I have clear glass windows across my garage door which enable a curious peaker to peer in and have a look at my dirty mess. I'm looking for suggestions. I've considered adhesive window film and a light coat of black spray paint. Either would probably do the trick, but are they crude compared to your solutions? fire away...
Stop the peak - garage door windows
- Thread starter viper522
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ghnl
Well-known member
The adhesive window film is likely the neatest, easiest and most 'reversable'. I used some for our front door giving it the look of frosted glass.
Cryptic1911
Well-known member
yep, frosted film works great .. had it on a french door here at the house
nate379
Banned
Can you flip your door panels around so the panel with the windows is higher up?
1320stang
Well-known member
During the 70's, we all had windows across the 3rd panel up on our garage doors. Many people solved the peeky problem with curtains.....
rsanter
Well-known member
use red paint to create the look of blood splatter
if anyone asks. just tell them 'its really no big deal, I just found someone lurking around in my garage one night. I took care of it though.'
bob
if anyone asks. just tell them 'its really no big deal, I just found someone lurking around in my garage one night. I took care of it though.'
bob
rsanter
Well-known member
actually, you could swap the pieces out with some frosted ones.
you could take the ones you have and sandblast them
you could put some of the film on them that makes it look like stained glass
you could cover them in shelf paper that matches the color of the doors. you could also paint them the same color as the doors
you could install mirror behind it
clip some images off the web and print them out that make it look like children are peering out of the window
bob
you could take the ones you have and sandblast them
you could put some of the film on them that makes it look like stained glass
you could cover them in shelf paper that matches the color of the doors. you could also paint them the same color as the doors
you could install mirror behind it
clip some images off the web and print them out that make it look like children are peering out of the window
bob
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
I used the plastic panels used for fluorescent lights in drop ceilings.
Thanks fellas, some really solid ideas. rsanter I don't know where you got the blood and children ideas (note: do not mix the two!) but they're hilarious!
The glass isn't easily removable as each panel is held in by adhesive weather seal strips. I suppose it's designed to be Hurricane-resistant. They are one row from the top but by removing one horizontal bar I would have full access to apply window film (or pictures of very unattractive **********?).
I also want to put a sign on my shed door that reads: "Smile, you're on camera, dummy". But it won't fend off the illiterate. My rifle speaks the universal language!
The glass isn't easily removable as each panel is held in by adhesive weather seal strips. I suppose it's designed to be Hurricane-resistant. They are one row from the top but by removing one horizontal bar I would have full access to apply window film (or pictures of very unattractive **********?).
I also want to put a sign on my shed door that reads: "Smile, you're on camera, dummy". But it won't fend off the illiterate. My rifle speaks the universal language!
autoclassicnut
Well-known member
I had my garage door installer put my windows up to the second from the top spot and if you aren't 7' tall, you can't see in. My wife thought I was being paranoid, but none of her stuff is out there either.
( and it will stay that way, too! )
( and it will stay that way, too! )
Motofixxer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2009
- Messages
- 681
How about just simple cheap window blinds. Open when you want light. Closed when your not in there. Custom cut widths for any window...
mrpowderkeg
Well-known member
I lightly fogged my windows with bomb can white paint. It lets light in, but you cannot see in.
Oh yea forgot to say be sure to tape off what you don't want painted.... as if I had to tell anyone that. You can clean the glass with a razer blade pretty easy.
Oh yea forgot to say be sure to tape off what you don't want painted.... as if I had to tell anyone that. You can clean the glass with a razer blade pretty easy.
http://www.gilafilms.com/
I used this on three bedroom windows. They're window films but they don't apply with adhesive. You clean the windows and then wet them again with solution and squeegee. Home Depot and Lowes carry them. They have several options to choose from. One is kind of mirror-like and they also have a frosted.
I used this on three bedroom windows. They're window films but they don't apply with adhesive. You clean the windows and then wet them again with solution and squeegee. Home Depot and Lowes carry them. They have several options to choose from. One is kind of mirror-like and they also have a frosted.
i used self adhesive clear shelf paper on my shower window. on glass it applies to a frosted look. it's cheap and reversible. i didn't get windows on my garage door just because i didn't want looky lous knowing when i'm home or what i have in the garage.
later jim
later jim
Daniel Dudley
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- Sep 4, 2009
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This is a very professional solution. The stuff will last forever if you do it on the inside.
Here's the windows so you can 'see' what I'm talking about. It's actually the top panel, and I can still tip-toe to see through them.
I'm liking the gila films stuff. I don't want any dangly bits or fabrics that can catch dust/debris or would otherwise get in the way of hurricane reinforcement bars. Besides the obvious, the other reason I'm going to do this is because the door into the house has clear glass windows as well and so you can see straight through the garage, into the house, and right out the back sliding glass doors. Too much transparency!
I'm liking the gila films stuff. I don't want any dangly bits or fabrics that can catch dust/debris or would otherwise get in the way of hurricane reinforcement bars. Besides the obvious, the other reason I'm going to do this is because the door into the house has clear glass windows as well and so you can see straight through the garage, into the house, and right out the back sliding glass doors. Too much transparency!
rieferman
Well-known member
my neighbor got some custom "fatheads" printed and then just used an exacto blade to trim to fit exactly in each window space.. you can upload a photo to create your own, or do your favorite team etc. (he uploaded pics of his classic cars). They're decals (not stickers) so he can pull them off whenever he wants a change.
tcianci
Well-known member
There is also a frosted glass spray paint, removable with a razor blade.
oh and I just realized there's a tax credit available for heat-reducing window film. awesome
http://www.windowfilmtaxcredit.com/
http://www.windowfilmtaxcredit.com/
You can also go to a hobby store and get glass etching solution. It goes on as a paste and will etch the window resulting in a frosted glass look. It is obviously not reversible.
A low-budget or temporary option is plain old wax paper taped to the inside of the window. From a few feet away it looks like rice paper or frosted glass. Still allows some light to pass but keeps prying eyes from seeing the contents of the garage.
A low-budget or temporary option is plain old wax paper taped to the inside of the window. From a few feet away it looks like rice paper or frosted glass. Still allows some light to pass but keeps prying eyes from seeing the contents of the garage.
Cameronl
Well-known member
I bought "frosted window film" from one of those crappy old-lady catalogs like Lillian Vernon. It was just clear shelf paper. So, yeah, I'm with Jim.
Gary S
Well-known member
Curtains can really help the decor. You can select a nice paisley or perhaps stripes in a color that match your shoes. But, there is so much disagreement about whether horizontal stripes or vertical stripes make your door look wider.
I was just posting elsewhere. My garage door (wood door) windows let everybody look inside. I bought some 1/2" foil backed rigid insulation and screwed it to the door (foil out) covering the windows up.
It's also a better R-value than the glass.
It's also a better R-value than the glass.
I would say get a can of the cheap window frost paint. Non permanent. But then again I don't understand posting a picture of the inside of you garage on the internet and then frosting the windows for the neighbors.
it's not the neighbors i'm worried about, it's the riff raff that passes thru every neighborhood.
later jim
I ran into the same problem with the window film, I left it on and purchased some black foam board that is used for the back of posters, cut it to the frame size and used heavy duty velcro to attach it. It works great and easily comes off if you want some light in the garage or for cleaning.
I think I purchased the darkest film the home store had available but as soon as I fired up my neon signs and lights at night you could still look into the garage so I just did the poster board thing because I had some around. I left the tint on because it does give the windows a nice blacked out look in the daytime as well. If you could find totally black tint I am sure it would work.
Something else you could do, just replace the walk in door all together with a 6 panel or flush metal door.
no2tracks
Well-known member
I used 'Limo Black' window film. You cannot see in, but you can still see out. Works well.
Joe Reed
Well-known member
As a previous post mentions, you can get window frosting paint in a spray can from places like Hobby Lobby. I used it in a window in my Mom's front door. It worked great and seemed to be permanent - at least until I scraped it off a few years later to replace it with a stained glass panel I made. You can start with a light coat and, if you want it more opaque, just spray additional coats.
ProGun3400
Well-known member
I like this idea. Remove it when you want some light, replace when you close up shop. Or-you could just spraypaint them to match your outside door color?
bd8134
Well-known member
I went with the white frosted glass spray paint. It still lets the light in, from the inside it just looks white. From the outside when the lights are on you can see shapes but they are blurred, you cant make out the posts of the lift. Works for me.
Smilodon
Well-known member
I can also vouch for the "cling" type vinyl stuff (a couple of brands at Lowes/HD). We had some clear glass "pseudo-transom" windows when I moved in, and the glare was oppressive.
I found some that was "mission" style stained glass and put it on the windows. Looked great and cut the heat down as well as the glare.
61scout80
Well-known member
Used this last winter, and it held up great during the phoenix hot summer with no ac in the garage. I recommend this route.
I tried the spray first, it lasted about 3 phoenix winter months (most peoples summer) before it turned yellow, cracked and needed to be scrapped off. I forget if i used rustoleum or krylon's version of it, but it was a reputable named product. The customer service for the company even told me it would be fine for at least a year, that was not my case.
It was easy to use, went one nice and looked great at first. in my opinion this stuff might be good for glass not exposed to the sun.