Does Window Film Prevent Break-Ins?

Tint To U Blogger • Oct 26, 2023

A window security film installation might help prevent break-ins. Learn what you should know about these window films here.

According to the latest available data, 6.4 million property crimes occurred in the U.S. in 2021. Of these, 4.63 million, or nearly 3 in 4, were larceny-theft. Burglary accounted for 14%, or 899,700 cases.

While those figures show a decrease from previous years, they're still concerning. This might explain why an estimated 39 million U.S. households, at the very least, now have home alarm systems.

So, if you're considering boosting home security yourself, factor in your windows, too. After all, these are the weakest security points in a home.

Window security film installation, in turn, is one way to strengthen these weak spots.

But can these products protect your home from crimes and deter break-ins? If so, how?

Read on, as we've answered all those questions and more in this guide.

Do Window Films Prevent Break-Ins?

First, let's clarify something: Window films don't stop glass from breaking. With enough force, anything made of glass, which is naturally fragile, will shatter.

However, the addition of window films helps protect glass panes. They act as an extra layer on the pane's surface, receiving external forces first. They're like a thin cushion; they help dampen and reduce the impact on the glass itself.

That makes covered glass panes harder to break.

Then, if the glass breaks, the installed film helps keep the shattered pieces together. Instead of flying all over the place, the pane is more likely to stay in place within the window frame.

So, how does that prevent break-ins?

Let's say a burglar or a thief tries to break into your home by throwing a rock at one of your windows. However, since you're a wise homeowner, you've had window films installed.

As a result, the rock only cracked but not shattered the window pane. In this case, the intruder would either give up or throw the rock again.

Suppose the intruder decides to try throwing the rock once more. Again, the pane only developed more cracks but remained intact, as the film kept it from imploding.

So, the burglar or thief would still have no opening to enter from. They would have to keep applying force onto the pane to make it collapse or yield. This gives you additional time to get help, call the police, and go somewhere else safer.

Does the Type of Film Matter?

It does because some of the best window tinting films have higher tear resistance. The more tear-resistant they are, the more unyielding they are. This allows them to keep broken glass shards together for longer.

An example is a high-quality, micro-layered security window film. Some of the best ones boast multiple layers of heavy-duty polyester sheets.

Specialized adhesives then laminate those layers together, resulting in a durable, tear-resistant product. These features make them a must-have if you want to burglar-proof your windows.

What Else Can Window Security Films Protect Against?

Window safety and security films protect against injury-causing shattered glass. They also help secure windows from natural disasters like earthquakes and storms. They can even guard fragile windows against toys and stray baseballs!

Shattered Glass

When bare windows break, they shatter into hundreds, even thousands of pieces. Those shards can rain down all over your furniture, floor, or worse, you or your loved ones.

That's extremely dangerous, as sharp glass, regardless of size, can cause injuries. According to health experts, these include lacerations and tendon and nerve damage. Sometimes, fragments may even get buried deep within tissues.

The larger and deeper the injuries are, the likelier they need stitches.

Window security films can help reduce the risk of such injuries from flying glass shards. As mentioned above, these hazards can result from break-ins wherein intruders smash windows.

With security films on your windows, glass panes that break will remain in place. The strong adhesives in these products can help prevent the glass from imploding. So, while the glass may still break, its shards will stick to the film instead of scattering all over your home.

Natural Disasters

Like break-ins, natural disasters can cause glass panes to shatter. Seismic activities are a perfect example; while rarely felt, they occur in Illinois. After all, the Prairie State is at risk of earthquakes from two major seismic zones.

One of these seismic zones is the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. The other is the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). States in the NMSZ have a 25% to 40% chance of experiencing a 6.0 or greater magnitude within a given 50-year time span.

That means such events may or may not happen while you're living in Orland Park or Plainfield, IL. However, there's still a possibility, and it's a risk you shouldn't ignore.

Likewise, severe storms, including thunderstorms, can result in broken windows. These events generate strong winds that can blow objects (e.g., branches) into window panes. When that happens, unprotected glass can break and shatter.

Your windows are also at risk of breakage due to hailstorms. Hail, made of solid ice, can have fall speeds between 9 and over 100 mph, depending on their diameter. Add wind to that, and they can be even more dangerous; they can break windows and cause severe injury.

Accidental Breakage

Kids in your neighborhood can accidentally break your windows while they're playing. For instance, they may have poorly thrown a baseball or a football. These stray balls can carry enough force to shatter glass panes.

Your family members may also cause your windows to break. An example is when your kids are playing outside. They may accidentally throw a toy that crashes into a window pane.

Invest in Window Security Film Installation Today

From break-ins to earthquakes and hail damage, these are all risks bare windows face. And when glass panes break, they put you and your loved ones at risk of injuries.

Those are all good enough reasons to invest in window security film installation. With these, you can better protect your family and home from intruders and disasters.

Are you ready to boost window safety in your Orlando Park or Plainfield home? Then, our team here at Tint To U is happy to help! Call us now for your free window tinting estimate.

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