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Sun Shade Film

Solar control film is a highly effective solution to reduce glare and fading, along with providing heat control to make rooms cooler.

We have different levels of tinted window films, some highly tinted like our 95% dark window tint which reduces light, glare and cools rooms. Or our 50% silver reflective film which isn't as dark so allows for more light for a brighter room, but still offers some heat control, anti-glare and slight tint along with a reflective component for added privacy.

These window tints can be applied to your existing windows making it a cost-effective way of managing room temperature and comfort.

What Is Solar Control Film?

Anti-heat film is designed to reflect and absorb heat, glare and levels of UV radiation. These are most known as a window reflective film or mirror film, they reflect heat off your windows, noticeably reducing heat in problematic areas. We have different levels of one-way mirror film at Lustalux, each with their own level of reflectivity and heat reduction.

Can Window Film Cool Down a Room?

Often referred to as "conservatory window film," solar control sheets are exceptionally efficient at blocking solar heat before it enters your home, maintaining a naturally cool indoor temperature.

Once installed, these reflective window coatings require zero management—they work naturally to reject solar energy. While the temperature drop is most dramatic on problematic south-facing windows that receive direct sun, you will still experience significant cooling benefits on north-facing glass. It is an incredibly fast and cost-effective climate solution, with the anti-heat film actively lowering ambient temperatures within 20 minutes of application.

Is External Anti-Heat Window Film Better Than Internal? 

External solar control film does work more effectively for heat rejection than our internal ones as they can reflect heat before it enters your and heats your glass. But if external window transfers aren't ideal then our internal reflective one way films still work exceptionally well and can still cool rooms.

If you need strong heat reduction, then the highest percentage reflective window coating is for you. For example, our 80% mirrored one way film works more effectively than our 50% reflective film, but the 50% has less tint so it is ideal if the temperature of the room is just a little uncomfortable.

Our external 80% reflective window film does work better than the internal version. So, it just depends on how hot your space gets, we do recommend external one way film for conservatories as these can get incredibly hot. If you need advice, please contact us.

is it OK to Tint Your House Windows?

Tinting your windows is perfectly safe and can improve the comfort in your home drastically. Our sunshade window tints can reduce the amount of heat drawn into your space, making hot rooms cooler, or it can hold onto heat to warm up colder rooms in the winter. Home window tinting can help reduce energy costs year round and the UV protection included in our shaded window tints can protect furniture from sun damage. This tinted glass film is also ideal for home office spaces as it can reduce glare, making working on screens or watching TV more comfortable.

But you do need to be aware of tint compatibility with your windows. Stress breakage is incredibly rare and is likely never to happen if the correct glass tint is chosen. If you are unsure, please speak to the team and we can advise you on which dark glass tint is best for your windows and how to prevent thermal stress on your glass.

Why Choose External Solar Control Window Film?

Thoughtfully designed to reflect solar heat and glare before entering the glass surface. These solar external films create a pleasant and comfortable environment for occupants, ensuring year-round cost savings through reduced cooling and HVAC expenses. Our external anti-heat film is the perfect alternative in situations where traditional internal films may not be suitable due to limited building design or restricted access.

The secret to their longevity lies in the unique scratch-resistant hard-coating, making them resilient to the sun and reducing cleaning efforts compared to regular glass.

These external vinyl films are compatible with insulated laminate glass units or triple-glazed units, avoiding stress on the glass and minimizing the risk of breakage.

What is the Difference Between Reflective Window Film and Window Tints?

While both options serve as highly effective anti-heat window coverings, they handle daytime privacy and visual style differently:

  • Reflective Window Film: Often called one-way mirror film, these sheets feature a metallic finish that creates a daytime mirror effect on the outside. They prevent outsiders from looking in while allowing you to maintain a clear view of the outdoors. Because this mirroring relies on light balance, the effect reverses at night when indoor lights are on, meaning curtains or blinds are still required for evening privacy.
  • Standard Window Tints: These non-reflective films give your glass a smooth, darkened transparent look without the shiny mirror effect. They reduce incoming heat and glare, and while their darker shade makes it harder to peek into your home at a glance, they do not provide full daytime privacy. Our 80% tinted glass film is our most popular home window tint—it strikes the perfect balance by letting in more natural daylight than our ultra-dark 95% film, while offering superior heat and glare reduction over the lighter 65% option.

What Window Film is Best for Reducing Glare?

Our reflective window films offer the most effective solution for harsh glare. These mirror privacy films are engineered with a specialized metallic layer that actively reflects the sun's rays away from your glass, drastically reducing eye strain and screen glare.

The level of performance depends entirely on the film options you select:

  • Reflective Film Metrics: Our 80% reflective silver film blocks significantly more glare than the lighter 50% solar film, though the higher performance of the 80% variant will naturally create a darker tint inside the room.
  • Placement Advantages: Choosing an external solar film yields the highest glare and heat reduction because it deflects incoming sunbeams before they pass through the glass structure.

Please note: Because all one-way mirror films rely on a light-balance effect (where the mirror appears on the brightest side of the pane), the reflectivity will reverse at night when your indoor lights are switched on. For total evening privacy alongside daytime glare reduction, we always recommend pairing these films with curtains or blinds.

Does Window Film Ruin Glass?

Not at all. Our glass film features an adhesive backing, this is how it sticks to your window. When you decide to take this window sticker off you can use soapy water and slowly pull the glass film away from your window, then clean the glass with the soapy water. The longer the window vinyl is on the window for the harder it is to remove, so you will need to be slower when removing the window covering, you might also have a little adhesive left behind, but this can be scraped away with a window scraper and then cleaned with a cloth or sponge.

Find out about the different types of mirrored window film with our helpful reflective solar control window film FAQ page.