing a window tint is that it blocks 99% of the UV rays, which can cause fading and bleaching of your precious furniture and upholstery.
Window Tints As Part Of The Decor
If you want your window tint to be more than just functional (i.e., add to the esthetics of the space), there is virtually no limit to the options you can choose from. To begin with, you can pick an unconventional color such as golden, blue, green and pink, or go for a frosted or “misty” look. There are also several decorative tint patterns available in the market, which provide a cheaper and easier alternative to etched or painted glass. Like regular tints, fancy tints allow you to adjust the privacy controls by increasing or decreasing the level of transparency/translucency of the tint.
Ryan Gills works for Australian Solar Block, a window tinting service provider in Victoria, Australia. An avid environmentalist, he regularly blogs about ways to help conserve energy.
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