Tinted vs Opaque Glass: Which is Right for Me?
There are many ways that you can use glass throughout your home to add more light and add unique design elements. However, some of the places where glass can be used throughout the home are places where homeowners don’t necessarily want the glass to be fully transparent.
In those instances, homeowners can opt to use tinted glass or opaque glass so that they still get the benefits of glass but also get the privacy they want.
Tinted Glass
Tinted glass is glass that’s made darker by adding coloring. The tint can range from light to almost totally black, similar to the tint you see on some car windows. Glass in a home can be tinted just like car windows can be tinted. Here are some reasons why a homeowner might want to add tinted glass for their home.
Energy Efficiency
When your home has windows that are tinted you can increase your energy efficiency by as much as 30%. The tinted glass will absorb the heat instead of heating up the interior of your home which can dramatically lower your cooling costs in the summer.
If you live in an area where the summers are brutally warm and getting warmer every year, having your home’s windows tinted is a good investment. The tint can save you money on your energy bills and make the home more comfortable for you and your family.
Climate Control
In many homes, especially in older homes, the temperature can change from room to room depending on the number of windows in the room and where those windows face. Rooms that face the sun can be much warmer than rooms that don’t and that makes it difficult to enjoy your home.
This is especially true for the person who ends up spending most of their time in a room that’s several degrees warmer than the other rooms because of the window exposure. Tinted windows will help to regulate the temperature in the home so that each room stays at a consistent temperature.
Glare Reduction
Tinting the windows in a room will significantly decrease the amount of glare in the room. This can be critically important for people who work at home. If you’re working on a computer all day, tinting the windows in your home office will make it much easier to see your screen, even when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
If you paint, take photographs, or stream videos from your home and need consistent lighting and glare reduction in order to do your job effectively, using tinted glass is the best option for you.
Tinted glass can also be used in the home to partition off areas that can be used for creative work. For example, a French doors or pocket doors that divide a room can be tinted to separate the rooms and to provide privacy.
Privacy
Tinted glass is excellent for maintaining privacy at home. You can use tinted glass in windows and doors to prevent people from seeing inside.
If you live alone or if you spend a lot of time at home during the day, getting the windows tinted will prevent people from seeing your home, which prevents burglaries and other crimes.
Security
Tinted glass panels in a decorative outside door allow you to see who is at the door without a person standing at the door being able to see you. This is important for home security.
Tinted glass panels in the door and a good home security camera are a smart combination that homeowners can use to stay safe, especially if one or both homeowners work at home.
Opaque Glass
The biggest difference between tinted glass and opaque glass is that you can’t see through opaque glass at all, while tinted glass you can still see through, depending on the level of tint. Tinted glass still lets in light and makes a room look bright and sunny.
Opaque glass is used primarily to guaranty privacy or to keep light from coming through the glass. So why would homeowners use opaque class? There are several reasons why opaque glass is sometimes the best solution for homeowners.
Curb Appeal
Reflective opaque glass used in the windows that face the street can make the house look a lot more expensive than it is. Adding opaque glass keeps the neighbors and others from seeing the inside of the house and it makes the house a lot more appealing. That raises the aesthetic appeal of the house.
Function
In homes that have been retrofitted to add function, upgrading to opaque glass makes more of the home usable. Opaque glass doors can turn an unused room into a gym, a den, a photography studio, a room to create streaming videos in, a general purpose media room for watching TV and movies or for listening to podcasts.
By having a home theater that is surrounded by opaque doors, you can provide guests with a better movie experience. You can also play games and have fun working on a computer or tablet.
Privacy
Just like tinted glass, one of the biggest reasons why people choose opaque glass is for privacy. An opaque piece of glass separating the shower from the rest of the bathroom gives a little more privacy in a shared bathroom.
Doors to other rooms can also be made private by installing opaque glass instead of tinted glass. Opaque glass doors provide unique options for homeowners who are trying to solve problems caused by a lack of space.
For example, sliding opaque glass doors can be used as bedroom doors or entry doors because they can’t be seen through. That way homeowners can install good looking high quality doors that don’t take up a ton of space.
This is very useful when homeowners are trying to move around and redesign the space that they have in order to make that space more functional for them as they get older and their needs change.
Tinted or Opaque Glass?
So which type of glass is right for you? That depends on what exactly you want to accomplish by using tinted or darkened glass. If you’re looking for total privacy from the outside world, opaque glass is a good idea.
If you want to save money on your energy bills without sacrificing the great view that you have of your backyard, using tinted glass would probably be the best fit for you.
When you’re deciding which type of glass is the right type, talk to a professional about the many benefits of each type. Experts can give you more detailed information about whether tinted glass or opaque glass would be better for you.
A professional window installer will be able to assess your unique situation and your goals for using treated glass. They will help you figure out if you need opaque or tinted glass.
Windows From Feldco
Feldco offers privacy windows whether it’s for a bedroom, bathroom, or any room for your home. Our entry doors also feature privacy glass options. Let Feldco help you get started with your home renewal project with replacement windows, siding, or doors. Speak with a Feldco representative now to get a free quote.
