Window film and fading in a Maui home

Why things fade by a window

Three parts of sunlight do the damage. UV is the most energetic, and it breaks down the dyes in fabric, the finish on wood floors and the pigments in prints and photos. Visible light does the same work more slowly. Heat dries out wood and leather and speeds the other two along. The material matters as well: some dyes and woods hold their color for years, and others change in a season.

Ordinary window glass stops part of the UV and lets the rest through, along with the visible light and most of the heat. On Maui the sun is strong all year, so the signs show up early: a pale stripe on the floor where the afternoon sun lands, a sofa cushion lighter on the window side, a print that has gone pale.

What film does about it

A solar window film goes on the inside face of the glass and blocks most of the UV that would otherwise reach the room. That doesn’t take a dark film. Many light, nearly clear films still cut most UV. Solar films also take out part of the heat and glare, which helps the people in the room as well as the furniture.

Darker films go further on visible light. That slows the visible-light part of fading too, but the room gets dimmer and the view changes, and on Maui the view is usually why the window is that big. The practical way to choose is to decide how much daylight you want to keep, then pick the film that does the most within that.

What it can’t do

Film slows fading. It doesn’t stop it. A window still lets in light, which is the reason you have it, and that light keeps working on whatever it lands on. A rug in a daily patch of sun will still fade with film on the glass, only more slowly. Things that have already faded don’t come back.

For a piece that matters, such as original art, family photos or an antique, film is one layer. Keep the piece out of the direct sun path as well, or close the shades for the hours the sun reaches it.

Which rooms first

You don’t have to film the whole house. On a clear afternoon, walk through and note where direct sun reaches the floor or the furniture, and for how long. In a Maui home the usual answers are the west-facing living room or bedroom, the lanai slider and any large window without an eave over it. South-facing glass also gets plenty of sun for much of the year. Glass under a deep eave, a covered lanai or a big tree often gets little direct sun and can wait.

Then weigh what is in each room. Wood floors, rugs, upholstery and art near sunny glass come first. A sunny laundry room with nothing to fade can come last, unless it is also too hot to use. Photos of the sun patches, taken at the time of day they happen, make the quote quicker.

Check the glass before the film

Two windows that look the same can need different films.

• Single-pane glass, common in older Maui homes, gains the most from film, because the glass alone does less about UV and heat.
• Dual-pane (insulated) glass traps heat between the panes. Some films absorb enough heat to stress insulated units, so the film has to suit the glass.
• Low-E glass carries a thin coating that already filters part of the UV and heat. Film still helps, but it adds less, and the coating affects which films are suitable.
• Newer windows may carry a window maker’s warranty. Read what it says about aftermarket film before you book.

That’s why the installer identifies the glass before recommending anything. The guide to whether window film can crack glass explains what the check looks for.

Condos, HOA homes and rentals

Film changes how glass looks from outside, so many condo associations and HOAs set rules on window film, usually about color and reflectivity. Ask for the rules before you choose a film, and get approval in writing before the install. What condo boards ask for lists the usual paperwork.

In a vacation rental, the furnishings nearest the lanai glass take the most sun, and replacing them early adds up. The condo and vacation rental page covers scheduling the install between guest stays.

Getting a quote

Home window film is quoted after a measure, with no online price or checkout. Send the address, the rooms you want to protect, a few photos of the windows and the sun patches, whether the glass is single or dual pane if you know, and your association’s window rules if you have them. Use the quote form or call (808) 707-7064. The home window tint page covers the film types and what happens on install day.