Window film, answered.

Film is priced per square foot of glass and depends on the film type, how much glass you have, the install difficulty, and your region. As a general industry range, not our quote, one Canadian installer lists residential film around $5 to $12 per square foot for material plus $3 to $8 for install, with specialty films higher. For your real number, grab a free 100th Meridian quote at 905-359-7077.

Most homes are done in a few hours up to a single day, depending on how many windows you have and how big they are. High windows, custom shapes, or stripping off old film add time. A full-home job with lots of glass can take most of a day, but you can keep living in your house the whole time.

Ceramic-type film uses non-metallic particles, so it rejects infrared heat while staying clear and neutral, and it resists the fading that eventually discolours dyed film. Dyed film is the cheapest and the shortest-lived. We do not publish per-type performance figures, because the numbers circulating online are measured on a different product class. Ask for the manufacturer's rating on the film we quote.

Lifespan depends on the film type, how much sun the glass takes, and installation quality. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reports a professional installation of plastic applied film typically carries a 6 to 15 year warranty, with many installations working beyond that. Our own work is warrantied by film type, lifetime residential and 15-year commercial.

Yes. Quality film blocks 99% or more of UVA and UVB rays, the radiation most responsible for fading furniture, flooring, and artwork, and for skin damage over time. The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation requires proof of that 99% blocking. You get the protection even from clear, nearly invisible films, so there is no trade-off with natural light or your view.