I tried the film route too, and yeah, installation was easy enough—even for someone like me who usually ends up with air bubbles everywhere. But after about a year, mine started looking pretty rough around the edges (literally). Corners peeling, scratches from my cat pawing at the window...not exactly the sleek look I was hoping for. Privacy glass sounds tempting, but the upfront cost makes me hesitate. Guess it depends how much you value your sanity vs. your wallet, haha.
I’ve been eyeing privacy glass too, mostly because my DIY film job ended up looking like abstract art after my dog decided windows were his personal scratching post. Curious though, does privacy glass hold up better against pets or just look nicer longer?
Privacy glass definitely looks cleaner longer, but scratch resistance...eh, not convinced. My friend's cat still managed to leave some marks. Maybe tempered glass would hold up better? Anyone tried that route with pets around?
I've been wondering about tempered glass too, especially since my dog loves pawing at the window whenever squirrels pass by. Does anyone know if tempered glass actually resists scratches better, or is it mostly just stronger against impacts?
Tempered glass is definitely tougher against impacts—learned that the hard way after my kids accidentally launched a baseball into our patio door. It held up fine, thankfully. But scratch-wise, it's not really any better than regular glass. Our old dog used to paw at the sliding door constantly, and after a couple years, you could definitely see the marks. If scratches are your main worry, maybe consider adding a protective film or something...worked pretty well for us.
Good points about tempered glass—it's definitely tougher against impacts, but scratches can still be a pain. Protective film is a solid workaround, especially if you've got pets or kids. Privacy glass is another story though... it can look great and definitely helps with keeping prying eyes away, but one thing to keep in mind is the amount of natural light it blocks. Some types can make your rooms feel noticeably darker, especially on cloudy days.
Have you thought about using privacy films instead? They're usually cheaper and you can remove them if you change your mind later. Plus, some films actually help reduce UV rays and glare, which is a nice bonus. Just curious—are you leaning towards privacy glass mainly for aesthetics or more for security/privacy reasons?
Privacy films are actually pretty underrated, imo. We tried privacy glass in our last place, and while it did look sleek, the darkness was a bigger issue than we expected. On gloomy days, the rooms felt kinda cave-like, even with lamps on. Plus, once it's installed, you're pretty much stuck with it unless you wanna shell out more cash to replace the whole window.
We switched to privacy film at our current house—mostly because we weren't sure if we'd like the permanent option again—and honestly, it's been great. Easy to apply (well... mostly easy, minus a few air bubbles lol), and it does a decent job blocking views without killing all the natural light. Still, I get why people might prefer the look of actual privacy glass.
Curious though—has anyone noticed if privacy films hold up well over time? Like do they start peeling or discoloring after a few years?
I've gotta say, privacy films aren't exactly the miracle solution some folks make them out to be. Sure, they're cheaper and easier to swap out than privacy glass, but from my experience, durability can be hit or miss. We had privacy film in our bathroom for about three years, and while it didn't discolor much, the edges started peeling slightly after the second year. Not a huge deal, but it bugged me enough that I ended up replacing it.
Also, I think the aesthetics of actual privacy glass are hard to beat. Films can look decent from afar, but up close you can usually tell it's just a sticker—especially if you get those dreaded air bubbles or wrinkles. Privacy glass might darken things a bit, but honestly, with the right lighting setup (think brighter bulbs or strategic lamp placement), you can offset that cave-like feeling pretty easily.
Just my two cents though... everyone's mileage varies depending on priorities and budget.
- Totally get where you're coming from on the film peeling issue—had the same thing happen in our kitchen after just a year.
- Privacy glass definitely looks cleaner up close, no doubt about it.
- But as a first-time homeowner, budget was tight, so film was our quick fix. Not perfect, but it did the job for now.
- Good tip on lighting adjustments to offset darkness from privacy glass; hadn't thought of that.
- Might upgrade down the line when finances allow, but your points make me feel better about considering it eventually. Thanks for sharing your experience!
We went with privacy glass in our bathroom after dealing with the peeling film drama—honestly, best decision ever. It does make things darker, but like you said, tweaking the lighting helps a ton. Worth the splurge eventually, imo.