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Posted: 1/1/2010 11:29:21 PM EDT
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Can anyone tell me more about this stuff? Specifically how much it costs, or where you can get it? I know there are some different brands out there. It looks pretty impressive. My sliding glass doors are definitely a weak point that I'd like to sure up - possibly more windows depending on price. Anyone have experience with it?
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I'm a Vista/ Llumar installer, so I don't know didly about 3m but its basically a thick clear film. I use Llumar magnum films and there are lots of dealers and my guess would be 8-20$ per sq ft. I know in our films we have anywhere from 4-15mil safety films. They do work great as long as the frame is strong and its installed properly. The film needs some type of attachment system to hold the glass and film in the frame if its broken. The thinner films use a structural type caulk basically, next would be a "L" type channel that has double sided tape, and super thick stuff can have support wires and brackets lol.
On something like a sliding door it would slow someone down a whole lot probably enough to give up. The glass will break but not go anywhere due to the film. If its attached to fram right the film won't fall in when glass breaks. If there is no sealant or anything the glass will just be held together with the film and fall in as a big sheet. |
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It does work. I have some of the thicker stuff on my windows at home (ArmorCoat, I think it is).
My boys had a ladder fall into one of my outside windows (a VERY solid hit... and they concealed it from me for several days... devious little buggers...). Iit held together perfectly. It starred-up the glass, but it didn't budge out of the frame, and was weather-tight for the month or so it took me to replace that section of window. It cost me about $1500 or so to get the entire first-floor of my house done. Get it... it works. |
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You're still dealing with a thin plastic film though. The installation and the strength of the frame is critical. Most residential sliders/windows have weak frames and would cave right in. Installing the stuff in a commercial steel frame door like on that little video is ideal. If that guy was hitting that door with a real crowbar though he'd be in.
Anything sharp like a knife or a big crowbar is going to slice right through any of the films I've dealt with. Where I used to work we had some huge commercial windows where the film was required for safety purposes. It worked really well holding the broken glass together as intended from all kinds of accidental impacts. But tearing the stuff out of the frame was never a problem. The good films are very expensive and requires a really great installer (read - expensive). Don't expect to delay a thief for a few more seconds if you've got standard lightweight frames or a minute or two if you've got solid metal frames that can accomodate the stuff. |
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If you've got solid metal frames where the film can be installed under the glazing it's great for that. The building where I work has HUGE glass windows facing a Golf course.... Had a wind-driven broken oak tree limb slam into a big set of panes. Smashed the hell out of the glass but it kept most of the glass shards together.
Just don't plan on it doing much for theft. We could rip the shattered panes out really easily with simple tools. Simply sticking the stuff to residential wooden/lightweight glass panes is just a waste of money IMO. |
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Quoted:
If you've got solid metal frames where the film can be installed under the glazing it's great for that. The building where I work has HUGE glass windows facing a Golf course.... Had a wind-driven broken oak tree limb slam into a big set of panes. Smashed the hell out of the glass but it kept most of the glass shards together. Just don't plan on it doing much for theft. We could rip the shattered panes out really easily with simple tools. Simply sticking the stuff to residential wooden/lightweight glass panes is just a waste of money IMO. Meh... I don't know about that. The window that my boys smashed held together (bonded to the aluminum frame) very well. I tried to knock it in, or otherwise manipulate it, but that stuff is pretty strong. Then again, I had them install the heavier stuff when they were putting it on... 10-mil or something like that... and it's all bonded to the frames (which are strong). It won't keep a really determined person out, but it will slow them down significantly (how many burglars keep a battery powered sawzall in their back pocket?)... and honestly? All you're buying is time when it comes to security measures like that. |
| I have it installed on all of my windows, slider included. The way I figure it is all part of the combination to fortify your home against unwanted visitors. It should slow them down enough for the rest of the system (dogs, alarm, video cameras, neighbors & police) to take effect. That's just the way I see it. |
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