• Domestic FAQs
  • Commercial FAQs
  • What causes the damage to my carpet and furnishings?

    50 – 60% of damage is caused by UV rays
    15 – 20% by heat
    15 – 20% by white light (daylight)

    The remainder is a combination of environmental factors;
    humidity, artificial lighting, chemical exposure, natural oxidisation, wear and tear etc.

    My office to too bright and far too hot. What can tinting do for me?

    Window film can reflect up to 78% of solar heat and reduce up to 95% of glare coming through clear glass. This heat reduction makes the hottest office comfortable, even on a summers day. In addition, the reduction of glare and filtering of uncontrolled sun light allows easy use of computers on bright sunny days.

    I keep hearing different stories. Can I have my car tinted?

    Yes you can. The rules governing automotive tinting are varied depending on exactly what type of vehicle you have. “ Contact Us” to have your questions answered.

    How long will my window film last?

    With due care, your film will look great indefinitely. Our Film Suppliers guarantee their products for a minimum of five years, and in some cases window film carries a lifetime guarantee.

    How long will my window film last?

    With due care, your film will look great indefinitely. Our Film Suppliers guarantee their products for between five and ten years for commercial applications.

    I can buy cheap film for my car from accessory shops. Why should I get it tinted by Solar Control

    At Solar Control Ltd. you will receive only the highest quality film. It will be legal for your type of vehicle and our application will be as good as your car allows. If you buy “cheap” film, can’t make it work and then have to come to us, your “cheap” job isn’t going to be “cheap”. In addition it will be impossible for you to do as good a job as a professional.

    Does window film need to be dark to protect my furnishings?

    No. Only a fraction of tangible light needs to be removed to greatly enhance the protection to your interior.

    Can you stop the stock in our display window suffering sun damage?

    A completely clear U/V filter drastically reduces the effects of sun damage particularly on packaging. See Fade Protection.

    I have some film of my own. Will you put it on for me?

    No. The films available in the retail market are of a poor quality and we are unable to match their colour if we should need more than you supply. Therefore we only use our own tint film.

    My windows are double-glazed. Can I have film applied to these?

    Certainly. There are some restrictions but tinting doubled glazed units is no problem.

    Our building has older windows that aren’t safety glass. Can you help?

    Certainly. We have a range of clear and tinted safety/security films to strengthen existing glass against human impact, vandalism and theft. See Safety Film.

    Why does my friend’s film look darker than mine?

    There are several reasons. The more glass area – the lighter the appearance. A dark coloured interior will enhance the density of your film. Most modern cars have various amounts of colour in the glass already.

    Can I clean windows with film like I clean glass?

    Window film is easier to clean than glass, as it doesn’t streak. Just a little dishwashing detergent in water is all you need.

    I want to improve privacy in my street-facing office windows. Is window film for me?

    Privacy is greatly dependent on your lighting situation and window layout. Our consultant can give you good advice on how much privacy can be achieved while maintaining good light levels. Often windows can be made completely one way. See Privacy.

    My friend has tinted the sides of my car, but the rear screen is really hard. Will you tint my back window only?

    No. The rear screen of most cars involves as much, if not more time, effort and skill than the entire rest of the vehicle. We won’t subsidise backyard jobs that may not have legal film and won’t look terrific.

    The film I see on commercial buildings is either really dark or mirrored, is this what my house will look like?

    Only if you want it to. Commercial grades of film are designed to reflect high amounts of heat and reduce glare in working environments. Most domestic films are very subtle to give protection to your interior while making minimal impact on your aesthetics. The choice is yours.

    We have glass that we want to obscure completely. What can you do?

    We have access to a full range of sand blast effect films, patterned films and coloured vinyls to provide privacy, match or enhance existing colours or totally obscure glass to suit your needs. See Decorative.

    I’ve seen mirror film on rally cars on TV and round town. It looks great. Can I have the same?

    No. The automotive glazing legislation prohibits any reflective film, or anything that can dazzle or annoy other motorists.

    What happens if I damage my film or break a window?

    It is no problem to remove damaged film from the glass and replace it. New windows can be matched to existing ones easily.

    Can our cleaners clean window film like glass?

    Window film is easier to clean than glass, as it doesn’t streak. Just a little dishwashing detergent in water with a window mop and squeegee is all that is required.

    How much does it cost?

    The price varies depending on the vehicle. We can give you an estimate by phone or e-mail or you can visit our workshop.

    I have older windows that aren’t safety glass. Can you help?

    Certainly. We have a range of clear and tinted safety/security films to strengthen existing glass against human impact, vandalism and theft.

    What happens if our film is damaged or we break a window?

    It is no problem to remove damaged film from the glass or match existing film.

    Where is Solar Control Ltd. located and what are your hours?

    Solar Control Ltd. is located at 41 Sandyford St, Sydenham, Christchurch. We are open 8am until 5pm Monday to Friday. However when we are working on buildings we are not in our workshop. Therefore, if you want to visit us, please phone 03 365 0595 first to make sure someone is in to help you. If you happen to be going past, feel free to drop in. Our phone is always answered during business hours.

    I have glass that I want to obscure completely. What can you do?

    We have access to a full range sand blast effect films, patterned films and coloured vinyls to provide privacy, match or enhance existing colours or totally obscure glass to suit your needs.

    Our glass is already tinted. Can window film help?

    There are some restrictions on what film can be applied to tinted glass but we can substantially reduce your incoming heat and glare.

    My glass is already tinted. Can window film help?

    There are some restrictions on what film can be applied to tinted glass but we can still remove U/V and substantially reduce your incoming heat and glare.

    I’ve seen some film that looks terrible. Why is that?

    Window film is a totally visual item and the eye is a hard taskmaster. Just like paint, carpet or anything else that has colour, window film is constantly open to close scrutiny. A really old, poorly applied or badly maintained job will show it’s bad side. Additionally some jobs are more than 30 years old. Solar Film was not nearly as good 30 years ago as it is today. Ask yourself this. For the occasional bad job you notice, how many great jobs have you missed because you think they are tinted glass? Bare in mind we apply 5– 6 thousand square meters of film in and around Christchurch every year. That’s a lot of great jobs!

    I want to improve the privacy of my street-facing windows. Is window film for me?

    Privacy is greatly dependent on your lighting situation and window layout. Our consultant can give you good advice on how much privacy can be achieved while maintaining the natural appearance of your home.

    If for any reason we want to remove our window film, can you do it?

    Yes we can. We can remove old, damaged or unwanted film to return your glass to its original state.

    I only want to tint some of my windows. Will this look out of out of place?

    No. If you look at the front of most homes, there are no two rooms that look the same. In fact usually no two panes look the same. Different window aspects, coverings, room colours and interior lighting makes them appear quite different anyway. Film doesn’t tend to make them any more different than they are already.

    Our windows are double-glazed. Can I have film applied to these?

    Certainly. There are some restrictions but tinting doubled glazed units is no problem. Generally, heavily tinted and strongly heat reflective films are unsuitable for double-glazing. However there are some materials suited to this glazing system.

    If for any reason I want to remove my window film, can you do it?

    Yes we can. We can remove old, damaged or unwanted film to return your glass to its original state.

    How much does solar window film cost?

    The cost is dependant on the total size of the job, window frame type, accessibility, location, actual pane sizes (we have to fit these into our material sizes) etc. It is difficult to make a meaningful estimate by phone. We prefer to visit the site and see the job. This allows us to give an accurate and fixed price. This also gives our client a chance to see a range of appropriate materials to choose from.

    I’ve seen some film that looks terrible. Why is that?

    Window film is a totally visual item and the eye is a hard taskmaster. Just like paint, carpet or anything else that has colour, window film is constantly open to close scrutiny. A really old, poorly applied or badly maintained job will show it’s bad side. Additionally some jobs are more than 30 years old. Solar Film was not nearly as good 30 years ago as it is today. Ask yourself this. For the occasional bad job you notice, how many great jobs have you missed because you think they are tinted glass? Bare in mind we apply 5 – 6 thousand square meters of film in and around Christchurch every year. That’s a lot of great jobs!

    Where is Solar Control Ltd. Located and what are your hours?

    Solar Control Ltd. is located at 41 Sandyford St, Sydenham, Christchurch. We are open 8am until 5pm Monday to Friday. However when we are working on buildings we are not in our workshop. Therefore, if you want to visit us, please phone 03 365 0595 first to make sure someone is in to help you. If you happen to be going past, feel free to drop in. Our phone is always answered during business hours.

    How much does solar window film cost?

    The cost is dependant on the total size of the job, window frame type, accessibility, location, actual pane sizes (we have to fit these into our material sizes) etc. It is difficult to make a meaningful estimate by phone. We prefer to visit the site and see the job. This allows us to give an accurate and fixed price. It also gives our client a chance to see a range of appropriate materials to choose from.