Window tinting in an apartment or house is not such a common way of upgrading housing among Russians. Until recently, it was used only in offices, non-residential premises and road transport. Only now people began to understand how multifunctional this idea can be. Window tinting in an apartment can not only hide what is happening inside from prying eyes, but also has many other properties. It will protect against bright sunlight, ultraviolet rays and harmful effects on the cornea of the eye. In today's article, I will try to reveal all the advantages of tinted windows in an apartment, I will tell you about the methods of applying a tinted layer and their types. I will also share the easiest way to darken the windows yourself at home.
Why tint windows
- I want to say that the east and south sides of the house are significantly affected by the sun's color. If your windows face these sides of the horizon, then you probably noticed that the wallpaper and curtains there fade very quickly. Glass tinting in such rooms will help solve this problem.
- Window tinting will help protect the human body from exposure to ultraviolet and infrared rays.
- If you live on the first floor of a multi-storey building, then everything that happens in the apartment can be observed by any person walking along the street. Window tinting will be a great option to hide your privacy from prying eyes.
- Tinted windows are quite stylish and beautiful. You shouldn't make a real closet out of the room. It is possible to simply darken the windows, or give them any shade. Such a solution can significantly decorate the interior.
- If you use a tinting film, options for tinting car windows are suitable, then it will protect the surface from mechanical damage and dirt.
- In the summer, window tinting saves you from the heat, and significantly lowers the temperature in the room.
Than darkening window panes
Producers of useful household goods do not stand still and surprise people with their creative solutions. Now tinted glass on the windows is not only comfortable, but also aesthetically pleasing. Today the market of building materials and finishing products is ready to offer the following glass shading devices:
- self-adhesive films with various properties - reflective, toning, protective;
- jalousie;
- blackout roller blinds and sliding curtains for windows.
Which of the shading methods is the best depends on the type of window, its shape and location. Sometimes the design features of the window opening simply do not allow the use of a specific type of sun protection. For example, for roof windows, it is better to choose blackout curtains of the classic type.
There are quite a few models of tinting films and curtains for balcony and roof windows. They differ not only in appearance, but also in characteristics. The most important criterion for choosing such products is the degree of shading. If the windows of the house are directed to the south or west, from where the sun shines with maximum intensity, blackout curtains with a high dimming factor will do. In other cases, when the luminary does not bother you so much, protection with a relatively high light transmittance is enough.
Methods for applying tinting
- When buying or replacing plastic windows, you can order already tinted windows. They are manufactured directly at the factory. To obtain the desired shade, a dye of the required color is added to the composition.
- Another way to darken windows is spraying. This process involves the application of a tinting layer by spraying onto the glass while it is still hot.
- Vacuum tinting is also a way that it is possible to darken glass only at the factory.
- If these options do not suit you, then there is the most common and cheapest way to tint windows in your apartment and or house. This is the use of adhesive tape. It is quite simple to carry out tinting with this method, you just need to choose the appropriate color and shade.
Roller blinds.
Roller blinds have a retractable mechanism. Top to bottom or bottom to top. If you live on the lower floors, opposite your house, the windows of other houses, then it is better to install roller blinds with the mount from the bottom up.
What are roller blinds made of?
Standard roller blinds consist of: - box; Roller blinds are screwed into a special box. The box is attached to the window space. - the cloth; A fabric is pulled out of the box, which darkens the sun's rays; - cord; The cord is a chain with which the curtains are pulled out and closed.
Types of tint films
Based on the fact that only the last method is relevant at home, then let's look at what kind of tint film is.
- Sunscreen. Its main purpose is to resist the effects of sunlight. Such material is capable of reflecting up to 80% of radiation. This type of film will protect furniture, wallpaper and textiles from fading, and in the summer season will reduce the temperature in the room. Recommended for use on the east and south side, as well as on the balcony.
- Mirror. An excellent option for tinting windows on the first floor. Such a film is not visible even at close range. There is a choice of different colors, from dark brown to red and green.
- Matt. This type reduces the transparency coefficient, emphasizes the design of the window itself and neutralizes the degree of exposure to ultraviolet rays.
- Shockproof. Such window tinting not only counteracts solar radiation, but also adds strength to the glass. It will be much more difficult to break it.
- Energy saving. This film is designed to reflect the sun's rays. Thus, counteracting the heating of the room, and maintaining the desired microclimate.
- Automotive. The possibility of using automotive tint films at home is not excluded. The windows get the same shade as the glass in the car.
Benefits of sunscreen film for reinforced-plastic windows
Tinted sunscreen can protect you from the sun's ultraviolet radiation by 99%. In addition, such a film is able to keep your interior and furniture from burning out.
The sun-protection film can also give the room a certain accent that emphasizes the style (for example, new wave).
The use of sun-protective films on metal-plastic windows in an office is extremely beneficial. This coating protects against scanning by optical and vibroacoustic channels.
How to tint at home
It is quite simple to tint windows yourself. To do this, you do not need any additional skills or knowledge. The first step is to buy a tinting film, prepare a stationery knife, a tape measure, a spray bottle with a light soapy solution and a rubber spatula. I think most people have plastic double-glazed windows, so you should tint the windows before installing them, or already in place. Trying to remove the glass - I do not advise.
- When you have prepared the specified items, then you can start washing the window. It must be well cleaned of dirt, dust and debris.
- Next, take a soapy solution and spray it with a spray bottle. This will degrease the glass and remove the rest with a rubber spatula.
- After that, using a tape measure, measure the size of the window. When this is done, unfold the film on a clean and level surface. Cut the required piece. I advise you to leave a couple of centimeters on all sides.
- When you have cut the desired piece, then once again spray the soapy solution on the glass. Next, remove the protective layer of the tint film and apply it to the glass surface.
- The soap solution will help the film adhere to the glass faster, making it easier to align and eliminate air bubbles.
- Smooth the tint film from the center. Move to the edges, expelling air bubbles, until a perfectly smooth surface is achieved. The remains must be carefully cut off with a clerical knife.
Curtains
The easiest way is to cover the window opening with curtains. The fabric and the number of its layers are chosen based on how opaque the curtain should be.
Blackout
So, the blackout model will not miss the light at all. The dense three-layer product completely darkens the room. The curtains are attached to the eaves, if necessary, they are pushed or moved. This allows you to control natural light.
pros
- The curtains are easy to manufacture, fasten and operate.
- They look attractive.
- They make it possible to complement a variety of interior styles.
Minuses
- Thick fabrics attract dust, so they are often washed. This is quite troublesome, considering that after washing the curtains also need to be ironed out.
- The shifted curtains completely block the view from the window, preventing the flow of fresh air.
If you don't want to hang heavy curtains, choose a multi-layer design. Lightweight tulle and two or three sets of thicker curtains. They make up ensembles of different light transmittance, adjusting the illumination depending on the weather.
Roller blinds
Roller shutters or roller blinds are also very good. The canvas is rolled up, fixed on top of the sash or opening. In the first case, the fabric adheres as tightly to the glass as possible, so a complete blackout is obtained.
Pros of roller blinds
- Compactness and lightness.
- The canvas is treated with a dust-repellent impregnation, which greatly facilitates maintenance.
- A wide range of fabrics, including materials with reflective, opaque or light diffusing effect.
- Ease of installation and maintenance.
Minuses
There are few flaws in the design. Perhaps the most significant is the difficulty in selecting a model for a non-standard window system. Roller shutters are available in standard sizes. They will have to be customized, if possible, or made to order, which is expensive.
Roman
Roman blinds are similar to roller blinds. But they do not wind up on a roller, but rise and fold into beautiful folds. They are usually sewn from natural fabrics, fixed on the opening. Their advantages are similar to roller shutters, complex care is considered a disadvantage. Since they are rarely impregnated with a dust-repellent solution.
Any curtains will darken the room well. When choosing colors, you should prefer light colors. Provided that the material is dense and there are several layers of fabric, the opacity of the model will not be affected. But to attract the sun's rays, it will be weaker, it will heat up less. This will help you get the coolness you want in your apartment.
Summarizing
Currently, the market is represented by a huge selection of tint films, and manufacturers offer to darken the glass when buying a window for a small surcharge. To tint the windows in an apartment or not is a subjective choice of each person. However, keep in mind one thing, the shade that you choose will not be able to change instantly. So think twice before tint your balcony red.
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I hope my article today was useful to you. I tried to tell as simply as possible about the tinting of windows in the apartment, and it is up to you to carry out such an improvement or not. Write in the comments: what do you think on this topic, and which tinting method is the best in your opinion.
Fabric curtains.
To create coziness in the room, it is better to use fabric curtains. You can buy ready-made curtains in the store, or you can sew them yourself.
The curtains will protect the bedroom from the bright sun
Usually, two rows are installed on the cornice - these are two types of curtains.
The first row is sheer curtains. To do this, they mainly use the material tulle, organza, that is, those that transmit light and are more used to decorate the room space.
The second row is a dense fabric that does not let in the sun's rays; in the winter season, a dense fabric does not allow cold air currents to pass through and hides what is happening in the room from prying eyes.
Curtains in two rows
For thick curtains, you can use, for example, velvet, flock, blackout, jacquard, chenille.
In the city on the Neva, St. Petersburg, there is such a phenomenon as white nights. When the clock is already evening, but in fact it is as light as day. So that the light space does not interfere with rest, it is better to use curtains made of thick fabric.
Thick fabric curtains make your sleep more comfortable
Mounting for curtains is different. There used to be hooks and you had to take off the curtains for a long time in order to wash them, and then spend time hanging them. Hooks are hung on the cornice, and a special tape is sewn to the top of the curtain. Then the curtain is hung on hooks.
Attaching the curtains to hooks
The standard mounts are clip rings. Very easy to use. The clip is released and part of the curtain is inserted. Some curtains are simply ribbons that are tied to the curtain rod.
Clip rings for fastening
There are curtains with metal rings. For such an attachment, you need to remove the entire cornice and thread all the rings into it.
Curtain on metal rings
Application.
Most often, fabric curtains are used in a country house, on a veranda, in a gazebo, in the kitchen, in the living room, children's room and kindergarten. In the train, cafe, restaurant, hotel, holiday home, sanatorium, hostels, curtains of different materials and different designs are also used.
Small dense curtains are installed in cars so that it is not so hot in the car in the summer.
Care.
Curtains become dirty over time because they collect dust and therefore need to be washed. The frequency of washing curtains depends on where you live, whether there is a large road with you.
How to care for your curtains?
We remove the curtains from the window, usually a stepladder or chair is used for this. It is easier and more convenient for a tall person to do this. We wash the curtains in a washing machine, basin or take them to dry cleaning - it depends on what material the curtains are made of and whether they can be washed in a washing machine.
Pay attention to the composition of the fabric before washing
If the curtains were purchased in a store, then you can see the information on the label, at what temperature they can be washed. After washing, dry, iron and hang the curtains back on the cornice.
Pros: - easy care; - different mounts; - large palette of colors; - different texture for thick fabric curtains; - blackout curtains do not let the sun's rays through;
It will not be difficult to find the right color of fabric curtains.
Minuses:
- hands get tired;
If the window space is large, then you have to stand for a long time to remove all the curtains. It is very hot under the ceiling and the arms get tired from the uncomfortable position.
To hang curtains, you need to stand and hang them on each hook or ring (if standard mount).
Hanging curtains is a rather laborious process.
- the color fades over time;
Due to the fact that the curtains are constantly hanging on the window, the color of the curtains fade over time and becomes lighter.
