Obscure glass for living room window?

Doozergirl

donutandbeer said:

Doozergirl said:

You shouldn't have any condensation on brand new windows!  If you do, you've got wider issues.  Make sure you order trickle vents in the windows.  

The obscure film is excellent because (and you'll find it fairly common place in London) you can have just a strip of the window obscured where it matters - maybe the lower area where you can be seen sitting down from outside, but have full proper view above. 

The film is an excellent long term solution - I had for 10 years in one window when we changed a bedroom to a bathroom and there was nothing wrong with it - but not permanent, which I think is a downside of you putting in obscured glass. It's a bit of a bonkers idea.  

Current windows (not new) get condensation. This is one of the many reasons we are looking to replace them. 

10 years sounds quite long for a non-permanent solution. Was worried it would need tending to every other year. 

It was the window frame that broke.   There was nothing wrong at all with the film! 

theoretica

donutandbeer said:

theoretica said:

You can get stick on sheets to turn ordinary glass into obscure glass - why not try it?  https://www.screwfix.com/p/fablon-frosted-window-film-675mm-x-1-5m/74393  many others exist...

I have voile type net curtains across the lower half of my windows for privacy.

We didn’t try those privacy sheets because we are looking to replace the windows regardless. I imagine they will look different to actual obscure glass so won’t be so useful as a guide to find out why obscure glass will not look good in the living room. 

Voile type curtain for the lower half of the window sounds cute! Will research more and see if there’s a style that fits our living room style.

I have obscured glass in the lower half of my bathroom window and a stick on in the upper half and didn't realise that was what had been done for months after moving in, I just thought it was two patterns of obscuring which didn't quite match and never thought about it.  So I would say it can be a reasonable guide, especially if you choose one with a similar patter to what you are considering.  And much cheaper to try out than thinking afterwards you made the wrong decision.  Similarly, the voile I have was only a couple of pounds a metre, so maybe cheap enough to try and see what you think.  I really value the sunlight coming in through the top of the window so didn't want anything full height.

donutandbeer

Looks like stick on films option is the most popular!

MikeJXE said:

Have you looked at new windows with blinds between the panes of glass ? 

I have seen some photos and the window company that came yesterday actually also suggested it. He did say it’s quite expensive but I’m not sure by how much. He has not come back with the quote yet.

donutandbeer

theoretica said:

donutandbeer said:

theoretica said:

You can get stick on sheets to turn ordinary glass into obscure glass - why not try it?  https://www.screwfix.com/p/fablon-frosted-window-film-675mm-x-1-5m/74393  many others exist...

I have voile type net curtains across the lower half of my windows for privacy.

We didn’t try those privacy sheets because we are looking to replace the windows regardless. I imagine they will look different to actual obscure glass so won’t be so useful as a guide to find out why obscure glass will not look good in the living room. 

Voile type curtain for the lower half of the window sounds cute! Will research more and see if there’s a style that fits our living room style.

I have obscured glass in the lower half of my bathroom window and a stick on in the upper half and didn't realise that was what had been done for months after moving in, I just thought it was two patterns of obscuring which didn't quite match and never thought about it.  So I would say it can be a reasonable guide, especially if you choose one with a similar patter to what you are considering.  And much cheaper to try out than thinking afterwards you made the wrong decision.  Similarly, the voile I have was only a couple of pounds a metre, so maybe cheap enough to try and see what you think.  I really value the sunlight coming in through the top of the window so didn't want anything full height.

Thanks for sharing your experience. We would really like to let more sunlight into  the lounge too as it only have one single bulb of ceiling light. That’s why we thought perhaps top down blinds might be an answer, although it doesn’t seem very popular.

MikeJXE

If money is not a problem there is also smart glass

Smart glass, also known as switchable glass, dynamic glass, and smart-tinting glass, is a type of glass that can change its reflective properties to prevent sunlight and heat from entering a building and to also provide privacy.

sugar-walsh

What about cafe curtains? They're vack in fashion and can look quite lovely uf done right. Plenty if examples on insta, 

donutandbeer

sugar-walsh said:

What about cafe curtains? They're vack in fashion and can look quite lovely uf done right. Plenty if examples on insta, 

Yes I imagine that’s what the other commenter meant by voile type curtain across the lower half of their window, and it sounds really cute! One problem I can think of is our living room window is quite wide (220cm) so I think it might be difficult to find a way to install that kind of curtain.

sugar-walsh

Just buy more than 1 curtain if needed. I bet you csn find one in ikea, might just need cutting to the right length. 

olgadapolga

It's surprising how much light obscure glass/film cuts out. 

We had a front door fitted a couple of years ago which had a patterned glass on the outside and obscured glass on the inside. The door was a nightmare as it leaked so eventually it was replaced but with clear glass on the inside. The difference in the amount of light that came through was blinding (pun intended). 

FreeBear

donutandbeer said: One problem I can think of is our living room window is quite wide (220cm) so I think it might be difficult to find a way to install that kind of curtain.

A small suction cup hook at 1m intervals would hold up a lightweight rod & voile.