Heat reflective window film?

[lurchermummy]

Already thinking about and planning for the next heat wave! Has anyone tried the heat reflective window film? My DDs room is very hot and gets the sun all afternoon. She has roman blinds with blackout linings but they don’t really keep the room cool, I wondered if this would help.

Yes I have it and it really works. Wouldn’t be without it for certain rooms where the sun shines on large windows all afternoon and evening

We're looking at it for our garden office, which one do you have @EverytimeItPours?

Sounds good - is it easy to fit?

Ooh with interest is the back of our house gets Incredibly hot – can I ask where you got this from please?

A local company came out to fit mine, didn’t take long

if you can wrap a present in wrapping paper then you can DIY fitting window film. Just go slowly when smoothing to ensure no air bubbles are trapped.

or if money is no object then pay someone else to do it for you

Does it mean that rooms are cooler in the winter too? As in the winter sun will also be reflected off - does it make it feel chilly?

Is it a permanent treatment for your windows or do you take it off for the winter, when you would want warmth?

it is not cling film that peels off and be reused many times. Yes it can be taken off, but it won't go back on so well (if at all).

I have this in the kitchen and it was the coolest room in house. Going to add some in bathroom. Got it off Amazon. Use a spray water bottle to allow you to move the film to fit.

Which brand/type did you buy? One of my DC with a small baby is particularly struggling this week - fans are not hacking it and air con units overwhelmingly out of stock.

I've read that if you have double glazed windows this reflective material can cause heat to build up inside the window and the glass can crack. This bothers me

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/366480998748

that one.

then get the version that you fit to the outside pane, not the inside one.
External Window Films | Exterior Window Film | Stockfilms

If you have tall or big windows I would ask someone to help you. I felt like I needed 4 pairs of hands doing mine!

Does that last? I’m imagining it peeling off at the corners.

as others have implied, window film is in reality a seasonal expense, not a fit and forget item

We just bought a load of foil survival blankets off amazon (got 50 for 12 quid). Just used masking tape to stick them over all the glass and it worked a treat. We only used a quarter so the cost was very low and we have more for the future.

Even cheaper solution is to line the outside in tin foil. Your neighbours might think you’ve completely lost it but it works amazingly well because the heat never reaches the glass.

The internal one I’ve fitted has been up since last summer and doing alright.

I did this and it heated up so much it cracked my windows. The glazier who came said you shouldn’t ever do it as when it is super hot it can heat up the glass so much it cracks

but did you take it down for the winter and then refit it which is the point I was answering as someone asked about "over cooling" in winter?
If you did then please give an honest answer to how many more times will it survive that treatment?

Left it up all through winter. I figured there’s not much heating effect from winter sun so left it up. It is darker but I’m ok with that.