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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.