Tag Archives: Comparing Advanced Film Solutions -3M Home Depot

Consumer Window Tinting Comparison Advanced Film Solutions Vs. 3M

Thanks to the power of the Internet, consumers have incredibly detailed resources to conduct their own research on nearly any product or solution.

It’s no different for investigating window film solutions for homeowners in Tampa Bay, Orlando or throughout the USA.

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Let’s assume that you recognize that window film is the right solution for glare, heat, uncomfortable rooms, rising electric costs and fading.

There are scores of choices and companies who are all vying for your business.

You may be familiar with certain brands and that’s understandable.  After all you have heard of Scotch Tape and 3M Post-It Notes; so that 3M logo might be tempting.

As an independent window film solutions provider Advanced Film Solutions established a differentiation strategy that allows our clients to find the perfect film for their specific requirements.

Our background (33 years at 3M) and more recently the last 17 years as Florida’s fastest growing residential and commercial window film installation company is unmatched in Tampa Bay and the Orlando region.

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Our commitment to detail and superior customer service has been recognized by Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner for8 straight years! 

We are also proud of our Accredited A Plus Rating from the Better Business Bureau.

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  • Is there a difference in the optical clarity of one film versus another?
     
    There are differences in optical clarity between the various window film brands. Advanced Film Solutions recommends VISTA, LLumar and Huper Optik Films that offer pristine clarity and unmatched durability.

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  • When in doubt; we recommend that you compare the actual window film being proposed in a side-by-side comparison. Advanced Film Solutions has never lost this “see for yourself” comparison.
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  • How about reflectivity?
    Most manufacturers produce reflective, dual reflective and non reflective window films to meet a variety of consumer requirements.
  • Reflective metallic films are effective in keeping the heat from entering your home.Advanced Film Solutions recommends our Vista dual reflectives based on the heat rejection, durability and optical clarity that are mandatory for Interior Designers.
  • Non-Reflective Films:

    Ideal for HOA rules and deed restrictions the best alternative is Huper Optik.  They have outstanding durability, clarity and superior heat rejection.

    Huper Optik is available in a wide range of light transmissions and all are less reflective than glass.

  • We have seen 3M Prestige at Home Depot and they claim that this film works better at an angle (like when the Sun is at 3 PM or 9 AM) they also claimed that their film blocks more heat than silver reflective films or very dark films. Is this accurate?

    The short answer is an emphatic – NO!

  • All window films and glass itself appear to work better when the heat source is at an angle to the glass. This is not unique to 3M Prestige Film or frankly any window film.

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  • But we saw a heat lamp demo and we could actually feel a dramatic reduction in heat with a clear Prestige Film? Seeing is believing!How could such a great demo be inaccurate or misleading?

  • The trick is fairly easy to explain. 

    The french fry lamp blasts IR heat in a narrow wavelength. The Prestige film blocks IR wavelengths in this bandwidth.

    The BTU meter is configured to measure IR heat in that specific wavelength.  In other words it’s a snake oil trick.Collage

Summary:

There are important differences between the various window film solutions available.

Advanced Film Solutions consultants can explain the differences and customize the perfect solution for your home.

We win supported by facts over perception and our clients reap the reward of a lifetime of comfort and energy cost savings.

Advanced Film Solutions

Tampa Bay -Orlando
 
877-575-3456

 

Tampa Sweatiest City In USA, Window Tinting Tropical Heat Solutions

Tampa was selected as the sweatiest city in the USA!

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We are justifiably proud!

As we approach Thanksgiving the heat index can be 90 degrees or higher.

 

Window Tinting reduces monthly electric bills by 30%!

Your AC is working full time handling the heat or perhaps trying valiantly to keep up with that heat?

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Advanced Film Solutions is Florida’s leading installers of heat blocking UV control solar and solar security film coatings.

Our coatings stop the heat at the window and can factor out up to 84% of the total solar energy.

Let someone else be sweaty in their own home!

 
These films are optically transparent and we offer more choices in light transmission as well as non-reflective and dual reflective than any other company.
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That enables us to match your exact requirements and specification in appearance and light control management.

Our experts have earned Angie’s List Super Service Award for 9 straight years and our team earned The Best Of Home Advisor Award for superior customer service.

 

Call for a free estimate and start enjoying comfort and lower energy costs immediately!

Advanced Film Solutions
Toll free: 877-575-3456

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Security Shatter Solar Safety Film, Comparisons to 3M Window Film

Here is a direct comparison between Advanced Film Solutions’ portfolio of security glazing films compared to an easily over matched 3M security film.

3M dealers will position brand awareness, and history of the 3M window film business. 

They may additionally present that they have completed a number of installations at schools (implying a higher level of experience.)

They have positioned their security film post Newtown massacre as an effective solution narrowing their focus to two security films a 6 ML thick Ultra 600 and a re-packaged film, the SH14. Most recently they introduced a standard 8 ML clear non ultra film that has less impact strength than SunTek, Hanita, LLumar, Armorcoat or Madico!

3M packages a silicone wet seal system they call IPD which offers no additional strength, adhesion or efficacy compared to Dow 995 which is the industry standard.

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3M has a limited portfolio of security choices beyond the two selections they advocate for schools.

There are many instances where a solar version of a security film might offset utility costs by blocking heat gain and certainly there are numerous conditions which would be resolved with a privacy film that also provides the security benefit.

There are objective standards that rate the effectiveness of security films installed on various glass systems under a host of impact, blast and cycling tests.

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Benefits of Security Glazing School Construction News:


The primary standards are: GSA. Department of Defense, ANSI, Factory Mutual, ASTM Testing, UL Testing.

It should be noted that Eastman Chemical Llumar & Vista, Madico, Saint-Gobain Armorcoat, Hanita, SunTek and Johnson meet or exceed the 3M film in each of these test categories.

  • Eastman Chemical: LLumar and Vista solar security films:
  • Saint-Gobain Armorcoat Film
  • Madico Safety Film
  • SunTek Security Film
  • Avery-Dennison Safety Zone Film

In terms of solar security combination films that lower heat gain and provides privacy:

Silver Reflective 20 – 8 ML
 
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  • Silver security films that block 79% of the heat (LLumar, Madico, SunTek, Armorcoat, Hanita)
  • Neutral security films in a 20, 35, 40, 50 VLT (LLumar, Madico, Hanita, Armorcoat)
    Neutral 20 – 8ML
  • Dual reflective security films in a 28, 38 VLT (Vista, SunTek)
  • Nano-ceramic Security films in a 40, 50, 70% VLT (Huper Optik, SunTek)
  • Clear available in 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 16 + thickness and a host of 4, 8, 7, exterior clear films. (LLumar, Armorcoat, Madico, Johnson, Hanita, SunTek)

Advanced Film Solutions trained installers have completed thousands of projects throughout the state of Florida and across the USA.

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Our team has earned the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for 9 years in a row.

We are fully insured and have earned an accredited A Plus Rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Call our offices toll free at 877-575-3456

Clear Winner-Ceramic Window Tinting Film Versus Multi-Layered Optical Film

Our business plan at Advanced Film Solutions wasn’t created accidentally.

We developed a strategy that would allow us to compete and win in every residential or commercial consumer competition.

Deed Restricted or gated communities, golf communities, condo’s and town houses. Gulf, bay or lake view properties. High end retail stores (jewelry, curious, furniture, rugs, clothing retail stores and financial institutions.

Homeowners are comparing our Huper Optik Ceramic Films versus the 3M Prestige Film that they have seen at home depot kiosks throughout the region.

 

Advanced Film Solutions is unique in having a thorough and extensive familiarity with both solutions. After all we were with 3M for 33 years and was once the National Sales Manager of 3M window film.

Here is our “Reader’s Digest” comparison:

  • Huper Ceramic Films are available in a 20%, 30% and 35% Visible Light Transmission that all out perform the 3M  Prestige 40 in heat rejection (we qualified for the TECO energy rebates, they did not!)
    Huper Optik has a natural hue as opposed to the 3M blue-ish appearance.
  • Huper Optik films do not present iridescence “rainbow effect” on the transmitted light. The prestige films do produce this multi-colored effect on light color walls or tile.
  • Huper Optik Ceramic Films have a durable color fast scratch coat.  The prestige color is a virtue of a dyed layer on the top surface of their film.  These colors can be scratched from the surface on all of their “tinted” versions.
  • Optical clarity.  Our films have no distortion or haze effect. We will match any Prestige film side by side for visual clarity!1377550_649384238428384_1092466071_n
  • Take the Huper Challenge and compare them side-by-side. You will observe why Huper Optik is the clear winner!

  • Huper Ceramic Films won’t  interfere with cell phones, wireless, or fiber optic EM transmissions.
  • Huper Optik is less reflective than glass so your day and night views are preserved.
  • Huper Optik ceramics do not corrode in humid environments. Prestige will not corrode. Any implication from their side that our ceramic films corrode is pure fabrication.

  • All ceramic films, and metal films for that matter work better when the sun is at an acute or obtuse angle. Prestige is similar in that respect, as is clear glass. Implications that their film meets some type of extraordinary testing standard is 100% disingenuous.
  • Huper Optik Ceramic Films are NFRC Certified for performance characteristics.

Miscellaneous:

  • They “invented” window film and make thousands of products.
    -Response: They are a terrific company and they did not invent window film, they patented a metal application to polyester films. That was 40 years ago and lots of things have changed.

  • They can use Windex, we can’t?
    -Response: utterly ridiculous particularly with prestige film. Take a Scotch Brite abrasive sponge to their film and watch the color come right off. Do the same with Vista or Huper! Go on. .you’ll see who has a hard coat!
  • Better Warranty?
    -Response: Our films have a lifetime warranty as do theirs! Our is transferable to the next homeowner; theirs ends when you sell your home!

  • “We are 100 plus years old; and ‘they’ may not be around in the future!”
    -Response: Eastman is a multi-billion dollar company borne from Eastman Kodak.

Compare for yourself and get the clearest comparison in Florida Huper Optik Films against 3M Prestige films.

Advanced Film Solutions, 877-575-3456.

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Orlando Window Tinting Advanced Film Solutions

Orlando gets hot.
 

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Then it stays hot.

Humid.

Hotter.

That’s why homeowners in the Greater Orlando area rely on the sun control experts of Advanced Film Solutions.

Our team of expert installers has earned the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for 9 straight years. 

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Our clients enjoy lower interior temperatures, reduced glare and UV virtually eliminated by 99.9%

 

 

Advanced Film Solutions has more choices like our Vista Film, LLumar,  Huper Optik, Hanita, Sunscape, Madico, Solar Gard and SunTek.

Choices drive value for our clients and match every budget and project scope.
 
 

Call for a free estimate and look for our coupons in your local neighborhood magazines.

Cooler, safer, economically priced coatings specifically engineered for the hottest Orlando homes!

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877-575-3456