There are a number of answers to the question, “what is window frosting?”, but many of us instinctively know it when we see it. The term “window frosting” refers to the translucent effect on glass that allows light to pass through but isn’t completely transparent.
The result is that a viewer can see blurry colours and shapes through the glass, but a certain level of visual privacy is still achieved for anyone on the other side of the window.
Unsurprisingly, then, many owners of residential and commercial buildings in NZ seek out a frosted appearance for some of the glass in their property.
But how can you achieve a frosted look for your windows? To answer this question, let’s take you on a quick tour of the three most common types of window frosting.
Sandblasted Window Frosting
Frosted glass is sometimes referred to as a “sandblasted” look. Sure enough, it is possible to achieve this aesthetic by using high-pressured air to literally blast glass with sand or other abrasive materials. This “roughens up” the finish of the glass, producing that unmistakable semi-transparent look.
The sandblasting of glass can enable a variety of designs to be created on the window, as well as different levels of opacity. However, it can also be an expensive way to achieve a frosted look, and sandblasted glass can be a hassle to keep clean, with all the smudges and fingerprints it can accumulate.
Acid-etched Window Frosting
If you know anything about etching as a fine-art printmaking process, you will know something about how acid etching works on glass. It entails the application of hydrofluoric acid to glass, which melts the surface to produce milky-looking, translucent glass with a smooth, satiny texture.
Once the glass has been etched as desired, it is thoroughly washed so that no trace remains of the hazardous acid. Still, precautions do need to be taken with this process, and it is typically even more expensive than sandblasting as a method for achieving a frosted look on glass.
Frosted Window Film
Fortunately, there is a third way to give your windows a frosted appearance, without the level of expense or commitment that the aforementioned methods bring: applying a frosted window film.
In common with the other two types of window frosting, frosted window film lends itself to a wide range of design requirements. But it is also quick to install and long-lasting, and it doesn’t even need to be permanent. If, one day, you wish to remove the frosted look from your window, you can have the frosted window film inexpensively taken off and replaced.
Of all the types of window frosting, frosted window film arguably represents the best all-round option for many residential and commercial properties alike. To find out more about your options for window film, please don’t hesitate to contact Decal Team.
