Window film and other ways to protect your home from prying eyes

27.03.2018 0

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In urban areas, residents of the lower floors want to maintain privacy. To do this, you need to close the windows from prying eyes. It is desirable that the protection does not at the same time prevent the penetration of sunlight from the street. There are several options for this: film, blinds or curtains. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages.

Window film and other ways to protect your home from prying eyes

In urban areas, residents of the lower floors want to maintain privacy. To do this, you need to close the windows from prying eyes. It is desirable that the protection does not at the same time prevent the penetration of sunlight from the street. There are several options for this: film, blinds or curtains. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of the company plasokna

To buy windows with frosted glass and be satisfied with the purchase, the customer needs to contact a reliable company. This is undoubtedly plasokna, which has significant advantages:

  • availability of affordable prices;
  • providing high-level service;
  • performing professional installation;
  • using only certified components;
  • availability of own production facilities;
  • quality control of products at all key stages of production;
  • providing an increased warranty for all products and services.

Having its own production, the company uses only certified components, monitoring product quality at all stages of its production.

Opaque window film: methods of use

Today, film is the most popular and affordable way to protect a room from unwanted views from the street or from the scorching summer sun. There are products on sale with different properties from a large number of manufacturers. The composition of the film and the principle of its operation are simple. On one side the surface of the material is mirror-like, on the other it is translucent. It is hung with the reflective side facing out.

During the day, the film reflects the sun's rays and makes the interior of the room almost 100% invisible. But in the evening, when the brightness of the outdoor lighting drops and there is nothing to be reflected from the coating, the situation inside the room is better visible. If you turn on the light in your home, the silhouettes will become clearly visible to an observer from the street. Although not as certain as in the case of unprotected window glass.

Window film can be divided according to the method of attachment:

The latter is cheaper and simpler. Self-adhesive or sticky has good properties, but is difficult to remove, leaving dirty marks on the glass that are difficult to remove. The average service life of high-quality window film is 10-15 years. An inexpensive one has less. In addition, each procedure of attaching and removing material (for example, as temporary protection for the summer) reduces the durability of the reflective coating. It wears out and becomes covered with bald spots.

The most famous manufacturer of table film in the world is the Japanese company Meiwa. They provide clear, colored, matte overlays to the market. , both in large rolls and in standard tabletop sizes.

In terms of their positive qualities, glass table films from domestic manufacturers do not lag behind Japanese ones. Decosave and Modern companies produce both transparent overlays and tablecloths in various shades and patterns, which allows you to match them to any interior.

“Ofiston” is considered the best company in Belarus that produces thick transparent film for the table. Their transparent tablecloths have gained popularity among customers, which indicates the high quality of the product.

Everyone has probably heard about the Swiss company Ikea. The quality of this company's products is evidenced by many positive reviews. The models of table films that are most quickly leaving the shelves of the Ikea store are the transparent “Preuss” and “Skrutt”.

The following companies are also successful in selling silicone tablecloths:

  • Durable;
  • Esselte;
  • Leitz.

Types of films for windows

Depending on the class and quality, the film may have different degrees of light transmission. But in any case, it will block some of the sun's rays. On a hot day this is a great option. However, in cloudy weather or in the early evening, such a room will be darker than usual.

Attention! There are no one-sided transparent films. Whatever manufacturers or sellers offer, the mirror part of the material will stably reflect a certain percentage of rays, regardless of the light intensity.

In advertising their products, manufacturers also mention UV protection. The film actually prevents the penetration of rays of this spectrum. But ordinary transparent window glass also copes well with this task. Film from the following brands is highly valued by experts:

Advice. For windows on the north side, a film with a solar delay factor of 35% is suitable. For other openings the figure should be higher. On the south side is the largest.

About the main types

Instead of curtains for window and interior decoration, you can now purchase any product. More details:

  1. Electrochromic. It contains two parts. Liquid crystal base. Plus, there is a special substance with conductive properties, it is placed in the inner part. The material becomes transparent when voltage is applied to it. When everything is turned off, the color becomes matte and dense.
  2. Protective structures. Helps protect equipment from glare on screens, resists mechanical stress and defects. Some models are simply quite durable, while others do not even break. They save energy because there is no need for additional air conditioning.
  3. Mirror type. Reflect almost all sunlight, up to 80 percent. They make the room more modern and comfortable. When used like this, the room is not visible from the outside during the day. In the evening, efficiency may decrease.
  4. With a decorative function. It is covered with a pattern that can imitate natural materials such as fabric, metal or trees.
  5. High light transmission is typical for single-color stickers, which can be glossy or matte. Excellent decor for decorating glass partitions, windows and doors. Viewability of the room is limited.

There is also a metallized film. This is a durable product with a simple design. It’s good if there are several layers of metallization, then the quality of the model increases. Polymer stained glass stickers are highly durable. They successfully resist moisture and ultraviolet radiation. They look like real stained glass windows.

Stickers are produced in the form of rolls for windows. The standard width is in the range of 45-67.5-90 centimeters. Length – 2-15 meters. Product parameters, design features, and production materials determine the cost.

Protecting privacy with special glass

Some owners of private houses without a fence or apartments on the lower floors think about hiding their home life even at the stage of repair and installation of windows. For this purpose, there are double-glazed windows with special coatings:

  1. Matte. Suitable only for bathrooms or other rooms from which the view of the street is not important. After all, such glass will protect not only from outside views, but also limit the view from the inside. There will also be less sunlight in the room.
  2. Mirrored. They work on the principle of sun protection film for windows. The mirror surface is built into the structure of the glass unit.

Advice. Before installing such structures, you need to thoroughly weigh all the pros and cons. No matter how the film stains the window, it can still be removed. This won't work with glass, so it will be more difficult to fix anything.

Both with film and with special windows, it is advisable to use additional methods of window protection. For example, ordinary curtains. In the evening they will be indispensable. And during the day they can remain constantly open.

Saint Petersburg

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Address: St. Petersburg, Moskovskoe highway, building 161, building 10

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Address: Moscow region, Ramenisky district, Eganovo village.

Warehouse and loading, Russian Railways: Destination station: Oktyabrskaya railway. code: 037405 Abbreviated name: FSUE “SMU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region” (8115) code: 08581096

Blinds and curtains to protect windows

Blinds are considered the most successful solution for blocking views from the street. You can manually control access to light in the room and protect your home from views. Moreover, the first does not interfere with the second. The structure of the blinds in a half-opened state provides:

  • desired room illumination;
  • overview of what is happening on the street;
  • “invisibility” of people in the room (to a large extent).

If desired, the structure can be partially or completely raised in no time. This will ensure full sun flow into the room. This function will be appreciated by people who grow indoor plants on the windowsill. Blinds harmonize well with all modern interior design styles.

Curtains are a classic in room design and the oldest way to cover windows. The denser the material from which the curtains are made, the less outsiders will be able to see through them. But curtains are inconvenient to use in the daytime: a minimum of light will pass through high-quality material. In such cases, transparent tulle comes to the rescue. It will not be able to block the sun, but it will blur the picture of what is happening in the room. A combination of curtains and tulle is the best option: the second protects during the day, the first protects in the evening.

A tint film will help maintain privacy and protect from the scorching sun. It will save you from the glare of the sun on your monitor or TV screen and maintain the optimal temperature in the room in the summer. But it is better to use other methods of protecting windows along with film.

Where is it used?

Transparent soft windows perform a protective and insulating function. They are resistant to adverse weather conditions, so they are widely used as awnings for gazebos and summer terraces.

They allow light to pass through, retain heat in the enclosed space, and at the same time are much cheaper than standard window designs. The use of film allows you to arrange storage areas for seasonal items in these rooms.

Film windows have become widespread not only in everyday life, but also in industrial facilities. At industrial enterprises, PVC and polyurethane films are in demand as curtains on doors and gates. If necessary, they can divide the room into several work areas, for example, to separate the welder’s work area from the place where painters work, equipment or finished products are stored. In recent years, films for covering greenhouses have become widespread. Under such a protective layer, plants develop in a comfortable temperature regime, while they consume natural light without obstacles.

Watch the video to see how soft windows are installed in a gazebo or veranda.

How to make glass opaque?

It depends on what degree of transparency, or rather non-transparency, you are interested in.

You can sand the glass with sandpaper using a grinding machine or even sand using a wooden board; the more scratches there are on the glass, the less transparent it will be. This can be said to be the first option using mechanical impact on glass.

Now about the coating, it can be covered with a film of varying degrees of transparency or even covering the entire glass with a plastic-based solution; it also comes with varying degrees of light penetration.

Glass can also be rubbed with special matting pastes.

But the fastest option is spray paint, preferably light gray, or any other paint of your choice; I used this method to make the glass on the door to the room opaque. Just cover the surface in a circle, which should not be smeared with masking tape and it is advisable to continue for a meter with newspapers or polyethylene. If possible, pull the outer protection closer to the spray can. Pre-wipe the glass with solvent, and if necessary, wash it. At a distance of about 30 centimeters, start spraying paint, just move your hand smoothly from side to side, from top to bottom. If it doesn't work out enough, then repeat the coloring.

Using mechanical action with sandpaper, a grinding machine or sand, you can make the glass less transparent. If the glass must be as opaque as possible, more scratches must be made. The degree of transparency depends on their quantity.

Using a coating with a special film or solution, which is based on plastic. Both the film and the solution have options of different transparency, suitable for every taste.

The fastest way is to use spray paint. You just need to cover the surface around the glass with masking tape and spread newspapers on the floor. Then wipe the window with solvent and spray the aerosol at a distance of 30 cm, smoothly moving your hand along the glass. For greater effect, the procedure can be repeated.

Most likely you need to make the glass opaque at home.

There is probably no point in describing matting methods in a workshop (chemical etching, sandblasting, etc.).

Sticker process

The application technology comes down to the following steps:

  1. Preliminary cutting of film with the necessary margin
  2. Cleaning glass from serious stains
  3. Cleaning glass with a washing-neutralizing solution
  4. Applying a washing-neutralizing solution to glass
  5. Preliminary placement of the film on the glass
  6. Partial removal of the liner from one edge of the film, temporary fastening of this edge to the glass
  7. Removing the liner from under the film, simultaneously with wetting the exposed adhesive layer with a washing and cleaning solution
  8. Fixing the film on the glass by squeezing the cleaning solution from under the film using forcing and scrapers
  9. Trimming the edges of the film

How to make transparent glass opaque?

Without windows with transparent glass, a house is not a house at all, but just some kind of barn. However, when darkness falls, the advantage turns into a disadvantage. To hide from prying eyes, people came up with curtains and blinds. Is it possible to do without them? American researchers have developed a technique by which the transparency of glass can be changed with the flick of a switch.

The invention of transparent sheet glass in the Middle Ages was undoubtedly an epoch-making event. At first, this sought-after product was terribly expensive; only the richest people and church parishes could buy uneven and cloudy, but still transparent glass. Today the situation has changed; the price of ordinary window glass is perhaps the lowest among all other types of glass products.

The transparency of glass does not surprise anyone; there is even a saying: transparent as glass. Give modern consumers something new and unusual. They might like the adjustable transparency glass developed by researchers at Harvard University.

Strictly speaking, variable transparency is not that new. On the market you can find both glass and films that can transmit light completely or partially, depending on the needs of the consumer. However, previous technologies are based on electrochemical reactions. The production of glasses and films with adjustable transparency on the market is quite expensive, which is reflected in the final price.

First introduced by Professor David Clarke and his postdoctoral fellow Samuel Shian, the transparency of glass is changed using what is known as geometric adjustment.

The new product is based on a sheet of regular window glass or clear plastic sandwiched between two layers of elastomer (elastic polymer). To make something unusual out of ordinary glass, a layer of pieces of very thin silver nanowire is sprayed onto both sides.

The nanowire pieces are too thin to create any noticeable obstruction to light, so the glass retains its transparency almost unchanged. But as soon as electrical voltage is applied, the situation instantly changes. When exposed to electricity, the nanowires on both sides of the sheet are excited and attracted to each other, compressing and deforming the soft elastomer.

Since the silver wires are distributed unevenly over the surface, the elastomer is deformed unevenly. As a result, irregularities and roughness are formed, which refract light differently and make the glass opaque. It takes less than one second to turn transparent glass into opaque glass.

Shin compared the process to a frozen pond: “If the surface of a frozen pond is smooth, you can see through the ice. But if the ice is very scratched, you won’t be able to see anything.”

Why reinvent the wheel? Is it possible to limit ourselves to those technologies that already exist? According to Clark, the production of the glass he invented will be much cheaper than the production of existing electrochemical analogues.

“Because it is a physical phenomenon and not based on a chemical reaction, this [technology] is a simpler, and potentially cheaper, way to produce commercial customizable windows,” the researcher said.

Clark and Shin discovered that the structure and density of the elastomer's irregularities depended on the applied voltage, allowing the glass to darken to the desired degree, making it more or less opaque.

Researchers are currently working to reduce the voltage required to control glass transparency. In the experiments they used a voltage of 2.2 kV. Obviously this is too high for commercial use.

A patent application has been filed for the technology. The inventors are confident that once developed, their adjustable transparency glass will find use in displays and projection screens that are dimmed for privacy or camouflage in windows and other applications.

Source: shkolazhizni.ru

Means of window “self-defense” from curious neighbors

A plastic window can be decorated with rich classic curtains, modern roller shutters or blinds, exotic Japanese curtains, unobtrusive string curtains or a combination of these accessories. However, modern windows are so good in themselves that many refuse any decorations. As practice shows, this is not always comfortable, especially if the windows overlook the façade of a neighboring house and actually allow its inhabitants to look into your home. The OKNA MEDIA portal will tell you what window solutions are available on the market to shield yourself from prying eyes.

Today there are many interesting solutions for window “self-defense” from nosy neighbors. However, when trying to protect yourself from prying eyes, you should not forget about aesthetics, because window accessories are a very interesting element of interior decor.

The effect of one-way visibility can also be achieved through decorative glass lamination, sandblasting or the use of a double-glazed window with a variable level of transparency.

Make the window opaque from the street

Residents of the first floors, and indeed of large cities in general, where houses are located close to each other, have probably at least once thought about how to make windows opaque from the street, but without completely blocking the access of light.

This can be done in several ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

You can block the view of windows from the street using a special film on the windows, curtains or blinds. Let's consider each of the options in more detail.

Make a window opaque from the street using film

Currently, there are many manufacturers on the market that offer custom-made film to protect glass from sunlight and prying eyes. This will be an indispensable purchase if your windows face south and the sun heats the room all day. Using this simple tool, you can reduce air heating by up to 60%, which is achieved by gluing a protective screen to the window surface, which, moreover, has additional darkening from ultraviolet radiation. Using high-quality double-glazed windows, you can achieve a comfortable temperature in the room even on the hottest day, however, this method has one significant drawback - the film darkens the room and blocks sunlight. On a fine summer day this is, of course, wonderful, but on rainy days such protection from the heat will turn your room into a dark cave. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to remove such a film every time, since it is installed either immediately when installing double-glazed windows, or later, tightly adhering to the surface, so it will not be so easy to remove it. For some manufacturers, in addition, the protective film leaves marks on the steles after use that practically cannot be washed off with anything.

Prices

Calculator

Please note that when concluding a contract, the visit of a specialist for the initial measurement is free of charge.

Price list

Type of servicePrice, rub
Replacement of glass M1 4-6 mm in double-glazed windows of wooden / plastic / aluminum windowsfrom 1500
Triplex+ 2000
Energy saving+ 1500
Tempered glass+ 2000
Reinforcedon request
Tintingfrom 1000
Complex glass shapes (trapezoid, triangle, arch)from 35% to 55%
Restoring the decorative layout in a double-glazed windowfrom 350
Size of double-glazed windows, glass less than 1 m2count as 1 m2
Glass sizes from 1.2 m2 to 2.5 m2+ 50%
Replacement of a large double-glazed window (from 2.5 m)2upon measurement
Prices are indicated in rubles per m2

Delivery

ServiceCost, rub
Visit of a specialist to conclude a contract for the performance of workFor free
Visit of a specialist for consultations800
Delivery of large-sized components (double-glazed windows, window sash) in Moscow by passenger car1500
Delivery of large-sized components by passenger car outside the Moscow Ring Road+25 RUR/km
Delivery by truck in Moscow3000
Delivery by truck outside the Moscow Ring Road+ 40 rub/km

The tables indicate the cost of services per m2, including installation. Please note that the final cost will be calculated by the technician on site after inspecting your window.

Block the view from the street with curtains

The most convenient way would be to order curtains. The fact is that curtains, in order to hide from prying eyes what is happening in the room, must fit tightly to the window and be made of dense high-quality fabric - here the most reliable option would be to sew custom-made curtains in our company - we guarantee quality and durability products. The disadvantage of this method is obvious: by completely closing the blackout curtains, we will thus limit the access of light into the room. There is a way out of this situation: you should hang thick tulle on the window opening. It will allow light to enter the room and at the same time hide what is happening in the room from view from the street. In the evening, however, when the lights in the room are turned on, the tulle will still make it possible to distinguish what is happening in the room. Therefore, just as in the previous option, we recommend using a combination of tulle and thick curtains - blackout is best.

Frosted glass in windows

Another very effective way is to frost the glass. Even in the evening hours, your privacy will be reliably protected: from the street only vague silhouettes of objects located in the immediate vicinity of the window will be visible. But this advantage is compensated by a disadvantage: during the daytime, insufficient light will penetrate into the room and, in addition, what is happening outside the window will be completely invisible. That is, you will no longer be able to pull back the curtains and see the weather. The only solution is to frost the windows not completely, but only part of them, leaving a strip on top through which light will penetrate into the room.

Close the window from the street first floor

Blinds are a way to make you invisible from the street

Blinds, perhaps, do not have the disadvantages of the previous options for the simple reason that when they are not needed, they can be fully opened, allowing the sun to enter the room and opening a view to the street. In addition, not fully raised blinds can hide what is happening in the room from prying eyes, while you, going to the window, can peep through the gaps what is happening outside.

Source: shtori-spb.ru

Legal aspects of glazing in an apartment

To glaze a balcony using French technology in an apartment building, you must have permission from certain authorities. If dismantling the balcony structure does not affect the strength of the supporting structures and the reliability of the building, then obtaining permission for repairs will not be difficult.

List of documents:

  1. BTI passport and certificate of ownership.
  2. Consent of the building owner or maintenance service in writing.
  3. Conclusion from the technical service on the possibility of making changes to the layout.
  4. The balcony glazing project is drawn up by a licensed design organization.
  5. If the building is classified as an architectural monument or is included in the list of historical buildings, it is necessary to obtain written consent from the relevant governing body.
  6. Notarized consent of all adult residents and owners of the apartment.

A complete package of documents must be submitted to the municipal commission for consideration. Replacing structures without permission entails legal options.

How to make a window opaque?

I live on the 1st floor, the window faces the courtyard, next to the entrance door. I want to make the glass opaque so that I can't be seen from the outside. I thought about sticking a regular matte film, but I read on the Internet that there are some sprays for frosting glass. I don't know which is better. How do you think?

I took the film and peeled it off. and you will be scrubbing off the spray for 3 months

There is tinting, I don’t know the technology. But I ordered windows so that from the outside they would reflect almost like a mirror, but from the inside you could see everything as usual. Maybe some company can tint the existing windows.

Definitely film. It can be removed at once and leaves no traces (tested on myself), and besides, you can choose not just matte, but some kind of stained glass (with a pattern) - it will be even better!

New features and design have appeared for the version of the Woman.ru Forum on computers. Tell us, what are your impressions of the changes?

Paint over it with oil paint, as they used to do in hospitals.

Stained glass. You can paint it yourself. There are colors. You can buy stained glass film. No problem. The Germans and Austrians do a lot.

The film does not stick. It just sticks and comes off easily. No glue.

Mirrored windows are good during daylight hours; in the evening, when the lights are on, everything in the room is visible.

Maybe hang fabric roller blinds on the glass? The choice of fabrics is huge, as are the designs. Choose something light but thick so that the room is not dark. You can order ready-made frosted white glass. They are made by plastic window companies. I did this on the loggia, the light passes through, but the “image” does not!

+ smoke more

Are the curtains or curtains available?

Lay with glass bricks

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