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My window film project

11 years ago

My picture didn't work out very well -- too bright outside, I suppose -- but wanted to share anyway, since window films have been discussed here from time to time. We had our door painted, so I took down my previous window film (which was a plain "etched glass" film, no pattern) and got adventurous with a printed film this time. Anyone who is anal like me might say a perfect installation would have involved pattern matching (from pane to pane) but I just couldn't go there. At first glance, though, no one's going to notice (and our front door isn't used much!). Again, sorry for the bad photo, but you can get an idea of how it looks. Installation is easy for the most part, though time consuming and a bit messy.

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Comments (12)

cat_mom
11 years ago
Love it!!!!
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
Very pretty!
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@rockbird - Whatever you choose, get a few bids as I found significant price variation with different installers. The first 3M installer quoted me $3500 for film that was functionally equivalent to Avery Dennison which quoted me $1800. There was a climate control 3M that was $5400 from the first 3M installer. I had my designer get a quote from another 3M installer and the apples to apples bid from the second 3M installed was $2400 versus $1800 for Avery for what appeared to be the same technology. Both brands had various options available but I wanted something relatively simple - I wanted to block the destructive UV rays without having to have shades drawn constantly since I have a bank of windows with a view so there is always light but since it's an Eastern exposure, I don't have the relentless sun of a Western exposure. I didn't want something extremely dark nor did I want anything with a mirror finish on the exterior since I wasn't using these for privacy or really for climate control. The Avery Dennison installer said that the film I chose would have a slight impact on climate control but the main benefit is UV protection for furniture and floors. When they come out, they have cards with the film and you hold it up to the window to get a sense of how dark the windows will appear with each possibility.
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patty_cakes
11 years ago
Sue, that's so pretty! DD has clear glass and she hates it. Will definitely show her your picture. ;o)
SunnyCottage
11 years ago
I love it! What a pretty softening effect it provides. Very nicely done (I would never have noticed that the pattern doesn't "match up", had you not mentioned it! ;-)).
always1stepbehind
11 years ago
I like that. I have some privacy film on the sidelights of my french door and have thought about replacing it. I really like that film you used. Where did you get yours?
Sueb20
Original Author
11 years ago
Uhhh...I knew someone would ask. Okay, just double checked -- I ordered it from www.decorativefilms.com. They have quite a selection and while its not super inexpensive (I think I paid somewhere around $45) it is better quality than film I've used elsewhere. I used some on my glass kitchen cabinets that I bought elsewhere, and it basically just fell off after several months. The last window film I used on the front door, also from this Decorative Film place, stayed put for a few years until I pulled it off (and yet it came off easily with some tugging).
pudgeder
11 years ago
Looks lovely!!!
Laurie
11 years ago
What a great idea...I love it!
CEFreeman
11 years ago
I used some I bought at Lowe's. I used a rice paper pattern.

I discovered you need a sparkling clean window and a really good squeegie.

Where I didn't get it clean, or maybe wet enough, it peels back. I love it, though. Softens the light well.

It was a PIA getting all the bubbles out, though!
TxMarti
11 years ago
That is really pretty. You did a great job with it. Did you have to squeegee out bubbles like CEFreeman?
Sueb20
Original Author
11 years ago
I did use the little plastic squeegee (provided in the package) but no, there were not a lot of bubbles. I did clean the windows first, and the directions said to make sure NO spot on the film was dry before applying, and I was careful about that. (Had to spray each piece with soapy water from a spray bottle.) That part was super easy. The measuring and cutting, to me, was the most time-consuming and hardest part (especially the non-rectangular panes at the top of the door -- had to make a template for those). All in all, not hard, but time consuming.
always1stepbehind
11 years ago
Thank you for the info. My front door also has 4 or 5 little windows that make like a half moon, I don't know what the proper word is for that...

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