I've seen SageGlass in action at a friend's office building, and honestly, it was pretty impressive. The tinting transitions were smooth, and he mentioned they haven't had any major issues in the two years they've had them. From what I gathered, power outages default the windows to a neutral state—not stuck dark or anything. Maintenance-wise, he hasn't complained about updates or servicing yet, so that's promising. I'd say they're probably stable enough now if you're itching to upgrade, but waiting another year wouldn't hurt either.
"From what I gathered, power outages default the windows to a neutral state—not stuck dark or anything."
That's generally true, but keep in mind that even a neutral default state can still feel noticeably darker than traditional clear windows. I've had clients mention it feels a bit gloomy indoors during extended outages or control glitches. Nothing major, but something to consider if natural brightness matters a lot to you. Also, View has been pretty solid in recent installs I've overseen—worth checking out before settling on SageGlass.
Good points on the neutral state issue. I haven't personally noticed View windows feeling too gloomy during outages, but I guess it depends a lot on your indoor layout and natural lighting setup. One tip I've found helpful is to visit an actual installation site before choosing—photos don't always capture that subtle difference in brightness...
"View has been pretty solid in recent installs I've overseen—worth checking out before settling on SageGlass."
Speaking of reliability, has anyone experienced any long-term maintenance quirks with either brand? Curious about real-world upkeep beyond initial install.
I've worked with both brands quite a bit, and honestly, neither has given me major headaches on the maintenance side. View tends to be pretty hands-off—once installed correctly, it's mostly just periodic software updates and checking the wiring connections every now and then. With SageGlass, I've noticed the occasional hiccup in the tinting responsiveness after a few years, usually due to sensor calibration drifting slightly. Nothing major, but something to keep an eye on.
One minor quirk with View: if you're integrating them into a larger building management system, sometimes firmware updates can cause temporary glitches in communication. Usually easy to sort out, but it can catch you off guard if you're not expecting it. SageGlass seems a bit more straightforward there, fewer surprises overall.
On balance though, neither brand is a maintenance nightmare... just keep your software updated and sensors clean, and you'll avoid most headaches.
I've had SageGlass windows in my home office for about three years now, and honestly, they've been pretty good. Had one minor issue with the sensors acting up after a power outage, but recalibrating them was pretty straightforward—took maybe 15 minutes tops. Haven't tried View myself, but from what you're saying, it sounds like both brands have their quirks but nothing too scary. Definitely beats climbing a ladder to manually adjust blinds every afternoon... been there, done that, not going back, lol.
"Definitely beats climbing a ladder to manually adjust blinds every afternoon... been there, done that, not going back, lol."
Haha, totally relate to this! I've had View windows installed for about two years now—no major hiccups yet. One time the app glitched after an update, but restarting my phone fixed it right away. Honestly, both brands seem pretty solid. The convenience alone makes it worth it, especially if you're working from home regularly. Plus, the energy savings on cooling bills have been a nice bonus...
I get the convenience factor, but honestly, I'm still a bit skeptical about smart windows being worth the upfront cost. I mean, yeah, climbing ladders sucks (been there too... not fun), but there are simpler solutions—like motorized blinds with remotes or timers—that achieve pretty much the same result without the hefty price tag.
A buddy of mine installed SageGlass last summer, and while he loves the tech side of it, he did mention that repairs can be a headache. Apparently, if something goes wrong, it's not exactly DIY-friendly, and service calls aren't cheap. Plus, I'm not totally convinced yet about the long-term durability of the electronics embedded in glass. Maybe I'm just old-school, but I prefer tech that's easier (and cheaper) to replace if things go south.
Don't get me wrong, smart windows sound awesome on paper, especially if you're working from home and want that seamless experience. But for now, I'll stick with my trusty remote-controlled shades and save some cash for other home projects... or beer money.
Totally get where you're coming from—smart windows do seem like a big leap, especially cost-wise. I've been tempted myself, but the DIYer in me cringes at the thought of expensive service calls. Motorized blinds have been solid for me too, though I admit the sleekness of smart glass is appealing. Curious if anyone's had experience with View glass specifically—is their customer support any better than SageGlass?
- Looked into View glass briefly—price tag made me choke on my coffee, haha.
- Buddy of mine installed SageGlass and had some headaches with their support being slow to respond. Not terrible, just...meh.
- Honestly, motorized blinds have been good enough for my lazy self. Fancy glass tech is tempting, but I prefer saving cash for other house disasters waiting to happen.
I've toyed with the idea of smart windows briefly, but the price always snaps me back to reality. Honestly, motorized blinds have been doing just fine for my needs. Installed them about two years ago—pretty straightforward DIY job, and they've held up surprisingly well.
Curious though, for those who've actually gone the smart glass route: besides the cool factor, is there a noticeable improvement in energy savings or comfort levels compared to blinds or traditional solutions? If there's a decent payoff in bills or comfort, I might reconsider...otherwise it seems like tech that's still a bit ahead of its practical usefulness.