Ultraviolet rays, also known as UV rays, are the dangerous rays from the sun that can cause skin cancer. Limiting your exposure to the sun and wearing sunscreen is recommended for human protection. But skin is not the only thing UV rays can damage.
Let’s talk about how to keep harmful UV rays out and let the sunshine in!
They are also responsible for damaging many items in your home. Drapes, carpets, upholstered furniture, walls, artwork, even hardwood floors can be faded and dried out from these harmful rays. Anything in their path is at risk. The Tintmaster Team has put together a list of options for homeowners to consider when looking to protect your home or business, including window film.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FURNISHINGS FROM UV RAYS?
There are several ways to protect your home from these damaging rays. Some are more expensive than others, but read on and compare so you know your options
REPLACEMENT WINDOWS
Replacement windows with UV resistant glass can keep the rays out, but this is not an affordable option for most homeowners as they are a large investment. However, if you are considering replacement or double-pane windows, don’t underestimate the importance of UV resistant glass.
CURTAINS & DRAPES
Curtains and drapes will certainly block the UV rays when they are closed; unfortunately, they also block the sunlight which some people enjoy, especially in sunrooms. Plus, don’t forget that over time, the fabric of these shades and drapes will suffer from sun damage and need to be replaced.
SHUTTERS & AWNINGS
Much like curtains shade the interior of your home, shutters and awnings serve the same purpose on the outside of your home. They also have the disadvantage of blocking much of the light while blocking the UV rays.
WINDOW FILM
Keep harmful UV rays out and let the sunshine in!
UV blocking window film will block the UV rays, while letting light in, and is a much more affordable option than replacement windows.
REDUCING COSTS AND ENERGY
If you’re wanting to make your home or business more energy efficient, window tinting is a much cheaper option to double-paned windows or entirely new windows. With our prestige line of films, you cut up to 55% of solar heat gain and let in up to 70% of the light, while double-paned windows can only block about 8-15% of heat.
When you’re using window tinting, you’re letting your air conditioner take a well-earned breather, and that’ll reflect in your utility bills over time, as well as potentially increasing the longevity of your air conditioner unit.
Learn more about our Residential Window Tinting Services
Block Harmful UV Rays that Cause Fading
Home and business owners alike love our window tinting because it will keep the harmful UV rays out by blocking the infrared rays of the sun. This keeps homes and offices cool and helps to reduce solar heat gain, which in turn, lowers energy bills. But the sun has other rays that, while they don’t cause solar heat gain, they can cause severe fading of interior carpets and fabrics.
The Pros at Tintmaster get questions about fading all the time. What causes fading? Why do some items fade faster than others? Which colors fade the worst? What can I do to prevent fading? We hope to answer those questions and give you a little insight here:
Q. WHY DOES ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT CAUSE COLOR TO FADE?
A. The technical term for fading is photodegradation. Many factors contribute to fading processes, including the chemical and physical structures of the object, the type of pigments or dyes present, the intensity and amount of light, and the humidity and temperature of the environment.
Q. Why do some items fade faster than others?
A. Fading is a chemical process … let’s break it down:
- Different objects will fade at different rates depending on their chemical makeup. Dyes contain light absorbing color bodies called chromophores. We see colors based on these chemical bonds and the amount of light that is absorbed in a particular wavelength.
- When light, particularly ultraviolet light, which has a very short wavelength, hits an object, the energy contained within interacts with the exposed surface. The new energy excites the outer molecules of the object causing chemical bonds, thus reducing the vibrancy of the color and the strength of the object over time.
- When ultraviolet rays break down the chemical bonds, it causes a bleaching effect. Colors that reflect the light more will fade less. Colors that absorb more light will fade more. Color and molecular damage can never be repaired.
Q. WHICH COLORS FADE THE FASTEST?
A. Under most circumstances, red fades the fastest of all visible colors. Short-wavelength light such as blue or violet has greater energy than lower-wavelength light, and red has the longest wavelength of visible colors. Red objects reflect red light but absorb harmful, energy-rich, short-wavelength light and will fade faster.
Q. What can I do to prevent fading?
A. 3MTM SUN CONTROL WINDOW FILMS
Sun control window films block harmful UV rays by up to 99%! They are easy to install and last for years. While sun control window film by 3MTM will definitely solve your fading problems, there are a couple of other handy benefits it will provide as well:
- Because window film blocks most of the UV rays, it also blocks most of the heat.
- Window film can reduce energy costs by up to 30%.
- Window film will even reduce the sun’s glare on your TV and computer screens.
Window film is the most cost-effective way to reduce the UV rays without sacrificing the sunlight that you enjoy.
Need more proof? Read this case study about Pittsburgh’s historic Clayton Mansion.
Keep Harmful UV Rays OUT to protect against fading & sun damage
Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause artwork, furniture, flooring and expensive window treatments to lose color and break down over time. But even more critical is the increased risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer caused by harmful UV rays entering through the windows of your home. Now, 3M™ Window Films give you an economical and easy way to protect your furnishings – and your family – from the damaging effects of the sun. Keep harmful UV rays out and continue to enjoy all the brilliance and beauty of natural sunlight.
Related Read: 3 Reasons to Choose Tintmaster for Your Window Tinting
If your home has rooms that are uncomfortably hot, have too much glare, or you just want to protect your furnishings from fading & damage, give Tintmaster a call to keep harmful UV rays out and let the sunshine IN!!
