Great service from start to finish. The team was professional, reliable, and very easy to work with. Communication was always clear, and they kept me informed throughout the entire process.
Every problemhas a filmWe know which one
Window film types for privacy, solar control, safety, and decorative glass
Start with the outcome you want. We'll match the film to the glass, the orientation, and the result you're after.
PRIVACY FILM ·SOLAR CONTROL ·SAFETY & SECURITY ·DECORATIVE FILM ·UV PROTECTION ·GLARE REDUCTION ·HEAT REJECTION ·NATURAL LIGHT PRESERVED ·SHATTER RESISTANCE ·FADE PROTECTION ·ENERGY EFFICIENCY ·COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL ·
EXPLORE OUR SOLUTIONS
The main film types we recommend
Compare the four families below, then open the full guide under the chart.
01
Privacy Films
Open the blinds and leave them open. Privacy film blocks the view in from the street during daylight while your view out stays clear.
02
Solar Control Films
Get the afternoon back. Up to 94% of infrared heat stopped at the glass, with the daylight kept.
03
Safety & Security Films
Glass breaks. It doesn't have to come down. Bonded to the pane so it holds in the frame instead of falling as fragments.
04
Decorative Films
The etched-glass look without replacing the glass. Privacy, separation, and branding on the glazing you already have.
COMPARE MAIN FILM TYPES
How the film types compare
These are typical performance levels across each family, not a specific product. Exact numbers depend on the film specified and on your glazing assembly, which is what the site survey is for.
| Performance | Privacy Films | Solar Control | Safety & Security | Decorative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy (daytime) | ||||
| Natural light kept | ||||
| Heat rejection | ||||
| Glare reduction | ||||
| UV protection | ||||
| Appearance (neutral look) |
| Performance | Privacy Films | Solar Control | Safety & Security | Decorative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Privacy (daytime) | ||||
Natural light kept | ||||
Heat rejection | ||||
Glare reduction | ||||
UV protection | ||||
Appearance (neutral look) |
5 Excellent, 4 Very Good, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Limited
- Safety and Security ratings reflect clear security film, meaning hold together performance. Heat, glare, and privacy are specified with solar or privacy film when a project needs them on the same glass.
- Decorative UV protection varies by product. Films like White Frost reject 99% of UV. Some films with an etched look, such as Dusted Crystal, reject far less. Confirm per product.
FULL GUIDE
Full guide by film type
Each film type has its own page with the product types, specs, and the spaces we install it in.
- Privacy FilmsPrivacy window film changes how much can be seen in and out through the glass. It's the first choice when neighbours, pedestrians, or adjacent units are too visible, but you still want daylight instead of closed blinds.Read the full guide
- Solar Control FilmsSolar control film reduces heat, glare, and UV coming through the glass while keeping as much useful daylight as the space allows. It is the main family when comfort, energy, and fade protection matter more than decorative effect or impact security alone.Read the full guide
- Safety & Security FilmsSafety and security film helps hold glass together when it breaks, reducing shard fallout and improving resistance to impact. It is specified for schools, storefronts, and accessible glazing when the job is protection, not appearance, privacy, or solar comfort.Read the full guide
- Decorative FilmsDecorative film adds frosted, patterned, or branded effects to glass for design, zoning, and selective privacy. It is the right family when the goal is how the glass looks and functions in the layout, not maximum solar rejection or impact security alone.Read the full guide
LOOKING FOR
What do you need the film to do?
Pick one to open the guide that fits best. You can switch film types anytime.
Privacy Films
Privacy window film changes how much can be seen in and out through the glass. It's the first choice when neighbours, pedestrians, or adjacent units are too visible, but you still want daylight instead of closed blinds.
Best for
- Condos and ground floor units that face the street
- Bedrooms and bathrooms with direct sightlines
- Storefronts and offices where daytime visibility into the space is a problem
- Spaces where you want privacy without losing natural light during the day
What it solves
- Daytime visibility from outside
- Neighbour and pedestrian sightlines
- Screen and workspace exposure near windows
- The need to keep blinds open for light but closed for privacy
What to know
- Privacy is strongest when it's brighter outside than inside. At night the effect reverses, so plan for it on bedrooms and street facing glass.
- Reflective and mirror films use the same one way daytime approach. Private from the brighter side during the day, with a mirror look on the exterior in sun.
- Neutral dark films add privacy with less mirror effect, and often help with heat and glare. When comfort is the main goal, see Solar Control.
- Interior partitions and frosted zones are usually Decorative film, not exterior privacy tint.
Product types to consider
Start here before the SKU level. These are the categories we use to narrow the right XPEL film.
Reflective or mirror, one way daytime
The strongest daytime privacy and the standard one way mirror look when it's brighter outside than inside. It's the same film category, not a separate product type. The night time reversal applies.
Neutral dark privacy
Darker tint with less mirror effect. Specified when you want more privacy and some heat and glare control without a reflective exterior.
XPEL examples we specify
Published performance data from XPEL VISION. Exact results depend on glass, orientation, and the full glazing assembly.
Reflective Privacy, XPEL VISION Evening View 5
8% VLT, 57% exterior reflectance, 81% total solar energy rejected, 99% UV rejection, 92% glare reduction.
A mirror look on the exterior by day for maximum daytime privacy. Best for condos and ground floor units that face the street, and for south or west glass.
Neutral Dark, XPEL VISION Dark Neutral 15
12% VLT, 20% exterior reflectance, 70% total solar energy rejected, 99% UV rejection, 86% glare reduction.
Darker privacy without a strong mirror look, where a reflective exterior is not wanted.
Solar Control Films
Solar control film reduces heat, glare, and UV coming through the glass while keeping as much useful daylight as the space allows. It is the main family when comfort, energy, and fade protection matter more than decorative effect or impact security alone.
Best for
- South and west facing glass with afternoon heat buildup
- Offices and homes with screen glare
- Retail and showroom glass where UV damages merchandise and finishes
- Large curtain walls and floor to ceiling units that overheat in summer
What it solves
- Excess heat gain and hot zones near windows
- Glare on screens, boards, and work surfaces
- UV fading on floors, furniture, and inventory
- HVAC load and comfort complaints tied to glass exposure
What to know
- Specify solar film when heat, glare, UV, or fade protection is the priority, not daytime mirror privacy (see Privacy Films for that).
- Darker specs reject more heat but pass less light. We balance comfort, view, and exterior appearance on the consultation.
- Performance varies with glass type, pane count, and orientation. Published XPEL data is tested on standard glazing.
- Neutral dark privacy films overlap on comfort benefits; choose Solar Control when you are not trying to block views in.
Product types to consider
Start here before the SKU level. These are the categories we use to narrow the right XPEL film.
High performance, darker tint
Maximum heat and glare cut for problem facades: west facing glass, hot zones, and spaces where comfort matters more than the brightest possible view.
Balanced light and heat
The most common solar spec: meaningful heat and glare rejection while keeping the space bright enough for daily use.
Example: XPEL VISION Clear View Plus 40: 40% VLT, 62% TSER, 99% UV rejection, 53% glare reduction.
Maximum clarity
Keeps the most natural light and view while still improving comfort. Typical for showrooms, lobbies, and view driven residential glass.
Example: XPEL VISION All Season Intelligence 65: 66% VLT, 52% TSER, 99% UV rejection.
XPEL examples we specify
Published performance data from XPEL VISION. Exact results depend on glass, orientation, and the full glazing assembly.
Balanced: XPEL VISION Clear View Plus 40
40% VLT, 62% total solar energy rejected, 94% infrared rejection (780 to 2500 nm), 99% UV rejection, 53% glare reduction.
Strong heat cut while keeping natural light.
Maximum clarity: XPEL VISION All Season Intelligence 65
66% VLT, 52% total solar energy rejected, 89% infrared rejection, 99% UV rejection.
Keeps the most light while still reducing heat.
Safety & Security Films
Safety and security film helps hold glass together when it breaks, reducing shard fallout and improving resistance to impact. It is specified for schools, storefronts, and accessible glazing when the job is protection, not appearance, privacy, or solar comfort.
Best for
- School entrances, daycares, and institutional glass
- Ground-floor retail and accessible glazing
- Gyms, clinics, and high-traffic interior glass
- Anywhere broken glass creates injury or intrusion risk
What it solves
- Glass shatter and fallout after impact
- Smash-and-grab and forced-entry vulnerability at ground level
- Safety upgrades on existing glass without full replacement
What to know
- Clear security film looks virtually the same before and after install. The difference is hold-together performance, specified by mil thickness (typically 4, 8, or 14 mil).
- Thicker mil increases break and puncture resistance. We match thickness to risk level, not to a different visual category.
- Heat, glare, and privacy are separate jobs. On the same project we can specify solar or privacy film on other panes, including interior glass, without mixing that into the security spec.
- Decorative frosted film on partitions is a different family entirely.
Product types to consider
Start here before the SKU level. These are the categories we use to narrow the right XPEL film.
Clear security film
Virtually invisible hold-together layer. Thickness (4, 8, or 14 mil) is chosen from risk and code, not from how the glass looks.
XPEL examples we specify
Published performance data from XPEL VISION. Exact results depend on glass, orientation, and the full glazing assembly.
Clear: XPEL VISION Security Clear 4mil
89% VLT, 99% UV rejection. 4 mil: break strength 120 lbs/in, puncture strength 70 lbs.
Lighter-duty hold-together protection where a thinner build is acceptable.
Clear: XPEL VISION Security Clear 8mil
89% VLT, 99% UV rejection. 8 mil: break strength 240 lbs/in, puncture strength 141 lbs.
The standard clear security spec for most school, retail, and ground-floor applications.
Heavier: XPEL VISION Security Clear 14mil
88% VLT, 99% UV. 14 mil: break strength 420 lbs/in, puncture strength 230 lbs.
Higher break and puncture resistance where risk is elevated.
Decorative Films
Decorative film adds frosted, patterned, or branded effects to glass for design, zoning, and selective privacy. It is the right family when the goal is how the glass looks and functions in the layout, not maximum solar rejection or impact security alone.
Best for
- Office partitions and meeting room sidelites
- Branded storefront and reception glass
- Bathroom and change room glazing
- Bird safe and specialty visual requirements on clear glass
What it solves
- Visual zoning without building new walls
- Soft privacy on interior and selective exterior glass
- Branding, logos, and design intent on existing glazing
- Collision deterrence and specialty appearance requirements
What to know
- These are XPEL VISION decorative SKUs, not generic pattern buckets. We specify the product that matches the look and any UV requirement.
- UV rejection varies by product. White Frost and Bird Safe Dotted reject 99% UV; Dusted Crystal transmits more light with lower UV rejection.
- Black Out and White Out are fully opaque. Different job from frosted privacy on exterior glass.
- Decorative and privacy goals often overlap on partitions; we still specify the correct XPEL decorative film for the finish.
Product types to consider
Start here before the SKU level. These are the categories we use to narrow the right XPEL film.
White Frost
Classic etched-glass privacy for partitions, sidelites, and meeting rooms. Diffused light with no clear view through the treated area.
65% VLT, 99% UV rejection.
Dusted Crystal
Subtle frosted finish with more light transmission than White Frost. Used when the space should stay bright and soft, not fully opaque.
86% VLT. Lower UV rejection than White Frost. Confirm per project if fade protection matters.
Bird Safe Dotted
Visible dotted pattern to reduce bird collisions on large clear spans. Often specified on institutional and commercial facades.
88% VLT, 99% UV rejection.
Black Out and White Out
Fully opaque films when no light or view should pass through the glass. Used for hidden zones, equipment rooms, and complete visual blocking.
XPEL examples we specify
Published performance data from XPEL VISION. Exact results depend on glass, orientation, and the full glazing assembly.
XPEL VISION White Frost
65% VLT, 99% UV rejection.
Etched-glass privacy look on partitions and selective zones.
XPEL VISION Dusted Crystal
86% VLT. Subtle frosted finish.
Softer decorative finish with more light transmission.
XPEL VISION Bird Safe Dotted
88% VLT, 99% UV rejection.
Collision-deterrent dotted pattern on exterior glass.
XPEL VISION Black Out and White Out
Fully opaque decorative films. Specify Black Out or White Out based on the desired finish.
Complete visual blocking with no view or light transmission through the film.
Values from XPEL VISION published data, tested on 1/8 inch (3mm) glass. Nominal and for guidance. Exact results depend on the product specified and the glazing assembly.
Reviews
What clients say on Google
5.0out of 5
23 Google reviews
Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 23 Google reviews.
Excellent service from Privé Window Films! The team was professional, knowledgeable, and paid great attention to detail throughout the installation. The finished result looks fantastic, and the added privacy and heat reduction have made a noticeable difference. Thanks again guys!
Great job. My house looks great
Amazing service!
The best in the city!
Reviews come from our Google Business Profile and appear as Google returns them, most relevant first. We do not select, edit, or reorder them.
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