How to Avoid UV Light Damage to Wood Furniture
UV light can fade and discolor nearly everything it comes into contact with, even things that are inside your home, and your hardwood furniture is no exception. You can avoid this from happening in many ways, such as using window treatments like curtains and blinds. If you like the natural sunlight and don't want to keep your windows covered all day, consider another solution: window film, a product you place over your windows that blocks UV rays from coming inside your home, thus protecting your furniture. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Window film
- Film application solution
- Tape measure
- Sewing scissors
- Low-lint cloth
- Razor knife
- Razor blade
- Rubber squeegee
- Edging tool
- Scotch tape
- Sheet or towel
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Tie back or remove window treatments.
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2
Scrape off anything that may be stuck to the inside of the window, such as tape or paint drips, using a razor blade. This is crucial since anything left behind will cause the film to bubble.
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3
Clean both the inside and the outside of the window so that there is flawless clarity. Focus on the corners of the windows where dirt tends to gather; use a razor blade, if necessary, to remove any dirt that may be stuck.
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4
Place a large sheet, towel or painter's plastic below the window to catch any drips that will fall during the installation process.
Hanging the Film
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5
Measure the window carefully, both length and width. Measure twice to ensure that your measurements are correct.
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6
Unroll the window film onto a clean flat surface, such as a large kitchen table. Starting from one of the factory edges, measure the film using your measurements and add an additional three inches on the other three sides. You can trim the excess film after you apply the film to the window. Cut the film with sharp sewing scissors.
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7
Place one piece of one-inch scotch tape to the front of the liner (which is the adhesive side) and one piece of tape to the back (which is the film). Place two more pieces of tape over the first two pieces to cover up the sticky sides of the tape. The purpose of the tape is to make pulls so that you can separate the liner from the film. Do not remove the liner from the film at this point; just prepare your tape pulls.
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8
Spray the film side of the liner, remove the adhesive liner and immediately spray the adhesive side of the film. Spray the window with the application solution. Make sure that both sides of the film are saturated as well as the window. You may need to have an extra pair of hands to accomplish this task.
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9
Carefully place the sprayed film (with the adhesive side toward the window) onto the window. Smooth the liner out as well as you can using your hands. Keep the film saturated with the application solution. Once the film is in place and you have smoothed out most of the creases, use the squeegee to smooth out the rest, going from top to bottom first, then left to right, beginning at the top and working your way down.
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10
Trim the remaining film away from the window using the edge trimmer and a utility knife, leaving a 1/16-inch gap around the edges of the window. Use the edge trimmer around the entire perimeter of the window to ensure accuracy.
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11
Remove the excess film by pulling back and away from the window. Failing to do so could result in the laid film being lifted from the window.
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12
Rewet the film and begin to squeegee the film again, going from left to right, right to left. Watch for air bubbles, and squeegee any that are visible immediately.
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13
Wrap the low-lint cloth over the top of the squeegee and begin pressing down on the film, going left to right and right to left, pushing out all of the excess water from underneath the film.
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14
Allow the film to cure for twenty four hours.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Only apply film when the temperature outside is between 40 and 90 degrees. Also only apply film to regular window glass (no frosted, damaged, or glass older than 40 years).
