Home window tinting?
 

I was thinking about this last week when it was a little warmer. I have some larger windows in my house and some of the rooms bake during the day. I turn the a/c back so it doesn't run while I'm not home. When I *am* home teleworking and forget to adjust it, I notice the heat.

I was thinking of tinting some of the windows in my house. I have noticed a difference in my car when I had the glass tinted. It sits all day in an open lot and it does make a difference.

Anyone done this for their home? I suspect if I bought the film, I could DIY this....right?

We did this a few years ago. We used a light tint/uv protection on the windows on the south side of the house. In my office we used a darker reflective tint that made a big difference in the summer. The wife put the stuff up, I don't have the patience, I help since the sheets can be big depending on the size of the windows. We used Gila film, http://www.gilafilms.com/en/Default.aspx

I've done it, it makes a big difference. I used to have huge windows in the bedroom at my old place, I'd wake up sweating any time I wanted to sleep in. After installing the film, no more heat, no more 10 am sun sweats. It also blocks UV, so all your stuff won't sun-fade any more.

I installed it myself. Next time I'll hire someone. It was a PITA. It comes in rolls, and when you unroll it, it likes to return to the rolled up shape. Not so good when one side is all sticky and ready to be applied to glass. It took some trial and error, I think I threw out as many square feet as I installed. Took me about 5 hours to do 6 large windows.

Have you considered vertical blinds or curtains? You may regret the tint in the winter when you get the free heat from those same windows. Also, curtains act as an insulator as well.

We had it installed professionally, and it has made some difference (too late to save the piano and floor, that have now bleached out), but not the same as drapes... We used 3M film.

True you lose the free heat in winter, but according to the 3M product, the film acts as an insulator and helps keep the heat in, in winter time. I don't know how effective it is at that, but it's claimed as a selling point.

Check the product data sheet to see the U value/ R value...

This company is owned by a friend who is trustworthy and diligent:
http://www.solaswindowtint.com/index.php

As typical, you can find just about everything here.

Looking at this for a few windows at my place. Top of my head is getting sunburn from the skylight in my office.

VAG - did you end up doing this?

Ah, yet another project that didn't get off the drawing board.