Balcony tinting: varieties, pros and cons, recommendations for choosing

Being on a balcony or loggia is always a joy, but on a hot sunny day this can become a real problem, since the air becomes hot, and even open windows cannot save you. You can solve the issue by installing tint on the glasses. What it can be, the main advantages and disadvantages of the method, as well as tips for choosing, we will consider in our article.

Window tinting is becoming more and more popular with balcony owners, and not only. This coating can often be found on the facades of buildings made of glass, shop windows, as well as car windows.

It is most often based on polyester, purified in several stages, then reworked into tint. This layer ultimately turns out to be homogeneous and very thin.

This indicator is primarily influenced by the purity of the raw materials. There are several manufacturing companies on the modern market that have built their reputation through hard work and produce good coverage.

The tinting has several layers. Each of them has its own function. For example, a protective layer helps to resist abrasion of the coating, protects against exposure to sunlight and high temperatures. In some cases, metal is used in the manufacture of the tinting coating.

You can stick a tint film for glass on the balcony and loggia in any apartment. With its help, first of all, it will be possible to reduce the lighting. This is especially true when it comes to about the location of windows on the sunny side.

This is where artificial blackout is a real lifesaver. Tinted windows have their pros and cons. Let's consider them in more detail.

Among the advantages, it can be noted that tinting does not require careful maintenance, as in the case, for example, when the windows are closed by crumpled and stained curtains. Dust removal will not be difficult. Besides, saves space, which is especially important for small balconies. The use of fencing can significantly reduce it.

Toning will last a long time. Direct sunlight does not harm her. She is also not afraid of adverse weather conditions, such as rain, wind, heat or frost. The room will be reliably protected from ultraviolet radiation and bright light.

For example, with its help, you can achieve the fact that it will not be possible to look inside from the street. This is especially important for residents of lower floors. In addition, the surface strength can be significantly increased. Also, the use of film gives room for imagination and the possibility of decorating a balcony in various versions.

One of them is the constant darkening of the apartment. In some cases, this leads to the fact that it is impossible to do without artificial lighting. In cases where tinting makes the windows impenetrable from the outside, but at the same time has the ability to transmit light well, there is a high probability of dim lighting. These nuances are especially noticeable in cloudy weather, when additional darkening of the room is created.

So, if it was decided to tint the windows on the balcony, it is necessary to decide on the type of material that will be used in the work. It should be noted that the choice here is quite wide, it all depends on the purpose.

The main variety is considered to be a sunscreen film. Its advantage is that it has the ability to trap up to 9 percent of ultraviolet radiation. This prevents the furniture from burning out when exposed to sunlight. In addition, it not only helps to maintain the permissible temperature regime on hot sunny days, but also makes it possible to keep the heat on the loggia in winter.

For limiting visibility from the outside, perfect mirror coating... It makes it possible to view only from the inside, respectively, the street will be freely viewed from the balcony, but from the outside, the effect of a mirror is created. In addition, condensation does not accumulate on the surface. Also, the room is closed from harmful radiation.

Residents of lower floors often choose a protective film for use. It should be noted that any tinting significantly increases the strength of the glass, however, the protective option is also fireproof. If there are panoramic windows on the balcony, it makes sense to use a shockproof film. In this case, the owners of the premises can be sure of the reliability of the coating, which will withstand external influences well.

It is impossible not to stop at decorative tint film. Not only can it be made in various colors, from white to black, but it can also have patterns and images on the surface. You can choose from both glossy and matte finishes. However, this variety tends to transmit harmful ultraviolet light, so it should be considered solely as a decorative option.

If the room has stained glass or panoramic windows, it makes sense to consider their tint using an architectural coating. Its peculiarity is that it combines both sun protection and protective properties of the material.

An interesting option are energy saving tint coatings... They are designed to reflect infrared radiation. This film acts on both sides. On hot sunny days, it will help reflect thermal energy, while in winter it will keep the heat inside the balcony, not letting it out.

Finally, one cannot but say about a fairly new type of tinting, called "Athermal film". At first, the market was suspicious of him. The fact is that such a film is transparent, and at the same time retains 100 percent of ultraviolet radiation and up to 60 percent of heat.

The tinting material can be removable. In some cases, this is very convenient, because it becomes possible to adjust the illumination level depending on the season. Sometimes you can even focus on the time of day. Wherein all coating qualities are preserved.

Installation of the film should be carried out in warm weather, at temperatures from +10 to +35 degrees. Before carrying out work, it is necessary thoroughly rinse and degrease the surface.

To install you will need:

• degreaser;
• sprayer;
• sharp knife;
• lint-free matter;
• rubber spatula.

The film must be cut into the required parts. After that, the adhesive side and the surface itself are sprayed with water. You need to glue the material from top to bottom, gradually smoothing it with a spatula and a cloth so that no bubbles remain. Removing the glass from the frame will make the job easier. In this situation, you need to take the tinting with a small margin, so that you can then trim the edges.

When you already have an understanding of the structure of the required film and its characteristics in relation to energy saving, you need to decide on the light transmission capacity. Usually this indicator is noted as a percentage. It talks about how much light will get inside.

Next, you need to decide on the color. The color range of films is presented on the market in a huge assortment. This characteristic is directly related to the light transmittance of the canvas, and in addition, it affects the perception of the interior as a whole, therefore, it is necessary to consider various options.

This material is not difficult to care for, but you still need to keep it in order. In this case, care must be taken not to damage the surface, so there are nuances of caring for the canvas. The main thing is not to use hard brushes that can damage the film.

It is recommended to wash the surface only with a delicate detergent. A soapy solution is great. The procedure should be carried out with a soft sponge. Wet cleaning will be required monthly.

In the next video, you will learn how to make a removable balcony tint yourself, without the help of specialists.