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

Advanced Film Solutions Vs. 3M Window Film Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota

Fall season in the Tampa or Orlando area is simply the most fun Advanced Film Solutions can have.

You see; we have the unique opportunity to take on our local 3M Window Film competition head to head, mano a mano. . .

That’s the direct challenge we founded this company upon.

Every aspect of Advanced Film Solutions , the superior films we offer, the unmatched warranties and optical clarity, the superior level of tests our films have passed and our installation capabilities are all critically designed winning advantages.

It certainly doesn’t hurt our cause that we know more about their films than the folks who represent them in these markets.

Let’s review the balance sheet.

Consumers have heard of 3M. They have been around more than 100 years. They make lots of innovative products and they have earned their place in the consumer’s mind share.

If their window film was an industry leading product.

If their films were superior in performance, durability or unique in some fashion that had applicability in your home, they would be a worthy adversary.

They are not.

Our hurdle is to demonstrate to our clients that our VISTA and Huper Optik films are factually superior.

That these facts are documented with NFRC ratings and independent testing.

That our choices are deeper and wider and that our estimates are exact and based on realistic cost parameters.

That we are offering fact over perception, reality over overpriced hype.

Here’s a short list of our advantages :

Our Vista films offer dual reflective films in more light transmissions including 14, 18, 28, 38 and 40%
Our LLumar dual reflective films in a 7, 15, 25, 35, 45
Our ceramic film is patented. It’s a dual layer while theirs is a re-boxed single layer.
Their ceramic is only available in a maximum 5 ft width and has a greater exterior and interior reflectivity with less heat rejection.
Our Vista security films have passed the ASTM medium large missile test and small missile on residential applications. Their tear resistant films (with the exception of a 6 ML clear films) can not pass these independent levels of performance.
Our Vista residential warranty is transferable-theirs is not.
Optical clarity? See for yourself but we’d be happy to do a side by side mock-up.
Our films can be cleaned with Windex. That canard by our local competition hasn’t been true since the 1970’s and for God sakes I would know since I was at 3M in the 1970’s. There is absolutely no advantage in the 3M hard coat versus our films. NONE. In fact we would love to show you the hard coat on their prestige films. .really.
All films work better at an angle . Not just theirs, and no- -they did not invent a unique test to prove the obvious. On that note, their prestige film does not block 97% of the entire infrared spectrum. Read their small print.

So our challenge when we meet with our prospective clients, is to determine their needs and identify exactly why Advanced Film Solutions has the better value for our clients.

Call it busting myths!

The result:

We win.

Call Advanced Film Solutions
Toll Free 877-575-3456

Go ahead; call them first.

Then call us!

Sarasota, Bradenton, Port Charlotte Sun Control Window Film

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GLARE! UV! HEAT EVERY AFTERNOON.

Not anymore. VISTA Window Film cut their glare by 70%.

Now their offices are cooler and UV free.

We love to compete and we have more fun competing in Sarasota and Bradenton than in most Florida towns.

Why?

Well our portfolio of high performance window films simply offers more value and features as well as documented performance than our Home Depot 3M dealers competition.

It’s also been our experience that they tend to position their very weak portfolio as superior when they are more limited than any other window film brand.

We ought to know since a) we are one the 3M national sales manger of window film, and B) we have every other film solution in our bag!

We have bronze films-They don’t

We have 21st century Low E Films- They don’t

We have silver security films- – they?

Ceramic patented films while they re-box.

Non metallic films that meet rebate requirements. . .they don’t!

Starting to get the idea??

Call them

Then:

Call Advanced Film Solutions

Toll Free 877-575-3456

Advanced Film Solutions Vs. Home Depot 3M Window Film

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Advanced Film Solutions is Florida’s leading window film installation company.

We provide superb installations focusing our efforts in Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland and Sarasota-Bradenton.

We have completed thousands of installations since leaving 3M (after 33 years) back in 2007.

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Advanced Film Solutions is A Plus rated with the Better Business Bureau and we have earned the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for the last 8 consecutive years!

3M and their agents have a furnish and install window film program at Home Depot stores throughout the state.

If you have received one of their estimates and are doing research on superior alternatives in terms of window film performance and cost; you have come to the right place!

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Performance comparisons between 3M prestige and Advanced Film Solutions.

Heat rejection:

The 3M prestige films are non-reflective which is great for a deed restricted home or for any consumer who prefers a non metal appearance for their glass.

Of course our Huper Optik is also non reflective and meet all deed restrictions.

Advanced Film Solutions represents the Huper Optik Films.

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These patented German engineered films are available in darker light transmissions (all non-reflective and non interfering)

Our Huper Optik 40, 50 and 70% are more than equal to prestige. Huper Optik 30 stops more glare, heat and provides more protection against fade than Prestige!

Our 20% Ceramic Films and our 35% Drei Films meet the TECO rebate requirements. No prestige film can meet this standard.

Certainly you’d think that a Tampa consumer would want a $2.00 sq ft rebate for all east and west facing glass?

Huper Optik Films are NFRC certified as are the 3M prestige films.

This fact is critically important because that demo previously mentioned utilizes a heat lamp that transmits a narrow wavelength of IR and a meter that reads this wavelength gives an illusion that their film blocks more heat than darker reflective films.

It’s a trick, Gimmick or you might say deceptive!

In actuality the documented solar heat gain rejection of the 3M prestige films is nowhere as impressive as that demo suggests.

Consumers have to be vigilant when conducting these comparisons which is the main reason we promote the NFRC ratings.

IWFA – IR Ratings of Window Film

Additionally all window films perform better when the Sun is at an angle to the glass. Any suggestion that 3M has some advantage in this respect is equally false.

Advanced Film Solutions portfolio of superior solutions doesn’t end there.

We have Vista Films the preferred film for interior designers because of their clarity. We’ll be happy to do a side-by-side comparison against any 3M Prestige film.
We have thicker combination solar security films by Vista, Huper Optik, LLumar and Armorcoat. We offer a wider variety of light transmissions.

We never charge for estimates and we have no minimum charges.

Our films have absolutely no dyes. Their film?

Our films are durable and can stand up to daily use. Our scratch resistant coatings compare more than favorably to the 3M Prestige films.

Call Advanced Film Solutions.
Toll Free 877-575-3456

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Clarifying & Comparing Window Film Solutions: Eastman Vs. 3M Tampa Bay, Orlando, Sarasota

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Advanced Film Solutions has become the largest volume commercial and residential window film installation company in the Tampa Bay, Sarasota and Orlando area.

We have developed the largest portfolio of window film coatings so we can match our clients requirements with the perfect film.

Our team of experts has more experience in window film technology and precision installations than any other local contractor. This level of supreme customer service has earned us the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for 8 consecutive years and an A Plus rating with the Better Business Bureau.

We understand that most of our potential clients know very little about window film. They may have a perception of which films are the “best.”

Advanced Film Solutions is unique.

We worked directly at 3M for 33 years. Our founder was the National Sales Manager of 3M Window Film.

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Since leaving 3M in 2007 our dealership has represented the best window film brands by performance and documented NFRC characteristics.

Our preferred manufacturers actually make the films we install. This is not the case for our 3M competition.

Our family owned business does not resell through Home Depot, Window Genie, window film depots or an assortment of AC companies and agents.

Eastman Chemical is the world’s largest manufacturer of window film. Their Vista, EnerLogic, Huper Optik, LLumar and SunTek films comprise the Lion’s Share of the window film industry.

Saint Gobain is the manufacturer of SolarGard and Armorcoat.

Madico is the manufacturer for their Sunscape line and security films.

Hanita is the Israeli company that manufactures Solar and Safety Zone films. their exterior coatings are the industry trend setter.

Many of these brand names are probably not top of mind for the average consumer albeit Eastman Chemicals was founded by George Eastman of Eastman Kodak renown.

When our 3M window film agent competitors make claims about “their films, their history, their adhesives and their technology and innovation” are these claims truly valid when they don’t make a stitch of the film in their 3M labeled box?

Car tinting films like FX, FX ST and Black Chrome?

Affinity solar or solar security?

Exterior films and anti graffiti?

8ML and Thicker clear security film?

“Their 3M Ceramic Film?”

So we invite you to call Home Depot 3M or any of their agents.

Check out “their Low e Film, their bronze and silver films, their blackout and white out films, their silver security film, etc.”

Then call us toll 877-575-3456

ADVANCED FILM SOLUTIONS

OFFICES TAMPA, ORLANDO, SARASOTA

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Prestige Homes Tampa Bay, Orlando Window Film Battle Clearly Superior Films

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Getting a prestige window film estimate from a 3M dealer or Home depot 3M agent can frequently take on a mystical experience similar to a reading from a Fortune Teller:

We met with a client who swayed toward prestige films but was less than enthused about the cost to install it.

This made him skeptical with those cards he was handed!

Plus there was just something about all of this that didn’t jive right!

He sure knew he wasn’t a magician and he sure as hell didn’t want to be the other!

He called Advanced Film Solutions for straight answers!

Here were his questions and my answers:

Question: The 3M rep claimed that their film blocks 97% of the Sun’s heat.

What % does your film block?

I would love to get more technical with you but accept that IR (invisible heat) represents nearly 50% of what we feel as heat.

So even if the prestige film blocked 97% of all that 50% what about the other 50%??

Given their prestige 70 blocks only 30% of the visible light how do they block 97% of the heat?

They don’t!

It’s frankly not even close to that number.

RATINGS INFORMATION

Operator Type	Default Glazing Reference	SHGC No Film	SHGC with Film	VT No Film	VT with Film
Fixed	3 mm (1/8in.) clear	0.71	0.42	0.74	0.58
Fixed	3 mm (1/8in.) clear 3 mm (1/8in.) clear	0.63	0.47	0.67	0.52
Window Wall	6 mm (1/4in.) clear	0.75	0.47	0.80	0.63
Window Wall	6 mm (1/4in.) grey	0.53	0.39	0.40	0.32
Window Wall	6 mm (1/4in.) clear 6 mm (1/4in.) clear	0.65	0.51	0.71	0.56
Window Wall	6 mm (1/4in.) grey 6 mm (1/4in.) clear	0.42	0.36	0.36	0.28

The key objective number used to measure performance is Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

So quantified on clear glass 1/8 inch the prestige film blocks an impressive .42 (a far cry from 97% or a .03 SHGC)

Question: The 3M rep showed us a Sun (IR) lamp demo and a BTU test demo that was very impressive.

It sure felt like the film blocked 97% or more of the heat.

Are you saying that this is a magic trick?

No- – I am saying this is misleading deceptive and an illusion.

Or; if you prefer, a LIE!

That IR lamp is blasting IR wavelengths in a very narrow bandwidth matching the films’ best performance. When we say very narrow we mean incredibly narrow.

It’s more of that same nonsense when they show a BTU meter.

Of course this is all the rage when they do a home show by fooling some of the people, some of the time. .

Question: The 3M rep claims prestige works better when the Sun is at it’s hottest.
Is that true? (He told us that only 3M film works that way! )

No.

All films and glass perform better with wide ranges of angular variation. 3M prestige has no advantage and claiming so is very misleading and of course nonsense.

This is like saying a bike is easier to peddle and faster going downhill.

Tech Update

IWFA – IR Ratings of Window Film

So what?

Question:

The 3M rep advised that many competitors are headed out of business and that 3M is the only company that will honor the warranty in the long term.

He also claimed that only 3M’s hard coat can stand up to Windex!

OK:

Concerning the 3M dealer’s acumen on the long term viability of the major window film companies I wouldn’t place much stock (pun intended) in any of his claims.

There is always risk but heck 3M was once selling microfilm and fax machines but doesn’t any more.

They sold copiers and shoplifting systems for retail stores and secure id cards.

But not any more.

But I do guaranty one thing:

That Windex BS is all BS. The prestige film hardly offers a scratch coating and the color can be scratched off. That’s because there are dyes in the composition.

They have absolutely zero advantage in hard coats or scratch protection against Windex.

This is a total fabrication.

We won the day and received the order.

No magic, just the facts.

Call

Advanced Film Solutions

Toll Free 877-575-3456