I haven't personally tried SageGlass, but I did install View windows in my home office last year. Honestly, the glare reduction is impressive—especially during those brutal summer afternoons. Before, I had to constantly adjust blinds or shift my monitor around midday, which was a real hassle. Now I barely notice the sun's position at all. Can't speak directly to SageGlass, but if it's anything similar, you'll probably wonder how you ever managed without smart windows...
I get the appeal of smart windows, but honestly, after helping my brother install SageGlass in his sunroom last spring, I'm not totally sold on them for every situation. They definitely cut down glare and heat, no question there, but the tinting can sometimes feel a bit unnatural—like you're wearing sunglasses indoors. Maybe it's just me, but I still prefer regular windows with adjustable shades or curtains. Feels more flexible somehow...though I can see why others might love the convenience factor.
"the tinting can sometimes feel a bit unnatural—like you're wearing sunglasses indoors."
Totally get what you're saying here. I recently moved into my first home and was debating smart windows too. After checking out a friend's setup, I noticed the same thing—felt kinda dim even midday. Ended up going with regular windows and some nice adjustable blinds instead. It's great that you helped your brother install them though; hands-on experience always clears things up. Sounds like you made the right call for your preferences.
I've noticed similar issues with tinting at my cousin's place—felt kinda gloomy even on sunny days. Wonder if certain brands handle this better... Has anyone compared View and SageGlass side-by-side in person? Curious if there's a noticeable difference.
"felt kinda gloomy even on sunny days."
Yeah, I've noticed that too with some smart windows—especially cheaper ones. I haven't personally compared View and SageGlass side-by-side, but I did help install SageGlass at a friend's place last summer. Honestly, the tint transitions felt pretty smooth and natural, not overly dark or depressing. From what I've heard, View tends to have slightly cooler tones, which might contribute to that gloomy feel you're describing... Might be worth checking out samples in person if you can.
I installed View windows a couple years back on a commercial project, and yeah, I get what you're saying about the gloomy vibe. They definitely lean toward cooler bluish tones, especially at higher tint levels. It wasn't terrible or anything, but on cloudy days it sometimes felt like you were stuck behind sunglasses indoors—not exactly uplifting.
SageGlass, from what I've seen in demos and heard from colleagues, tends to have warmer, more neutral tones. Supposedly they use electrochromic tech that adjusts more subtly to ambient conditions. Haven't personally done a full install myself yet (just played around with samples at trade shows), but it seemed pretty natural and less intrusive.
Honestly though, smart window tech is still evolving fast. If you're sensitive to lighting and color temp, it's probably worth getting your hands on actual samples or visiting a building that's had them installed for a while. Nothing beats seeing it in action yourself...
"on cloudy days it sometimes felt like you were stuck behind sunglasses indoors—not exactly uplifting."
Yeah, that's exactly what worries me about smart windows. I'd definitely try to see SageGlass installed somewhere first—samples at trade shows can be misleading. Better safe than sorry with something this pricey...
Better safe than sorry with something this pricey...
I remember touring an office building last year that had some sort of smart glass installed—not sure if it was View or SageGlass, honestly. It was a pretty gloomy day, and I distinctly recall thinking the lighting felt a bit off, like being in a room where someone dimmed the lights just a tad too much. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't ideal either. Makes me wonder: do these windows have adjustable settings to compensate for cloudy weather, or is it more of an "always-on" tint situation?
Interesting point about the gloomy lighting—I had a similar experience at a friend's place who installed smart glass in their sunroom. I think theirs was SageGlass, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, it seemed like the windows automatically adjusted based on sunlight intensity, but sometimes it felt like they overcompensated. On cloudy days, the room ended up feeling a bit cave-like, and my friend joked that he spent all this money just to live in perpetual twilight.
From what I've heard, some of these systems do have manual override options or adjustable settings through apps or wall panels, but I'm not sure how intuitive or responsive those controls really are. I'd imagine having to constantly fiddle with an app or remote to brighten things up on cloudy days could get annoying pretty fast—especially if you're paying premium prices for convenience.
Also makes me wonder about long-term reliability. Like, what happens if the sensors that detect sunlight levels start misbehaving after a few years? Are you stuck with permanently dimmed windows until someone comes out to fix them?
I guess my real question is: has anyone actually lived with these smart windows long enough to see how well they hold up over time and changing weather conditions? Would be interesting to hear some real-world experiences before jumping in...
Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about the gloomy vibe. My neighbor installed View windows about two years ago, and I've spent enough time at their place to notice some of the quirks. They do have manual overrides through an app, but honestly, it's not as seamless as you'd hope. Sometimes there's a noticeable lag between adjusting the settings and actually seeing the windows respond, which can be annoying if you're trying to quickly brighten things up.
Also, something else to consider is how these windows handle extreme weather conditions. We had a pretty intense heatwave last summer, and my neighbor mentioned that the windows did a decent job blocking heat—but they seemed to struggle a bit on really cold winter days. The glass would darken too much even when sunlight was minimal, making rooms feel colder and darker than necessary.
Long-term reliability is definitely something I'd question too. Smart tech is great when it works smoothly, but troubleshooting complex window systems down the road doesn't sound fun or cheap...