USGS Project - Frosted Waves

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently contracted Florida Window Films to provide privacy and character to the Director's new office windows. The office is located in the main entrance area and they wanted something more than a typical privacy film.

The USGS logo provided the nice wave pattern they desired. Once the wave pattern was adjusted for size we decided to add their full logo to the door.

The finished project. Different opaqueness levels were achieved by layering our white matte frost film. This allows light into the office while providing complete privacy and a stunning look.

Step one was applying a copy plate to the windows. This helps us line up the individual pieces that make up the first layer of the wave, as well as the lettering and logo for the door. Copy plates make the job fast and easy.

Copy plates are in place. They are reversed so the window film can be installed on the opposite side of the glass

The copy plate is lined up and leveled and the installation process has begun. Instead of using transfer tape, each letter was placed by hand.

The next step was starting to apply the first layer of the wave pattern. A simple process of cleaning the surface and applying the film. Lining up each piece is a breeze with the copy plates installed.

Piece by piece the wave is starting to take shape.

Removing the copy plates shows it all starting to take shape.

After all the first layer pieces are installed. The windows are carefully cleaned again and a full layer of white matte frost is installed to cover the entire window.

Installing the second layer of frost matte

Door glass complete!

Interior view

The final product is striking and useful. The customer gets the privacy they desire while adding beauty and design to the workplace.

Project complete and the USGS is ecstatic!

Before

After

The different layers add a special touch.

First layer of wave done

Florida Window Films specializes in decorative window film projects like this one. If you would like a free estimate for your project, contact us here!

We want to know what you think! Leave us a comment below.

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The Ovation Project - St Petersburg, FL Window Tinting

The new luxury Ovation Condominium development chose Florida Window Films to install a high performance window film on the penthouse windows, as well as some white-out film to block build-out over some of the windows.

Florida Window Films was chosen to install window films and tinting in St Petersburg's newest luxury tower.

At issue was heat and UV protection for the top 4 floors which houses a suite of penthouse's overlooking Tampa Bay. A spectrally selective ceramic film was chosen to keep the buildings windows uniform across all floors. Some windows were also covered with a white-out film.

Installer adding white-out film to some windows. Large construction projects require hard hats.

Ovation windows getting coated with a high performance window film. Check out that view!

The ground floor houses some commercial businesses which also called for window film coating and tinting.

Whether it's a small residential job or a huge residential building, Florida Window Films is ready and willing to complete the project. This install was completed in two days and looks great!

For more information about window tinting, window films, or to get a free estimate for your project, you can contact us here.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Window Tinting

Here is a great article about the advantages and disadvantages of installing window film in your home or business. As window film technology advances, a lot of the disadvanatges are disappearing, such as the advent of low-e window films making your home or business more effective in hot and cold climates.

In recent years, home window tinting has become increasingly popular in many types of home decor, especially since more homeowners have recognized the many benefits associated with tinting the windows in their homes. However, before heading to your local hardware store to inquire about types of window tinting, you should consider both the advantages and disadvantages of home window tinting.

Overall, the article addresses some great reasons to have your home windows tinted.

Read the article here and leave us a comment below on what you think the pro's and con's are.

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New 'Low-Cost. Tunable Window Tinting' Is On The Way

From WindowFilmMag.com

An electrical engineering professor from UC, Jason Heikenfeld, says he's developed a tunable window tint for residential and commercial applications. The product can not only be dimmed from clear to shaded and change colors, but it also has the ability to vary the light transmittance from clear to opaque, achieving privacy for the user as well.

The coating has the ability to allow light...

...Or block light and heat.

 

 

 Heikenfeld says his creation is not only comparable to traditional window film performance, but offers more flexibility.

According to a press release put out by UC, it was a “challenge” to keep the cost of the new material under $30 per square foot. Heikenfeld also says that the initial market for the film will be automotive and will have a 10-year lifespan in that application. For residential and commercial buildings, it will last 20 years, he says.

Installation procedures and solar specifications are still unknown but Florida Window Films is keeping up-to-date on all solar heat gain control products and is looking forward to becoming a leader on this type of glass technology.

Read the full story at WindowFilmMag.com









 

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It's Abundantly Clear - Window Film Saves you Money

Today's window films don;t have to block light or be highly reflective to block heat and save money

For years, window films have had the stigma that in order to block heat, you also have to block all the light, or have extremely reflective windows.


Years ago, window films used to screen damaging light rays either by adding a dark color to the film, which would absorb the heat and harmful rays, or by adding metal to the film to reflect them.

"Today's technology uses absorbing metals and materials that have reflectors we can't see," said Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association. "The harmful rays are still absorbed or reflected, but this work is done outside of the visible light spectrum."

Read the full article at the Denver Post 

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Hundreds of People Stopped for Illegal Window Tinting, Then Searched For Drugs

We tell our customers all the time, it's not just the fact that there is a monetary penalty for illegal window tinting, it is also probable cause for the police to pull you over whenever they want.

Hundreds of people in Georgia are being targeted for illegal window tint, and then being arrested.

Drivers in Walton County, Georgia have been living this for a number of years from their local police department. In fact, the police department is now under official review for harassing drivers with illegal window tint.

It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your vehicles window tint. Keep it legal!

Read the full article here from FOX 6 in Georgia

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Is It Legal To Tint My Windshield In Florida?

    The windshield is usually the largest window in a vehicle, allowing a lot of light, and therefore heat, to enter the vehicle. We get requests on a daily basis for window tinting a cars windshield, but there seems to be a wide misconception on what window film is legal for windshield installation.


    The most common windshield tint installation is a visor strip, or an "eye-brow". This is installed on the top portion of the windshield and acts as a glare reducer, shielding drivers from harsh glare and making driving in the sun more comfortable. Florida law states that the visor strip can be installed "so long as such material is transparent and does not encroach upon the driver's direct forward viewing area as more particularly described and defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 205 and 128 as the AS/1 portion of the windshield." The AS-1 line can be found on most vehicles near the upper corner, or less commonly in the middle near the rear view mirror.

What tint is legal on my windshield. This is a view of a vehicles AS-1 marking.

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It's Time To Talk About Illegal Window TInting

It's an epidemic in our industry. Illegal window tinting is everywhere. There are many excuses used by window tint installers on why, how, and when they will install illegal window tinting. Every installer and business owner has, on numerous occasions, received the call from the customer who wants it done. It's hard to turn away business, especially when the shop down the street will be eager to jump on the illegal, cash only, window tint job.

Illegal Window Tinting is everywhere. And it is a touchy subject for shop owners and installers alike

  What should a window tint business owner do?

Window Film Mag has a great article on illegal window tinting, check it out here.

What do you think about illegal window tinting> Leave us a comment below.

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Cops Cracking Down On Illegal Window Tint

Drivers in British Columbia (BC) are facing a crackdown on illegal car tinting. Although it is illegal for BC drivers to have their two front windows tinted, local authorities are seeing an increase in this illegal behavior.

Tinted windows, although illegal in B.C., are becoming more popular despite a recent crackdown from authorities. PHOTO BY James Stone, Times Colonist

It’s these drivers the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit will target starting on Wednesday, when the unit launches a five-week blitz looking for illegal tinting.
Traffic officers are seeing an increase in such cases and suspect it might be a way for a driver to flout the tougher new distracted-driving laws, said Staff Sgt. James Anderson, the officer in charge of IRSU.
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/tinted-auto-windows-get-close-look-in-police-crackdown-1.1735995#sthash.HE5Dbw85.dpufIt

 It's these drivers that local authorities are cracking down on. Starting January 21 the Integrated Road Safety Unit will start targeting illegal window tint.

Traffic officers are seeing an increase in illegal window tinting and suspect it might be a way for drivers trying to thwart tougher new distracted-driving laws.

Drivers face a fine of $109 and a written order to have the illegal window film removed.

Read the Article from tthe Times Colonist

It’s these drivers the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit will target starting on Wednesday, when the unit launches a five-week blitz looking for illegal tinting.
Traffic officers are seeing an increase in such cases and suspect it might be a way for a driver to flout the tougher new distracted-driving laws, said Staff Sgt. James Anderson, the officer in charge of IRSU.
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/tinted-auto-windows-get-close-look-in-police-crackdown-1.1735995#sthash.HE5Dbw85.dpuf

It’s these drivers the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit will target starting on Wednesday, when the unit launches a five-week blitz looking for illegal tinting.
Traffic officers are seeing an increase in such cases and suspect it might be a way for a driver to flout the tougher new distracted-driving laws, said Staff Sgt. James Anderson, the officer in charge of IRSU.
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/tinted-auto-windows-get-close-look-in-police-crackdown-1.1735995#sthash.HE5Dbw85.dpuf

It’s these drivers the Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit will target starting on Wednesday, when the unit launches a five-week blitz looking for illegal tinting.
Traffic officers are seeing an increase in such cases and suspect it might be a way for a driver to flout the tougher new distracted-driving laws, said Staff Sgt. James Anderson, the officer in charge of IRSU.
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/tinted-auto-windows-get-close-look-in-police-crackdown-1.1735995#sthash.HE5Dbw85.dpuf

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Are Tinted Car Windows Really Illegal in Vermont?

 As of October 1, it will be illegal to operate a handheld phone while
driving in Vermont. And if you're thinking about tinting your car
windows so you can chat, text or surf the web while sitting at a red
light, you're out of luck. In Vermont, tinted driver and front-passenger
windows are illegal — as are tinted license plate covers, taillights
and headlights.

Read the story here:

Are Tinted Car Windows Really Illegal in Vermont?

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