Mirrored window film - Reduce sun heat?

agnes

agnes

agnes

Soldato
Joined
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Amsterdam, NL
My office has a balcony door and a small window, both receiving direct sunlight from midday onwards. As a result, my office turns into an oven, I've been looking at cheap solutions and mirrored film looks to be an option. Has anyone done something like this and does it reduce the heat coming in from the sun?

Thanks
 
Yes, but it'll need renewing every now and then as it degrades and looks naff due to the UV exposure.

Don't expect miracles, but it'll definitely help. Also, don't buy cheap.

How much area are you talking?
 
Diddums said:
Yes, but it'll need renewing every now and then as it degrades and looks naff due to the UV exposure.

Don't expect miracles, but it'll definitely help. Also, don't buy cheap.

How much area are you talking?
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In total probably a few square meters. I'm mainly just looking to reduce the direct heat. Thanks for the heads up on the degradation, good to know.
 
Semple said:
Blinds/curtains would be more longer lasting if you don't have any currently.
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I have a black out curtain that sort of helps. But eventually it's still too warm. Part of the reason I'm thinking film will be better as then I can crack open the small top window and allow a breeze. Rather than it being behind a curtain.
 
agnes said:
In total probably a few square meters. I'm mainly just looking to reduce the direct heat. Thanks for the heads up on the degradation, good to know.
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This is quite possibly the most "you get what you pay for" products in existence. You can buy rolls of cheap tat from the likes of Wish for a fiver a roll, which will do nothing more than tint your window basically whilst telling you that it's preventing you from getting skin cancer. It'll also start bubbling and peeling a month after it's installed and look absolutely awful.

Proper stuff will cost you a pretty penny, you're looking at £200+ easily. It'll last a lot longer and will also give you a few applications so when it starts going naff you can peel it off and replace it.

Try these guys, they look fairly reasonable:

UV Protection Climate 70 Window Film | Solar Control Film

www.windowfilm.co.uk www.windowfilm.co.uk
 
agnes said:
I have a black out curtain that sort of helps. But eventually it's still too warm. Part of the reason I'm thinking film will be better as then I can crack open the small top window and allow a breeze. Rather than it being behind a curtain.
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i have some white blinds like this, with curatins behind.


Seems to work well as the white reflects quite well, and the air gaps between window and blind, and blind and curtain acts as a good buffer to keep heat out of the room. You can also have either window, blind or curatin open or partially closed to regualte light/heat/airflow.
 
mattyfez said:
i have some white blinds like this, with curatins behind.


Seems to work well as the white reflects quite well, and the air gaps between window and blind, and blind and curtain acts as a good buffer to keep heat out of the room. You can also have either window, blind or curatin open or partially closed to regualte light/heat/airflow.
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Interesting, would be a much smarter job as well. Thanks!

Bug One said:
Does this have to be applied to the outside, or can you do it from inside? I've got a top floor that could do with this, but no chance I'm going up 3 floors on the outside.
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You can buy for both internal and external applications.
 
radderfire said:
What about putting a shade sail up on your balcony?
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I honestly see no reason not too and it would suit the house very well for the neighbourhood here...

Diddums said:
This is quite possibly the most "you get what you pay for" products in existence. You can buy rolls of cheap tat from the likes of Wish for a fiver a roll, which will do nothing more than tint your window basically whilst telling you that it's preventing you from getting skin cancer. It'll also start bubbling and peeling a month after it's installed and look absolutely awful.

Proper stuff will cost you a pretty penny, you're looking at £200+ easily. It'll last a lot longer and will also give you a few applications so when it starts going naff you can peel it off and replace it.

Try these guys, they look fairly reasonable:

UV Protection Climate 70 Window Film | Solar Control Film

www.windowfilm.co.uk www.windowfilm.co.uk
Click to expand...

I was indeed hoping to stick to known brands but thought maybe a 100% increase in price. But christ on a bike, that's a lot.
 
I fitted this stuff in our living room

Climate 50 Medium Window Film - Solar Control Window Film | The Window Film Company

www.windowfilm.co.uk www.windowfilm.co.uk

As said above it helps but it won't stop the room heating up, we have some roman blinds on 2 windows as well as this, but the room still gets warm, but not as warm as it used to.

The film wasn't that expensive I think I had 4m and it was £130 last year. the company wanted £500ish to fit it though, so I did it myself and the finish is not great to be honest, I probably just need more practice.
 
I've really strongly thought about doing this, but in the winter you benefit strongly from solar gain. Cutting the building off from that will increase the energy your heating system needs to put in, so it would (in my mind) have to come down in the winter.
 
As above, you need to be aware of losing solar gain in Winter / Spring / Autumn too.

What about something like a thermal perfect-fit blind? These fit to the panes of glass individually and would allow you to open the windows still (and open / close the blinds to let more light in if you want)
 
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