Essential Guide to Patio Door Window Film

Patio doors are often one of the most attractive features of a home, allowing natural light to flow into living spaces and providing a direct connection to the outdoors. However, they can also introduce challenges such as excessive heat, glare, and compromised privacy. This is where patio door window film can be an effective solution.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about window film for patio doors, the problems it addresses, and how Concord’s ComforTech Ceramic Series Patio Door Kits can transform your living space.

First, for those who are new to window film, let’s take a look at what it is.

What is Window Film?

Window film is a thin, multi-layered polyester material that adheres to the interior surface of glass to improve a window’s functionality. It’s available in various types, designed to perform specific functions such as reducing heat, minimizing glare, improving privacy, or adding a layer of safety and security.

Our ComforTech™ Ceramic Series window films are solar control films. This means they are designed to block solar energy from entering your windows. Window film achieves this with a combination of absorbing AND rejecting the solar energy.

Depending on the “active ingredient” used to make the film (i.e.: dyes, metals, nanoceramic particles) the film will absorb or reflect in differing amounts.

Let’s take a look at how window film works:

Key Problems Solved by Patio Door Window Film

Patio doors bring in sunlight and warmth and accentuate views to the outdoors, but they can also introduce several issues. Here’s a closer look at some common problems that can be mitigated with patio door window film:

Heat Reduction

Patio doors, especially large sliding ones, can be major sources of heat gain during warmer months. Concord’s solar control window film options help reduce the amount of solar heat entering your home by up to 82%. The industry standard measurement for comparing a film’s heat rejection performance is Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER).

TSER is a measurement of how much of the solar energy that hits a filmed window is rejected by that filmed window. It includes what is reflected, absorbed and takes into account the amount of absorbed heat that is re-radiated inward. The higher the number, the less heat enters the home.

You can see in our performance chart below, that the TSER for our ComforTech™ Ceramic Series window film ranges from 51% for our lightest film, the ComforTech™ 45 all the way up to 82% for our darkest film the ComforTech™ 05.

So, solar control performance is a function of how dark the film is. To maximize solar control, you want to choose the darkest film you are comfortable with.

Reducing the heat coming in through the patio door makes living areas more comfortable and lowers cooling costs. We’ve also had customers purchase our film to reduce the heat coming in through a slider because it was so hot that their luxury vinyl plank flooring was melting.

If you’re interested in a similar solution for standard windows, our ComforTech Ceramic Series window film is also available in window kits. And check out our guide to ordering window film from Concord Window Film.

Glare Control

Glare from sunlight can make it difficult to enjoy TV, view a computer screen when working from home, or relax in your living space. Glare is caused by a light source being too bright for the space and can be countered by reducing the amount of visible light that comes through a window.

Window film helps reduce glare by filtering the intensity of sunlight, allowing for clearer visibility without drawing the curtains. All five shades of our ComforTech™ film reduce the amount of visible light that enters through a patio door. And again, the darker the film you choose, the more the glare will be reduced.

You can read more about glare and how window film can help here.

UV Protection

Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate patio doors, causing fading of furniture, floors, and décor. High-quality window film blocks up to 99% of UV rays, offering significant protection against interior fading and maintaining the look of your home for longer.

All Concord Window Film’s products block 99% of UV rays in the 300-380nm spectrum. So, the UV protection the film provides is independent of the shade of film you purchase. In fact, we have a Clear UV film (with no solar control technology beyond UV) that blocks 99% of UV with zero tint to the film.

You can read more about UV and window film here.

Privacy Enhancement

One of the most popular reasons for using window film on patio doors is to increase privacy. For homeowners with patio doors facing neighbors or streets, transparent window film can obscure the view from the outside without blocking the view from the inside.

Three of our ComforTech Ceramic Series shades provide enough exterior reflectivity to create a one-way mirror effect when it is brighter outside than inside; they are our three darkest shades: ComforTech 25, ComforTech 15, and ComforTech 05. 

Read more about how privacy window film works and the options available to you.

Energy Efficiency

By regulating indoor temperatures, window film reduces the strain on your heating and cooling systems. This contributes to a more energy-efficient home and can lower utility bills over time.  Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy classifies window film as an energy-efficient window covering. And some utilities give their customers rebates for installing window film in their homes.

If you want to explore how window film can make your home more energy-efficient, read our post on how window film reduces energy costs.

Fade Reduction

A final benefit to ComforTech™ Ceramic Series window film is its fade protection properties. Fading from the sun is problematic for furnishings, curtains, and floors.

Our ComforTech™ film reduces all three of the main factors that lead to fading: UV light, visible light, and heat.

By installing ComforTech™ window film, you will be slowing down the fading of all of your furniture, floors, and décor.

Read more about fading from the sun and how to protect your interiors from it.

ComforTech™ Ceramic Series Patio Door Window Film

So, if you have a problematic patio door, we have just the thing for you: our Patio Door Window Film Kits. The kits are available in all five shades of our ComforTech Ceramic Series window film (from light to dark: 45, 35, 25, 15, and 05). Each kit contains two pieces of 36” wide x 76” tall window film to fit most standard 6068 sliding glass or patio doors.

Why Choose ComforTech Ceramic Series for Your Patio Door Window Film?

There are a few things that make our ComforTech Ceramic Series film better than anything else you will be able to purchase directly:

Advanced Ceramic Technology

Most online films on the market today don’t tell you what film technology they are using. And we can say from those we’ve seen that almost all of it is older metallic technology.

Up until now, if you wanted the newer ceramic technology for your home, the only way you could access it was through a professional installer. We are changing all that by making the same professional ceramic window film the pros use, which is available to you directly.

The ComforTech Ceramic Series utilizes nano-ceramic particles that provide superior heat rejection without interfering with natural light. This makes it an ideal choice for homeowners who want to maintain the brightness of their interiors while reducing heat and glare. And ceramic provides a neutral charcoal look to the film that homeowners love.

Dual Reflective Film

Our ComforTech Ceramic Series film is also dual reflective. Ceramic is highly reflective, allowing the film to offer high solar and heat rejection. But no one wants a highly reflective tint on the inside of their windows.

So, our dual reflective film has less reflectivity on the inside of the film than on the outside of the film. It’s less reflective than the metal films for sale at the big boxes and allows you to see out of the window film at night more easily.

Easy Installation

Our ComforTech film has two features that make it easier to install than other online or big-box films:

• Dry adhesive – most cheaper window films come with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the film. This means when you remove the film’s liner, the back of the film will be sticky. This makes the film difficult to handle and hard to install.Our ComforTech™ Ceramic Series film has a dry adhesive. This means the back of the film is not sticky when you remove the liner. The adhesive is activated by water and takes time to develop. This makes installing the film infinitely easier than other DIY films.
• Thickness – most DIY films available today are thin, 1MIL thick films. You need to be careful handling them because they wrinkle and crease easily. Once those films have creases or wrinkles in them, you can throw them away. Just check out the online reviews of the big box film to see how hard folks are finding working with the cheaper films.On the other hand, our ComforTech Ceramic Series film is twice as thick at 2MIL and is more forgiving. You can handle it normally without it wrinkling or creasing, making the installation process much easier.

To learn more about our other ceramic window films, visit the ComforTech Ceramic Series page.

How to Choose a Shade of Patio Door Window Film

Choosing a shade of ComforTech Ceramic Series window film comes down to the issue you are trying to solve coupled with your personal design preferences. Here are a few key guidelines to keep in mind:

• All of our film blocks the same amount of UV (99% in the 300-380nm spectrum) regardless of the shade you choose
• Only the three darkest shades: ComforTech 25, 15, and 05 provide reliable daytime privacy
• All of the shades provide solar control, glare reduction, fade protection, and energy savings – but the extent to which they do, increases the darker the film you choose to go with.

In general, the rule of thumb is for maximum results, choose the darkest shade of film you are comfortable with.

For more detailed help in choosing the right shade of patio door window film for you:

1. Take our quick Product Recommendation Quiz.
2. Or purchase a window film sample kit to view all the shades in your home.

After you’ve chosen your shade of film, the next thing to do is order the film.

How to Order Patio Door Window Film

Ordering patio door window film is easy with Concord’s pre-cut patio door kits. 

Once you’ve chosen the shade of ComforTech Ceramic Series film you’d like, navigate to the shade’s product page. You can find the product pages under the SHOP menu. Just click on ComforTech Ceramic Series (the first option) and you’ll be taken to the main page. Then select your shade:

Once you are on the product page for your shade, you’ll click on Window Type and from the the dropdown menu, you’ll select Patio Door Kit:

Then you’ll just select 1 Kit from the second drop down. If you want to purchase more than one kit, you can use the counter next to the Add to Cart button to choose the number of kits you’d like to purchase.

Each Patio Door Window Film kit comes with two pieces of film that are 36″ wide by 76″ tall to fit most standard 6’0 x 6’8″ patio or sliding glass doors. If your doors are larger and you need a bigger piece of film, we have a custom cut option where you can enter the size of your glass and we will cut the film for you.

You can order Custom Cut Window Film kits here.

Why Install Patio Door Window Film Yourself?

Many homeowners opt for DIY window film installation due to its affordability and convenience. Here are some reasons why installing window film yourself is a great idea:

1. Cost Savings: Hiring a professional can be costly. DIY window film kits offer significant savings, as you only pay for the material and can complete the project in a few hours.
2. Easy Application: Most window film kits, like the ComforTech Ceramic Series, come with detailed instructions and tools needed for application. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a beginner, you can achieve professional results.
3. Immediate Results: Once installed, you’ll immediately notice a reduction in glare and heat, improved privacy, and increased comfort, making it a quick fix with long-term benefits.

How to Install Patio Door Window Film

Installing patio door window film is a straightforward process that can be completed with a few simple tools. Here is an abbreviated overview of the window film installation process:

1. Clean the Glass: Start by cleaning the glass surface thoroughly. Use a mild solution of soap and water to remove dust, dirt, and grime.
2. Wet the Glass: Use a spray bottle to apply a soapy water solution to the glass. This will help the film adhere smoothly.
3. Apply the Film: Peel off the liner from the film and spray the adhesive side of the film. Then position the film on the wet glass. Spray the exposed side of the film with the solution and use a squeegee to remove bubbles and ensure a smooth finish.
4. Trim Excess Film: Use a utility knife to trim any excess film around the edges for a clean, professional look.

We have a full installation video you can watch on our youtube channel:

Or for written instructions, download our window film installation guide.

Patio Door Window Film Summary

Patio door window film is an essential addition for homeowners looking to enhance comfort, improve privacy, and increase energy efficiency. Concord’s ComforTech Ceramic Series Patio Door Kits offer a high-quality, DIY-friendly solution that delivers professional-grade results.

Whether you’re seeking heat reduction, UV protection, or added security, window film can address various concerns, making your patio doors an asset rather than a challenge.

Start transforming your space today by exploring the benefits of Patio Door Window Film Kits and experience the comfort of professional-grade window film at an affordable price.