How to Protect Your Home and Yourself from UV Rays

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible radiation from sunlight that cause many problems, from fading fabrics and premature damage to exterior components, to causing skin and eye problems. To coincide with UV Safety Awareness Month, window replacement company Renewal by Andersen® of Portland takes a look at how you can protect yourself and your home from the effects of UV rays.

Protecting Yourself

Protect yourself from UV rays every time you go outdoors, even if you’re just taking a quick walk. Sunscreen doesn’t block 100% of all UV rays, but there are types of sunscreen that can help minimize its effects. If you plan on getting a suntan, use sunblock with 50 SPF (sun protection factor), as opposed to the typical 30 SPF. Your kids should likewise use the same level of SPF if they’re staying with you for the same amount of time. If this is their first time to use sunscreen, ask your doctor for recommendations.

Your eyes could also use protection from UV rays. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. Buy sunglasses from certified manufacturers or optometrists. Off-the-rack sunglasses may only protect your eyes against glare, but are not guaranteed to provide UV protection. If in doubt, ask your ophthalmologist for recommendations.

Protecting Your Home

Many of today’s exterior components, such as roofing, siding and window replacement options, are made with some type of UV protection. Roofing and siding may have reflective coatings or are made with damage-resistant material. Flat roofs, which are often colored white, are naturally reflective and can resist UV rays far longer than their residential counterparts.

Being a form of light, UV rays can pass through any kind of window glass, including insulated ones. You need windows that have low-emissivity coatings. These “low E” coatings selectively block the invisible spectrum—which includes heat from the sun and UV rays—while letting visible light through. Unlike tinted glasses, low-emissivity coatings will not darken your interior space. This coating has proven to be so effective that our High Performance™ Low-E4® glass packages, which comes standard with our replacement windows, also come with low emissivity coatings.

Renewal by Andersen of Portland is your leading provider of window replacement options that will help protect your home against UV rays. Give us a call at (503) 419-3960 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Vancouver, WA, and Portland, OR.