Practical film solutions for building glass.
Window-film solutions for homes, businesses, offices, storefronts, industrial buildings, public facilities and other specialty glass applications.
One type of tinting with many different applications.
Flat glass is the window-film industry term for residential, commercial and industrial building windows. Although the buildings and customer needs may differ, the basic quotation, film-selection and installation process is generally the same.
Residential Glass
Homes, apartments, rental properties, sunrooms, skylights, entryways, bedrooms and other living areas.
Commercial Glass
Offices, storefronts, restaurants, clinics, waiting rooms, salons, meeting rooms and customer-facing spaces.
Industrial and Specialty Glass
Workshops, equipment areas, public buildings, industrial facilities and unusual building-glass applications.
Solar-control and privacy film for many types of property.
Niagara Tinting primarily uses SunTek architectural film for residential, commercial and industrial flat-glass projects. The photographs below illustrate common applications. Actual appearance varies according to the film, glass, sunlight and lighting conditions.
Residential Solar Control
Solar-control film can help reduce glare, hot spots and UV exposure while making bright rooms more comfortable.
Commercial Solar Control
Film can improve comfort, reduce screen glare and create a more consistent appearance across offices, storefronts and other commercial glass.
Privacy and Specialty Film
Frosted, matte and other specialty films can transform clear glass while providing partial or complete privacy where appropriate.
A practical core selection for most flat-glass projects.
Niagara Tinting normally keeps a focused selection of reflective, cool-toned, bronze and frosted films. Other specialty products may be available when a project requires something different.
Reflective Silver Solar Film
SunTek SilverDS has a mirrored, reflective appearance intended for strong solar, heat and glare control.
It can also provide a noticeable daytime privacy effect when the exterior is brighter than the interior.
35 — Lighter 20 — DarkerCool-Toned Reflective Solar Film
SunTek SymphonyDS combines a reflective exterior with a crisp, cooler interior appearance.
It is useful for glare reduction, solar control and daytime privacy where a cooler neutral appearance is preferred.
35 — Lighter 25 — Medium 15 — DarkerBronze Solar Film
SunTek InfinityDS Bronze provides solar control with a warmer bronze appearance.
It can complement sunrooms, skylights and architectural settings where a warmer appearance is preferred.
Bronze 35 — Lighter Bronze 20 — DarkerWhite Matte Privacy Film
SunTek 2M White Matte creates a frosted, semi-private appearance and changes bright light into a softer, diffused glow.
It is useful for office partitions, entrances, treatment rooms and glass where a clear view is not required.
Frosted White MattePerformance varies by product and glass. SunTek states that its architectural solar-film products generally block 98% to 99% of UV in the specified wavelength range. Exact visible-light transmission, glare reduction, solar performance and appearance depend on the film and type of glass.
Start by identifying the problem you want the film to solve.
The correct film depends on the glass, sunlight, lighting conditions, required appearance and the way the space is used.
Glare Reduction
Reduce harsh sunlight on televisions, computer monitors, point-of-sale screens, displays, furniture and working areas.
Heat Control
Help reduce solar heat gain in sun-facing rooms, storefronts, offices, sunrooms and areas with large amounts of glass.
Privacy
Reduce visibility through exposed windows, office glass, treatment rooms, entrances and areas requiring greater discretion.
UV Protection
Reduce ultraviolet exposure through glass and help protect furnishings, flooring, displays and interior materials.
Appearance
Create a cleaner, more consistent appearance across a group of windows or change how exposed glass looks.
Security
Consider specialty security film intended to help hold broken glass together in suitable commercial, industrial and specialty applications.
Start with measurements and useful photographs.
Niagara Tinting does not normally provide free on-site estimates. Most residential, commercial and industrial projects can first be assessed using measurements, photographs and a description of the desired result.
Email is preferred because it allows me to review the complete project, calculate the approximate amount of film and ask any additional questions.
Measure the glass—not the complete frame. Provide the width and height of each individual pane. If several panes are the same size, provide the dimensions once and state the quantity.
Include in your email
- Your name, telephone number and email address
- The complete project address
- The width and height of each pane of glass
- The quantity of each repeated window size
- A few photographs showing the general window area
- Skylights, high windows or ladder requirements
- Your main goal for the film
Show the area as though I were standing at the job site.
Photographs help make the glass, layout, height and general installation conditions understandable before an on-site visit is considered.
Overall View
Include a photograph showing the complete window area and its position within the room, storefront or workspace.
Access
Show whether the glass is at floor level, above furniture, inside a stairwell, overhead as a skylight or otherwise requires a ladder.
No Fine Detail Required
The photographs do not need to document every blind, curtain or piece of furniture. Their purpose is to provide an overall understanding of the job.
Pricing depends on the film and the actual installation.
The final quotation can be affected by the product selected, window sizes, number of panes, access, height, job size, existing film and travel outside Niagara Falls.
Standard Flat Glass
Standard residential and commercial flat-glass tinting is generally priced at approximately $5 per square foot, supplied and installed.
Skylights
Skylights generally start at $7 per square foot and may cost more depending on height, access, glass size and installation conditions.
Minimum Service Charge
Very small projects may be subject to a minimum service charge, generally around $75, depending on the work and location.
One-way privacy depends on which side is brighter.
Reflective privacy film works best when the exterior is brighter and the interior is darker.
Reflective film generally does not provide nighttime privacy when interior lights are on. Under those conditions, people outside may be able to see inside.
Frosted privacy
Frosted film provides a more consistent privacy effect when a clear view through the glass is not required.
It changes the appearance of the glass in both daytime and nighttime conditions and does not depend on a mirrored lighting effect.
Provide safe and reasonable access to the glass.
Clear the Area
Furniture, displays, decorations, plants, shelving or other items may need to be moved away from the windows.
Window Coverings
Blinds, curtains or hardware may need to be moved or removed when they interfere with access to the glass.
Discuss Operations
Commercial and industrial customers should identify access restrictions, public areas, equipment or business operations that may affect the installation.
Projects are completed during regular business hours.
Niagara Tinting works Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays and weekends are not working days.
Suitable projects outside Niagara Falls may be accepted and can include charges for travel time and distance.
Site visits
Many projects can first be assessed by email. Larger, unusual or more complicated work may require a site visit before final pricing is confirmed.
Niagara Tinting does not normally perform residential, commercial or industrial installations during evenings, weekends or other after-hours periods.
Email the measurements, overview photographs and the result you want the film to provide.
The same initial information applies to residential, commercial and industrial flat-glass projects. Include the project location, a telephone number and any important access conditions.