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Window treatments

trainman1385

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
215
Location
Utah
I have spent alot of time and money on my garage, but I have done nothing with the windows. I need/want light, and privacy but don't want to use blinds as they will eventually get really dirty. I have toyed with using a piece of 4x6 corrugated plastic, but thought I woudl see what everyone eses is using
 
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JC23

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Joined
Dec 31, 2009
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11,719
Location
Northcoast
I got in trouble for using the phrase you have as a thread title. Almost cost me some man card points...
 
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trainman1385

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
215
Location
Utah
Re: Window treatments aka privacy devices

I should have called them privacy devices instead
 

Falcon67

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Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
18,371
Location
Merkel, TX
LOL. I sewed my curtains on the mill and hemmed them up with a circular saw...

I used cheap vinyl blinds from HD. I did trim out the windows in the work area with some 1x4 trim and such but haven't done anything with the two windows in the parking area other than hang blinds. And to keep man points, trim the blinds with the miter saw - works great. Lots of little pieces flying around though. And the vinyl is cheap enough to either toss/replace or take outside and hit with the hose. Mine have been up a year, no dirt issues that I see. And west Texas is where we breed quality dirt.
 

yyc_ranger_4x4

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Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
90
Location
Calgary, Ab
Self stick vinyl film. You can get it in a frosted form. If you're creative, you can even put a 1-2" stripe horizontally in it for looks. Any sign shop can help you out, and I think HomeDepot was selling it for a while in different patterns as well (but it was only a static cling style).

Or if you're feeling like something custom....sand blast the glass. You can get custom stencils and have at 'er!
 

bdamico

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Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
2,303
I have spent alot of time and money on my garage, but I have done nothing with the windows. I need/want light, and privacy but don't want to use blinds as they will eventually get really dirty. I have toyed with using a piece of 4x6 corrugated plastic, but thought I woudl see what everyone eses is using

snaptint.com. Get frosted window tint. I like them because they precut it for you so all you have to do is apply. I wouldn't get that self stick vinyl film, get real water activated tint--you'll like it much better. The home depot stuff is total ****. How do I know? The prior owner did the front door with it. I pulled it down and frosted it and a couple other windows. Then I had my entire home tinted by professionals to cut on energy--the snaptint stuff is just as good.
 
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Motown 454

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Sep 25, 2008
Messages
1,359
I'm going to put opaque window tint I bought on line. It lets 95% of the light through but you can't see through it.
 
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Kevin54

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Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Buy the cheap blinds for around $10. I think they are Levelors, but are plastic. I have them open during the day and close them at night, or closed when I'm not in there. Once they get really dirty, you can put them in a tub and clean them, or for the price, just shitcan them and buy some new ones. I think I've replaced mine once in 10 years. Not too bad of $30 spent.
 

bdamico

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May 8, 2012
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burleyfarm

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Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
401
Location
Northern Michigan
Here are some shots of my pedestrian door. The plastic window frost was purchased at HD and matches the glass i used in our bathroom window.. Goes on real easy with self adhesive on the back. Lets lots of light in but you can't see in all you can see are vague shapes. Haven't had to remove it. Did remove some window tint I applied on my previous house. What a PITA.
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Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
The bad thing about window tint is at night, if you have lights on, they can see in, but you can't see out. In daytime, it's just the opposite. You can see out, but not in. You could always get some frosted plastic, mini blinds, roll up shades (although those can get expensive), paint the windows, have them pulled out and have glass block put in.

The best thing is to make sure you have good insurance and good locks. If you have alarms, you get some better rates on your insurance.

Myself, I personally like the mini blinds. Like I stated before, when in the garage and doing something that creates a lot of dirt and dust, pull the blinds up. But I'm a person that likes to look out if I'm in the garage. That way I can see if someone is around on the property. At night, when I'm not in the garage, I have a traffic light, neon clock, and some rope lighting that is lit up, and the blind towards the house is closed, but the slats cracked enough that I could see someone walk past. I won't ever shut the lights off completely as cockroaches don't like light. And I don't have any windows on the side towards the neighbors, where I couldn't see on that side.
 

Stuart in MN

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Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23,478
Location
Minneapolis
Plain old roller shades from the local hardware store have been around for a hundred years, are inexpensive and work well. You can get them totally opaque, or with enough transparency so they let in light.

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