Residential · Safety & security
Residential Safety & Security Window Film
Add an extra layer of protection to your home's glass with professionally installed safety and security window films — including Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil by Madico®, which also cuts heat and glare.
Text or call (727) 804-3611 · photos of your windows welcome
We inspect the glass and frame before recommending any security film.
Where it helps
Where homeowners add security film
Security film is most useful on glass that is easy to reach, easy to break or expensive to have shatter.
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Sliding glass doors
Large, low panes that face the yard, pool or lanai.
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Entry sidelights and door glass
Glass within reach of the lock — a common weak point.
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Ground-floor windows
Out-of-sight windows at the side and rear of the house.
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Large picture windows
Big panes where both glare and broken glass are a concern.
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Accidental breakage
Glass near stairs, play areas and busy walkways.
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Sun-facing glass
Where you want solar control and glass retention together.
How it works
A bonded layer that holds the glass together
Safety and security film is a tough, multi-ply polyester film with a strong adhesive. Once installed and cured, it bonds to the inside surface of the glass.
When the glass breaks, the fragments stay stuck to the film instead of falling into the room. A broken pane that holds together is safer to be around, and harder and slower to get through — especially compared with untreated glass that can be cleared in seconds.
For some windows, an attachment system anchors the film to the frame so the whole broken pane is more likely to stay in the opening. Whether that's right for your windows depends on the frame and the goal.
Solar control + safety in one film
Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil safety & security film
For homes that want both: a multi-ply 8-mil construction that helps hold broken glass together, with the heat and glare control of a grey solar film — one film on the glass instead of two.
Standard Designer Grey is a solar film. Only the 8-mil versions below are safety and security films.
| Published by Madico | Designer Grey 358 mil | Designer Grey 458 mil |
|---|---|---|
| Visible light transmitted | 36% | 43% |
| Total solar energy rejected | 55% | 51% |
| Glare reduction | 60% | 51% |
| UV rejection | 99% or more | 99% or more |
| Exterior reflectance | 15% | 14% |
- Construction
- Multi-ply laminate
- Tensile strength
- 25,000 psi average (machine and transverse direction)
- Break strength
- 200 lb per inch of width
Values as published by Madico for the film; installed performance depends on the glass, frame and installation. Madico product data (opens in a new tab)
Film thickness
6, 8 and 10 mil: what the number means
You don't need to know film thickness to get an estimate — but here's how we think about it.
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6 mil
Glass safety and retention
A common starting point where the main goal is holding broken glass together — glass doors, sidelights and panes at risk of accidental impact.
Product confirmed per project
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8 mil
Added security with solar control
A heavier construction for doors, ground-floor windows and storefront glass. Our featured option, Sunscape® Designer Grey 8-mil, adds heat and glare control at the same time.
Sunscape Designer Grey 35 / 45
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10 mil
Heavier-duty applications
Considered for higher-exposure glazing, often together with an attachment system. A thicker film is not automatically stronger in every test or every assembly.
Product confirmed per project
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Thickness is only one factor: film construction, adhesive, the glass itself, the frame and any attachment system all affect how a window performs when it breaks. Two films of the same thickness can perform differently, so we compare published data for the specific product — not just the number.
Installation
How a residential security film project works
- 01
Inspect the glass
We identify the glass type, size and frame, and confirm the film is suitable for that pane.
- 02
Choose film and attachment
Thickness, shade and whether an attachment system makes sense — explained in writing.
- 03
Prepare and install
Clean, edge-to-edge preparation and installation, with your floors and finishes protected.
- 04
Cure and care
Film needs time to cure. We give you the drying timeline and cleaning guidance for your film.
Homeowner questions
Residential security film FAQ
Does security window film prevent break-ins?
No film can guarantee that. Security film is designed to help hold broken glass together, so an intruder can't simply break a pane and step through — it takes more time and noise to clear an opening. That delay is the benefit. It works best alongside good locks, lighting and an alarm.
Can security film be installed on my existing windows?
Usually, yes — that's the main appeal. The film is applied to the inside of the existing glass. We check the glass type, size and condition first, because not every film is suitable for every pane.
What's the difference between 6-, 8- and 10-mil film?
A mil is a thousandth of an inch. Thicker films are generally used where more glass retention is wanted, but thickness alone doesn't decide performance — the film's construction, adhesive, the glass, the frame and any attachment system all matter. We compare published data for the specific film rather than recommending by thickness alone.
Is security film clear or tinted?
Both exist. Our featured film, Sunscape Designer Grey 8-mil, is tinted grey — Designer Grey 35 is darker and Designer Grey 45 lets in more light. If you want a clear security film instead, we'll confirm a specific product for your project.
Can safety film also reduce heat?
Some can. Sunscape Designer Grey 8-mil combines security construction with solar control: Madico publishes total solar energy rejection of 55% for Designer Grey 35 and 51% for Designer Grey 45, with 99% or more UV rejection. Clear safety films generally do much less for heat.
Does security film protect against hurricanes?
Don't rely on it for that. Security film is not a hurricane protection system: it doesn't make ordinary windows impact-rated or code-compliant, and it doesn't replace approved shutters, panels or impact glass. It can help hold glass fragments together if a pane breaks, which is a safety benefit — not storm protection.
Does security film need a frame attachment system?
Not always. Film alone helps hold fragments together. For some glass and goals, an attachment system that anchors the film to the frame is worth considering, because it helps keep the broken pane in the opening. Whether it fits depends on your frames and what you want the film to do — we'll explain the options.
How long does installation take?
Most homes are a single visit; it depends on the number and size of panes and whether an attachment system is included. The film then needs time to cure — we'll give you the timeline for your film and glass.
Next step
Request a residential security film estimate
Tell us which glass you'd like to protect and whether heat and glare matter too. We'll recommend a film and explain exactly what it will and won't do.
Free estimates by phone · on-site assessments when the glass needs to be seen.