Stockfilms blog

Why might you feel the need to buy anti-fog window film?

12 August 2019

A need to tackle condensation on windows may not be the first reason that comes to many people’s minds for purchasing window films, but it is undoubtedly a great priority for a considerable number of our customers here at Stockfilms.

It is precisely for this reason that we offer two varieties of anti-fog window film – a 100-micron and 50-micron version – although aside from this difference, these products’ technical specifications, features and benefits are much the same.

What could these innovative films do for your intended application?

Whether you purchase our 100-micron or 50-micron anti-fog window film, you will receive a product that has repeatedly proven its effectiveness in the prevention of condensation on window glazing.

Condensation, of course, can so easily occur in a room where the humidity is high. When you install one of these specialised and highly rated window films, however, you can be confident that the anti-condensation layer incorporated into the product will spread the water across the surface of the glass, thereby helping to preserve good vision through the window.

These two window films are both clear and single-ply, in addition to incorporating an acrylic pressure adhesive. They also both transmit 87% of visible light, reflect 11% of visible light and reject 18% of total solar energy. Not only can you look forward to a high level of performance from this type of window film, however, but longevity is also assured, these trusted products coming with a two-year life expectancy.

Wide-ranging advantages for a wide range of circumstances

Notwithstanding their formidable anti-condensation properties, these anti-fog window films also bring a host of other features and benefits. These include their high optical clarity, with a clear and non-tinted appearance guaranteed, as well as their scratch-resistance that ensures they can stand up to most non-abrasive window cleaning methods. A high level of ultraviolet (UV) rejection is also incorporated into these films, which helps to prevent interior furnishings from fading prematurely.

Finally, this anti-fog window film can also be applied to most types of glass with the minimum of fuss. This helps to explain why it is such a popular product for circumstances that might otherwise necessitate the expensive and disruptive large-scale replacement of existing glazing.

Would you like to learn more about what the installation of this type of window film could do for your own intended space where condensation is a major risk? If so, simply get in touch with our proactive customer service team here at Stockfilms today, and we would be delighted to advise you, as well as to provide a free sample and present you with the best-value quote.

For both summer heat rejection and winter heat retention, consider our Low-E films

6 August 2019

While the recent elevated temperatures and the associated discomfort that can result in the workplace have naturally been the chief concern for many of us over the last few weeks and months, when your organisation is in the market for solar control film, it also shouldn’t overlook the undesirability of the opposite situation. We are, of course, referring to the possibility of considerable heat being lost from your buildings through the windows during the looming colder months.

You may be thankful, then, to learn of the Low-E – standing for ‘low emissivity’ – energy control films that we are delighted to supply to both specifiers and end-users.

The term ‘Low-E’ refers to the special coating applied to these films’ interior-facing surface, and which could greatly assist in reducing how much heat escapes through your buildings’ glazed areas in the winter. As a result, not only could you help to reduce the heating expenditure required for the buildings in question, but you could also look forward to a much-enhanced carbon footprint.

Silver reflective or neutral? They’re both options with us

As those who have previously shopped for solar control film from Stockfilms will be aware, our team takes great pride in sourcing products that cater to the different aesthetic requirements of our customers. Sure enough, this ethos is also apparent in our choice of Low-E films, of which both neutral and silver reflective variants are available.

These two highly regarded energy control window films share certain benefits, including the reduction of excessive heat and glare during the summer, the better retention of heat within a room during the winter, a lower energy tax liability, quick retro-fit installation and the screening of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Those opting for the silver reflective film, however, also get to enjoy a much higher level of glare reduction of 82%, even if the neutral film’s equivalent figure of 45% can also make a very significant positive difference to the experience that a building’s occupants will have while working. In any case, the neutral film represents a more logical choice for those prioritising higher visible light transmission – 48%, as opposed to the silver reflective film’s 16%.

Trust only Stockfilms as a provider of this industry-leading solar control film

Mindful of the fact that all of our customers naturally have different needs when it comes to the sourcing of window film, the Stockfilms team is skilled and experienced in assessing those needs and recommending the best-suited product.

For an in-depth discussion with our professionals as to which solar control film or other product might be the best one for your intended application, as well as to request free A4 samples and a competitive quote, please don’t hesitate to call us on 020 8441 0449.

Frosted window films can provide so much more than privacy

18 July 2019

The most obvious application of a window film with a frosted effect may be to enhance privacy, but it is easy to overlook the vast range of ways in which the very best such window films make this possible – as well as what other purposes our industry-leading products in this category can serve.

This much is demonstrated by the extensive stock of frosted window films that we can offer at present from no fewer than three of the most respected brands in the window film world today: Opalux, Mactac and 3M.

We can cater to your privacy requirements, without compromise elsewhere

One of the greatest concerns that both specifiers and end-users can frequently have when they are considering investing in privacy screening films, is ensuring that privacy can be provided at the same time as allowing a good level of natural light through the window.

Thankfully, this is a priority that can be addressed by Opalux’s present translucent frosted window films such as the Fine Acid Etch Bronze, Fine Acid Etch Smoke or Fine Acid Etch White film. The latter is an especially popular choice of frost film for rooms where 24-hour total privacy is required, representing a more flexible alternative to privacy glass over a building’s lifetime.

Alternatively, you may take the greatest interest in our MACal frosted window films. These particular products deliver an exceptional performance both indoors and outdoors, and may be your choice if you wish to decorate your windows or glass decor with an etched, frosted or sandblasted effect. Two matt finishes are available for these acclaimed films: frosted and dusted.

Finally, we would also urge you not to overlook 3M’s highly respected glass films if you are interested in creating unique ‘special effects’ on your windows. Whether you opt for the dusted or frosted varieties of the 3M window films we offer in this category, you can look forward to not only superb two-way privacy, but also sustained high light levels, quick retro-fit installation and the scope to incorporate graphics into the film, as could help to perpetuate your brand’s corporate identity.

Simply give the Stockfilms team a call today for more information

Could any of these frosted window films – or the other privacy, solar control or safety-oriented products elsewhere in our range – be the right ones for your own intended application?

Whatever your priorities, by calling Stockfilms today on 020 8441 0449, you can receive the advice and guidance that you require to make the most informed choice at the first attempt, and are even welcome to request free A4 samples before committing to any purchase. Then, we will be delighted to present you with the most competitive quote for the film that ideally suits your needs.

Make sure you only purchase heat control films that also make perfect aesthetic sense

16 July 2019

It doesn’t exactly surprise us here at Stockfilms that we receive so many enquiries about heat control films at this time of year, when temperatures are at their most elevated. However, it’s also vital that if you are a specifier or end-user looking to invest in such window films, you are aware of the other requirements these products must fulfil in the context of your particular application.

After all, it is during this sunny season that your buildings will be shown off to best advantage – but not so much if you fail to select window films that help to make such a great impression.

Effectiveness at reducing heat gain shouldn’t be your only requirement from window film

You may take an interest in our heat control films in the first place due to how they can help to reject the excessive heat gain that could make your buildings a less-than-pleasurable place for your occupants to be. Sure enough, we offer an extensive variety of window films that can repel a large proportion of solar energy, at the same time as significantly reducing glare and transmitting a level of visible light that suits the practical requirements you have for the given space.

There is a significant cosmetic difference, however, between our reflective window films and such options as our low mirror, tinted, coloured and specialist heat control films that cater to a variety of aesthetic priorities.

As with our reflective window films, we offer low mirror window films in both internal and external variants, with these products being an excellent choice if a more neutral tinted look is desired, at the same time as a good level of heat and glare control. We can also provide non-metallised tinted window films in a range of shades, which enables varying levels of daytime privacy to be achieved.

You might also turn to Stockfilms for coloured window films that enhance the decorative appeal of any glass while achieving optimal heat and glare rejection. Or perhaps your given application would best suit a Clear Heat Control film (SO-70IR-iSR) that very much lives up to its name, being almost invisible in appearance, but still delivering a good heat control performance?

Don’t accept anything less than industry-leading heat control films

With architectural and automotive window films available in our stock to cater to every visual and practical requirement here at Stockfilms, there’s no need for you to look further for proven, sophisticated and cost-effective heat control films.

Give our friendly and receptive customer service team a call today on 020 8441 0449, and we’ll be able to guide you in the direction of the most suitable window film for your particular requirements, followed by the best possible quote.

You’ve got plenty of options for internally applied low mirror window films

26 June 2019

Deciding between different window films intended to enhance solar heat and glare control isn’t just about comparing the performance statistics for these products. That’s because, whether you are an end-user or specifier, aesthetic considerations will always come into play, and it is here where our low mirror window films for internal application can truly prove their worth.

As synonymous as window films often are with a highly reflective appearance, this isn’t always a desirable aesthetic for many of our customers, who may nonetheless still desire a good level of solar heat and glare control in whatever product they select.

So, what do these films offer other than low reflectance?

Whether you are interested in internally applied low mirror window film mostly on account of its low visual impact or its performance, it is important to carefully compare the relevant figures for these products, given that they don’t offer identical levels of solar heat and glare control.

Our Bronze 20 (SO-20SB-iSR) film, for example, sports a muted bronze hue from both inside and outside the building to which it is applied, and only transits 20% of visible light, while reducing glare by 77% and rejecting 75% of total solar energy. This compares to the Bronze 35 (SO-35SB-iSR) product for which the equivalent figures are 35%, 53% and 55% respectively.

One can observe a similar trend across our assortment of Neutral Grey low mirror internal window films. This range begins with a Neutral Grey 20 (SO-20NG-iSR) film that, in accordance with its name, allows the transmission of 20% of visible light, while achieving 80% glare reduction and rejecting 70% in total solar energy. The Neutral Grey 50 (SO-50NG-iSR) product at the other end of this range, meanwhile, enables 50% of visible light to be transmitted; it also lowers glare by 45% and rejects 50% of total solar energy.

Finally, our trade customers are also able to choose between Cool Grey 20 (TSO-20CG-iSR), Cool Grey 35 (TSO-35CG-iSR) and Cool Grey 50 (TSO-50NG-iSR) films; the former of these rejects a greater proportion of total solar energy, and also achieves the most pronounced level of glare reduction.

We can guide you towards the most suitable choice for solar heat and glare control

We realise here at Stockfilms that our customers frequently begin their search for window film with widely varying applications, circumstances and requirements in mind, thereby increasing the importance of them receiving the best possible advice before committing to a purchase.

Such advice is precisely what the seasoned technicians in our team are excellently qualified to provide, alongside the most comprehensive and competitive quote for your needs. Simply call 020 8441 0449 today for the best-tailored support and pricing information.

Sometimes, shade material may be better suited to your needs than window film

21 June 2019

Are you seeking a solution that will enable you to allow natural light into a room, but not the excessive heat and distracting glare so often accompanying it? In which case, you may be dissatisfied with a situation in which the occupants of the given space have to continually adjust fabric shades on the windows during the day – which may lead you to look into window film.

It isn’t always conventional window film that represents the best answer to such a quandary, though, as is perhaps especially well-demonstrated by our shade material. We give you various options for shade material, which is also a great choice for situations where there is sometimes a need for privacy, and sometimes not.

Which varieties of shade material can we offer at present?

At the time of typing, Stockfilms offers no fewer than four different shade material products: bronze/bronze, bronze/silver, grey/silver and grey/silver/grey.

The specifications of these shade material options are not identical, so it’s well worth carefully considering these differences before making your selection. It is our grey/silver and grey/silver/grey products that offer the most impressive glare reduction, for instance, in excess of 90%.

Of these two films, it is the grey/silver/grey option that is the thickest at 100 microns, this product incorporating an additional layer of silver metallised polyester between the films to maximise heat rejection while still ensuring a low-impact appearance to the glass.

This same extra layer is also present in the 100-micron bronze/bronze shade material, which is bronze in colour to ensure a neutral look in the room. This particular film provides good solar heat and glare control, as well as full or partial privacy, protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays to minimise the fading of interior furnishings, and good visibility from the inside looking out.

Finally, we can also offer a 75-micron bronze/silver film that is silver to the exterior face, thereby helping to ward off prying eyes from outside. The silver also reflects away more heat than a more neutral appearance would make possible.

Allow us to help you in selecting the right window film

As you can see, different window film or shade material options suit different priorities, so it’s important to be sure about your own pressing needs when you come to specify one of these products. Call the Stockfilms team today on 020 8441 0449, and we’ll be able to assist you in choosing the product in our range that will best answer those needs, and at the right price.

Coloured vinyls from us are just the thing for injecting creativity into windows

6 June 2019

We will always be proud here at Stockfilms of the exceedingly wide range of applications for which our window films can be used. However, some of our products are certainly better known than others, with one of our perhaps unjustly overlooked ranges surely being our selection of coloured vinyls – of which transparent, translucent and opaque versions are available.

Why would you wish to buy these distinctive window films?

Naturally, the exact settings in which one may be inclined to install window films like these may vary according to the variant that is selected.

As one might expect, our transparent coloured vinyls are a popular choice among those specifiers and end-users that are interested in creatively decorating windows without compromising the ability to see through them. We are pleased to offer MACcrystal 8400 vinyls that are transparent, coloured and glossy; no fewer than 16 different colours are available for them, and they are often used in the manufacture of illuminated signs made from opaline acrylic sheets.

As aforementioned, though, translucent coloured vinyl window films are also available, and as their name indicates, they do still allow the passage of plenty of natural light into a room; however, they also have a role in enhancing privacy. While our MACal 9700 vinyls in this category usually appear translucent when backlit, they tend to look opaque when they aren’t illuminated.

If you want to go opaque, go opaque...

Finally, opaque coloured vinyl is another speciality of ours – or more specifically, white, black and coloured variants of our MACal 9800 Pro window film. Customers can choose between a matt or gloss finish for the black or white versions of this product, whereas if one opts for the coloured film, some 99 hues are available.

All of these opaque 66-micron window films are designed for long-term interior and exterior graphic applications where high performance is expected.

Sure enough, they incorporate a specially formulated acrylic adhesive to enhance their durability, and can be expected to last for between five and seven years, whether they are used for equipment identification, fleet marking or window graphics.

It couldn’t be simpler to enquire to our professionals

Would you appreciate further advice and guidance so that you can be sure of selecting the window films from our extensive online range that will best serve your intended purposes? If so, not only are we able to help you in this regard, but we always recommend, in any case, that our customers first get in touch with our technical department before placing any order.

Simply call 020 8441 0449 today to talk through your priorities for your next window film purchase, and to request a great-value quote from one of the industry’s most trusted wholesale distributors.

Opalux’s Mani-Fest™ products can be invaluable for boosting safety

29 May 2019

Many of us have had moments of colliding into glass due to not even realising it is there, but this isn’t merely embarrassing – it could actually be a health and safety risk, and indeed, a legal one.

That’s because there are regulations that specifically call for large uninterrupted areas of glazing to be marked. The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 state: “Every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a wall or partition... door or gate shall, where necessary for reasons of health or safety... be appropriately marked or incorporate features so as, in either case, to make it apparent”.

Whether or not you were aware of this regulation, window films exist that can address such a requirement. Here at Stockfilms, we can offer Opalux’s acclaimed Mani-Fest™ Glazing Manifestations in Opal Frost, which comply with the regulations in a neat and unobtrusive way.

What else should you know about Opalux’s glazing manifestations?

These window films come in the form of 50mm ‘dots’ or ‘squares’ with 50mm or 100mm spaces. From a company’s point of view, they just don’t provide the necessary safety marking, but also help the firm to discreetly reinforce its visual identity to anyone using the space in question.

Opalux Mani-Fest™ Glazing Manifestations are also extremely convenient, being provided on a 50-metre continuous roll that enables the installer to apply the film on as many window panels as required, while the small, compact box makes it easy to carry around. The box also incorporates a re-sealable lid, giving the user further assurance that the manifestations will remain in good condition for whenever they’re next needed.

Any contractor using these glazing manifestations should also be appreciative of the paper application tape that allows water to permeate it, thereby making these window films easier to work with when they are being applied to the glass. The lack of artwork, plotter cutting, weeding or masking needed when one purchases and applies these film products also frees up machines and operators for more rewarding work.

Contact us today about these fuss-free window films

Why look elsewhere for easy-to-use and effective manifestation products for any of a wide range of settings? Phone the Stockfilms team today on 020 8441 0449 to discuss the window films we can supply in accordance with your business’s most demanding requirements.

We can bring you the right window film solutions for the better management of light

24 May 2019

While there is a broad range of applications that the leading window film products can have, you may be especially conscious at this time of year of the remarkable quality of the natural light that filters into your premises – or for that matter, its undesirability in certain circumstances.

Thankfully, alongside our established selection of solar control films that we have long been pleased to offer here at Stockfilms for superior heat rejection and glare reduction, we can also bring our customers the benefit of a wide range of sophisticated light management films.

What options may appeal to you across this in-demand range?

Whether you are seeking to block out, diffuse or reduce light as an end-user or specifier, Stockfilms can supply the window film to suit.

If it is light reduction that you are interested in achieving at a given site, for example, our non-reflective and non-metallised Slate films provide an excellent solution for better controlling how much light is permitted to enter a room. They achieve this without the need for a mirrored external appearance, as is so often the result of the installation of window film.

Instead, our Slate films can be specified in a range of shades for the tinting of clear glass, with the lighter options tending to be used to match the appearance of existing tinted glass.

Renowned blockout and diffuser products are also available

As we mentioned above, Light Blockout window film can also be purchased from us for when a completely opaque appearance is desired to ensure 24-hour privacy. You may apply such window film to glass partitions, for instance, where there are shelves or other items close to the glass that you do not wish to be seen.

Options in this blockout category include 3mil Blackout and 3mil Whiteout films, which both block all vision, except that the latter allows a small percentage of natural light through the glass. Black Light Blockout and White Light Blockout films are also available for controlling light flow in internally illuminated signs.

Finally, 30% and 60% Light Diffuser Films are also present in our stock; these are mainly used for fluorescent lighting applications, and still provide for the transmission of a high level of light. These 70-micron films can be applied both internally and externally, enable better light diffusion and uniformity in illuminated signs, and provide a white uniform appearance in both reflective and transmitted light.

We’re always at the other end of the phone

Are you still struggling to decide on the light management films that would best serve your own requirements as a specifier or end-user, or would you simply appreciate some more advice?

Call the Stockfilms customer service team now on 020 8441 0449, and you will be able to receive such advice and guidance, as well as to request free A4 samples and receive a competitive quote.

What are the best ways to extend the lifespan of your window film?

8 May 2019

There’s much more to ensuring that your fitted window film lasts for longer than simply selecting the most appropriate brand and type of window film to begin with – although these are undoubtedly crucial elements.

As it happens, there are various ways to bolster your window film’s longevity at every stage of its useful life.

Ensure your chosen window film is up to the job

While we take great pride in our exceptionally engineered window films here at Stockfilms, the fact remains that different window film options are geared towards different needs. This inevitably impacts on the amount of time for which you can expect a given installed window film to last.

Quality of design and manufacture will doubtless affect the likely operational lifespan of a particular window film, but so will the conditions to which it is subjected.

Window film that is continually exposed to the elements is especially vulnerable to rapid deterioration, which is why it is so crucial to select dedicated external window film for such settings.

We offer internal and external Silver 20 window films, for instance, which both provide excellent solar heat and glare rejection. However, the latter film is of a weather-resistant construction incorporating additional UV barriers to guard against the potentially ravaging effects of constant sunshine, and also uses a strong waterproof adhesive.

Purchasers of window film are also advised to pay close attention to the warranty attached to the given product that they are considering. Referring back to the Silver 20 films, for instance, the internal version comes with a 10-year warranty, compared to the external film’s seven years.

Are you installing and maintaining your window film appropriately?

As we have detailed in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, we recommend that window film is only fitted by a professional installer, not least given the ease with which it can be damaged if an inexperienced amateur attempts to take on this task.

However, the right cleaning and care of your window film, as we have explained on the relevant page of our site, can also make a major difference to the product’s lifespan.

The cleaning of your film, for example, will bring the best results if you wait for 30 days after installation. Nor should brushes, coarse paper towels, pure ammonia or industrial strength cleaners be used. Instead, only a soft clean cloth should be used for both washing and drying.

Ask our technical staff any maintenance questions

If you are in any doubt about the steps that you should be taking to keep your window film in good condition – and therefore delivering the best attainable results – for longer, you are always welcome to call the Stockfilms customer service team on 020 8441 0449.

We can advise you on whether you are taking the right care of your window film – and even whether you are using the right window film on your building’s glass at all.