How to tint the windows in an apartment or house with your own hands so that it is not visible from the street?

How can you tint the windows in your apartment?

There are several tinting options, depending on the intended purpose. Very often in the summer we want as little sunlight as possible to penetrate into the house. Ultraviolet radiation significantly heats objects, increasing the temperature in the room, which makes the living conditions in it uncomfortable. Therefore, the best option is to use products that reflect the sun's rays. Using blinds or Roman shades is less effective, since some of the sun's rays are still absorbed even by light-colored curtains, and increase the temperature in the room.

How can you tint windows in an apartment, types of films:

Dark mirror
Mirror opaque

Film

How to tint a window in an apartment with mirror film?

Mirror film is affordable and can be easily removed if necessary. However, it is not at all visible what is happening on the street, since the film is almost opaque.

How to tint a window in an apartment with mirror film:

However, there is another type of film, which is mirrored on one side and matte on the other. It is attached to the glass so that the mirror side is on the outside.
Thus, the sun's rays will be reflected from its surface. During the daytime, passers-by will not be able to see what is inside the room due to reflection.
However, in the evening, when the lights are turned on in the room, visibility is still quite good, and indeed everyone will be able to see what is happening inside the room, despite the presence of such a film. At night, it is recommended to use curtains or blinds together with such a film to completely hide from view.

Tinted windows

Caring for a Tinted Window

Glass tinted with film should not be washed during the first week after pasting, so as not to damage the coating.

In the future, when the film finally “lies” on the glass, you can care for the window as usual, avoiding only abrasive cleaning products, hard brushes and sponges.

If dirt has formed on the glass unit, there is no need to scrape it off. It is enough to moisten it with soapy water, and after a while simply remove it with a damp sponge. And then polish the surface with a soft, lint-free cloth.

( 79 votes, average: 4.90 out of 5)

How to get rid of mold in an apartment
French windows

How to tint windows in an apartment from the sun cheaply: types of films

Various types of films are often used for tinting. The most interesting is the mirror one. It is well suited for a private home, and ideal for night time if you are used to keeping the curtains drawn.

How to tint windows in an apartment from the sun cheaply:

However, its effect will disappear at night, when the room is light. Among the sun protection films, protective films can be distinguished.
It is special, distinguished by burglary protection and shockproof properties.
Therefore, you have to spend a lot of effort to break the glass. Nothing bad will happen if children want to play in the room and accidentally hit the glass.

Window tinting
Matte film is quite common. It is ideal for glass partitions. Suitable for home if the main goal is to protect the room from the sun. Of course, some of the sun's rays will not enter the house, but still, most of them will penetrate inside, but in smaller quantities.

To protect a room from the sun, you can use the following types of films:

Internal
External
Spatter

Balcony

How to tint a window in an apartment with your own hands: instructions

It is necessary to adhere to several rules that will help you complete the task as quickly as possible. These films are very easy to install and dismantle. You can glue them yourself without any problems.

How to tint a window in an apartment with your own hands, instructions:

There are no special secrets. The main thing is to know the procedure and not be afraid to carry it out. First, you need to wash the glass several times with soapy water and wipe thoroughly.
After this, rinse off the soap one last time with water, leaving the moisture behind. It is necessary to cut the film to the size of the glass and remove the protective layer, but not completely.
It is necessary to carry out gluing by gradually pulling back the protective film and pressing the canvas against the glass. It is best to straighten with a spatula. Please remember that there are no bubbles or creases allowed.
To dismantle such a film, simply pull the corner. Other sources recommend gluing the film directly onto the soap glass. Using a rubber spatula, you can easily remove excess moisture and soap solution.

Tinting

Sequence of work

Having prepared everything you need and selected a glass object to apply the image, you can get to work. First of all, you need to measure the stencil and mark its future location (for example, using masking tape or a washable felt-tip pen). After all, when glue is applied to the film, it will be much more difficult to proportionally place the design on the glass.

Having marked the surface, it should be wiped dry and treated with alcohol.

After degreasing, fingerprints must not be left on the glass surface. This will result in defects appearing on the decorated surface or distortion of the matte design.

At the next stage, the stencil is placed face down on a clean sheet of paper and covered with glue. If the stencil has a self-adhesive base, then this procedure should not be performed.

The glue is applied in a thin layer - in accordance with the instructions. Then the stencil is placed on a pre-marked area of the glass surface, covered with a clean sheet of paper and carefully smoothed with a napkin or rag. The paper will help maintain the integrity of the stencil and ensure its reusability.

The key point of the presented sequence is the application of matting paste to the stencil.

Once on the glass surface, the matting paste instantly enters into a chemical reaction with it. Therefore, it is important to protect from small drops those areas of the glass that are not covered with a stencil.

The paste is applied to the drawing in a continuous and even layer. The thickness of the layer is not particularly important, but, as a rule, it is 4...5 mm.

The duration of matting should correspond to the recommendations of the matting paste manufacturer (usually the process lasts 15 minutes). After waiting the recommended time, you can begin removing the stencil. The action is carried out in several stages:

We collect excess paste from the surface of the stencil back into the container. Considering that the paste is reusable, you will still need them.
Wipe off the remaining paste with a dry cloth.
Without removing the stencil, wash off the remaining matting composition with plenty of water. The most effective way to wash off the remaining paste is with a stream of running water, but in extreme cases, a filled five-liter bottle will do.

That's all. You can remove the stencil. After completing the above steps, the image will be permanently imprinted on the surface of the glass.

How to tint a window in a house so that it is not visible from the street?

Blinds can be used to protect from the sun. These are very simple products that consist of thin plates that can be adjusted.

How to tint a window in a house so that it is not visible from the street:

Their width is different, you can also adjust the angle of inclination. They are usually made of plastic or wood. Complement the appearance of the window.
Some models are mounted inside, and their position can be adjusted, thereby achieving darkening inside the room. Blinds that are located outside are more massive and durable.
Usually they are installed not just as protection from the sun, but also as an option to prevent intruders from entering the house. This is usually true for residents of the first floors.

Film

Is it possible to make glossy glass out of frosted glass?

To make frosted glass glossy, polishing is used. Polishing compounds can be industrial or homemade.

To make frosted glass transparent, you can stick tape on it.

GOI paste is a mixture of fine chromium oxide, active ingredients and fatty ligaments. It allows you to polish any glass, even optical. Moisten flannel or felt with gasoline or kerosene, then apply the paste to the fabric.

The glass is moistened with mineral oil and processed with gentle movements.

Cerium oxide will perfectly polish and remove defects and abrasions in window glass, watches and even lenses. It is included in the following pastes: “Cetrit”, “Polytrite”, “Ftoropol”. In order to remove scratches, first use pastes with a rough “grain”, and then soft ones.

Manual polishing takes a lot of time and effort, so it is better to use electric sanders.

Diamond pastes and powders diluted with Vaseline or silicone are considered the best. They can even polish sapphire crystals.

Diamond paste will help make frosted glass transparent.

Any old or tired glass item should not be thrown away. You can give it a second life, while making the surface more interesting and attractive, using regular matting or polishing. If desired, you can combine them and get exclusive, very beautiful products.

Self-made frosted glass can become a true work of art.

Partial dimming methods

Partial dimming methods:

External products are made of metal or wood - lamellas . Most often they are equipped with remote control. Many apartment owners are reluctant to install blinds to protect themselves from the sun because they consider them more suitable for offices. To get a pleasant coolness, you can resort to this method. The products are functional and easy to use. There are even special brushes for washing slats.
You can also use partial dimming . Bamboo curtains are used for these purposes. These are products that are assembled according to the principle of blinds. They are small sticks that are collected into dense sheets and wound on a reel or roller. They are fixed in the upper part of the window; when opened, they allow a small amount of sun to leak through. Thus, the inside of the room becomes dark, it is not very hot in summer, and it is comfortable.
It is recommended to use Awnings. These are thick curtains that resemble a canopy that is hung outside the window. They provide excellent protection from the sun, but do not block your view.
Lately, products made using the day and night technique have become quite popular. For their manufacture, several types of fabrics are used: one is transparent, and the other is dense. By changing the position of the slats, you can adjust the density and brightness of the sun's rays.

Window tinting

Instructions for self-installation (sticker) of film on windows

To obtain the desired quality result, two stages should be carried out: surface and room preparation; the gluing process itself. Also, the required tools for work are prepared in advance; gluing should be done without the distraction of searching for them.

To obtain the desired quality result, two stages should be carried out: surface and room preparation; the gluing process itself.

Material and tool

It is necessary to prepare the following tools and materials: scalpel/knife; rubber spatula; sprayer; tinting material; liquid soap; water.

It is necessary to prepare tools and materials before gluing.

Is it possible to tint plastic windows?

There are several subtleties that you should pay attention to when choosing solar reflective films for stickers on glass. If you have metal-plastic windows with energy-saving packages, then on the inside of such glass there is a silver coating.

Is it possible to tint plastic windows:

When gluing a film with a reflectivity higher than 50%, such spraying may heat up, causing a thermal shock, and the window may burst.
Therefore, such reflective films with a high degree of darkness are not glued to plastic windows. It is recommended to use translucent films, which provide much weaker protection from sunlight. Therefore, for such windows it is best to choose ordinary plastic or metal blinds.
You can glue films that are held in place by static electricity. Such products are sold in almost every transition, and resemble transparent films with a mirror surface. They are attached to static electricity.

The main disadvantage is that they do not look very attractive, they rarely lie flat, so bubbles remain. They are easy to remove and can be dismantled. Therefore, if the room is heated for two months a year, then we recommend purchasing just such sun protection products. They are quite inexpensive, but at the same time quite practical. In winter, sunscreen films with a mirror effect transmit very little light, making the room dark, which is very critical in conditions of insufficient light.

Film

How do tinted home windows look at night?

As mentioned above, tinted home windows look just like regular windows at night.

How tinted home windows look at night:

They transmit light and are almost completely transparent. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of light inside the room, which is not reflected from the film.
If you want to protect yourself from prying eyes, you need to cover your windows with curtains at night. This film protects from sunlight only during the daytime.

Film

Pros and cons of tint films

Everything in this world has positive and negative sides. And especially for construction and finishing materials. Films that provide glass tinting are no exception.

The advantages of this finish include:

protection from direct sunlight;
a barrier to the unhealthy curiosity of others;
protection from intruders;
protection from injuries associated with breaking glass in a window.

As for the shortcomings, they are also obvious:

twilight in an apartment with windows decorated with tinting film comes earlier than in apartments whose windows do not have such finishing;
and limiting the light transmission capacity (after all, the film transmits only a certain light spectrum).

Is it worth tinting plastic windows in the kitchen?

If you live on the lower floors, where not only the sun's rays penetrate, but also prying eyes, then it is best to choose a different method of protection than tinting.

Is it worth tinting plastic windows in the kitchen:

The fact is that such a film, which is glued to the inside, is often covered with a greasy coating, which can be easily removed using special means.
However, they can destroy the protective layer, and the film will eventually become completely transparent. This may not happen, it all depends on the quality and cost of such film.
It is not recommended to use car films, as they are very difficult to remove from windows and produce a blurry image. If it is important for you to maintain good visibility, refuse such films.

Film

Chemical matting

Chemical matting is performed using a special matting paste. It allows you to change the internal structure of the glass surface by exposing it to aggressive chemical compounds and destroying the silicon oxide crystal lattice. Upon completion of the process, silky translucent images are formed on the glass, which are so resistant to external influences that they cannot be removed even by mechanical means.

Using film stencils, you can get matte designs of any size and configuration: these can be inscriptions, patterns, logos and entire compositions made up of several stencils.

For chemical matting we will need:

degreasing liquid (medicinal alcohol);
disposable rubber gloves;
napkins;
rubber spatula;
aerosol glue for gluing the stencil (if you use a stencil made of self-adhesive film, no glue is needed);
matting paste;
a reusable stencil with a design and, of course, the glass object that you are going to decorate.

Alcohol will be needed to make the glass surface perfectly clean. This will ensure the picture is clear and evenly matte. Other types of solvents can leave a film of persistent chemical compounds on the surface of the glass, so it is better not to use them.

If the matting paste is applied to an unprepared and non-greased surface, then the finished drawing may become stained, and such a defect cannot be eliminated by any means.

Disposable gloves will help keep the glass surface perfectly clean and protect your hands from exposure to aggressive chemical environments (despite the fact that the composition of the matting paste is considered harmless to human hands, it is better to play it safe and protect them).

As for the glue for sticking the stencil: it is better to buy special aerosols that do not leave marks on the surface of the glass. They can be purchased in stores or ordered online.

The most important component involved in the technological process is the matting paste. There are recipes for making your own matting composition, but experienced people recommend using a ready-made ingredient, which can be purchased at a specialized store.

BarseekForumHouse Member

I don't want to advertise. I searched Yandex for matting pastes and bought the first 3. We apply absolutely any paste (experience has shown that they differ only in smell, and even then only slightly), leave for 3-15 minutes (depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations), and the result is ready.

The certified paste from the manufacturer reacts perfectly with glass surfaces, is safe for human health, does not contain strong acids, and its use can achieve excellent results.

As for stencils, they are made on the basis of a rigid film, which makes it possible to obtain products for reusable use. In some cases, stencils have a self-adhesive backing. There are three ways to prepare a stencil with the required image:

Cut it out yourself using a sharp and thin knife.
By purchasing a ready-made product in a store.
By ordering the production of a stencil on a special plotter. This method is the most preferable, because the plotter can produce stencils with designs of any complexity.

BarseekForumHouse Member

We think about what to draw, look for a picture and prepare it for the cutting plotter. Optimists can buy a special knife for stencils and cut by hand, but using a plotter is faster.

How to tint the windows so that it is not hot and light gets in?

The best option is to purchase a special film from a company that produces and installs tinting.

How to tint windows to keep it cool and let light in:

They are not just reflective; there are options on sale that are almost transparent in appearance, but they block ultraviolet and infrared rays.
Thanks to this, the room does not heat up, and curtains and textiles do not fade. Therefore, if you want a lot of light in the room, but at the same time it does not heat up, it makes sense to order just such films.
Please note that the price for them is quite high, but this is the best option when maintaining a large amount of light in the room is fundamental.

Technology

Technologies for obtaining a matte surface

In everyday life, glass objects with an unusual effect that were manufactured industrially are most often used. The following technologies are used in production for matting:

changing the structure using a sandblasting machine;
exposure to chemicals;
mechanical processing.

Sandblasting machines are more often used in industrial production, but if you have the skills to handle such equipment, you can use it to create a matte effect yourself. The remaining two technologies for changing the structure of the glass surface can be successfully used even by novice craftsmen.

Adding a matte effect using sand

Here, to make glass opaque, you will need a special machine or sandblasting machine. On the machine, a stream of fine sand and water is used to treat the surface to obtain the desired effect. The result is a matte, rough texture that lasts for a long time.

The sandblasting machine uses dry sand rather than wet sand for processing. It is supplied under high pressure to the surface being treated. As a result of this treatment, about 3 mm is removed from the surface of the material. Therefore, the use of this technology is allowed only for glass with a thickness exceeding 5 mm.

Important! You can use a sandblasting machine only in a specially prepared room, completely protecting your body from glass dust. This matting method consumes a lot of electricity. Another disadvantage is the special requirement for the quality of the sand used. All grains should be small and the same size. Otherwise, the glass can be easily damaged.

The procedure for matting with a sandblasting machine:

The working surface is cleaned of dirt and degreased.
If you need to create some kind of design on the glass, stick a stencil onto the area to be treated.
Turn on the device and treat the desired area, pressing the pump against the glass. They pass over the surface several times to obtain the desired depth of treatment.
Remove the stencil and wash the glass.

Chemical exposure

This technology is more accessible for home use. Here, various aggressive substances are applied to the surface, changing its structure. This technology is also called etching. To make frosted glass with your own hands, it is better to use non-toxic pastes and solutions. By experimenting with the concentration of the reagent used and the exposure time, different degrees of opacity are obtained.

Usually, to change the structure, a matting paste based on liquid glass or hydrofluoric acid is used. It is applied to the glass object in a thick layer and left for several minutes. An option for this treatment is to spray a special paint over the surface and then dry it in an oven.

Mechanical restoration

In this case, the glass is processed by engraving or grinding. The result is a beautiful surface. It retains its acquired appearance for a long time:

During grinding, the surface is treated with a special wheel and fine sand. To reduce dust formation, water is added to the sand.
Engraving is used to apply designs or inscriptions. A mark remains on the glass after exposure to it with a special tool.

How to tint windows: reviews

Below you can read reviews from consumers who have used sun protection films.

How to tint windows, reviews:

Valery. I have a sunny side, so I had to resort to several methods of sun protection at once. For these purposes, I initially purchased a regular mirror film, which is glued using static electricity, but this turned out to be not enough. To make the interior of the room more presentable, I purchased ordinary plastic blinds. It looks very nice, but at night there is practically no light visible and it is not clear what is going on outside the window. However, I don’t regret it, because the room became noticeably cooler.
Oksana. I live on the fifth floor, and until lunchtime the sun is in my bedroom. That's why I had to buy mirror film. I bought the cheapest one, in the underground passage. I had no idea how to glue it, so I used regular tape. At work I was told that it is necessary to use static electricity. But it also holds well on tape, although not tightly. Of course, it doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing, especially from the outside, but the main thing is that the room has become much cooler.
Maria. I decided not to bother, so I immediately purchased plastic windows, the glass of which is covered with a special film. I know that you can’t buy sticker films for plastic windows, as they can burst. Therefore, I decided to order from specialists. This is certainly not cheap, I had to spend a lot of money, but now the room is not hot, and there is no large amount of sunlight. I am very pleased with the new windows, they allow you to sleep well and keep the room cool.

Film
Useful articles about the house:

Zoning of the living room and kitchen 12-15, 16, 17, 18,20, 25, 30, 40 sq. m. m
Courtyard design for a private house: ideas
How to beautifully decorate a corridor with your own hands
Do-it-yourself artificial turf installation
Beautiful ornamental shrubs that are frost-resistant and wind-resistant

Why you should trust us with the installation

Experienced craftsmen will work on your windows.
The pasting will be done correctly and carefully.
All recommendations of the film manufacturers were followed.
The speed of work is efficient, strict adherence to deadlines.
The cost is calculated immediately, no additional payments are required.
Work guarantee.
We conclude an agreement and record all the important points in it.
We work with trusted film manufacturers.

If it is important for you to have a durable coating on your windows, then contact us immediately. We will advise, answer all questions and get started!

Call us right now or leave a request on the website!

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION