Stockfilms blog

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.

It is understandable why many of those investigating options for automotive window films find themselves wondering: “Can architectural window film be installed on a car?”

After all, the broad purposes of automotive and architectural window films tend to be very similar. Whether you are looking to purchase window film to be applied to a building or a vehicle, you are likely to be interested in a product that can reduce distracting glare for occupants, while also preventing excessive heat gain and perhaps enhancing security and aesthetics, too.

However, the bottom line is that architectural window films are not recommended for application to the glass of an automobile window, and there are various good reasons for this.

The two popular types of window film have several vital differences

While the general benefits of automotive and architectural window film tend to be much the same, various technical differences between the two are likely to mean you will be wasting considerable time and money if you attempt to apply architectural window film to a car.

One key factor is that automotive window films are specially designed to shrink onto the curved glass that constitutes the typical vehicle’s windows. The adhesive of such film attaches itself to a vehicle’s glass in such a way that a smooth, seamless and wrinkle-free appearance can be achieved.

You cannot expect such a professional finish to be attained if you attempt to apply an architectural window film to your car window. This is largely due to the non-shrinking nature of architectural window films, which are usually applied to the flat surfaces of home or office windows.

It is also crucial to bear in mind the need for visibility through a vehicle’s window when you are looking to install a window film on a car. Some architectural window films are designed to reduce visibility through the glass to an extent that would pose a danger to drivers and other road users and pedestrians alike, if this film was applied to the window of a car.

Above all else, you should always have your film professionally installed

The question “can architectural window film be installed on a car?” is not the only one that must be answered. This is because, even if appropriate window film is selected for a given application, it must also be installed correctly in order to provide the best possible results.

It is for this reason, as well as the ease with which window films can be damaged if they are improperly handled, that we always recommend a professional installer fits any given window film – whether intended for automotive or architectural use.

Call the Stockfilms customer service team on 020 8441 0449 today, and we can advise you as to the most suitable window films for your desired application. Indeed, we can also provide free A4 samples of all of our products on request.

The need to reduce glare is one of the main reasons window films are purchased. They can certainly be a much more practical and convenient solution for reducing glare than many of the other common remedies, enabling you to continue using your building or vehicle the same way you otherwise would, without the need to deal with distracting and uncomfortable glare.

However, there are a few things that you will need to bear in mind before you purchase window films with the specific aim of tackling glare.

Is window film strictly needed for glare reduction anyway?

No one likes to be in an office attempting to work on an important assignment on their computer, only to find it impossible to view the screen properly due to the sunlight streaming in from outside. It’s a similar story for many conservatory users, who may find it difficult to have a face-to-face conversation with a friend or relative in their conservatory if glare is excessive.

However, before asking yourself “can window film reduce glare?”, you might be tempted to investigate other potential fixes for the problem.

The installation of blinds or shutters may be possible in a conservatory, for example, but you may also need to constantly fiddle with them over the course of the average day, to ensure the desired level of sunlight continues to come into the interior space.

Reroofing might be another remedy you have considered, especially for a conservatory, although this can be expensive. Other people may resort to wearing sunglasses, but again, it is a far from ideal solution.

Such problems help to show why window films have become so popular as a glare reduction method – and the great news is that you have many different types of window film to choose from.

We can supply a broad assortment of highly regarded window films 

While the answer to the question “can window film reduce glare?” is very much “yes”, it should be noted that a tint is required in whatever window film you choose if you are to prevent glare from coming through the glass.

Moreover, you will need to strike a balance between ensuring your chosen window film is sufficiently dark to reduce glare and ensuring it is still light enough to enable the desired level of daylight to pass through.

Here at Stockfilms, we can offer you a wide range of window films that are proven solutions for reducing glare, from internally and externally applied reflective window films and solar reflective films for polycarbonate windows, right through to sophisticated automotive window films such as those offered under the OPX NR Elite Duo name.

Simply call the Stockfilms team now, on 020 8441 0449, for an in-depth discussion of your requirements in relation to window film for reducing glare, as well as for the most competitive quote.

While window films widely vary in terms of where they are meant to be applied, the installation process tends to follow broadly similar principles for both architectural and automotive window film.

What you must know before applying window film

Window films are very thin sheets of material that must be carefully handled by the person carrying out the installation. This can make the window film very susceptible to damage or improper application, which is why we would always recommend that it be installed by someone who has been professionally trained to handle and install such film.

Indeed, there is a wide range of things that even the most seasoned professional installer must be mindful of prior to applying a window film. They must ensure the window frame has been suitably prepared and pre-cleaned, for example, to minimise the scope for dust particles to get under the film, although this is difficult to avoid completely.

The installer must also avoid creasing or folding the film, or attempting to install it in a draughty or dusty environment.

It is also vital not to apply window film to a surface for which it has not been designed, and to make use of the appropriate application tools, including such items as a hard squeegee, soft window cleaning squeegee, razor scraper, knife and spray bottle.

The stages of a successful window film installation

The question of how are window films installed naturally differs slightly from one window film to the next. However, the step that must always be followed is the complete and thorough cleaning of the window, which is also the single most important step of all.

This will be followed by the preparation of the window film, which typically includes the removal of the film from the box, the pre-cutting of the film width at least 10mm wider than the window and the thorough soaking of the window with solution.

Once the cut film is being held up by an assistant or placed against the solution-soaked window with the release liner facing the installer, it will be necessary to remove the release liner, as part of the process of applying the film to the window with the help of a squeegee.

Finally, the window film must be suitably trimmed and the surface sprayed again with application solution, prior to the use once more of a squeegee to complete the application process. Splicing of the film will also be necessary, however, if the window to which the film is being applied cannot be covered with a single piece of film.

Contact Stockfilms for informed advice in relation to window films

Whether you require further guidance with regard to how are window films installed, or you would instead like to request samples or discuss with us the best choice of window film for your specific circumstance, you are welcome to call the Stockfilms team today on 020 8441 0449.

While window films widely vary in terms of where they are meant to be applied, the installation process tends to follow broadly similar principles for both architectural and automotive window film.

What you must know before applying window film

Window films are very thin sheets of material that must be carefully handled by the person carrying out the installation. This can make the window film very susceptible to damage or improper application, which is why we would always recommend that it be installed by someone who has been professionally trained to handle and install such film.

Indeed, there is a wide range of things that even the most seasoned professional installer must be mindful of prior to applying a window film. They must ensure the window frame has been suitably prepared and pre-cleaned, for example, to minimise the scope for dust particles to get under the film, although this is difficult to avoid completely.

The installer must also avoid creasing or folding the film, or attempting to install it in a draughty or dusty environment.

It is also vital not to apply window film to a surface for which it has not been designed, and to make use of the appropriate application tools, including such items as a hard squeegee, soft window cleaning squeegee, razor scraper, knife and spray bottle.

The stages of a successful window film installation

The question of how are window films installed naturally differs slightly from one window film to the next. However, the step that must always be followed is the complete and thorough cleaning of the window, which is also the single most important step of all.

This will be followed by the preparation of the window film, which typically includes the removal of the film from the box, the pre-cutting of the film width at least 10mm wider than the window and the thorough soaking of the window with solution.

Once the cut film is being held up by an assistant or placed against the solution-soaked window with the release liner facing the installer, it will be necessary to remove the release liner, as part of the process of applying the film to the window with the help of a squeegee.

Finally, the window film must be suitably trimmed and the surface sprayed again with application solution, prior to the use once more of a squeegee to complete the application process. Splicing of the film will also be necessary, however, if the window to which the film is being applied cannot be covered with a single piece of film.

Contact Stockfilms for informed advice in relation to window films

Whether you require further guidance with regard to how are window films installed, or you would instead like to request samples or discuss with us the best choice of window film for your specific circumstance, you are welcome to call the Stockfilms team today on 020 8441 0449.