Which IR blocking window film?

davelondon

My living room has floor-to-ceiling windows all the way round, and the air conditioning system is too feeble to keep it cool in the hot summer months. I would like to install solar blocking film on the windows to stop so much solar energy from getting in. However, I don't know whether I should opt for the expensive 3M Prestige film or the much cheaper unbranded film.

The 3M film is £1,800, but the unbranded type is £450 (60” wide x 100 linear feet).

The company who offered the unbranded film said it was identical in performance to the 3M film, but I don't believe them without independent advice! They even call it "Prestige 70" which makes me rather suspicious that they're pretending it's the 3M product.

Kitchen_Sink

If you want independent advice, you will probably need to submit samples of each to an independent laboratory, and pay them to analyse the products.

Do feel free to return and post the results if you go ahead

davelondon

Right but it's more than how well they block the IR radiation... Perhaps the cheap film will only last a couple of years and be impossible to remove when it comes time to replace? Need someone with experience really.