Translucent transformation

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2025 (242 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Once a window-replacement project was completed at my home last fall, the existing venetian blinds for the house windows were repurposed and remounted to the new window frames. In the garages, however, the existing blinds would not fit the new windows. Moreover, they were in really bad shape, having been subjected to two decades of bugs and spider webs.

Upon realization the four large garage windows would require new coverings, my window installer suggested an option I had not even considered previously — vinyl window film. After contacting MPD Glass & Vinyl Graphics to discuss my window-covering needs, Chris Kaleta suggested a simple, semi-transparent vinyl film that would satisfy my need for privacy in my garage stalls. In essence, I wanted a window treatment that prevents passersby the ability to see in, while allowing daylight to illuminate the interior spaces.

Although the venetian blinds had adequately blocked the view from the exterior and allowed a bit of light into the garage, they were less than ideal as far as accumulating cobwebs, dust and other matter through the years.

Moreover, changing the blinds’ orientation was the only way to let in the light. However, this would then allow direct visual access into my garages, which was not ideal. As such, the blinds remained closed at pretty much all times, making for dim lighting inside. Thus, the prospect of trimming the windows with a blurred film allowing passage of light was greatly intriguing to me.

Although Kaleta noted a variety of custom options were also available, such as film patterns or even etched glass, a simple full-coverage semi-transparent film would best satisfy my needs. After reviewing a few samples, a frosty white glaze-looking film option was, in my opinion, the least obtrusive window sheathing I could find. Once applied to the windows, the garages’ contents would not be visually accessible while still allowing a plethora of light into each of the three garage stalls.

Prior to the day of window film installation, the existing glass-break sensors (part of the property’s alarm system) had been updated and pre-wired for remounting onto the new window panes following the introduction of the film.

The installer arrived with pre-cut window films, each roughly an eighth-of-an-inch less wide and tall than the actual window glass to allow unencumbered installation. The installer then thoroughly cleaned the glass and added a temporary lubricant to place the film. The lubricant’s purpose is to allow the film’s placement to be corrected slightly after being mounted to the glass, to ensure it is perfectly centred within the visible glass of the windowpane.

After making a few slight adjustments, the lubricant between the centred film and the glass is removed using a squeegee until all areas of the film are lubricant-free. This process was repeated for each of the four garage windows and installation was completed in less than an hour. Although a few tiny bubbles were visible in the immediate days following the film installation, they eventually disappeared as sunlight evaporated any lingering lubricant.

With the film in place, the new glass-break sensors were mounted onto the corners of each window to re-activate the full integrity of the alarm system within the garage stalls. Not only were the garage stalls brighter than they had ever been, it truly was impossible to get a discernible view of the garages’ contents from outside.

Although I had never conceived using vinyl film as a window-covering option in a residential setting, I’m so glad my window installer suggested it. And although I opted for the simplest version of vinyl coverings to satisfy my dual purpose of privacy while still letting in light, vinyl film is a very cost-effective way of adding personality to any window, whether at the front door with patterns and even your street address number, or on a bathroom window for privacy when using the tub or shower.

Vinyl film or etched glass can be a very decorative solution. Window-covering options sure have come a long way!

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com