Window Tinting on sliding glass door

[pooh6890]

I am thinking of having my kitchen sliding glass door tinted instead of levelors or blinds. The kind where I can see out and no one can see in. My new kitchen will overlook a natural preserve and the sun rising in the east so I think it would look nice. Has anyone here done that and how is it done? Do they tint on the outside or inside and does it work? I think a nice cornice over the top would look great with an open door look. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Albort]

the tints go on the inside of the window. Ive used them before to get better sunlight instead of blinds but since my windows face the door of a dormatory, i also like privacy. Its easy to do them, but you may get bubbles.

only downside is that if you get the super shiny side, at night, you cant see out with the light on your side but ppl can see in.

 

[pooh6890]

Ooh...I don't want anyone being able to see in. There is nothing behind me which kinda scares me (new community) because I want to be able to see if anyone is lurking around back there other than the critters! I figured on having someone else do it unless it's that easy...thanks for the reply!

 

[Forum Jumper]

We got the darkest window tinting (factory installed) we could when we replaced our house windows and, although you can't see in during the day, you can see everything in the house at night if there is a light on in the room. We had to put our drapes back up after installation. Disappointing. I don't know if the tinting you do yourself blocks viewing at night.

 

[pooh6890]

Yeah, that is disappointing. Defeats the purpose right?

 

[Forum Jumper]

Yep.

If you do use the film installation, please report back on how it goes and what you think of it.

 

[pooh6890]

I will!

 

[7165red]

I have my glass doors tinted but would to replace it with new tinting, does anyone know how to remove the old tinting. We tinted the doors ourselves.

 

[mom2of2]

I have my glass doors tinted but would to replace it with new tinting, does anyone know how to remove the old tinting. We tinted the doors ourselves.

For those wondering about having windows tinted...get a professional!! they will do it so much faster and it will have a warranty.

To remove tint is a pain in the butt!!! Fill a spray bottle with soapy water and get a razor blade and just slowly cut and pull. You will need a scraper to get the glue off.

 

[Squirlz]

I have my glass doors tinted but would to replace it with new tinting, does anyone know how to remove the old tinting. We tinted the doors ourselves.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive and acetone to remove the adhesive residue.

 

[pooh6890]

Wow guys, this seems like a lot of work! I was interested in having the door done so I could look out at night to see if any critters were out there (or robbers lurking around), but if they can see inside if the lights are on, it defeats my purpose. If I turn off all the lights inside and turn on the outside patio light, can they still see in? I would have a heart attack if I was looking out and someone was standing there!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

 

[barkley]

just a word of caution-we have a somewhat tinted large window in our family room (eastern facing-we have wetlands so basically a natural preserve that it looks onto) that is next to a non tinted sliding glass door. the remaining windows in our home are non tinted as well. for whatever reason the tinted window is the one that the birds crash into most frequently-the only thing I can figure is because the tinting makes it look (from outside the home) somewhat like a mirror, the birds see the reflection of the trees, clouds, sun and other birds-and they don't realize the are flying into a solid surface. I've never had a bird fly into the adjacent slider, and few into the other windows. most recover well, but during the spring and summer months we have to dispose of a few each month

 

[7165red]

For those wondering about having windows tinted...get a professional!! they will do it so much faster and it will have a warranty.

To remove tint is a pain in the butt!!! Fill a spray bottle with soapy water and get a razor blade and just slowly cut and pull. You will need a scraper to get the glue off.

Thanks, I was afraid of that.

 

[Happy Snowman]

We have something like this:

https://www.theshadestore.com/window-treatments/product-line/solar-shades

Yes, its a blind but you can roll it up if you want some extra sunlight . You can get various privacy levels and even at night, you really can't see in. You can see shadows if the lights are on at night (we have the mid-range privacy ones). It's nice because we can still see outside, watch critters, etc. but it cuts the sunlight coming into the room!

 

[pooh6890]

just a word of caution-we have a somewhat tinted large window in our family room (eastern facing-we have wetlands so basically a natural preserve that it looks onto) that is next to a non tinted sliding glass door. the remaining windows in our home are non tinted as well. for whatever reason the tinted window is the one that the birds crash into most frequently-the only thing I can figure is because the tinting makes it look (from outside the home) somewhat like a mirror, the birds see the reflection of the trees, clouds, sun and other birds-and they don't realize the are flying into a solid surface. I've never had a bird fly into the adjacent slider, and few into the other windows. most recover well, but during the spring and summer months we have to dispose of a few each month

OMG...I never thought of that but it makes perfect sense that birds would see the reflection and hit the door. Re-thinking tinting yet again...

 

[pooh6890]

We have something like this:

https://www.theshadestore.com/window-treatments/product-line/solar-shades

Yes, its a blind but you can roll it up if you want some extra sunlight . You can get various privacy levels and even at night, you really can't see in. You can see shadows if the lights are on at night (we have the mid-range privacy ones). It's nice because we can still see outside, watch critters, etc. but it cuts the sunlight coming into the room!

Happy....I love those blinds so much! I am definitely going to check into that. I think they look really pretty and pretty much solve my problem. Thank you so very much!