Creativity Or An Act Of Desperation?
Standing outside gazing at windows with Home Inspector, I mentally questioned his comments. Many of the windows of the home we hoped to purchase had a staining in color of what I might call “coffee with cream and sugar.” Home Inspector assured me this was paint that must have mistakenly hit the windows while being sprayed onto the house. He went on to say that although much elbow grease would be needed, this staining could be removed after moving in. Since this home-to-be was a lovely sage green and not old enough to have needed repainting, I was a bit skeptical. However, what did I know?
Shortly after moving in and finding Home Inspector’s electrical advice had been faulty, my confidence in his window wisdom also became suspect. Alas, my scrubbings and scrapings of said windows came to naught and I realized the damage was inside between the thermal panes. Now four years later, I am still looking for economical solutions to this problem.
Gratefully, we have had some of the glass in windows replaced through the years, but several still remain and funds are no longer available for such. Life seems to keep happening, (like weddings, unexpected car repair, you get the picture.) A new strategy is needed to solve this dilemma. Internet searches have not brought much relief and so I come to you for answers, fellow frugalities!
Certainly, windows covered with blinds are quite fashionable in this South Texas and very wise on many days! However, there are those glorious months of cooler weather when open windows bring soft breezes and sunshiny shadows and make me so desire to roll up my blinds! Being greeted with windows that look so dirty and uncared for is a true discouragement and I am seeking a creative solution to my dilemma. See what you think of my new idea.
My family room has three windows side by side on one wall. There is a top and bottom pane each about 36inches by 20 inches. The bottom panes of each of the three windows are ruined by the staining. Is it creativity or an act of desperation to consider painting these panes with chalkboard paint? I could write verses or quotes upon them and perhaps they would add some character to my décor? What do you think?
Has anyone ever painted windows with chalkboard paint?
Do you have any other suggestions?
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18 Responses to “Creativity Or An Act Of Desperation?”
June 10th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Have you considered applying UV film, similar to that which is applied to tint car windows? I am thinking this will mask the discoloration. I do know you can paint glass, thing of decorative painted jars, mostly though I have heard of decorative film or painting to cover a view of a brick wall or other undesirable view.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Are those 3 windows the only 3 in the room? Don’t paint them black. You won’t have any natural light and that’s depressing.
What about stained glass? You could get a kit that allows you to do it yourself, then you’d have works of art that let the light in but hide the dirt.
Then, you could paint a verse on the wall above the windows and you’d have a pretty, naturally-lit room rich with color and pleasant feelings.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:48 am
What about doing your windows in a faux stained-glass effect? This can be as temporary as you want it to be, will let light shine through, and cover your undesirable staining.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5203397_make-homemade-stained-glass.html
June 10th, 2010 at 8:48 am
I once saw a house with what looked like beautiful stained glass windows. They were not real. Apparently you can buy paint that mimics the stained glass and the lead between the glass. It looked great and fooled me!
http://painting.about.com/od/decorativepainting/ss/JCumberCardinal_2.htm
Maybe this will help. Not sure how easy it would be to do on a window that is already in, but an idea none the less.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Creative idea! You might want to consider white board paint instead of chalkboard paint. The white should help to keep your house cooler in the warmer weather that black. Hope you find a solution that you’re happy with.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I was going to suggest the stainglass, but the UV film is also a great option since it would still allow you to see out the window and would cover the discoloration.
June 10th, 2010 at 11:37 am
I would be cautious about painting the windows with chalkboard paint. And overly enthusiastic writer could end up cracking the glass or worse, putting and entire hand through it.
What about some kind of privacy film? If you go to Home Depot, you can get rolls of films that are made especially for windows. I think they have all different kinds – pebbled, stained glass, or frosted.
I googled “privacy window films” and got this:
http://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/pc/home.asp
June 10th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Or this?
http://windowfilmworld.com/privacy_window_film.htm
Make sure and post pics of what your decide!
June 10th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Thanks for the great ideas! I am wondering if anyone could recommend a specific kind of window film? Are they difficult to use?
Has anyone ever tried contact paper?
June 10th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
i work in a glass shop and second the caution for the blackboard paint and breaking glass. most units are only thin 1/8″ glass and easy to break. my suggestion if the windows are removable check other windows in areas with less traffic and switch the sashes. doesn’t hide the problem just moves it out of eyesight
June 11th, 2010 at 2:44 am
Hi, I have seen a frosted spray that can be used to make privacy pains of glass. They have also used them with stensils to make a pattern of which looks really nice.
Shelley p
from over the pond
June 11th, 2010 at 9:08 am
You caught my interest here. I live in central Texas and can’t see out of many of my windows. Besides ugly it is annoying. Apparently the double glass has a leak and makes the windows discolor, or this what I was told. I am reading with interest what others write as we have no money and this is quite depressing to not look out and see what is out there! But then, this is Texas, easy to know what is out there: prickly pear, rocks, weeds, dirt…. Yet I would like to see it!
June 11th, 2010 at 10:07 am
It seems that there should be a warranty on your windows but short of that I have seen the stained glass window film at home depot. I have used the gallery glass and you paint it on a sheet of plastic then peel it off when its dry on place on the window. It would be a lot to do 3 windows worth.
June 11th, 2010 at 11:57 am
In the winter time, I make a bunch of paper snow flakes and tape them to the windows with Scotch tape, it looks so cute!. Perhaps there is some kind of similar paper cut out craft that would be more appropriate for the summer months.
Also, what about putting up a sheer lacy curtain? I have those over my windows and they allow breeze to flow in, but block out the dirty windows.
June 11th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I’ve used a frosted contact paper on my bathroom windows successfully. It’s fairly inexpensive and still lets the light through, while giving privacy, or in this case, could block a stained window. I think we just bought it at Home Depot or Lowes. Good Luck!
June 11th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I had an nasty basement window that we couldn’t afford to replace, so I did a stain glass craft to mask it. They sell liquid ‘lead’ that you squeeze out of a bottle (like you would puff paint) and also stained glass paints. I believe they carry these at Michaels. To get a good effect, it looks better if you flood the area (as opposed to paint it which leaves brush strokes) after the liquid lead dries, in which case the project is better done horizontally. Find or draw a pattern, take a piece of glass and lay it over your pattern, trace your lines with the black liquid lead, let it dry, and then dab the paint into the areas until they are filled, and let them dry – all this done horizotnally on a table. Then I just mounted the glass in front of the window with some wood trim. Worked for me – I did some cheerful flowers on some psuedo vines so that there was some space in between which was not colored…
June 11th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
I can recommend a brand. We put up Gila privacy film on our bathroom window last year. That stuff is fantastic. A year later, and it’s still holding firm, despite being subjected to the humidity of the shower every day.
I will caution you, though, that if you don’t follow all instructions and use their spray and application tools (sold separately), you’ll find it a frustrating experience. Watch the videos on their website; they show you exactly what to do. Follow instructions and it’s an easy job.
June 12th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to make these suggestions and share advice. I will plan to take pictures of my decision and post them here sometime in the future!
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