Whether you own or manage a restaurant, retail establishment, office, or other commercial space, you know that glass storefronts offer many benefits. They allow diners to enjoy outdoor views. Your products can catch the eye of passersby, enticing them to enter your shop. The natural light shining into your space can boost the mood and productivity of your receptionist.
However, glass storefronts also present various challenges, including glare, uncomfortable temperatures, high energy bills, and risk of breakage. Window film for storefronts can help mitigate these issues while maintaining the positive attributes of your glass windows, exterior walls, and doors.
Glass storefronts provide an abundance of natural light, but a byproduct of sunlight is glare. Glare occurs when too much light is either reflecting off of a surface or entering your eyes directly from the source. Glare severity ranges from a minor nuisance to a debilitating irritant, impacting diners’ enjoyment of their meal, shoppers’ comfort while browsing your products, and office employees’ focus.
Window film for glass storefronts blocks a portion of the sunlight entering your space without obstructing outdoor views. By limiting the amount of light passing through the glass, you can reduce the glare occupants experience. Darker tinted window films are most effective at reducing glare. Think of it as sunglasses for your storefront!
Another unfortunate side effect of glass storefronts is difficulty regulating interior temperatures. Poor climate control drives up energy bills and impacts occupant comfort. The sun’s heat-causing infrared rays penetrate the glass, elevating temperatures and sending your HVAC into overdrive. You may assume that this challenge is isolated to the summer months. However, heat gain through windows is common even in the winter, especially through south-facing windows.
In addition to letting the sun’s heat into your space, glass struggles to retain the warmth produced by your HVAC. In fact, the Cornell Cooperative Extension estimates that exterior glass surfaces like windows, walls, and doors lose up to twenty times as much heat as an adjacent wall.
Window film improves temperature regulation by rejecting up to 79% of the sun’s solar heat and reducing heat loss by up to 40%. By maintaining more consistent interior temperatures, your heating and cooling systems experience less strain and perform more efficiently. As a result, window film for storefronts boosts occupant comfort and provides energy savings.
Windows are the most vulnerable aspect of a building envelope. So, when an entire exterior-facing wall is made of glass, the risk of breakage and forced entry is amplified. A single swing of a crowbar can instantly decimate a pane of glass, providing easy entry for an intruder and sending glass fragments through the air. This danger puts both people and property at risk.
Window film forms a protective barrier, bolstering your storefront against forced entry. When a glass pane fortified by window film is struck, the glass still shatters. However, the durable film and adhesive help hold the fragments together. This unexpected resistance serves as a deterrent while also buying time for occupants to escape or call for help.
From reducing glare and controlling interior temperatures to mitigating security risks, window film solves each challenge associated with glass storefronts. Request a free consultation with Solar Film to determine the best window film for your storefront!
Locally owned and operated in Richmond, Virginia, for over 35 years, Solar Film helps businesses and homeowners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region find their ideal window tinting solution. We use premium quality 3M
materials for temperature control, glare reduction, UV protection, privacy, and security window film solutions. As a 3MAuthorized Dealer and a member of the Prestige Dealer Network, we offer the highest quality window film products on the market. Get in touch with us today for a free quote!
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