What Solar Shield does

Solar Shield is a family-owned window film installation company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Savage, Minnesota, serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro area. The company provides professional installation of window films and paint protection films across three horizontal customer segments: residential homeowners (heat rejection, UV protection, privacy, glare reduction), commercial businesses (energy efficiency, security, decorative, and branding applications), and automotive owners (window tint, paint protection film, custom graphics, and remote starters). It is a Llumar Select Pro dealer with access to premium Eastman Chemical film products including Llumar, Vista, and EnerLogic lines, as well as Solyx decorative films via Decorative Films LLC. The company emphasizes process-driven installation with contamination control and offers lifetime warranties on residential films and 15-year warranties on commercial films.

The business operates a sales-led, project-based model with free on-site estimates and quote-based pricing, supplemented by a 15-partner local referral network that provides $50 gift card incentives per referred job. Marketing channels include a 40+ article content blog, active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, city-specific SEO landing pages targeting Twin Cities suburbs, and a 4.9 Google rating across 165+ reviews that anchors the local reputation. The team consists of 7 visible members, including owners Denise and Mark Gjerde, a Shop Manager, a Flatglass Manager, and three installers, reflecting a small skilled-trade service operation.

From a technology standpoint, Solar Shield does not develop proprietary film technology; instead, it sources and installs third-party engineered films whose underlying capabilities include nano-ceramic nanoparticles that reject up to 84% of solar energy and block 99.9% of UV rays, spectrally selective coatings, low-emissivity films that can increase window R-value by over 40%, security/safety films that hold glass together upon impact, and self-healing polyurethane paint protection films that activate at approximately 120°F. The company is an EPA ENERGY STAR Partner and has operated continuously for over 35 years in a single regional market, with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, parent company, or institutional investors.

Name

Solar Shield

Legal name

Solar Shield

Website

https://gjerdessolarshield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solar Shield is a family-owned window film installation company founded in 1989, serving residential, commercial, and automotive customers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area as a certified Llumar Select Pro dealer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Window Film Installation Services

NAICS

Drywall and Insulation Contractors (238310)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Panel Cleaning (HSAEAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vapor Retarders & Vapor Barrier Films (IMADAGAJ)

Keywords

• Window film installation
• Paint protection film
• Residential window tinting
• Commercial window tinting
• Automotive window tinting

Headquarters

HQ city

Savage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Window Film Installation Services: One-time installation services for residential, commercial, and automotive window films. Revenue generated per job based on square footage, film type, and complexity of installation.
2. Paint Protection Film (PPF) Installation: One-time automotive paint protection film installation services. Pricing varies by vehicle coverage type (front clip vs full body) and film quality selected.
3. Paint Protection Film A La Carte: Individual paint protection components available for purchase separately, such as front bumper protection.
4. Auto Remote Starter Installation: Auto remote starter installation service offered as an additional automotive product. Base unit costs $334.50 (taxes not included).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solar Shield is a professional window film and paint protection film installation company serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro area since 1989. As a certified Llumar Select Pro dealer, the company installs residential, commercial, and automotive films — including nano-ceramic, spectrally selective, low-e energy-saving, decorative, safety/security, and self-healing paint protection films — for heat rejection, UV protection, glare reduction, privacy, energy efficiency, and security applications.

Product overview

Solar Shield is a window film installation company serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul (Twin Cities) metro area since 1989. The company operates as a Llumar Select Pro dealer and offers a comprehensive portfolio of window film products and professional installation services across three main segments: Residential (window tinting, decorative films, safety films), Commercial (window tinting, security films, decorative films, custom graphics), and Automotive (window tinting, paint protection film, custom graphics). Key product brands include Llumar, Vista, EnerLogic, and Solyx films. The company provides specialized services including heat rejection, UV protection (up to 99.9%), glare reduction, privacy enhancement, safety/security protection, and energy efficiency solutions through professional film installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Window Tinting Window film installation for homes providing heat rejection, UV protection, glare reduction, and privacy. Films block up to 99.9% of UV rays and reject up to 84% of solar energy, intended for residential homeowners.
• Commercial Window Tinting Window film installation for commercial buildings and offices, offering energy-efficient, security, and decorative film options. Can reduce 56-75% of total solar energy rejected (TSER); serves business owners, property managers, and facility operators.
• Automotive Window Tinting Window tint film installation for vehicles providing UV protection, heat rejection, glare reduction, and shatter resistance. Includes ceramic, dyed, and metallic film options, intended for vehicle owners.
• Decorative Window Film Interior and exterior decorative window films including frosted, gradient, textured, stained glass, and custom printed graphics for privacy and aesthetic enhancement, applied to both residential and commercial windows.
• Safety Window Film Security window films that strengthen glass against forced entry, blasts, and storms. Includes attachment systems for holding shattered glass together, meeting tempered glass ratings.
• Paint Protection Film (PPF) Transparent polyurethane film applied to vehicle body panels to protect paint from scratches, rock chips, and environmental wear. Features self-healing technology that activates around 120°F (49°C); offered full body or a la carte (e.g., front bumper).
• Custom Graphics Custom-designed window and vehicle graphics applied to glass surfaces for branding, signage, and aesthetic purposes, intended for vehicle owners and commercial customers.
• Auto Remote Starter Installation Auto remote starter installation service offered as an additional automotive product. Base unit costs $334.50 (taxes not included); intended for vehicle owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blocks 99.9% of UV rays for skin and interior protection
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Llumar (Eastman Chemical Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar Shield is a LLumar Select Pro dealer, providing exclusive access to premium Llumar window film products including LLumar Select, Vista, and related brands. Eastman Chemical Company (founder George Eastman, 1920) is the world's largest window film manufacturer, providing technical certifications, warranty support, and marketing materials.
• Referral Partner NetworksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSolar Shield partners with 15 local businesses for mutual referrals: Addison, Budget Blinds, CE Contracts, Che Bella, DAS, Eastman, Embellishment, Focus EyeCare, Genesis, Glass Source, Meridian, Niosi, Pro Finishers, Reflections Final, Sub Zero. Referral gift cards averaging $50 per residential/commercial job are offered as incentives.
• Eastman Chemical CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationEastman is the parent company of Llumar and Vista window film brands. Founded in 1920, Eastman focuses on chemical compositions that create window films - the largest window film manufacturer globally. They invented many materials that compose modern window films.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tint World: Tint World is a national franchise specializing in automotive, residential, and commercial window tinting along with paint protection film. It is the most directly comparable franchise business model to Solar Shield, operating similar service offerings (auto tint, PPF, residential/commercial films) through certified installer networks.
• Window Film Depot: Window Film Depot is a U.S. window film installer serving residential, commercial, and architectural customers with energy-efficient, decorative, and safety films. It is a directly comparable installation service competing on similar product types and customer segments.
• National Window Film: National Window Film is a U.S. installer and distributor of architectural and decorative window films for commercial and residential buildings. Comparable to Solar Shield as a competing installation specialist working with multiple film brands and dealer relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Solar Gard (Saint-Gobain): Solar Gard is a window film manufacturer owned by Saint-Gobain, selling solar control, security, and decorative films through a network of certified installers. Comparable to Solar Shield's Llumar relationship as a broad incumbent film manufacturer with an installer ecosystem the company participates in as a seller rather than buyer.
• Madico Inc. Madico is a U.S.-based manufacturer of architectural and automotive window films with a network of certified dealers. Comparable to Eastman/Llumar as an upstream film manufacturer that competes for the same pool of installation partners and represents an alternative supplier/partner for dealers like Solar Shield.
• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison manufactures automotive and architectural films including paint protection and wrap films distributed through certified installer networks. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose installer ecosystem and product range (especially PPF) overlap with Solar Shield's automotive offerings.
• Eastman Chemical Company: Eastman Chemical is the parent manufacturer of Llumar, Vista, and EnerLogic window film brands and Solar Shield's core supplier. It is comparable as both an upstream partner (whom Solar Shield is a certified dealer for) and a broad incumbent whose dealer ecosystem defines the competitive set.
• 3M Window Film: 3M produces commercial and residential window films (including security, sun control, and decorative lines) sold through an authorized dealer network. Comparable to Llumar as a major diversified manufacturer whose dealer network competes for the same end customers as Solar Shield.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GjerdesSolarShield
• Facebookfacebook.com/61578791237120
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gjerdes-solar-shield
• Instagraminstagram.com/solarshieldmn
• Xx.com/solarshieldinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solar Shield