How to install frosted glass film on glass windows

Nowadays, housing project developer tends to install huge glass windows to replace concrete wall to make new houses look classy. In fact, this saves developer some material cost (bricks, cement, sand, paint), labor cost and project time (constructing and painting the concrete wall). Glass window and its frame are readily made in factory, developer just need to install it on site. In order to save even more cost, developer tends to use plain, see through glass, instead of color coated glass.

Privacy concern

Despite the house looks classy with all these glass sliding doors, glass wall and glass windows, there is a privacy concern. Through the see through sliding doors, passerby can see all your belongings plus your activities in your living rooms. Your neighbor can see everything in your room through the see through glass windows. Yes, curtains do help but you wouldn’t want to have curtains on all the time, blocking out sunlight, making the room dark. Alternatively, you can install a thin layer of curtain sheer but then you will have to install double railing for the curtain rail and more work to clean both the curtain and the sheer in future.

Frosted glass film helps

This problem can be resolved by installing frosted glass film on the glass panel. Frosted glass film is a thin layer of film, stick on the see through glass. It is not opaque yet non-see-through, allowing sunlight in to your room. It is similar to wall paper, but it is for glass instead.

Frosted glass film is not expensive. It comes in huge variety of pattern and design. It is available in major hardware shop or wholesale city mall. Best of all, it is very easy to install. Seriously, you don’t need to hire a professional to install it. You can install it all by yourself. Even if you have installed metal grille for your glass window, there is no problem to install these frosted glass film.

Process of installing frosted glass film

a. Measure the glass panel

First of all, measure the length and the width of the glass panels that you wish to install frosted glass film. Add up the length and add up the width separately. Frosted glass film is sold in roll, normally 3 feet in width. You will need to know the total length and the total width to plan ahead the amount that you need in order to save the most money out of it.

b. Shop for the desired frosted glass film

Go ahead, shop for the frosted glass film at any major hardware shop or wholesale city mall. One advice in choosing frosted glass film : if you choose frosted glass film with some large design patterns on it, let’s say a big flower pattern, make sure you buy extra length or width of the selected frosted glass film. You want all you glass panel to look exactly the same, don't you? (Not one glass panel starts with full flower pattern, the second panel starts with a quarter of the flower pattern, the third one starts with half of the flower pattern and so on.) Depending on the length and width of the glass panel, you will need to trim off a portion of your selected glass film to offset to the portion of the film with the repeated pattern as the starting point.

We prefer small, repeating rectangular or straight pattern. This save us the trouble of trimming off large portion of the film just for the sake of offsetting to the next repeating pattern, minimizing wastage.

The straight pattern make it easier to measure and trim too.

Of course, if you want each glass panel to looks different, then, go ahead, do what you want to do.

c. Measure and cut

Now that you have purchased your desired frosted glass film, proceed to measure and cut the film size that suit to your glass panel. Again, allow us to emphasize again, if you want all your glass panels to look exactly the same, be reminded to offset to the desired design pattern on the frosted glass film before you cut. Measure and trim off the unwanted portion, ensuring all frosted glass film that you cut have the exact same pattern.

d. Clean the glass panel thoroughly

Clean thoroughly the glass panel and the metal grille (if you did install metal grille). This is very important. This prevent unwanted particles (dust, hair, cotton fiber) from accidentally get stuck in between the glass film and the glass panel. Clean the floor and tie the curtain aside as well, if necessary.

e. Soapy water

Prepare a spray bottle with concentrated soapy water. Concentrated soapy water is important to assist the process of sticking the frosted glass film to the glass panel. This ensure the glass film can be moved around on the glass panel before fixing it to the right place.

We recommend using hand-wash-soap to prepare such concentrated soapy water. Excessive hand-wash-soap based soapy water can be easily cleaned with just a wipe of a piece of wet cloth.

f. Remove frosted glass film backing and sprays soapy water

Lay the frosted glass film flat on the floor (make sure the floor is clean) and carefully remove the film backing of the glass film. Sprays large amount of soapy water on the sticky side of the frosted glass film as well as on the glass panel.

g. Stick the frosted glass film to the glass panel

Proceed to stick the frosted glass film on to the glass panel. The soapy water on the glass panel will allow you to move the frosted glass film to the desired location easily.

Spray more soapy water where necessary. It is normal to have a lot of air bubble trapped in between the frosted glass film and the glass panel at this stage. Ignore the air bubble for the time being; focus on moving the frosted glass film to the desired location on the glass panel.

h. Scrape to remove air bubble and excessive soapy water

Use a piece of plastic card, just any expired membership card or credit card; carefully scrape across the entire frosted glass film on the glass panel, removing all the air bubble trapped in between.

Scrape carefully from the middle to the left or to the right, to force the air bubble and excessive soapy water out from the frosted glass film. Carefully inspect every part of the frosted glass film for air bubble and scrape it out. Wipe off excessive soapy water at the bottom with a piece of wet cloth. (Tips : In case there is any air bubble still trapped in between and fail to scrape it out, use a needle to poke a tiny invisible hole on the bubble to let the air out. Scrape that portion again to make it flat.)

There you go, you have just successfully installed frosted glass film on the glass panel.

Home sweet home!

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