We went the window film route too, and honestly, it's been pretty solid for us as well. Did you find yours held up okay in high-traffic areas? Ours is on the front windows facing the street, and it's been about two years now—still looks decent, but I do notice a few tiny scratches here and there if you look closely. Nothing major, though, and from a distance you can't even tell.
One thing I'd add to your list is how easy it is to customize. We started with frosted film on the lower half of the window for privacy, but later decided we wanted a bit more coverage. Took maybe 30 minutes to peel off and redo with a different pattern. If we'd gone with actual privacy glass, we'd be stuck with whatever we initially chose, unless we wanted to spend big bucks replacing the whole window pane.
That said, I wonder if privacy glass might be better for bathrooms or humid areas? I've noticed our film slightly peeling at the edges in our bathroom window, probably from the steam and moisture. Not a huge deal, but something to think about if you're considering film in a bathroom or kitchen setting. Has anyone else had that issue?
Overall, though, I'm with you—the cost savings alone made film worth it for us. Privacy glass looks great, sure, but it's hard to justify the extra expense when film does the job pretty well.
Yeah, film's definitely a solid budget-friendly option, but it does have its quirks. We had it on our kitchen windows, and after about three years, the edges started to curl slightly from cooking steam and heat. Nothing terrible, but noticeable up close. I ended up replacing it once, easy enough, but if you're looking for zero-maintenance, privacy glass might still win out in humid spots. Still, for the cost difference...film gets my vote for most places.
"edges started to curl slightly from cooking steam and heat"
Had the same issue in our bathroom. Quick tip: when applying film, leave a tiny gap (like 1/8 inch) around edges—helps prevent curling. Still, privacy glass is def better for zero fuss in humid areas.
We had the same curling issue in our kitchen window too...tried the gap trick, but it only delayed the inevitable. Eventually went with privacy glass, and honestly, zero regrets. Film was fine at first, but humidity and heat just kept wearing it down, plus cleaning around curled edges got annoying fast. Privacy glass is pricier upfront, but if you're planning to stay put awhile, it's probably worth it for less hassle overall.
Privacy glass is def the way to go long-term. Quick tip though—make sure whoever installs it seals the edges properly. Seen too many cases where moisture sneaks in...then you're back to square one. Did you guys DIY or hire someone?
We hired someone, mostly because I didn't trust myself to get the sealing right—exactly for the moisture issue you mentioned. But now I'm wondering about energy efficiency...does privacy glass actually help keep heating/cooling costs down noticeably, or is it mostly just aesthetics and privacy? Curious if anyone's tracked their bills before and after installation.
We put privacy glass in our living room windows about two years ago, mostly because my neighbor has a habit of mowing his lawn shirtless at 7 am (trust me, privacy was a priority 😂). But I was also hoping it'd help with energy efficiency, since our living room faces west and gets blasted by afternoon sun.
Honestly, I didn't track my bills super scientifically, but I did notice a slight improvement. Nothing dramatic—like, don't expect your electric bill to suddenly drop by half—but the room definitely felt cooler in summer and warmer in winter. I think the privacy glass we got had some kind of UV coating or something, which probably helped. But if you're looking purely for energy savings, there are probably better bang-for-your-buck options like upgrading insulation or sealing drafts.
Still, the comfort factor was noticeable enough that I'd say it wasn't just aesthetics. Plus, not having to see my neighbor's questionable gardening attire every weekend was worth every penny. 😂
Yeah, totally agree with you on the comfort factor. We installed privacy glass in our kitchen windows last year—mostly to block out the view of our neighbor's messy backyard (think rusty bikes and broken lawn chairs...). From an energy standpoint, it helped a bit, but honestly, pairing it with some decent blackout curtains made a bigger difference for us. Still, the UV protection is nice—our furniture isn't fading nearly as fast now.
We haven't tried privacy glass yet, but we did put up some frosted window film in our bathroom a couple years back. Definitely helped with privacy (no more awkward waves to the neighbors, lol), but I didn't notice much difference energy-wise either. I'm curious though—does privacy glass affect how much natural light you get inside? Our kitchen's already kinda dark, so I'd hate to lose any more sunlight...
We've installed privacy glass in a few client homes, and honestly, the impact on natural lighting depends a lot on the type you choose. Some privacy glass options, like textured or heavily frosted styles, can definitely cut down on brightness—especially noticeable in rooms that are already a bit dim. But there are some newer types of privacy glass that use smart tech, allowing you to switch between clear and opaque modes whenever you need privacy. Those are pretty amazing because you get full brightness most of the time, and just flip a switch when you want privacy (no more awkward neighbor waves, lol).
That said, they're pricier than traditional frosted film or standard privacy glass, but if natural light is important to you, they're worth considering. From what I've seen, clients who went with the smart privacy glass rarely regret it—especially in kitchens or living areas where you want both privacy and brightness. Just something to think about if you're leaning toward upgrading your windows anyway...