Temporary Window Film

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 350 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 04:56 pm:    We have a project for an existing museum, where there will be exterior construction work lasting several years. The museum curators want a window film, or a scrim, applied to the exterior window surface that will obscure the views to the construction areas but still let in at least some light. I have specified window film before but they have always bneen for permanent installation (eg by 3M or LLumar). Is anyone aware of a film that can be applied temporarily (up to 3 years) and then easily removed? Ruppert Rangel, AIA CCS Senior Member Username: rangel Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 05:20 pm:    You might try a signage company. Our public buses have printed advertisements on perforated film that is applied on the outside of windows and is intended to be removed/updated after a few years. It allows vision from the inside out, though somewhat obscured. May even be an advertisement opportunity for a sponsor? Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 348 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 01:52 pm:    Cheapest and easiest method = soap "Fast is good, but accurate is better." .............Wyatt Earp Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS Senior Member Username: wilsonconsulting Post Number: 31 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 02:20 pm:    The graphic film that covers buses is made by 3M. I can't recall the exact product name, but there are a variety of similar systems w/ varying life expectancies -- including some for permanent signage. The right one should be readily removable when it's no longer needed. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1027 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 02:35 pm:    3M makes a wide variety of films and some are designed to be temporary. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/WF/3MWindowFilms/ Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 186 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 02:37 pm:    Ron's idea isn't bad. (visions of stenciled snowflakes at Christmas time) If this is an art museum, could make for some interesting art opportunities, even mixing the soap medium with some tempra powder to get some color should be interesting. Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1172 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 02:57 pm:    May be very old material, but isn't there some stuff called "whitening" which is used to paint prices on used cars [when on the lots for sale]? As I recall this is a powder mixed with water, can be thinned and tinted, and just "painted" on the glass [a thin coat will allow light to come through]-- water removal. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1028 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 03:28 pm:    Sounds like "Glass Wax" to me...we used it for Christmas decorations on our windows. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1088 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 05:39 pm:    Whitewash? Which I understand is just chalk and water. At my house I painted the inside pane of the windows in the window wells with one layer of cheap latex paint. Of course you can see the brush strokes, but that adds to the charm. I wanted to obscure vision yet let in light to my workshop. I did not want anyone eying my expensive woodworking tools. In my area a lot of contractors use white "butcher paper" or brown Kraft paper. Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 351 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 05:50 pm:    Thanks for all the great suggestions. We will review them with the museum and see where the film falls. Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 65 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 10:51 pm:    We've used two exotic methods at our house during renovations. One, sheets of vellum or rice paper with scotch tape for more formal areas of the house. And two, clear contact paper with bits of confetti and tissue paper decorated by the children for informal areas and bathroom opacity. I think it was eight years before the corners started to curl in that bathroom. I'll send you the children's minimum wage rates, with estimated travel expenses. Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 66 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 - 10:53 pm:    Seriously, I'm a fan of the 3M graphics. The museum's development and marketing departments will love it.