Window Tinting | Protection from Fading
What is "UV" and why should I be concerned about it?
UV is short for ultraviolet, a wavelength of radiation that is a part of the sun's spectrum. UV radiation is invisible, yet it has a profound effect on us and on our homes. Overexposure to UV in humans can cause sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts and can even suppress the immune system with longer term overexposures. Just as we can use protective clothing and sun block to defend ourselves against UV when we are exposed to sunlight, Solar Guard Window Films can prevent transmission of UV into your home.
So what is the "Big Deal" surrounding UV, you ask?
Of all of the causes of fading, ultraviolet radiation is the single largest factor in the fading of soft goods, fabrics, carpets and other furnishings, contributing up to 40% of the total damage. The good news is that our film can reduce the penetration of harmful UV to below 1%. Once treated with film, UV ceases to be a contributing factor to your fading problem.
Infrared radiation and fading damage
Infra-red (IR) is another range of radiation from the sun that is more commonly known to most people as "heat". IR contributes as much as 25% of the total damage from sun fading. Part of the IR actually exists in the visible part of the spectrum, so it is necessary to use a protective film that is at least lightly tinted in order to provide adequate protection from damage. It is this IR reduction that provides our clients with the additional benefit of reduced utility bills that, in some cases, repay the investment in the film within a few short years.
Visible Light and fading damage
The intensity of the visible portion of the spectrum is another major contributing factor to fading damage. In "English", this means that the bright sunlight that makes you reflexively squint (to protect your eyes) also causes damage to your interior. Again, it is necessary to use a protective film that is at least lightly tinted in order to provide adequate protection from damage. If someone ever claims to have a "clear" protective film, be very afraid, that person is selling snake oil. "Clear" and "protective" are mutually exclusive. You cannot have both and have an effective product.
Additional causes of fading damage
Other factors that can contribute to the damage that you may see in your home are the quality of colorfastness of the dyes used in the fabric, the humidity (both high and low), the amount of abrasive wear that the item receives, solvents or pollutants in the air and the overall quality of the item in question. Solar Guard Window Films do not have any effect on these issues, and so therefore we mention these to show that it is virtually impossible to entirely stop fading damage from occurring.
