Understanding UV Protection: How Does Window Tinting Work?

What Is UV Light?

UV or ultra-violet light is radiation from the sun. These are the rays that cause our skin to tan as well as burn when exposed for long periods of time. 

Radiation is essentially energy. UV radiation is made up of enough energy to break down chemical bonds. 

This is a good thing for dirty surfaces, for example, where UV light can actually break down bacteria and disinfect a surface. But UV is not so good because it also damages human tissue.

Initial amounts of UV radiation on the skin cause our skin to darken, or tan. This is our body's way of fighting the rays. Too much UV light overwhelms our body's ability to defend itself and sunburn is the result.



When a sunburn occurs, our skin's DNA is damaged. Sometimes this damage results in skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer. This is what we want to protect against. This is why tinting our windows to block UV light is important in places we spend a lot of time.

What Is Window Tinting?

Window tinting is the process of adding a film over windows that blocks most of the UV radiation from the sun. You can still see through the windows and light still passes through.

The film is usually made from thin laminate, though other types of tinting are available. You can get frosted window tinting, mirror tinting, energy-saving tinting, and more. 



Tinting can be used on any type of window. Tinting home windows are very common, as are commercial buildings. Tinting car windows is one of the most popular options but is primarily used for style as opposed to protection. 

How Does Window Tinting Work?

Window film is applied to the inside of a window, whether a home, business, or car. Many people believe tinting is on the outside. Installing on the inside protects the film from external elements, elements, and debris. This ensures your tint last years, if not decades. 

The film is mostly made of a durable polyester laminate made to last a really long time. An extremely thin layer is also added, made of metals and dyes which provide the tinting effects and the desired visual characteristics. 

This tinting layer is what blocks the UV rays. It does this largely by reflecting visible and UV light away from the window. 

The materials in the tinting layer also absorb a portion of the visible light, preventing it from passing through the window. This prevents an overly bright room and helps to reduce glares.



This layer also works to radiate heat. It prevents excessive heat from entering through the window when it's hot outside and prevents excessive heat loss when it's cold. 

Benefits of Window Tinting

So why tint windows? Well, as mentioned earlier, we want to protect our skin from damage and cancer. High-quality, professionally installed window tinting will provide 99.9% UV protection.



This is vitally important in areas of your home or business where people spend a lot of time. This could be offices, storefronts, sunrooms, livings rooms, and other high-use areas. Aside from protecting your skin from harmful radiation, there are many other benefits of window tinting as well. 

Energy-Efficient Window Tinting

One of the biggest benefits of window tinting is increasing energy efficiency. Window tinting will help prevent too much heat from entering through windows. This is especially important in the summer when air conditioning is running around the clock.

And in the colder seasons, as much as 30% of the heat in your home escapes through your windows. Proper tinting will help to keep the heat inside rather than letting it escape.

Too much sunlight through the windows will keep your AC unit working overtime. But you don't want to cover your windows with curtains or blinds. Then you won't get any of the benefits of having windows; opening up your interior space, enjoying the view, and having some natural light.



Tinting your windows is the perfect way to keep your home and business safe, comfortable, and visually stimulating at the same time.

Tinting Prevents Glares

Sunlight can be a problem whenever screens are required. This could be your living room when watching important games on weekend afternoons.



Or it could be an office where productivity is based on using computer screens. Because tinting reflects visible light away from the window, it prevents glares inside which would otherwise make it hard to see.

Preserving Furniture, Carpet, and Colors

The effects of too much sunlight in your home can often be seen where colors have faded. This could be on furniture such as couches or tables, or floorings like carpet and rugs.

If you have expensive items that you'd like to last a long time, tinting your windows can help preserve their authenticity and prevent damage. A blackout tint would be the most effective for this.



It's similar to a standard car tint, that prevents people outside from seeing in. From the inside, you are still able to see out.

There's No Reason Not to Tint

So how does window tinting work to make you healthier and happier? It protects your skin from excessive UV radiation damage. This alone is worth the cost of window tinting.

But also saving money on energy cost and making your home more comfortable? That's just icing on the cake.

With so many benefits associated with window tinting, especially in extremely sunny places like Florida, everyone should consider it for their home and business. 

If you'd like recommendations on the best type of tinting for your home or business, be sure to contact us today at Film Systems Of Florida and get a free estimate.