Everybody loves lots of windows in their house. Windows provide you with a view to
To break into someone’s house through a window you have to be committed to the crime. A window is loud, broken glass is dangerous, and climbing through a window is not easy. But compared to kicking down a door or picking a lock, breaking a window is a quick way for entry. Also, many doors now days have an alarm systems tied to when the door opens and closes. But those same alarm systems rarely recognize when a window is broken or when a window is opened.
- Security Window Film
- Excellent UV rejection 90% VLT, virtually clear, blocks 99% of UV rays
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3M Safety & Security Window Film Review
The Facts
– 2,000,000 home burglaries are reported each year in the US.
– About 30% of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door.
– Nearly 66% of all burglaries are residential (home) break-ins.
– Renters are just as likely to be the victims of property crime as homeowners.
– The highest % of burglaries occur during the summer months.
– Homes without a security systems are up to 300% more likely to be broken into.
– 1 out of 3 residential assaults are a result of a burglary.
– 85% are from amateurs who are usually more desperate and dangerous.
– 95% of break-ins needed some amount of force to break-in.
– Thieves prefer easy access, through unlocked doors or windows.
Bar Time
Let’s face it, we have all been to the bad side of town and seen bars on the windows. Right when you start to notice
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Related: Home Security After TEOTWAWKI
I have never personally priced out window bars but I imagine that they are not cheap. Also, the installation has to be somewhat invasive because you have to anchor the bars to the house with bolts or heavy screws. In an emergency, your access to get out of that window will be limited but your peace of mind will be high because you know that getting through bars will be very difficult for an intruder.
Shutter Them Out
An alternative to window bars are security shutters. The advantage of shutters over bars is that when they are
The security window shutter worked great but it was expensive and looked a little bulky on the outside of the house. Also, I had to remember to shut it all of the time at night and open it for fresh air during the day when I was home. I know there are some models now that work on timers with RF controllers but I had the kind that you had to manually roll up and down like a window shade. So it was a little painful to say the least.
Board’em Up
We have all seen the photos of Hurricane Katrina (and other hurricanes for that matter), where people board up
A 4th Option
Recently my neighbor had a bad experience. One night while he and his wife were at home. A person walked up to
Before the event at my neighbors house, we had already decided to move to a new town. The new house we moved into has a lot of windows and a high homeless population in the area. On top of the homeless population, our new town has a high arrest rate for both heroin and meth. Having bars or security shutters put on my new house was a little bit out of the question for cost reasons and appearances. I didn’t want to be the only house in my neighborhood with bars on the windows but on the flip side, I wanted to have protection against a possible break in.
Also Read: Prepper’s Home Defense
I called a local window tinting company, who was a 3M dealer, and asked them about the cost and the installation of the 3m Ultra Series Safety & Security Window Film. Surprisingly, it was not that bad. For about 33 windows & sliding glass doors on the main floor of my house, the cost was under $2,000 installed. That to me was a good price for piece of mind. Now, will the film keep someone out who really wants to get in? No, but it will give me precious time to bring my friends Mr. Shotgun and Mr. Glock to the party.
Levels of Protection
3m offers 3 different levels of protection for window film and a bonding system the bonds the film to your window
Ultra Prestige Series: “Super cool protection. The first of its kind, the 3M™ Ultra Prestige Series films are made from clear, tear-resistant film. That strength is combined with Prestige Series sun control films to reject up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows and 97% of the sun’s infrared light. These films also reject 99.9% of harmful UV rays, reducing the effects of fading on your furnishings. Ultra Prestige Series films allow 50% to 70% of the natural light into your home. The result is films that offer all the benefits of sun control with safety features built in. With these films you’ll block heat, reduce hot spots and damaging UV rays, while also helping to hold glass together in the event of break-ins or accidents.”
Ultra Series: “Super cool protection. The first of its kind, the 3M™ Ultra Series films are made from clear, tear-resistant film. These films deliver superior performance over standard polyester films in blast and impact events; yet still maintain a high level of optical clarity. Ultra Series films are available in combination format with tinted 3M Sun Control Films to give you the best of both worlds.”
Safety Series: “A clear advantage. Our most basic protection level is available in clear or tinted sun-control versions. These single-layer 7 and 8 mil polyester films are paired with a special thicker adhesive to help hold broken glass together.”
Impact Protection Attachment System: “Highest level of protection. This unique window protection system combines the toughness of 3M™ Ultra Safety and Security Films with an adhesive or profile attachment system. Choose either 3M Impact Protection Adhesive or 3M Impact Protection Profile depending upon your frame and overall aesthetic needs. This combination system attaches the filmed window to the window frame, creating a robust shield that significantly outperforms window film-only systems. It’s extra assurance against impact energy from earthquakes and forced entry events—with enough strength to handle even bomb blasts.”
I ended up going with just the mid-level protection (Ultra Series) and did not do the impact protection system. I
The installation took about one day with two installers. First, they meticulously cleaned the windows, then they applied the window film. After the window film was applied, they worked to remove all bubbles to make sure the windows looked totally clear. After the installation, they said that I might see a few bubbles in the windows but they should evaporate and disappear within 3 to 4 weeks. If any bubbles stay longer than two months, they would come back to fix the film. Out of 33 window/door treatments, I only noticed about 3 bubbles but after a few weeks they disappeared as promised.
The Proof
More Proof
Conclusion
My wife can no longer tell the difference between the treated and untreated windows, which is good. So far I can
Photos By: NatGeo, Mark Puhaly, Npelowski16
Video By: 3m
Pretty cool product. Does 3M offer it straight to the consumer?
I was a window and door installer for years. I can add this to the mix: if you order new windows, doors, or skylights for your home, try to order tempered glass, or even better, laminated glass wherever possible for security. Most windows and doors come with heat strengthened or annealed glass that are very easy to break. Tempered glass has much stronger sidewall strength and can resist impacts more positively. They use tempered glass on car side windows for this reason. Laminated glass has a layer of bonding glue between two pieces of glass, like a car windshield. Laminated glass holds together far better than other types of glass, and will have to be hacked out of the frame to allow entry.
This 3M security film looks like a great way to go if you're bolstering up a house with existing windows and doors. Thanks for the write up!
hi I have been researching this product where did they get it installed for 2k?
re: Drew_Forge
Keep in mind, most building codes stipulate any glass adjacent to or used in an entry door must be tempered, for safety concerns should someone fall into it. The films add protection that does not alter the basic nature of tempered glass; whether higher grades of riotproof, bulletproof glass are allowed by code or not I have never heard either way. Certainly any glass that is essentially impossible to break or penetrate is also not going to splinter into shards when a person falls into it, but building codes are stubborn and immune to arguments. Car windows are legally described also, with tempered side windows (that safely shatter into pellets which LEO and rescuers can quickly access), and laminated windshields that trap glass better. DIY films in cars can turn into dangerous situations for occupants in emergencies.