BDF S05 Window Film Daytime Privacy and Heat Control Mirror Silver 5 (Very Dark) – 36in X 12ft

3 reviews for BDF S05 Window Film Daytime Privacy and Heat Control Mirror Silver 5 (Very Dark) – 36in X 12ft

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – January 13, 2024 Stefan Zieme

   I recently put together some shelves to display my movie collection but didn’t realize until after the fact that it would be baking in direct sunlight from our glass patio door for a couple of hours a day. I was concerned that the cover art on the disc cases would bleach and fade over time, so I decided to look into tinted window films. Personally, I would have preferred a dark (but transparent) film that didn’t have a highly reflective property to it (for privacy) but I couldn’t find such a product. It appeared as though if I wanted to tint the glass with window film from Amazon, I’d have to live with the reflectiveness. In the end I settled for the BDF-S05 window film since, at least from the product photos and description, it would be the most appropriate shade. Now that I’ve installed it, I think I made the right choice. It definitely reduces the concentrated sun glare significantly, and that’s all I really needed it to do. Problem solved.I could leave my review there, but I do want to point out a few issues I encountered during installation and let you know what to expect. First, regarding the “privacy” claim. Yes, the silver backing is HIGHLY reflective and from the outside during the day it is basically a mirror. But here’s the thing: I personally didn’t have an issue with privacy without film on the windows, because during the day it’s darker inside the house than it is outside, so unless someone puts their face against the glass no one was going to see inside.Nighttime is when privacy becomes more of a concern when it’s dark outside but lights are on inside. This film isn’t going to solve that problem, though it doesn’t claim to. I’m just letting you know now that this won’t provide privacy at night and you’ll need to use curtains or blinds. For the reasons I mentioned, I personally feel that this film is utterly useless for privacy, day or night, unless you are in a brightly lit room or office that can be seen from outside during daylight.But the reason I REALLY hate the reflective properties is that at night the windows become a reverse-privacy window. Meaning, if your lights are on anyone outside can see in but you will not be able to see outside. The window becomes an indoor mirror at night, and an outdoor mirror during the day. This is especially true if you live in an area that is fairly dark at night with not much street lighting. However, I cannot fault the product for this because I believe the reflectiveness is a necessary thermal feature to bounce the sun’s heat away (similar to foil windshield visors).Installation is not necessarily difficult, but it is tedious and HIGHLY prone to human error. Especially if you’ve never applied window film before. I have, but only the static cling kind without an adhesive backing. That is what I am used to, and that’s what I thought this was. So, like an idiot, I first applied this without removing what I later discovered was a very thin, clear layer covering what is, indeed, an adhesive backing. I noticed this only after the next day when it was slowly peeling off the glass. Surprisingly it stayed on the glass for a full 24 hours without first peeling off the protective layer! Ok, so I’m not winning any Darwin awards this year it seems.The other thing to keep in mind is that the end result is likely not going to be perfect unless the glass you’re working with is perfect. My door has a few “bumps”, nearly invisible, that are just unexplained raised dots on the glass. Only in a few areas, but the window film enhances their appearance. This is because it’s not possible to smooth over these areas with the film as it’s designed to be flat. So the “bump” becomes a visible, albeit tiny, permanent bubble in the film. Again, not a fault of the product, but of my glass.Other things to consider: make sure the glass is soaking wet in a water/soap solution before and during application. Cut to size first with roughly an inch overhang on all sides (you’ll trim them off after). Make sure the area is free from hair, fur, and other debris. I tried my best to do this, but it’s nearly impossible. Even after cleaning the windows, there were a few stray cat fur strands and perhaps one of my eyelashes that are now forever trapped between the glass and the film like a mosquito trapped in amber. It is what it is.Like I said, I just needed it to block out concentrated sun glare and it works just fine. Despite the imperfections, which are not the product’s fault, it looks fine too. Those imperfections are really only noticeable if you’re up close and looking for them. Lastly, I am a bit skeptical of the claims this product makes with regards to the percentage values of UV blockage and such. I’m not sure where those numbers come from or who tested for those results. If it’s an independent third party that certifies that type of thing, then ok. But any testing done by a manufacturer with a marketing interest should be taken with a grain of salt. Since I cannot know for sure, I will (cautiously) give them the benefit of the doubt. Either way, it seems to do what it claims to do and definitely satisfies my needs.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – June 8, 2024 Branson Price II

   Well packaged and comes with the tools and instructions for installation. There are videos available online as well. It does keep the heat out by reflecting it off the window and not allowing it into the home. Reflective finish for privacy during the daytime.

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – November 24, 2024 Dr. Pete Kuphal

   Our bedroom receives a lot of direct sunlight and consequently, our room is significantly warmer than the rest of our house. We were tired of waking up on the weekends, feeling overheated and begrudgingly awakened by the amount of light entering our room at 7am. Our bedroom has 4 windows for reference.First, let me explain the installation process and what we learned from this experience.1. Two people are needed to coordinate this application of this.2. Make sure your windows are clean. Make sure you wipe them down with a material that doesn’t leave behind dust or pet hair residue.3. Trim any excess caulking around the glass/window frame to ensure tight, adhered edges.4. Measure your window pane, roll the film out on a flat, dust free surface and cut measurements with about a 1-inch grace margin for error.5. Use a slightly soapy water mixture and thoroughly wet the window pane prior to application. Use towels on your floor.6. Remove the clear plastic lining from the film using tape on alternate sides of the film to help peel off the layer. Do this in a synchronized fashion. For example, my husband held it tight while I slowly peeled away the plastic liner.7. Peel the liner off only about half way, spray the sticky side of the film (the side the liner was on) and place it on the window pane.8. Adjust the placement prior to removing the rest of the liner. A wet window and wet film allows for the film to slide. This is also crucial for removing bubbles. Make sure it’s WET.9. Once in place, slowly pull of the rest of the liner and spray before allowing it to adhere to the window.10. Once on window, spray the film again. Use a squeegee to squeeze out air bubbles and get a nice, tight fit. If your squeegee is running across a dry film, it’ll damage the film. Make sure the film is wet on the side you’re squeegee-ing.11. Only begin cutting off the excess when the film is completely adhered without bubbles. Use a straight edge object in sync with a box cutter to get a tight cut along the line where your window pane meets the glass.12. Squeegee again to make sure the cut edges are flat and tight. Dry everything off once finished.We need two rolls to do our bedroom. Our windows are about 5.5 ft in height each. One roll was able to comfortably do 2 windows with some excess left over.What you need to know about the product:1. The product comes with a box razor and a squeegee for application. This is located inside the film tube and we didn’t find it until we opened it.2. This is not a magic mirror. It works in the same fashion an interrogation room works. It’s reflective from the side facing the light and yes, it looks like a mirror. This means during the day, it looks like a mirror from outside. At night, the effect is reversed.3. People cannot see you from outside during the day. At night, they can see into your home. So please don’t assume you DON’T need blinds or a curtain during the night.4. This reduces sunlight and heat. Our bedroom is MUCH cooler. The product reflects light and therefore, there’s a noticeable difference in the ambient temperature of the room following application. It reduces yellow light to a more “cloudy day” light.5. It’s energy efficient and if you follow the directions above, you can perform a DIY – energy efficiency project within your home for a fraction of the cost to hire a professional.We plan to purchase more over time for other sun-facing windows in our home. For reference, we live in Florida. We know how important it is to reduce heat within your home, save on your energy bill, and live comfortably.