FAQ
No. Many premium window film solutions are offered in a variety of non-reflective, virtually clear finishes that maintain the natural appearance of a home or building’s windows while still providing 99% UV protection, 97% near-infrared heat rejection, and a multitude of additional benefits.
Yes. Window Film can reduce the amount of solar heat that enters your home or building by up to 82% while Low-E Window Films are designed to keep the heat in during the winter. Lowering heat gain into your home or building or reducing heat loss during the winter can lessen your reliance on Cooling and Heating — thus lowering your energy bills, prolonging the life cycle of HVAC systems, and improving the interior comfort of your home or building. Sun Control Window Film and Low-E Window Film can also reduce the annual maintenance costs of your HVAC system.
Determining the best window tinting solutions for a building or home is truly subjective. Most window film manufacturers offer a wide variety of well-made products designed to meet the growing demands of commercial and residential window film clients.
At Guardian Bastille, we believe the “quality” of a window film product is determined by its ability to sustain performance and aesthetics over an extended period of time. We typically recommend premium Window Film Solutions that offer very high solar performance, provide very little change the appearance of the retrofitted glass, and are backed by the best warranties in the industry.
Guardian Bastille is a leading regional and national provider of Sun Control Window Film, Low-E Window Film, UV Filtering Window Film, Safety & Security Window Film for buildings and schools, and applied Graphics and Vinyls.
Our flagship brands are Huper Optik Nano-Technology Window Films and Panorama Window Films by Saint-Gobain Solar Gard. While we offer a number of well-known brands such as HanitaTek, 3M Window Film, Madico, and Edge, we believe Huper Optik Window Films and Panorama Window Films provide our clients with the best balance between aesthetics and performance against the damaging effects of the sun.
Guardian Bastille has built our reputation by delivering unmatched product knowledge, excellent client service, and a solution-based approach in lieu of a brand-based approach seen throughout most of the industry.
When contemplating which window film company can meet your needs, consider the following three things that separate Guardian Bastille:
Experience: Guardian Bastille was formed in 1999 as a subsidiary of New England Sun Control (est. 1975), a nationally recognized 3M Window Film Dealer and Distributor. Our sales and installation staff have encountered every imaginable scenario for which window film (tinting) could be beneficial and continue to acquire knowledge to meet the growing demands of today’s residential and commercial marketplace.
Selection: We offer a wide assortment of commercial and residential window film products from the leading manufacturers in the window film industry. We consider the various needs of our clients to determine which window film solution will meet their performance, aesthetic, and price criteria. Limiting ourselves to one specific brand or product WOULD NOT allow us to deliver best-in-class solutions.
Consistency: We provide quality service, expert sales, and installation teams, and premium products.
The majority of our clients are located in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Regions of the United States. Our regional clients range from Boston, MA to Washington, DC and as far west as Pittsburgh, PA.
Our sister-company New England Sun Control represents our window film interests in MA, RI, and CT while Guardian Bastille focuses our sales and installation efforts in New York City, New York state, New Jersey, Philadelphia Metro, predominantly Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington DC.
Our business was formed in 1999 to service National Retail Accounts such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, Staples, Starbucks, Petco, Office Max, and many more. While we are based in the Northeast, Guardian Bastille has the reach and experience to deliver expedient, cost-effective window film service throughout the United States.
Currently, we work with National Retail Clients, National and Multi-State Energy Service Companies, National and Regional Construction Companies, and National Real Estate Investment Companies to deliver the finest window film products, building energy modeling reports, and turn-key installations.
The majority of window films are constructed from a base layer Polyester (PET) film that is either dyed, extruded, or metalized. Some films can utilize a combination of compositions. An adhesive is applied directly to the film during the manufacturing process. Typically this adhesive is protected by a sacrificial liner that is removed right before the installation. The variety of raw materials and substrates used in a window film’s construction can result in a wide range of solutions that can be achieved.
Solar Control is one of the most popular reasons for adding window film to your existing windows. Having window film installed to your glass can help reduce excessive Heat Gain, Intense Glare, Reduce Fading, Block Harmful Ultraviolet Light, and even retain heat in colder months.
Safety and Security window films are typically thicker than solar control versions. Security window films can range from 4mil’s* thick, and up to two 21 mil’s. 8mil safety window films are the most widely used. Safety and Security window film can be used to bring existing plate glass up to code in a building, it can be added in coastal communities to strengthen the glass in from violent storms, and there are some that are installed on the exterior of a building to add a level of protection against graffiti. The two most popular uses for installing safety and security window films are for delaying entry into a building or for bomb blast mitigation.
*A mil is a thousandth of an inch — .001 inch. It is a typical manufacturing dimension. When we make a product we specify the thickness as a mil.
Decorative window films have the widest range of selections. These films can either be constructed on a polyester or vinyl substrate. They range from solid opaque colors, to translucent frosts, to distraction markers / geometric patterns, to even being able to custom print your company’s logo or a family portrait.
There are two predominant adhesives used by manufacturers of window film. The two types are pressure sensitive and dry adhesive. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Some installers prefer one to the other.
Pressure sensitive films form a mechanical bond to the glass. These are most common with thicker solar control films and safety and security films to help the heavier/ denser films bond to the glass quickly. The pressure sensitive films tend to remove easier when the film has reached its maximum useful life and needs to be replaced.
Dry adhesives form a chemical bond to the glass and will take a little longer to bond to the glass.
Most standard size windows can be installed in fifteen to twenty minutes. The window surface is first prepped and cleaned thoroughly. Dish detergents like Joy or Johnson’s baby shampoo are preferred by manufacturers to use to clean the glass and mount the film. Once the film is mounted on the glass the edges are trimmed with a razor knife and then the water is squeegeed out.
Most films will look perfect immediately after the install but some may develop a slight haze or have some bubbles over the next few days after the installation. You should not be concerned if you do notice any of these conditions develop. Most films take 30 days to cure and some specialty solar control films and security films can take a bit longer.
Well yes and no. You could try to install the film yourself but it is best to rely on a professional. There are a lot of subtle nuances’ and techniques that make the installation by a professional a better choice. Sometimes even the simplest of applications can be tricky to a lay person. Most manufacturers will only provide a warranty if their film is installed by a professional.
Typically, most standard films will last ten to twenty years. There are a lot of variables that factor into the lifespan of a window film installation. Typically the further north you are the longer a film will last. Another factor that can determine the lifespan for a window film is the elevation where the film is installed.
Most residential warranties are backed by a lifetime warranty for as long as you own your home. Most warranties are not pro-rated and will cover 100% of the labor and materials.
Most commercial warranties hover around 10 years, while some of our premium products have a longer term.
Yes and no. While sometimes a pane of glass will break after window film is installed it is typically not a direct result of the window film. Almost 100% of the time a flaw already existed in the window that broke prior to construction. The window film just exploited that weakness which was hidden away for years. Sometimes during the manufacturing process of your glass, imperfections can be hidden inside the window frame.
Not to worry most warranties will cover the replacement cost of your window if this occurs. Additional coverages that are available for windows that are not fully covered in a standard warranty.
No, window film has been independently tested and the conclusion is that window films do not cause seals to fail. However, most window manufactures will void your window warranty if you apply.
Yes, window film can be removed.
Window Films range from clear to very dark and reflective. Newly introduced technology even allows for window film to transition from very light to a darker shade when the sun shines on it and the transition back to almost clear when the sun moves to a new position.
No, window film is not bullet proof.
Attachments systems can increase the performance of your window unit when applied to a window that has had window film installed to it. These systems were developed to hold window units together in the event of an explosion from a bomb. They also work well when trying to delay an unwanted entry into a building and to hold the glass in place in the event of a storm.
There are two types of attachment systems. A wet glazed system utilizes a structural silicone to bond the window film and glass to the window frame. A mechanical system uses a metal bar.
Window film helps significantly reduce fading. Not all fading can be attributed to the sun.
On average window film will cost between $6 and $16 per square foot of film used.
ROI typically ranges from two to six years on most commercial applications. Energy audits and modeling of your building can be provided to provide more accurate savings.
According to U.S. Department of Energy statistics, solar heat gain through windows is responsible for about one-third of a building’s cooling costs. Energy-saving window film that can reduce solar heat gain by 75% or more can significantly reduce the run time of air-conditioning systems or allow them to operate at lower load conditions. This can reduce cooling costs in commercial buildings by as much as 30%, lengthen HVAC equipment life, lower maintenance costs for air-conditioning systems, and allow for the replacement of cooling equipment with smaller, less expensive equipment.