The Pros & Cons of Tinting Your Home’s Windows
Though practically unheard of a few years ago, home window tinting is becoming increasingly popular. Promising to keep your home both cooler and more private, it’s certainly not difficult to understand why this type of window upgrade is attractive at face-value.
Should you be considering making the purchase, however, it’s important to be aware that tinted windows come complete with a few disadvantages also. Here are the primary pros and cons of getting your home’s windows tinted.
Benefits of Tinting the Windows in Your Home
Increased Privacy
For many homeowners, the primary benefit of tinted windows is the increased privacy that they provide. During daylight hours, tinted windows make it almost impossible for anybody to see into your home. If your home faces a busy street or road, they can allow you to enjoy natural light without constantly feeling like you are on a stage.
Lower Summer Temperatures
Another main benefit of tinted windows is that they can help keep your home cool during the summer months. They reflect quite a bit of light and in doing so, the sun’s rays are kept from increasing your home’s temperature. Not only can this make your home much more comfortable during the summer, but it can also work wonders for reducing your air conditioning bills.
Fewer UV Rays
If you’ve ever wondered why fabrics tend to lose some of their colors over time, the cause is generally UV rays. Most tinted windows block out 99% of the UV rays that damage furniture and, in doing so, they can keep your furniture looking new for longer.
Increased Security
The film applied when tinting windows is known to significantly increase the amount of time it takes to shatter the glass. Shards of glass are typically kept together making break-ins much more time-consuming.
Drawbacks of Tinting Your Home’s Windows
Ineffective At Night
Despite many misconceptions to the contrary, tinted windows are pretty ineffective during the hours of darkness. If the lights are on in your home, tinted windows will not prevent passersby from being able to see inside. This means that if you think that tinted windows will mean that you won’t need curtains anymore, think again.
Inconvenient During Winter
As mentioned earlier, tinted windows are ideal for keeping your home cool during the hot summer months. Unfortunately, they keep the sun’s rays out of your home during the winter too. The result is a colder than usual home and, of course, increased heating bills.
Significant Financial Investment
If you live in an area where you generally spend more money on air conditioning than heating, you can expect tinted windows to save you quite a bit of money in the long run. Regardless of where you live, however, getting your windows tinted isn’t cheap. While prices will vary, on average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $8 per square foot for a professional contractor to tint your home’s windows.
Unlikely to Increase Your Home’s Value
Most home improvements can increase the value of your home, though window tinting is unlikely to do so. The reason for this is simple: though more and more consumers are discovering the benefits of window tinting, many remain either unaware or unconvinced. It’s therefore unlikely that a potential buyer will be prepared to pay more for your home just because you’ve had the windows tinted.
While home window tinting may not always be the most beneficial upgrade, installing energy-efficient windows is an excellent way to increase your home’s value and minimize your monthly energy costs.
If you are interested in installing energy-efficient windows in Maryland, get in touch with the trusted window professionals at Potomac View Energy today by calling 410-795-3110 or by completing a convenient online form.
