Window Film - Any Experiences?

[bainbrig]

Window film, to cover inside of glass so that from the outside it appears like a mirror, and from the inside like tinted sunglasses.

Sounds good, as a security measure, but there are rumours that it can make double-glazed units explode! Any truth in them? Or any other negative feedback very welcome.

Also, how darkly tinted does it make viewing from the inside?

Ta.

BillB.

[bhg481]

Any such film allows you to see from the darker side to the lighter side. In other words in daylight you will be to see outside from inside but not the other way round. At night, when you have the room lights on, people will be able to see i but you won't be able to see out.

[Buenchico]

Just to back up Bhg481's post:

When I worked at a railway station, someone in upper management thought it would be a good idea to put such film on the windows of the customer service office.

None of we 'ordinary workers' could see the point of it as, during the day, customers couldn't see that there was a member of staff waiting to greet them inside the office.

At night, however, when our office was viewed from the platform, the customers could all see us (in what appeared not too dissimilar to a brightly-illuminated fish tank) but we couldn't see out to identify any problems which might be occurring outside on the platform!

[hc4361]

Without the film outsiders would have a very clear view of the indoors if the light was - people close their curtains and blinds to stop this.

I used the film some years ago when my living room window was very close to the pavement - no problems with my double glazing.

[bainbrig]

Quite happy to close the curtains at night, but it would be nice to lose the nets which cut out so much vision during the day.

How dark is the tinting effect?

[alavahalf]

If I was you, I would do a bit of research on window film.
There are many variations of film available, some of them very decorative and still offering a good degree of privacy. You may only have to shade the lower half of the window.
Having fitted it on a very regular basis for 10 years, I can assure you there are many grades available. Whatever you do, dont buy a cheap one and if you aren't used to fitting it, you may well end up in a mess.
Consider getting a price from a supplier/installer.
that

[Smowball]

How funny, I’ve literally put some of this on a downstairs bathroom window at the weekend! Purely.because the previous owners had broken one of the frosted panels and replaced with clear glass! You can see shapes vaguely from outside but definitely not enough to really make anything out.

[Old_Geezer]

Beware bathing at night then ;-)

[RATTER15]

Smow, you may need to check from outside with the bathroom light on at night!

[Smowball]

It’s a downstairs bathroom but yep ok I’ll bear that in mind - I’m renting the house out but will consider adding something else