Hi Everyone
We have a bedroom window 2m x 1.8m facing east and in the summer our room heats up from sunrise to noon.
Thinking of getting mirror film but have been told it would create a bird strike problem
but very efficient in heat reduction.
We have a large bird population in our area and this has made me reconsider the use of this type of film.
Has anyone else got comments regarding an alternative type of film?
Solar film for bedroom window
(6 posts) (4 voices)-
Posted Monday 29 Apr 2013 @ 9:40:49 am from IP #
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Tim H
MemberMy house had reflective film on all windows when I bought it.
It helps a small amount in summer and it hurts a similar amount in winter. I still need external blinds in summer.
Birds regularly fly into one of the windows, maybe to do with the angle of the light hitting it, or it's proximity to shrubs (so the reflection looks like another shrub). A few times over 7 years or so I've found a dead bird under the window. I have my daughter's cat in the house now so they may still be knocking themselves out but the cat would clean them up before I get home.
I wouldn't put film on my windows if I had the choice.
Posted Tuesday 30 Apr 2013 @ 9:34:20 am from IP # -
johnmath
MemberIf I can have a second go at your question with a little less flippancy. Birds occasionally fly into ordinary non-mirror glass too. I don't believe the mirror effect of a film will increase the number of bird strikes significantly, however I have no scientific data one way or the other. There are heat reflecting films that are not mirror like, e.g. Enerlogic: http://www.enerlogicwindowfilms.com.au.
An eastern window does not usually get much benefit from solar gain in winter (unless it is very large in which case the room will be a furnace in summer, or if it's north east facing) so you are likely to lose very little by using the Enerlogic film.
Reflective films will reduce radiation through the glass, but not conduction, so as your window is largish you could still consider double glazing or secondary glazing WITH e-glass as one of the layers instead of a film.
Another consideration is that external shading can be very effective and/or in conjunction with window treatments. Keeping heat off the glass is like catching the horse before it bolts.
If you are really serious about preventing bird strikes, there are some guidelines on making windows obvious to birds here:
http://audubonportland.org/issues/metro/bsafe/bfbddPosted Tuesday 30 Apr 2013 @ 1:11:25 pm from IP # -
Thanks Joemath I did enjoy your bird strike joke.
Was once at Flinders street Station when the Hurstbridge train was cancelled due to a lightning strike. I said bloody unions, was in fact a strike from lightning.I would like a mirror effect from outside as we are surrounded by water and the reflection would enhance the outlook from a further direction.
Usually a springtime thing, bird strikes, as the males see a potential rival.
I don't want to plant shading plants there as it would impede the view of the Broadbeach skyline.
We currently have block out shades on the window that keep some of the summer heat off the glass but we want to wake up with a view of sunrise so will open the shades at bedtime with lights out. Mirror films reverse at night.Thanks for your advice I will talk to the solar film man to see my options when he visits.
Posted Wednesday 1 May 2013 @ 4:14:14 am from IP #
