Window privacy / polarizer films, Y/N?
Just got 1 roll to try it and frick around. Was pretty easy to apply and get a good result, surprised by that. Not sure I like how dark it looks from the inside, but it's supposed to be pretty good at privacy from the outside, will check it out in a while.
Anyone have experience using them? Would like some input before I dump ~$200 to tint my whole apt.
get some blinds stupid. what. do you hate sunlight?
I have blinds. Still too much sunlight coming in when the sun pops up to the point where I have to adjust them or I can't even see my screen. Also the apt gets hot when the sun is shining hard.
Also I'm on a corner apt on the 3rd floor so people in the street can probably see me very well.
I used them on windows that got nasty afternoon sun most of the year. They sell % tints so you can choose your level of darkness.
cellshades for heat, blackout shades for light
thanks
yeah I did moron but it depends how close I am to the window, they can only see my apt at an angle
>so people in the street can probably see me very well.
also GO THE FRICK OUTSIDE AND LOOK
I put up the simple frosted/translucent type (no tint, no pattern) on the lower halves of my apartment windows. Gila was the brand, came from Menards.
It was the right solution for my situation. I dislike blinds (filter too much light), and it's an old building with 6ft windows, so my lower (naked) half is clearly visible from the next street over at night.
Applying the stuff was fairly easy. I have a table large enough to lay out the film, make the cuts, etc. Have to make sure the window is spotless before you put it on. There's a glass called Sprayway with a light blue lid, it works well. I cleaned with a paper towel, then finished with a virgin microfiber cloth. Didn't have any little bubbles or imperfections.
thanks anon, I was also curious on that frosted one, does it look good?
>polarizer film
Soulless
>newspaper pasted onto the glass
S O V L
Just a pro tip: the metallic element within the film will block wifi. If you relied on wifi outside your house or apartment it will not work anymore. Alternatively, if your area is saturated with wifi signal, it's a good way of blocking outside signals.
Also Home Depot carries 3M films and have samples in binders. You could pay them a visit if you need to identify what you have.
Thank you anon! Great data, both tips.
I've got a mirror tint on my office window because it's right next to my front door. It works great, although it does darken the room a bit.
But from the outside you can't really tell that there's a mirror tint on it, it just looks like a shiny window in the sun. Then if you look closer you realize that you're not seeing inside as well as you otherwise would. It works pretty great.
I've also got some stronger frosted tint on a couple smaller windows. It's a much thicker plastic than the mirror tint, and adhesive-backed, so it's supposed to protect the window against being smashed, like the plastic in a laminated windshield.
I don't know how well it actually works against breakage, but as a translucent white tint it works great to prevent people from seeing inside.
All-in-all I'm happy with them.
Cutting around the edges is the only difficult part of installation.
Most of the windows I did have some kind of gap around an edge where more light gets in. That's the disadvantage to using dark tint, any tiny gaps are plainly visible. They don't look too bad, but it's noticeable.
>gaps
Fill them in with Sharpie.
Quit being a rentcuck. Your existence in a prison cell you pay for. Either rob a grocery store or network and move out to the country to gain real life skills. Bask in the natural sun.
meds, take them
Don't have to. Got my chickens, fresh air and spring water. Instead of a prison cell.
Spring is coming in Seattle and today my apt is hot as frick. I'll get the damn film for all the windows.
Two other potential issues, fwiw-
>Films like that offer almost no privacy at night when the lights are on, so you may still want/need a more obscure covering
> if a dual glazed window is subjected to direct sunlight and you put a reflective film on the innermost of the four glass sides light penetrates, there is a potential for heat energy to be concentrated in the insulated glass panel to a level that can cause catastrophic failure of the glass, the seals or both. This is especially true if the IG panel is already designed to reduce heat emissions or alter solar heat gain using special glass or a film or other coating, which may or may not be marked or otherwise obvious.
Window film retailers and installers will say this is a "myth" and the risk can be mitigated or may not exist at all with glass capable of resisting thermal stress...but there *are* guidelines to follow and some window glass can be particularly vulnerable if not treated properly.
well now I'm worried. I'm renting this place and it does seem that the windows are dual pane and indeed I'm putting the film on the inside (only place I can, really).
Wondering if I should shoot an email to the manager. It does seem VERY unlkely to me that they would blow up but who knows