Feeling the heat at Houghton

Houghton Lodge is a Grade II listed house and gardens, set in the picturesque town of Stockbridge in Hampshire. The Lodge attracts visitors from throughout the country, many of whom take time to enjoy the Lodge’s orangery. Whilst a beautiful building, the large expanses of glass meant that excess heat was an issue and The Window Film Company was approached for a solution.

The orangery is a versatile space that is used as a café, gift shop and during certain periods also plays host to art exhibitions and sales. It’s a popular and well used space, with the glass roof and large windows making it a bright and welcoming space. Ambience and appearance aside, the large amount of glass was resulting in the space becoming very hot very quickly, especially during the summer months and over the course of two visits, The Window Film Company was able to apply a film that solved the problem whilst still maintaining the look and feel of the stylish building.

In addition to the build-up of heat, the sun streaming through the glass was also creating glare, making it uncomfortable for visitors to enjoy the surroundings. There was also a less visible issue – the potential for fading. UV rays are one of the biggest causes of fading and left unchecked can cause irreversible damage to flooring, upholstery and other valuable items. With a full understanding of the issues, The Window Film Company was able to suggest Supertint for glass as a product that would mitigate against all three issues.

The film is a high performance solar protection product that works by reflecting away the suns solar energy before it enters the property. The reflective properties of the film give the exterior face of the glass a sleek mirrored appearance whilst allowing good levels of natural light to pass through the glass and maintaining the view from the inside out. Once applied, the film also reduces glare by up to 81% as well as blocking 99% of the suns’ harmful UV rays.

The film was applied in two phases by a team of The Window Film Company’s experienced and fully qualified installers. The first visit necessitated the fitting of over 135 square metres of film, with much of the installation involving the fitting of film to large glass roof panels. Working at height required the use of access equipment which was organised in advance of the installation by The Window Film Company’s dedicated operations team.

The second part of the job was an equally large installation, with 40 large panes being treated with the chosen film. Each pane was cut on site and carefully installed, with the work carried out quickly to ensure the minimum of disruption, but carefully and expertly to deliver a finish befitting of what is a stylish and impressive location.

With the film installed to both the roof area and large windows, the orangery was assured of a moderate and comfortable temperature and reduced glare, making it immediately more comfortable and inviting for visitors. In addition, the artwork on display was, along with other fixtures and fittings, protected from fading. All of these results were achieved without sacrificing natural light or blocking the view to the exterior.

For more information about this project or for details on the range of solar control films supplied and installed by The Window Film Company, please contact a member of the team on 01494 794477 or by emailing info@windowfilm.co.uk