3M Fasara Decorative/Privacy Film Application

3M Fasara Decorative/Privacy Film adds privacy to this work space.  It is a good way to reduce distractions in the workplace. The 3M Fasara Film also lets in natural light reducing the need for extra lighthing.  See the difference the film makes to these windows.

Fasara Film comes in 59 different designs.  They take the place of textured, sandblasted, etched, cut or other decorative glass for a fraction of the cost of decorative glass.  The film provides privacy and adds beauty to a room.  It can be customized by adding extra light or design.

Benefits of Using the 3M Fasara Decorative/Privacy Film Include:

• It is relatively inexpensive compared to decorative glass.
• There is a large variety of styles to choose from.
• After 30 days, it can be cleaned just like you would any other window.
• If styles change, it can be removed and left clear or replaced with another style of film.
• If there is an event which causes the window to break, the pieces will hold together. Injuries from flying glass will be prevented.
• The application is durable, fast, and beautiful.
• 3M and Solar Vision stands behind their product with a 5 year warranty for thermal shock damage.

How Can the 3M Fasara Window Film Be Used:

3M Fasara Decorative/Privacy Film can be used in offices, conference rooms, and lobbies. Retail stores, restaurants,and hospitality venues can use the decorative film.  These glass finishes can be used on partitions, showers, verandas and homes.  The film can be customized to give just the right amount of privacy, light, and decorative value.  The film can be computer cut for precision. The Fasara glass finishes are primarily an interior film, but 2 of the films can be used on the exterior. A beautiful  space  gives a favorable impression to workers and clients.  The addition of the light that is allowed into the room instead of a solid partition adds to worker productivity.

Operations Manager-Lucinda Costello

Lucinda Costello is Solar Vision's new operations manager.  Lucinda is our day-to-day organizational, logistical, and operational manager. She keeps Solar Vision Inc. on-time and ensures that we have all the 3M products ready and available to complete our customers' jobs.  When you call Solar Vision, she is most likely the person you will talk to. Prior to her Solar Vision career, Lucinda worked in many facets of warehouse and office management and sales.

Lucinda has lived all over the U.S. including San Francisco, Florida and Wyoming.  Her family settled in Colorado and she attended high school in Denver.  Her favorite vacation trip was to Thailand where she was able to experience a very different culture and beauty.

Aside from working full-time at Solar Vision Inc., Lucinda has a 2 year old to keep her busy.  She enjoys keeping a beautiful home for her husband, son, and step-daughter. Her tastes run on a traditional line and she likes to try new things.  Lucinda would like to try learning upholstery and she has mentioned learning to quilt as well.  She doesn't really enjoy cooking.  When she does it, she does it well.  Lucinda is a big fan of window film and has used and is planning to use the film on several projects in her home to add privacy and beauty as well as for sun and glare control.

Lucinda and her husband, Josh, volunteer working with the youth in their church.  They realize the importance of teens having an adult that they can connect with and for them to have an adult to be a positive influence in their lives.

Solar Vision is so fortunate to have Lucinda be part of their team.

3M Exterior Prestige Window Film

3M Exterior Prestige window film was applied to these windows. The film applied to these windows was Exterior Prestige 40.  Exterior window film is put on glass when the windows inside are not as accessible as the outside.  A wall, bookcases, heavy or immovable furniture or any number of things may may make it difficult to put the film in the inside.  Skylights that are really high may be easier to have film applied to the outside via the roof.  Exterior window film may also reduce the risk of thermal stress on windows with multiple glass panels.  3M Exterior Prestige window film may be applied to both new buildings and retrofit projects. Advantages of 3M Exterior Prestige Window Film include:

• The film is non-reflective-less reflective than glass
• It has heat rejection with excellent visibility
• It comes in Prestige 40, Prestige 70, and Prestige 90.  The 90 lets in 99% of the normal light
• The film blocks 99.9% of UV rays and prevents fading and deterioration cause by UV rays.
• It reduces glare
• People in the inside are not exposed to the UV rays which can cause skin cancer
• It provides heat control so the inside is more comfortable and less air conditioning is used.
• The film does not interfere with cellular or wireless signals.
• The thickness of the film is less than a piece of paper
• After 30 days it can be cleaned, as any other window.

The film is less reflective than glass. Because of the lower reflection, retail displays are more visible and there is less distraction.  In the day or at night, potential customers see a beautiful window and whatever is displayed or lit up in the window. This can draw more people to a business and increase sales.

This window film is used in commercial as well as in residential buildings.  It is back by the 3M lifetime warranty.

Anti-Graffiti Film Protects Windows

Anti-Graffiti Film protects windows from permanent damage.  Urban centers all over the country are having difficulties with graffiti.  City officials, residents, and property owners are continually seeking solutions to the abatement of graffiti in their neighborhoods.  Anti-Graffiti window film have properties to decrease the harmful effects of graffiti.  Anti-Graffiti window film can be a less costly solution over window replacement. Cities, not only in the US but all over the world are having trouble with graffiti vandalism. When graffiti is visible, people are less likely to shop, eat, go to other venues in the area. People are concerned that if graffiti is allowed that other crimes may also be in the area. Gang activity is also a concern.  Residents and visitors do not feel safe.  Graffiti can be in rural or small town areas as well.

City leaders seek ways to combat this growing issue.  One way is to take down graffiti ASAP. Window film can help remove the graffiti quickly.  The tagger or gang member wants to be recognized and if it is not up long, they won't get the attention they seek.  Another way is to give graffiti artist a place to do and show their work.  This can work for the person who is trying to get artist recognition.  Denver recently has added more police presence downtown for reasons other than graffiti, but graffiti is a part of it. Some youth like to show their independence from authority or take their anger out on people through graffiti.  Schools could benefit from window film by putting window film on restroom mirrors and other glass surfaces.  Graffiti is a senseless crime that is very costly. The city of Denver spends over a million dollars a year on graffiti removal.  Larger cities spend even more.  Window film can't solve the graffiti issue, but can be used as one of many tools.

Advantages of  3M Anti Graffiti Window Film Include:

• Scratch resistant
• Protects glass from permanent damage
• Gouge resistant
• Easily removed and replace by professional
• Used indoors or outdoors
• Resists acid or etching tools
• Can be cleaned as any other window surface
• Anti-graffiti film is clear and distortion free
• Has other benefits of window film such as 99% blocking of UV rays
• Comes is two thicknesses for low risk and high risk areas
• Backed by 3M warranties

Window replacement can cost up to twenty times the cost of window film. Window film is one of the many tools businesses and communities are using to combat the costly damage of graffiti.

Glass Finishes Can Turn Door Into White Board

The 3M Fasara Films are applied to glass to give them unique glass finishes.  A glass finish applied to this door turned it into a white board or message board.  Etched, cut, sandblasted, textured or other decorative glass finishes add beauty to any room.  These glass finishes are extremely expensive.  An alternative to these popular glass finishes is the use of decorative window film.  The window film provides privacy and beauty.  It can customize spaces while allowing light to enter a room. Why use 3M Fasara?

• The film is relatively inexpensive.
• It comes in 59 glass finishes.
• The film is applied by experts in the field.
• The application is durable, fast, and beautiful.
• It is made of a thin, durable polyesters.
• When styles change, it can be removed.
• After 30 days, it can be cleaned like any other window.
• It has a 3M 5 year warranty for thermal shock fractures.

3M Fasara Window Film can be used in offices, conference rooms, and lobbies. Retail stores, restaurants,and hospitality venues can use the decorative film.  These glass finishes can be used on partitions, showers, verandas and homes.  The film can be customized to give just the right amount of privacy, light, and decorative value.  The film can be computer cut for precision. Solar Vision has several people on its team that are very artistic and can free hand projects as well.  They have an eye for getting the installation just right. The Fasara glass finishes are primarily an interior film, but 2 of the films can be used on the exterior. The beautiful  space  gives a favorable impression to workers and clients.  The addition of the light that is allowed into the room instead of a solid partition adds to worker productivity.

The Matte glass finish used on this door is only a small example of what can be done with the film. Please view our other projects.

Di-Noc Art Project

Solar Vision donated Di-Noc samples to an art project for children with disabilities.  The  art project was displayed in an art show in downtown Denver.  At the end of the show, the art piece was given to Solar Vision and is displayed in the Solar Vision office. Di-Noc Use

Di-Noc is an architectural finish that has many uses.  It takes the place of natural  and hi-tech finishes.  It  is considered to be a "Designer's Dream."  There are 500 different finishes.  Di-Noc reproduces wood, metal, marble, leather, stone and stucco.  If another surface is desired, it can be specially ordered.

The properties of Di-Noc include:

• resistance to water, dirt, impacts, wear, abrasion and mold
• no mess application-no dust, fumes, etc. resulting in no down time for workers
• applied to flat and curved surfaces
• easily cleaned
• can be computer cut
• flame retardant
• some have antibacterial properties
• architectural freedom and design

Di-Noc helps create green buildings by using materials that already exist and reuse them.  Walls, desks, etc. can be reused creating less land fill and saving company resources.  It  is less expensive than replacing the covered areas. If Di-Noc is applied during off hours.  The workers or customers leave and return to a place where the space with the Di-Noc has been transformed.  There is no dust to clean up and there are no fumes.  Di-Noc can be used in the interior or the exterior of a building.  This architectural finish is primarily used for commercial applications, but also can be used by residential customers.

Continuous Improvement

At Solar Vision's Annual Meeting, past successes were celebrated and plans  for future growth were made.  Solar Vision exceeded their goals this past year in window film sales.  The 3M Dealer of the Year was received for the Rocky Mountain and Northwest Regions.  Goals for the 2014 were discussed and shared with the Solar Vision team.

Goals for 2014 Include:

• 20% increase in sales
• Increase residential window film sales to 25% of total sales
• Continue to educate the public on the benefits of window film in their energy management plans
• Build efficient systems
• Develop and improve marketing strategies

Continuous Improvement Seminar

In the afternoon, Brent Kube led a seminar on Continuous Improvement.  Brent is a small business consultant and a mechanical engineer for a large machinery manufacturer.  His expertise is in lean manufacturing which means that operations should be cost effective and efficient to make things run smoother and to ultimately be more profitable. This also means that Solar Vision is constantly aware of energy efficiency.

Continuous Improvement is based on making many small changes.  The ideas for improvement come from the workers.  All employees continually seek ways to improve their own performance.  Employees make suggestions on how things can run smoother and more efficiently.  When employees know that their ideas are valued, they take ownership in the company which makes workers highly motivated and satisfied with their job.  The end result is that everyone makes more money.

Brainstorming Session

As a part of the seminar, brainstorming  activities were carried out by Heath and Shelley.  Everyone seemed to have a clear vision of the future and strategies and systems are being put in place to meet our goals.  The Continuous Improvement business strategy is a good fit for Solar Vision because of our clear goals, respect in the workplace, environment management, and progressive view of business operation in the 21st Century.

Commercial Window Film Applied During Construction

Commercial window film like this is applied to construction sites.  It takes the place of putting paper or plywood over the windows.  The window film provides privacy.  It obscures the ability to see in but still allows natural light to the interior.  In a few months, when construction is complete, the film will be removed.  Customers for this outdoor gear and apparel store can look forward to the store opening.  The store front is attractive and does not distract from the pleasant shopping environment.  This window film is used primarily as a commercial window film installation.  It increases tenant satisfaction during the construction phase.  Surrounding businesses are not affected by looking at plywood or paper or construction tools.

Purposes For Applying this Type of Commercial Window Film:

• Provides privacy during the construction phase of a project
• Allows light to enter the work area
• The storefront remains appealing
• Can be removed when construction is complete
• Is relatively inexpensive

Construction companies are beginning to frequently use this type of window film during the construction and or remodeling phase of their projects.  It looks so much better than the alternatives.

This type of commercial window films is one of the 3M Fasara films.  There are 59 finishes to choose from.  The film is made of a thin polyester.

3M Daylight Redirecting Film

At the 3M Conference in Puerto Rico, 3M introduced its new product 3M Daylight Redirecting Film, which is intended to help create green buildings.  The 3M Daylight Redirecting Film uses micro-replication to redirect the light that would have originally hit the floor a few feet from the window.  The light is directed to go up to the ceiling and then be reflected off the ceiling to light the room as far as 40 feet from the window.  About 80% of the light is brought into the room.  This reduces the need for artificial light during the day.  The natural light coming into the room increases productivity, people buy more, and reduces the need for electric lighting.  This energy efficient new window film technology can be used in retrofitting as well as new construction.   It is generally a commercial window film. The Daylight Redirecting Film is installed on the south, east, and west facing windows and is installed above a sill height of 6 feet to keep the sunlight out of the eyes of the people in the building.  The appearance of the glass with the redirecting film has the appearance of frosted glass.  The window film still keeps out harmful UV rays and stops glare and fading.  Some of the same benefits could be gained by putting a shelf on the window frame that reflects the light.  This shelf is not very attractive and is difficult to clean.  The window film is attractive and can be cleaned like any other window.

3M Daylight Redirecting Film will increase the sustainability and tenant satisfaction of a building.  It can be an effective energy management tool.  For specific information on how to use this new technology, contact  a Solar Vision Inc. representative.

2013 3M™ Dealer of the Year Northwest/Rocky Mountain Dealer of the Year Award

Heath and Shelley, owners of Solar Vision Inc,  traveled to Puerto Rico this spring to attend the 3M Conference.  At the conference, they received the 2013 Northwest/Rocky Mountain Dealer of the Year Award.  This is the second time they achieved the award.  They also got the award for 2011.  New goals and products were also announced at the conference.  Information on the products will be in a later post.  They had a great time in Puerto Rico experiencing the local flavor as well as the  traditional tourist attractions. .

Colorado State Bank Building

Colorado State Bank building located on 1600 Broadway in the heart of Denver was completed in 6 weeks. Prestige Window Film was applied to complete this 60,000 sq.ft. project.