Arizona homeowners are no stranger to heat and sunlight—especially in summer.
Outside your home, taking precautions like applying sunscreen and wearing protective layers can help shield you from high temperatures and harmful UV rays, but what about indoors?
Aside from keeping the blinds closed between sunup and sundown, many residents think window tinting is the only option to reduce their exposure to solar light and heat during the long summer months. However, we can think of at least two better options off the top of our head.
Consider installing sunscreens to stay cool and protected.
If you’re looking for a way to keep your home cooler in the summer and even increase your privacy a little, consider installing sunscreens instead of tinting your windows.
Sunscreens (also called solar screens) are made from strong, polyester-coated woven vinyl mesh and fitted to the exterior of each window frame. Because they can block up to 90% of the sun’s rays, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your house cool in the summer and your monthly energy bill will be lower. Sunscreens also cut down on glare and protect your furniture and carpets from fading.
Lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install, sunscreens still offer plenty of visibility so you can enjoy the view from your Arizona home. XO Windows can provide and install a high-quality Suntex Solar Screen 80 or 90 sunscreen on each of your windows in an array of different colors to match your individual taste.
We use Suntex sunscreens because they’re incredibly durable, fade and mildew resistant, and easy to install.
LoĒ³-340 windows also provide more benefits than window tinting.
Compared with tinted glass, LoĒ³-340 solar and glare control glass is far more effective at blocking both light and heat from the sun. (LoĒ refers to low emissivity glass, which is specially coated to reflect solar heat while still letting in plenty of daylight.)
The biggest and most important difference between the two is that while tinted glass works by absorbing sunlight (making it hot and vulnerable to cracking), LoĒ³-340 glass works by deflecting sunlight.
When installed in your home, LoĒ³-340 windows block approximately 98% of harmful UV radiation from the sun while keeping glass temperatures cool and the indoor atmosphere comfortable and glare free. Not only is LoĒ³-340 safer for your family, but it also protects your furniture, carpet, rugs, and window treatments from fading.
And, LoĒ³-340 windows are not just beneficial in the summer.
During the winter, LoĒ³-340 solar and glare control glass reduces heat loss and maintains warmer glass temperatures. Its advanced design provides a very low U-Factor of 0.25. This results in more comfort and energy savings in cold weather.
Still thinking about tinting? Here are a few things to consider.
Window tinting can be achieved in one of two ways. You can either purchase pre-tinted glass windows prior to installation or replacement, or you can apply a tinted film to the exterior of your existing windows. While they both provide some protection, neither is the most efficient way to keep your Arizona home cool and comfortable in the summer. Here’s why:
Aside from obstructing your view of the outdoors, which is probably one of the biggest reasons you live here, tinted glass is better at blocking light than heat—which can make the interior of your home very uncomfortable, especially in the summer. And, since they absorb sunlight instead of reflecting it, tinted windows are more vulnerable to cracking caused by thermal stress. Finally, the thicker the glass, the more likely it is that the tint will change over time, resulting in uneven shading.
If applying it yourself, tinted film can be a challenge, especially if your windows have special locks or latches. Specialty shape windows can also present a problem because it can be difficult to cut the film to size. Likewise, poor application can create unsightly bubbles and wrinkles on your windows, and some window manufacturers may void your warranty if you apply tinted film.
For better protection from the sun and year-round indoor comfort, talk to XO Windows today about Suntex sunscreens and LoĒ³-340 windows.