Berkeley Parents Network: Frosting & Tinting Windows

Berkeley Parents Network

Frosting & Tinting Windows

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Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > House & Garden > Frosting & Tinting Windows

March 2006

The front of our house faces west and has lots of windows, so in the summer, the front rooms get unbelievably hot. We are considering getting a UV-protective film put on them. Does anyone know of a company that does this? If so, how much does it cost, and were you happy with the results? Thanks! Meryl

Glass Scratch Removers is great for window tinting. they can take scratches out of glass and put protective film over it. they'll even come an give you free estimate. There phone number is 510-885-0400. Yolanda

Oct 2004

I have french doors that have window panels and would like to add some privacy to the room by achieving a 'frosted' look. Not in the literal sense of how frost accumulates on windows but something that would add some privacy yet allow natural light to shine through. Has anyone ever tried to use frosted glass paint at home and what was your experience? I would prefer to use this less costly method rather than buy new doors! Thanks! eileen

I had this same issue with window panes that offered no privacy. I purchased a roll of window adhesive (tho' it wasn't sticky) and applied it to the window. It went on with water and a squeege and has been there for several years. It hasn't budged, I've done nothing to it, and it was pretty inexpensive. I bought a roll of the stuff from Home Depot. It came in a rather long box and took minutes to adhere. A great product. Andrea

Have you considered using decorative gauzy paper (available at art and stationery stores everywhere, it seems!), cut to the size of the window panels (the technical term is ''lites'') and glued on with a very thin strip of Elmer's along the perimeter? It works; it can be very attractive; and it's super inexpensive! Good luck.

I don't have experience with frosting paint, but I just put up some frosted privacy film. It's not very expensive, though a bit time consuming to apply. It's from Gila and you can get it at OSH and probably the Depot. THe directions seem complicated, but are actually really well written. Buy a small squeegee and ignore the bit about leaving an 1/8th inch. I just did it to three windows and am really pleased. Stephanie

One way you can approximate this , and it's easily removed if it turns out you don't like it, is to use very thin Japanese paper -- Miki's Paper on 4th Street in Berkeley has beautiful expensive ones but the Art Store has some cheaper ones that would work equally well. You whip up an eggwhite -- I know it sounds goofy, but it works -- until it's a really stiff froth, and then rub it all over the window, put up the paper (cut it to size before you start in with the egg) and rub more eggwhite over the paper. Get it saturated evenly; you'll know if you've missed any spots because they'll appear more opaque. When it dries, it'll be well stuck and even, and you can remove it any time you like with hot water and some scrubbing. I've done it in several apartments I've lived in. You can use really thin paper, or some of that kind that looks like lace: whatever suits your fancy. Cory

It comes in a spray can. You'll have to mask around the windows to protect what you don't want sprayed. It may be difficult to get it as even as something that is really frosted by sandblasting, so keep the can as far from the glass as you can and still get results, at least 6''. Good luck! Stephani

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