Window Film for Doors: Your Options Explained

By September 20, 2022 February 17th, 2023 Blog


You can use window film for doors to obtain a wide variety of aesthetic and functional results and benefits. But, with all the different types of window film out there, it can be hard to know what the best option is. 

With our 30+ years in the window and door film industry, we’re more than equipped with the knowledge and experience to help make your decision easier. 

By the time you finish reading this article, you should have a far better understanding of what types of window film you can use to get the results you want.

 

What Types of Doors Can I Apply Window Film To?

Any door that’s partially or completely made of glass is a candidate for window film. For example, we often apply film to all-glass doors that are part of glass retail storefronts or full-glass office buildings.

We also frequently apply window film to doors made from wood or metal that have one or more glass panels in them, often to add privacy and/or security.

Window film can be applied to both exterior and interior doors, as well, and even to both surfaces of the glass. 

Depending on the benefits you want, you may choose different types of films for your entryway doors and for the doors inside your property. We’ll discuss combining different window films later.

The Different Types of Window Film for Doors (And What They’re For)

Safety and security window film for doors

3M safety and security window film is one of our most popular films for residential and commercial doors alike.

This pliable Mylar coating is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve safety and security when it comes to glazing.

Safety and security window film protects against:

 

Safety and security window film reinforces the existing glass against impacts and, although it doesn’t prevent glass from breaking, helps hold broken glass in place to mitigate safety hazards, reduce damage, and delay forced entry.

If a glass door protected by security window film gets broken, the film retains the sharp, jagged shards, instead of allowing them to fly dangerously inwards towards anyone on the other side. This drastically improves human safety wherever glass hazards are a concern.

Even though security window film doesn’t stop glass from breaking during a forced entry attempt, it can delay forced entry enough to deter would-be intruders or give the authorities time to arrive and catch them in the act.

Privacy window film/window tinting film for doors

If you want to increase privacy or change the appearance of your glass doors, window film is an affordable way to do so.

Window film is available in a huge array of finishes, from classic dark gray/black tints to color-shifting and reflective varieties.

If you just want to prevent people from seeing in through your door, a dark or reflective tint on the glass is a great way to provide a high level of daytime privacy (when the light outside is brighter than inside).

We also frequently use window film as part of a process known as facade re-imaging. This is a way to completely renovate and transform older building facades, giving them a contemporary facelift to improve curb appeal and NOI.

For example, we can apply a modern mirrored window film to bring an old glass office building into the current era.

Decorative window film for doors

Decorative window film for doors is available for a variety of applications. 

For instance, we often use colored or frosted film to apply logos, designs, or text to commercial glass doors for purely decorative purposes.

Frosted or opaque film is also an excellent way to add both decoration and full or partial privacy to glass doors. This is a common solution in areas like medical clinic reception/waiting rooms, as well as glass-walled conference rooms.

Energy-efficient window film for doors

Window film is also an excellent way to improve the energy efficiency of your building, without the high price tag of replacing all your doors and windows with the latest technology.

Low-e, or low-emissivity, window film insulates glass doors and windows to reduce solar heat gain and loss through the glass.

In other words, it makes you less reliant on air conditioning when it’s hot outside, and less dependent on heating systems when it’s cold.

If you apply this type of insulating window film to all your building’s doors and windows, it can make a very significant difference in your monthly utility bills. 

In fact, so much so that the installation is typically an investment that pays for itself within just a few years of the date of install.

Benefits of low-e window film:

  • Reduces solar heat gain through windows and doors
  • Helps keep cool/warm air from HVAC systems in
  • Blocks approximately 99.9% of the sun’s harmful UV rays
  • Reduces glare and fading of furnishings
  • Provides significant energy savings

Can I Use Multiple Window Films on Doors?

You don’t have to limit yourself to just one of the door film options mentioned above. We can combine various different window films to achieve the combination of aesthetics and performance you want.

For example, combining safety and security window film with tinted film provides high levels of safety, security, and privacy.

Or, you might choose to combine reflective window film with low-e film to modernize your building aesthetically and efficiency-wise all at once.

Keep in mind that not all combinations of window films work on all glass doors, so it’s important to get a professional consultation from the experts at Campbell before you make any final decisions.

Additionally, installing window film incorrectly can result in inefficient glass performance and bad aesthetics, and can even damage your windows and doors.

That’s why you should always hire professionals with the experience and expertise to ensure you get the return on your investment you want.

 

Contact Campbell today for a free window and door film consultation.