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dual pane window privacy film

75cruisin

Red Skull Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Member Number
4551
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15
So I would like to add some privacy film to some windows on the house. Think close HOA setup. This will be for side/rear doors/windows. I want something that I can see out of, if it darkens the window thats fine as it would reduce glare and reduce heat in the summer. Main point is to be able to have blinds open but not be able to have people see in.

Ive seen stuff like this:

amazon link

Anybody have suggestions, dos/donts, experience with install and lifetime?
 
I put similar film on our front office door. You can't see fuckall through it during the day unless you put your face directly to the glass but it doesn't do a damn thing to block light from coming in either. If it's overcast or dark out you can see through it though if there's any light.

If I was looking to do more than one door/window though I'd call a local tint place and see what they suggest/let them install. Imagine you can probably get something that does what you're looking for and insulates better.
 
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I haven't tried that one yet, but I've been through a few (from Amazon) and so far they all suck.

I've got the solid frosted up right now and it's 100% non-see-through. Light gets through but you're not even seeing shapes on the other side.

Mine started as trying to get the dogs to stop sitting at the window barking at every little thing, and since I never found one that worked, no I just have the frosted up on the bathroom window.
 
Used to work for an outfit in SF that made the stuff on PET...Amusingly it's not as "private" as one would like to believe, hence why they don't as a rule offer windows made that way for privacy purposes, it's only reflective if the light on the outside is brighter than inside. Its being peddled as an enhanced solar gain reduction material nowadays.

I lived in a place that had a picture window in the bathroom overlooking the backyard once...we checked it before renting during the day cuz there was no curtain. No problem looked good...until one evening Im taking a shower and thru the slightly not dark window I spot a next door neighbor watching me take my shower. I finished and hung a sheet across the window afterwards...:dustin:
 
I have this on a dining room window. The neighbors house is probably 7 feet from that window. You can make out his dining room window on the left side of my window.
 

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I heard putting a film on the inside will over heat the glass and cause the gas to leak out.
Outside would be ideal in all aspects but I had a hard time determining what 3M product was actually made for exterior use.
 
Ummduh said:
I haven't tried that one yet, but I've been through a few (from Amazon) and so far they all suck.

I've got the solid frosted up right now and it's 100% non-see-through. Light gets through but you're not even seeing shapes on the other side.

Mine started as trying to get the dogs to stop sitting at the window barking at every little thing, and since I never found one that worked, no I just have the frosted up on the bathroom window.
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ideally I would like to be able to see through, and have zero to limited visual looking from the outside in. closest fence/windows from neighbors is like 10'+

CarterKraft said:
I heard putting a film on the inside will over heat the glass and cause the gas to leak out.
Outside would be ideal in all aspects but I had a hard time determining what 3M product was actually made for exterior use.
Click to expand...
Ya i read some have metal for the reflective portion and heat the middle causing issues.
 
Aisin said:
I have this on a dining room window. The neighbors house is probably 7 feet from that window. You can make out his dining room window on the left side of my window.
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I like that idea. I might do the bottom half of my windows that way.
 
CarterKraft said:
I heard putting a film on the inside will over heat the glass and cause the gas to leak out.
Outside would be ideal in all aspects but I had a hard time determining what 3M product was actually made for exterior use.
Click to expand...
I had office windows tinted once and 2 of the windows cracked from overheating shortly after the tint was installed. I'm in an office now that was already tinted when I moved in and the window is also cracked.
 
DVanVorous said:
Used to work for an outfit in SF that made the stuff on PET...Amusingly it's not as "private" as one would like to believe, hence why they don't as a rule offer windows made that way for privacy purposes, it's only reflective if the light on the outside is brighter than inside. Its being peddled as an enhanced solar gain reduction material nowadays.

I lived in a place that had a picture window in the bathroom overlooking the backyard once...we checked it before renting during the day cuz there was no curtain. No problem looked good...until one evening Im taking a shower and thru the slightly not dark window I spot a next door neighbor watching me take my shower. I finished and hung a sheet across the window afterwards...:dustin:
Click to expand...
Nobody else caught this little nugget yet? That someone saw his little nugget while showering? Was it a dude or a woman? :laughing::flipoff2:
 
like others have said, if its a reflective film, at night people can see in but also you cant see out

i think if you just do "gray" film it doesnt do that as much
 
I put "privacy" film on my front door window and side window. During the day it works great. During night it doesn't work at all. I'm now looking at maybe a design film or something else that will block view 24/7. I hate nosey neighbors.
 
75cruisin said:
So I would like to add some privacy film to some windows on the house. Think close HOA setup. This will be for side/rear doors/windows. I want something that I can see out of, if it darkens the window thats fine as it would reduce glare and reduce heat in the summer. Main point is to be able to have blinds open but not be able to have people see in.

Ive seen stuff like this:

amazon link

Anybody have suggestions, dos/donts, experience with install and lifetime?
Click to expand...
Move?
HOA's can fuck off
then you can put plywood over it of you want to
but I know people with plain ol tint that works just like tint,
 
20240809_131716.jpg


Anybody got anything to put on the outside of the glass to keep the mini blinds from getting hammered? I've got a porch over it, but still gets beat from 430-7pm
 
What would suck with those films is the reversing feature at night. Why would anyone want to install privacy film that only works (as intended) during the day, but others can see in and you can't see out after dark? F that.

What could i install in my den where i get the daytime features of privacy and the same privacy at night, does that exist in something affordable...
 
trampas said:
What would suck with those films is the reversing feature at night. Why would anyone want to install privacy film that only works (as intended) during the day, but others can see in and you can't see out after dark? F that.

What could i install in my den where i get the daytime features of privacy and the same privacy at night, does that exist in something affordable...
Click to expand...
doesn't the perforated vinyl like you see used on the front windows of convenience stores work pretty well at night?
 
X whatever on call the local tint place.

They'll have options and installation will be surprisingly cheap for a dude to come out, scrape the glass and install it.

I've had approximately 2k sq ft of store fronts done in the last 6 months.
 
CarterKraft said:
I heard putting a film on the inside will over heat the glass and cause the gas to leak out.
Outside would be ideal in all aspects but I had a hard time determining what 3M product was actually made for exterior use.
Click to expand...

I had tint put on seven giant double pain windows around my living room. Havnt had a problem that I know of. Been like ten years. Mine is a copper tint. You can’t see in the daytime at all. At nite, I have a flood light over each window on the outside. If I turn on a indirect low light inside, you can’t see in, but a strong light inside and you can see some stuff.
 
KDXSR5 said:
Here mine is during the day. I'll take a night time pic when it gets dark.

20240809_182332.jpg
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I like that. What did you use and was it easy to install? I’m mostly worried about the day. At night I can close the blinds and not care.
 
75cruisin said:
I like that. What did you use and was it easy to install? I’m mostly worried about the day. At night I can close the blinds and not care.
Click to expand...

It was some window tint from walmart designed for this use.
 
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