Glass has become an integral part of the design of commercial and residential buildings. For a designer there is a problem in creating rooms that have an open concept but still allow privacy. For years the only way to obscure glass and add design to such spaces as commercial office interiors was to sandblast or etch the glass. Both of these processes are expensive and permanent.

New window film technology makes the high-end look of sandblasted or etched glass possible with out the mess and expense. Window film manufacturers have created unique and decorative products for use on both exterior and interior windows. These products add privacy while enhancing design. They are easily cleaned and eliminate the concern of treating the glass with special coatings to eliminate fingerprints as may be needed on etched glass.

Decorative window film comes in many different designs, from a straight sandblast appearance to films with classic and elegant patterns incorporated within the material. These films can also be cut on computer plotters to add more design or to cut corporate logos out of the film. With the wide selection of products to choose from, it is simple to please even the most finicky customer. Most of these films are available in 36 to 48 inch by 100-foot rolls and can be easily installed with soap and water. It is recommended, however, to have these products professionally installed in order to be backed by manufacturers’ warranties.

An example of one of the newest designs of window film is Lumisty from Madico. This product is unique in its construction: The appearance of the window changes from transparent to translucent as you change your angle of view. In other words you can only see through the window if you are 90 degrees to the window. If you change that angle of view, suddenly the image through the window is gone.

Lumisty has become a popular product for high-end designers and architects. Its cost is $45 a square foot. Installed cost is a little hard for the average consumer to swallow, but it does have its unique high-end applications.

As for conventional decorative window films, the average cost per square foot starts at approximately $7 and ranges up to $12 a square foot for adding intricate computer cut designs.

Glaziers can now increase decorative window films. Whether you install these films yourself or subcontract the installation to a professional window film installer, these window films can add profit as well as add a unique and different flavour to your selling technique.