Quite often people will ring up specifying that they are in need of privacy window film. It's a tricky one because I will immediately recommend frosted film, but that's often not what clients are after. One of the most common requests is for one way vision privacy film. The client want to be able to see out, but nobody to see in. Can it be done? Well, it can but its conditional and relies on basic physics. There are dual reflective films that work exactly like in the movies.  The one way mirror effect used in the interrogation rooms for instance. Its important to note that if a movie is scientifically accurate then the room behind the mirror will be in almost complete darkness. that's because this effect only works if the light density is greater on the opposite side of those wanting to be hidden. By increasing the reflectance on the glass's surface (with a reflective film) and lowering the light density behind the glass, you will only see what is being reflected back at you, but if the light density behind the glass is too great you will see whatever is illuminated behind the glass (thus ruining the desired effect). That's why we make it extremely clear that reflective films only give you privacy during daylight hours. Natural daylight is more often than not always brighter than artificial light (bulbs). so even with lights on inside on a gloomy day you still get 100% privacy. That being said some fluorescent tubes used in offices can be surprisingly bright and can sway the balance on a dark morning/evening. Many different window films will give you extra privacy as a result of installing them, but that isn't always their primary function. to create the privacy conditions just mentioned you would need a very strong dual reflective window film. This films primary function is to be a super effective heat and glare reduction film, privacy is a secondary benefit. frost is obviously a great choice for privacy because it disrupts the line of sight both ways and perfectly mimics acid etch glass look. A lot of frosted films are primarily designed for signage purposes. i.e. to be cut into logos and lettering and used as various manifestations. That's why their backing sheets are often thick wax coated paper, this is so that they can be fed into cutting machines and signage can be manufactured easier. Window frosting is a great choice for windows overlook the neighbours. It keeps certifiers happy and you never have to make eye contact with your neighbour between the bathroom and the bedroom. Quite often glass frosting films are used if the view from the window is unsightly. I recently used some frosted film in an office that was facing a graffiti filled alleyway full of rubbish. I cant believe they hadn't considered it sooner. It made a world of difference. Another popular choice for privacy film is reeded glass film, it looks exactly like reeded glass, its easier to clean and it doesn't cut down the natural light. see my other blog on reeded glass film for more information and pictures. There is one other type of glass film that is widely regarded as one way privacy film, and that's the stuff you see on bus windows usually covered with advertising. The inside is dark in colour and the outside is usually printed onto. The entire surface is made up of tiny 1mm-2mm holes. When sitting inside the bus its easy to see through the film, but everyone on the street only really sees the advertising. Understandably Its not a great choice residential jobs requiring privacy film due to its aesthetic. So These are a few ways you can use window tinting to gain privacy. I hope I've managed to shed some light on the limitations of using reflective film and the benefits of using frosted films and reeded films. If you need any info just give us a call.

Sometimes getting exactly what you asked for will cause more harm than good when tinting your home or office. Using the wrong product can cause a lot of damage. There are a lot of pretty shady window tinting businesses around (no pun intended). One of the fastest ways to tell if you are dealing with a competent tradesmen is how many questions are being asked. Has he done his research? Only by gathering all the relevant and sometimes crucial information, you can truly be getting a product tailored to your needs. With solar control window tinting this couldn't be more true. If the person who comes to do your quote doesn't test your glass, you could be in for some serious problems next time the mercury rises. I've seen it a numerous times: Clients have done their research on window films and know exactly which tint they want. They send off their measurements, the quote is approved and the applicator is sent out to install the film, missing the crucial part: Glass analysis and film suitability check during the quoting stage. And worryingly, this is more likely to happen during summer time when it's very busy. This also happens to be the time when the glass is most at risk. The installer could have done a perfect job, client was super happy, then a few weeks later, on a hot morning two of the largest windows in the house have cracked. Who is to blame??? Well, most tinting companies will have small print on their quotes that states they do not take responsibility for glass cracking due to thermal stress increase as a result of window film installation. Which is perfectly fine, but this shouldn't stop the salesman from doing all the necessary tests beforehand in order to choose a better suited product and minimise the chances of a potential crack. And also, clients should always be made aware of potential risks before proceeding with any work, anyways. At Perfection Tinting, we use merlin testing equipment for every job to ascertain glass type, glass thickness, and whether or not there is a low-e coating on the glass. And most of the times, we would get in touch directly with the film manufacturer to explain the job details and getting the nod over the phone from them. This is considered to be the most responsible practice and the most comprehensive way of minimising the chance of glass breakage. Rushing into any window tinting job without doing your groundwork is extremely irresponsible. How does tint cause glass cracking? The risk of glass breaking mainly happens with laminated glass. Once tinted internally, the inside sheet of that glass can heat up a lot faster than the outside sheet, which causes the glass to flex all of a sudden, just like when you run a plastic chopping board under a hot tap. Windows aren't designed to deal with this kind of thermal stress. Generally, some thermal stress shouldn't be a problem, but all it takes is a miniscule chip around the edge somewhere (that we cant see because its hidden in the frame) to create a weak point, and bang, the glass will crack under the tension. Another example: It's the middle of summer, imagine that a big piece of glass has had all night to reach a really nice low temperature. It's now 10:30am (the time when this particular window gets direct sunlight), it has been overcast all morning up until this exact point, so the glass is still nice sand cool. Then, suddenly the clouds part when the sun is at its hottest, an incompetent tinter has put a non-reflective night scene film on the glass. These are perfect conditions to make that rear sheet of the glass skyrocket in temperature, while the front sheet is insulated from this heat via the small layer of gel between the two sheets. With the rear sheet now expanding at a quicker rate than the front sheet, there is nothing left to do but to flex, and possibly break. Another condition that can contribute to breakages is a partial shading on the glass, for instance half the panel is covered by shading from an awning. This is why we always suggest to go with films that work on the principles of reflectance rather than filtration when dealing with laminated glass. Film using filtration (darker films with a less metallised appearance) tend to get a lot warmer. Another solution is to choose an external film and with warranties getting better these days, this is becoming a more and more popular choice. Long story short: Make sure your window film is actually suitable for your glass. Use a competent company that does the relevant glass testing and don't be afraid to ask questions. Start by asking if the company quoting is a member of the WFAANZ. (Window film association of Australia and New Zealand) https://www.wfaanz.org.au/

Reeded glass film or fluted glass film has become extremely popular among the decorative film category of late. And for a few good reasons. Aesthetically it has a classic look and perfectly mimics genuine reeded glass. Its far easier to clean than Genuine reeded glass. Its a lot cheaper than Installing reeded glass. It can be removed easily at any time and swapped for a different decorative film. It makes a great alternative to privacy films like frost due to its wonderful obscuring properties. It doesn't cut down natural light like other films do. Its popularity grows every day with more designers and architects being aware of its existence. It's quite a remarkable film to look at close up. A seemingly flat surface perfectly bending light as if it were a curved surface. Reeded glass film looks great in art deco style houses where quite often the lounge room is street facing and in need of some privacy without compromising the overall aesthetic. Comfort is achieved from added privacy, there is no loss of natural light, and the house retains that classic art deco look. Reeded film is also becoming very popular in office refurbs and meeting rooms. people are slowly realising that they don't need to completely cut off the rooms in the office visually. With a traditional frosted film you might not know if a room is occupied when the door is closed, but with reeded glass film you can just about tell that the room is occupied without needing to distract anyone inside. And people inside the room can share confidential information on their screens without people being able to observe. We have also applied reeded glass film to balustrade glazing on balconies, spiral staircases, and many old appartements with colonial style windows. We always keep reeded glass film in stock. If you would like to see and hold a sample for yourself please let us know.