I’d like to fit a sliding window both for ventilation and to let light in.
Initially I decided to go for clear glass/plastic to let in as much light as possible. I’d then use voile to maintain privacy. But non-tinted windows seem hard to find. Not only that, I prefer the look of tinted windows from the outside plus it solves the privacy issue. But do they let light in?
I remember having tinted windows in the back of a van once but can’t remember how much actual light they let in. If they only let a minimal amount in, I won’t bother. Presumably there is a tint grade or something. Any advice would be much appreciated. Is there anyone who has tinted windows who can tell me whether or not they allow light? Thanks
Tint is kind of a double edged sword. It lets less light in, but also seems to heat up the interior more than without it in the summer. It can cut the outside glare, making it more pleasant inside in the bright sunshine, but makes it more difficult to see out of at night.
My van is a window van with windows all the way around. I added tint to all the windows behind the cab. I immediately noticed the added heat when I would return to my van, and driving at night became miserable, especially when trying to back up.
I wound up removing the tint, and was much happier without it.
I agree about tinted windows being hotter in warm weather, so I went with lightly tinted ones & I am thinking of making my own covers out of some reflectix I have & then put a black covering on the other side, then I can flip them depending on weather. Where are you getting your sliding window from?
It’s much less common, and more expensive, but how do you feel about about partially reflective windows? Some people prefer them to tinted windows in hot climates.
A common & cheap hack for mirror like windows is to use the cheap mylar emergency blankets. Many of them are actually transparent, and look just like tint from the inside, but keep a very noticeable amount of heat out.
The downside is that the mirror effect reverses at night if you have lights on inside.
Fulltimer wrote
But that applies to typical tints too, unless they are very dark. Right? They aren’t always as private as some people assume. Then again, neither are many tents, if they are near a light source like a campfire.
Help me to understand why semi-reflective windows aren’t as common as tinted windows? Apparently they are pretty common in commercial buildings, to cut climate control bills (in both hot and cold weather), but not in cars and trucks.
From what I understand, mirror tint is against the law in some states.
Too dark of tint on front windows too, maybe all windows in some states.
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Fulltimer wrote:
Oh! Including mine, it turns out. I had considered applying it.
I’m not clear why any degree of mirror tint would be illegal, but some degrees of other tint are not - AFACT, they look almost identical from the outside.
But perhaps mirror tint makes it harder for police cameras to see who is inside the vehicle.
Interesting.
I guess a temporary reflective material that can be stuck in the window - like Reflectix - there are other brands of reflective insulation which I guess do the same thing - is a better answer to stay within the law. And some sun visors work like that too.
Thanks for your informative response!
Any window covers that can be detected from the outside are a huge red flag, making you a target for police, thieves, and Karen’s. Even just windshield covers at night draw suspicion.
I really don’t try to hide. I can change clothes in my bathroom if I need privacy, and a sleep mask is an easy solution if I want darkness.
As mostly a city dweller, I like to get to know my neighbors, and watch out for each other. Done right, nomads can be good & welcome neighbors. I often return to the same neighborhoods in various cities when I’m in the area, and the neighbors welcome me.