UV-Blocking Windows
Apr 25, 2018Are your curtains and furniture faded from sunlight coming through your windows? Many homeowners believe this is a normal occurrence. These days, it is not. UV rays cause damage to furniture, flooring, and window treatments. UV rays can also cause skin damage, even through windows. Prevent dangerous sun rays from entering your home with the installation of UV-blocking windows.
UV Damages Your Home’s Interior
Many homeowners do not consider the way UV rays affect a home’s interior. The rays affect every room with a window. In rooms with north-facing windows, the damage can be especially obvious. Noticeable affects include:
- Carpet fading
- Carpet fiber becomes brittle and breaks easily
- Faded wood flooring
- Color damage to acrylic and oil paintings
- Discolored wallpaper or borders
- Faded furniture
- Furniture that seems worn down without good reason
UV damage requires frequent replacement for interior objects. Carpets fade 4% to 8% annually when exposed to frequent sunlight. In rooms without windows, the fade rates can be less than 1%. Blocking UV rays can lengthen the lifespan of all interior furnishings.
UV Rays Entering Your Home
The Skin Cancer Foundation performed a study of employees working indoors with windows. Subjects had significantly more wrinkles and brown lines on the side of their faces closest to the windows. Although most workers were not in direct sunlight, UV rays can ricochet off other objects and cause skin damage. If you consider how often you are exposed to sunlight from windows, chances are good your skin cancer risk is higher than previously thought.
Modern home windows can eliminate UV rays entering the home by up to 99.9%. This is good news for your furniture and your skin. Add low-emissivity glazes to energy-efficient windows to block rays. The glaze is invisible to the naked eye, but homeowners can see the difference in their interiors. Floors, furniture, and window treatments will cease to fade. This is especially important for north-facing windows, which allow the most light to enter.
Deciding on Energy-Efficient, UV Ray-Blocking Windows
Most homeowners enjoy the ambiance of sunlight filtering into a home, but don’t like the damage it can cause. Increased temperatures and faded interiors lead many people to close the shades and suffer without sunlight. Luckily, UV ray-blocking windows allow for the best of both worlds. You don’t need to draw the shades to protect furniture and regulate temperature. Installing energy-efficient windows in your home allows a natural source of light without the detrimental side effects.
