Francesca's Waterfront Home

Case Study: Francesca
Waterfront Home

Client Background

Client: Francesca, Residential Homeowner

Location: Clareville, Pittwater-facing property

Francesca’s beautiful waterfront property features extensive glass surfaces, including a large glass canopy and a full-width expanse of living room windows and sliding doors. Although these features capture stunning water views, they also expose the home to intense sun exposure, causing significant heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Francesca’s goal was to maintain these views without compromising comfort or energy efficiency.

Film Installed

Challenges

Francesca’s main concerns were:

Temperature Control: Excessive heat during summer and rapid heat loss in winter.

Energy Efficiency: Francesca noticed that it was taking longer to warm her living space in winter, requiring the use of additional heating.

Uninterrupted Views: While internal blinds were considered, they were dismissed as they would obstruct the view Francesca’s home was designed to showcase.

The home features a large, motorized external awning over the canopy, which provides shade but does not prevent the transfer of heat through the glass.

Solution Provided

Product Used: XPEL VISION All Season Intelligence 65 PS

To deliver year-round comfort and energy efficiency, we selected the XPEL VISION All Season Intelligence 65 PS. This high-performance film offers:

Total Solar Energy Rejection (TSER): 52%

UV Rejection: Over 99%

U-Factor: 3.5, delivering insulation similar to double-glazed windows

Reduced Reflectivity: For clearer, less reflective views from inside

The film was applied both inside and on the underside of the external glass canopy to ensure consistent thermal expansion across each of the large glass panels (3.5m each, extending 1m past the wall). This custom installation approach minimizes the risk of warping or cracking and maximizes durability.

Results Achieved

Following the installation, Francesca immediately noticed improvements:

Faster Heating: The room warms more quickly when the fire is on.

Maintained Comfort: Temperatures are now retained longer, reducing reliance on heating in winter.

Enhanced View: The XPEL VISION film enhances the water view by reducing internal reflections, especially during bright sunny mornings.

Testimonial

I am very happy to share my experience working with Stuart Sharpe from PFA, for the supply and installation of XPEL Vision at my home in Clareville.

From start to finish, Stuart demonstrated professionalism and expertise in his field.

Stuart took the time to understand our needs and provided valuable recommendations on the best film options for our home. Stuart’s attention to detail was evident throughout the entire process. The installation was completed efficiently, and the results have exceeded our expectations.

We have a house made of steel and lots of glass, including a glass hood. Throughout winter the heat from our room escaped very quickly but after the installation it took less time to heat the room and maintained the temperature for much longer. The tint enhances our water views.

What impressed me most was Stuart's commitment to customer satisfaction. I asked Stuart a lot of questions which he responded to quickly. Stuart made sure the product was perfectly installed and the area left clean. Stuart and his team were very respectful and tidy as they worked.