window coverings

[webbs2jzgte]

hey guys,

while i'm in college and my apartment doesn't offer much work space my grandma has offered me a small side room she has in her garage. She tells me it used to be used for gardening by the previous owner(grandmother is 58). It has one complete wall of windows. Now this will be nice in summer to open up some windows to get a breeze in. The garage had 2 mishaps in her 11-12 years of living there. Once the garage was broken into for nothing(garage door didn't work so someone just wanted to be a pain). Another one was someone decided to smash 5 of the windows. I replaced them.

Now my question is, she wants to keep the windows so I can't get rid of them. But I wan some sort of covering for the windows that won't allow much if any light out so people can't see im in there in the wee hours of the night. Any ideas? I though of maybe black canvas shades.

thanks guys, i'm trying to make due with the small space I have

 

[plung]

You could stick this lattice on the outside, protect the windows a little.

 

[Super Sport]

I've heard auto tint works well. I think there might also be some sort of "frost" you can get that sticks on.

 

[rlitman]

Before hurricane Irene passed through last year, I looked into protecting some windows around my house. After some research, I discovered that corrugated polycarbonate panels (the stuff that shed and carport roofing is made from) can be put over windows, and can withstand more of a beating than even 3/4" plywood.

The PVC (the cheaper stuff that has a rounder shape) is kind of brittle, but the polycarbonate (the one I got at HD has a more angular design) is pretty unbreakable (you couldn't hack through it with an axe, although you can saw through it).

I had scraps of a photo-grey shade (like sunglasses) left over from a shed project, and used them to cover the inside of my garage door windows. It lets a little light in, but at night, with the lights off inside, you cannot see the interior, and the corrugation obscures the view a little too.

 

[Kevin54]

WHY NOT JUST PUT MINI BLINDS ON THE INSIDE OR A WIDER BAMBOO SHADE TO PULL?

Oops sorry about the cap locks, didn't mean to shout!!!

 

[camarotoolman]

I've used black spray paint.

 

[kbs2244]

Your black shades should work for the light problem.

For security I would look for the thick film you can apply over the inside of the glass that makes it like the automotive Safety glass.
I think 3M makes it.
You can break the glass but it just spider webs.
They cannot get a clear opening.

 

[Zeke]

Now my question is, she wants to keep the windows so I can't get rid of them. But I wan some sort of covering for the windows that won't allow much if any light out so people can't see im in there in the wee hours of the night. Any ideas? I though of maybe black canvas shades.

Just 4 mil black landscape plastic will do that. You can fold it over 4 x and install grommets and hang on hooks. If your lights are real bright, some light may leak over the edges if not tight to the wall.

 

[plung]

You could build yourself a box and hang it on the inside window covering it all. So if anyone peeks in, they will see the scenery you made.

 

[rlitman]

This garage protected by hungry carnivorous dinosaurs and a volcano?

 

[darkk]

You can buy frosted vinyl covering. Lets in all the light and you can't see through it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have tinted my windows and use mini-blinds.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133302

 

[webbs2jzgte]

thanks guys,

so far i'm thinking a frosted vinyl for the inside windows. We haven't had any break in's in a 3-4 years.

my main worry is people knowing work is going on in there. So I am thinking about getting a gromet instal kit and doing some black heave shades that can be moved.

Blinds are a nice idea but thats what we had and they go all screwed up and when flipped up you can still see a lot on the inside

 

[racer8432955]

i would hang a bunch of rebel flags.

 

[NUTTSGT]

thanks guys,



Blinds are a nice idea but thats what we had and they go all screwed up and when flipped up you can still see a lot on the inside

Turn the blinds the other way, so they run downhill to the outside. This allows you to see out but looking in, all you see is the ceiling.