Apply a Frost Coating to a Window

Key Takeaways:

Problem: Monique in Utah wants to add privacy to a narrow window running the length of her front entry door without replacing the glass. She currently uses a curtain but seeks a more permanent solution like frosted or crystallized glass.
Solution Options:
Glass Frosting Spray: Leslie suggests using a glass frosting spray, such as one made by Krylon, which can be applied to create a frosted look. She advises practicing the application on another piece of glass to avoid uneven spray.
Rice Paper: Another option is to use decorative rice paper, which can be applied to the glass with double-stick tape or light spray adhesive for a more artistic look.
Considerations: Monique mentions she has a dog that presses its nose against the glass. Leslie notes that the frosted spray may not withstand repeated contact and could leave marks from the dog’s nose, suggesting this could be a potential issue.
Outcome: Monique is considering the frosting spray but is also mindful of her dog’s behavior and the potential for nose prints. She likes the idea of adding privacy without replacing the glass and plans to try one of the suggested methods.

LESLIE: Talking to Monique in Utah. What can we help you with today at The Money Pit?

MONIQUE: I have a front entry door that has that six-inch window that runs the length of the door that has clear glass and I have a curtain up there now but I would really like to put something on there that would kind of make it look more fogged or crystallized or something. I’ve heard there’s products out there or tints but I’m not sure if that’s true or not.

LESLIE: Now, it’s just sort of a light that’s in the center of the door? Is it paned in any way?

MONIQUE: No, no. It runs the side, the length of the door. It’s kind …

LESLIE: So it’s like two sidelights? Or just one sidelight?

MONIQUE: No, it’s just window that runs the length of the door. So right next to the door there’s this little window that runs – it’s about six inches wide and runs the full length of the door.

LESLIE: OK, so there’s no grillwork or anything on there.

MONIQUE: No, no.

LESLIE: You can get – if you’re looking for frosting, there’s actually a spray can of glass frosting. I think Krylon makes it. It’s available at craft stores and home centers. And you just have to be careful in your application of it because you want to make sure you do it uniformly. You don’t want to end up with areas where you get spray heavy, so you might want to get a piece of glass just to sort of practice on to get your technique down. But that works extremely well. They also have colored frosted glass paint but I – you know, we’ve used it on the TV shows I’ve worked on. I think it can look a little cutesy and chintzy, in some cases; but if you pick a nice color, it might do the trick.

Or you can get rice paper; beautiful paper that comes in lengths on rolls or several different colors of it and almost put it together as a patchwork or run the whole length of the glass and attach that with just some double-stick tape or even some spray adhesive lightly in some key areas in the corners just to sort of hold it in place so that you’re not spraying adhesive all across the entire glass.

And those are some good ideas to sort of give you a different sort of take on it.

MONIQUE: OK. Now I have a dog that likes to put her nose against it, so would I be better off using the Krylon product, you think, for that?

TOM: The frosted paints, as good as they are, they’re not going to take repetitive noseprints.

MONIQUE: No, no. I think once it’s frosted up she won’t be as prone to look out there but that’s another reason. I just – I want to have something, you know, if she …

LESLIE: Because I know that once it’s dry it even gets a little powdery if you kind of brush it.

MONIQUE: Oh, OK, OK.

LESLIE: So I think with a wet nose you might end up with a little wet nose spot.

MONIQUE: Little spots underneath it. Oh, I don’t want that.

TOM: (overlapping voices) Yeah, exactly.

MONIQUE: OK. Well, I’ll have to figure out something to keep her away from there but if she can’t look out it anymore, I think it’d be a nice thing. But it’s mainly the people looking in; the little kids that press their faces. So it’d be nice to have a little privacy there without having to replace the full glass. So, OK, I’ll give that a whirl.

TOM: Great, thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.