This post is my personal opinion, based on experience.
(Thermal Window Film applied to large front window.)
The concept of using a film to retain heat is not new and a number of different manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon with their own versions. (UPDATE: Most of them have been withdrawn already, as too many issues developed)
In essence, all the brands block UV, reflect heat from outside to some degree and reflect heat from inside, keeping a home warmer. These are the promises they make. Cost wise, it is not cheap, and with many different ways of "Double" Glazing, it may not be the best investment.
The heat retention is the key point and is based on Low-e principles. These reflect radiation back inside the room. In my own house, I have a couple of panes installed in the lounge, with the rest either left clear, or with just "normal" window film. On a cold day, the glass with the thermal film fogs up very quickly, the rest are still clear to see through. The condensation is caused by the glass with thermal film being colder than the other panes. The moment you have condensation, the effectiveness of the heat retention drops away, at a time, when it should work most efficiently. In fact, you are wasting your money. The other potential negative is caused by the condensation over time. As a rule, no window film likes getting wet, cold... heat up in the sun.... dry.... cool down, get wet and so on. It's called thermal cycling. It often results in premature failure of the scratch resistant coating, and needs replacing.
Another fact to remember: Thermal film needs a heat source to reflect, such as radiation from a fire, heatpump or any other heater. A cold, empty room will not be warmer.
In order to keep you warmer, you might have to first invest in a system to reduce the moisture in your home, before considering Thermal Window Film. The benefits will be felt very quickly, as dry air warms up faster and everything will be dry, and your curtains and walls will not get mould any more.
In my opinion, the concept of Thermal film is great, but the environment must be correct in the first place, before considering this.
PS: Most brands on the market experience significant warranty issues, with one brand closing down and possibly leaving customers out of pocket. Not a good thing, considering the very expensive product.

Whilst I was giving someone a quote for frosting bathroom windows, I noticed that their shower glass was full of mineral deposits. These are the kind of marks you can't shift with normal cleaners. I suggested to the owner, that I would take a sample of Restorex with me when installing the film, to which she happily agreed.
So, Restorex in hand, plus a scrubbing pad, I cleaned a small area with minimal effort. I then repeated the process with the home owner watching. Yes, she was impressed, bought the bottle and pads, for a mere $35 and told me that cleaning the glass was going to be her priority for the day.
See, no fancy TV or radio commercial to promote an overpriced feline paw. Just a quick demo with a proven product.

We get the odd call, enquiring about the cost of tinting, based on a square meter price. No other questions asked.

This is ok, if you want something that last a little while and you don't care about performance or endurance.

However, if you are after a product that offers good performance and will last the distance, you should ask a few questions. The surprise could be that you get a vastly superior window film for the same cost as a cheap dyed tint from somewhere else.

Buyer beware!

Window film can do many things, but like anything, has its limitations.

With advances in glass manufacturing, new challenges emerge and unless we keep up with these developments, we risk to break your glass! With this in mind, you have to ensure the people you call and give you advise with window tinting are up to date with their knowledge.
As customer, you may have to get more than one opinion and respect the outcome, as long as the "expert" knows what he or she is talking about.
The most common issue we come across is the use of laminated glass. Unlike tempered or toughened glass, laminated glass does not always have a stamp to identify it. Unfortunately, it comes down to the consultant to establish the glass type and sometimes people forget to look at this crucial aspect.
In order to avoid conflict down the track, the client needs to be told of the risk of glass breaking, due to thermal stress at the time, not later. This risk depends on the film type used and can vary from low to very high. The lowest risk is with film with a low heat absorption, placed on glass with clean edges. As the glass is in the frame, the edge condition is impossible to assess and therefore, the risk increases. At Hamilton Window Tinting, you will be informed about the likelihood of anything that may be risky.
The other week, we installed a film to a commercial building with laminated glass. The owners were informed of the risk the film would pose (low) and had the installation done. Within a couple of weeks, we got a call from the project manager, saying that one pane cracked. The glaziers blamed the film straight away, of course! Prior to changing the glass, I asked the project manager to be present when the glass was removed and examine the edges, where the crack started. I told him, that with 99% certainty, there would be an edge flaw. And was there? You bet!
The glaziers apparently were quiet after that.....
Here is my point: Care needs to be taken at every stage of the window tinting process. If we did not identify the glass and pointed out the risk, the client would have been very upset and trying to get us to pay for the glass and the replacement film. As it was, the glass company installing the original glass was held liable.
So, deal with people specialising in flat glass, not automotive, because the skill set is completely different. (Unless you want a car tinted of course)

Struggling to get a good result cleaning glass?
For a number of years, we have used and promoted the use of micro-fibre cloths to clean windows. This works extremely well with window film, as well as plain glass. As a bonus, fantastic results are achieved on mirrors, TV screens, stainless steel fridges or oven, as well as any smooth surface.
The reason we use Euro Cloth over any other brand, is the value we get. A good quality micro-fibre cloth is not cheap, but does the job. We have tried other, good quality cloths. They are usually half the size of the Euro Cloth. We have tried cheaper ones, bought at a Supermarket. Ok results initially, but very quickly, they lost the ability to absorb dirt.
Euro-Cloth is the only micro-fibre cloth with a 1-year warranty. It is sold in some shops for up to $56, we sell it for $35!

Now, here is a free tip: Never clean glass in the sun, unless you like a streaky finish!

Frosted film is the ideal way to create both day and night time privacy, without losing the light. We often leave a small clear border to make it look smarter.
The film blocks most of the UV, diffuses glare and holds the glass in place, should it break.
We use Avery Etch to ensure the film will not shrink back over time, a common problem with many other brands.
You will find using this method is much cheaper than replacing the glass.

Imagine the cost of having to sell all your lounge suites at cost or below, simply because the sun wrecked them in a few short weeks!
Here we placed a 50% VLT nano-ceramic film to maximise the heat protection, without losing the light. Smart people look at the benefits, not just the costs of a product. The slightly higher price for ceramics over conventional window film is more than compensated in performance and optical clarity.

You've seen the ad on TV, lovely woman, smiling while spraying some "wonderful" foam or liquid on the glass. She then simply rinses it off and there is your shower glass, good as new! Yeah right!
I have met so many customers, cupboards full of these products, just wasting their money.
Now here is a product we know works. Restorex takes away the residue, but you have to scrub the first time. The "other" products simply take away soap scum. What is also on your glass are mineral deposits, which are not removed with these other "magical solutions".
The key to keeping the glass clean is to squeegee it after every shower. Once in a while, use Restorex to cut back any deposit. This is easy, if done once a month or so.
If you want a sample and have a try, please contact us from this site.
Restorex sells for a fraction of another product, currently promoted on Radio & TV to remove water spots.

Restorex is also excellent on tiles, stainless steel, ceramics and any glass.
We have a client on bore water having used it on the tiles in the shower, where the mineral deposits where a problem. Nothing would remove the residue. Restorex did it with ease and the client has already ordered some more from us

This may not be the best picture to see the design clearly.
The film is 1.5m high and shows a design of trees. The effect is very decorative and functional. Normally, you would pay $400-$500 for something of this size. Using this printed film, it can be installed for around $250, depending on the size of glass to cover.
This is just one of many designs available, which can also be used in retail or office situations.

We all know the damage UV does to us humans. We are also told that our furniture and soft furnishings are fading from UV. This is true...... partially. Whilst UV does a lot of the damage, other factors, such as heat and light play a significant role as well.
All our window films block 99% of UV, but unless you reduce the direct heat on your surfaces, they will heat up and "slow-cook" over time. Our ceramic window films in particular block a high percentage of direct heat, without the need to make your home dark.
Get effective protection from the sun by using window film, instead of just blocking UV.