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mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 3:37 p.m.

My garage has two large skylights. They are curved, and have some tint on them 

however - Ton of sun comes through - and I prefer to have lot less light. 
 

the back glasses of the garage (7 windows), about 10 years ago I sprayed with opaque frost paint. It's great - but you can't see through (which is what I wanted there). 
 

however the roof sky lights I would like the visibility there 

 

what would be most cost effective and easy button for an amateur ? 
 

Edit - topic should say "tint" not tiny. 

 


 

ProDarwin
ProDarwin UltimaDork
8/5/20 3:39 p.m.

I have no answer.  Just wanted to say I have seen 1000 threads on how to add more light in the garage but never one asking how to take it away.  Good luck!

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa Dork
8/5/20 3:39 p.m.

Screen material would probably be the easiest method to lessen the light coming through.  After that, tint.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 3:40 p.m.

In reply to ProDarwin :

Well I am weird. And I don't need 14 window panes. And I care more about my cars paint not getting sun then light in garage cheeky

Screw a piece of plywood over the opening. 

If you want a little light drill a little hole. 

Alternatively, build a frame. Stretch whatever light reduction film you prefer over the frame. Fasten that over the opening. 

 

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 4:17 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

Screen material would probably be the easiest method to lessen the light coming through.  After that, tint.

Thanks. I will look into screen material. 

 

Friend suggested some VHT tint spray.

 

Any thoughts on that?  

Personally I would be fine buying tint material and doing it, HOWEVER, I am not sure I trust myself with the curvature. 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa Dork
8/5/20 4:19 p.m.

I've had bad luck with tint spray in the past.  Its kind of hard to fix if you apply it and screw it up.  If you want, you could get a clear piece of lexan or something, spray that, then mount that below the skylight

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 4:28 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

I've had bad luck with tint spray in the past.  Its kind of hard to fix if you apply it and screw it up.  If you want, you could get a clear piece of lexan or something, spray that, then mount that below the skylight

Thank you for that!! Appreciate the help. My spray on frost came out really good, thus I was hoping if there is a spray tint like that I could apply - might have been easiest. 

ProDarwin
ProDarwin UltimaDork
8/5/20 5:32 p.m.

I like the tinted Lexan option.  You could put them in a simple slide so they could be slid back to allow more light in again should such a thing be desired.  Or put on a hinge and folded 180 deg like a shutter.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 5:35 p.m.
ProDarwin said:

I like the tinted Lexan option.  You could put them in a simple slide so they could be slid back to allow more light in again should such a thing be desired.  Or put on a hinge and folded 180 deg like a shutter.

Yes, I am going to see what Lexan I have options locally. 

The0retical (Forum Supporter)
The0retical (Forum Supporter) UberDork
8/5/20 5:39 p.m.

I put up some PVC tint on a skylight a couple weeks ago. Went on with some Dawn and water from a spray bottle pretty easily.

The PVC films are are static cling so they come off cleanly and easily. Just pick how dark or level of diffusion you want.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 6:01 p.m.
The0retical (Forum Supporter) said:

I put up some PVC tint on a skylight a couple weeks ago. Went on with some Dawn and water from a spray bottle pretty easily.

The PVC films are are static cling so they come off cleanly and easily. Just pick how dark or level of diffusion you want.

Thank you for that. I believe my skylight are plexiglass. Will the PVC tint work on that? Do you recommend installing on exterior or interior?

Do you have a link of what you purchased?

BFH_Garage
BFH_Garage Reader
8/5/20 7:07 p.m.

Could use mesh cloth on a wood frame, we use this stuff to shade plants in our green house

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-ft-x-10-ft-mesh-all-purposeweather-resistant-tarp-60577.html

jgrewe
jgrewe Reader
8/5/20 7:07 p.m.

This may sound weird but what about hanging some of kind of window blind and just hook the end that would hang down to the opposite side of the frame inside?  They have those spring roll up black out shades or you could go with horizontal blinds that you could adjust.

I don't know about PVC tint but the normal stuff won't stick the lexan

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 7:13 p.m.
jgrewe said:

This may sound weird but what about hanging some of kind of window blind and just hook the end that would hang down to the opposite side of the frame inside?  They have those spring roll up black out shades or you could go with horizontal blinds that you could adjust.

I don't know about PVC tint but the normal stuff won't stick the lexan

Similar to your blind hook idea ,

My wife suggested taking black cloth and stapling them to the wood essentially to "cover" the skylight from bottom 

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 7:14 p.m.
BFH_Garage said:

Could use mesh cloth on a wood frame, we use this stuff to shade plants in our green house

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-ft-x-10-ft-mesh-all-purposeweather-resistant-tarp-60577.html

That is a great idea!!! Thanks will take some measurements tmrw 

NOT A TA
NOT A TA SuperDork
8/5/20 7:20 p.m.

Shade cloth intended for nursery/greenhouse. Made to take sun and comes in different textures, darkness wetc. Here's some examples.  https://shadeclothstore.com/product-category/knitted-shade-cloth/?msclkid=9f4c2ef040d1178f1a5871db0cdcf2ae

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/5/20 7:50 p.m.

In reply to NOT A TA :

Thank you for the link !

slefain
slefain PowerDork
8/6/20 8:18 a.m.

As a test I'd grab an old sheet from the linen closet (or Goodwill) and just staple it over the skylight opening. If it works, you can dress it up.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/6/20 9:42 a.m.

In reply to slefain :

wife has same idea :) 

 

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
8/6/20 3:19 p.m.

Could we have finally found an actual valid use for VHT Nightshades? No. Because that crap will always be awful.

Plasti-Dip makes a smoke spray. Combine that with 3-5 kayers of clear and you have tint that is reversible. 

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/6/20 4:43 p.m.
Appleseed said:

Could we have finally found an actual valid use for VHT Nightshades? No. Because that crap will always be awful.

Plasti-Dip makes a smoke spray. Combine that with 3-5 kayers of clear and you have tint that is reversible

I have never used plasti dip. But my neighbor gave me 3 brand new cans (probably thinks I can use them on my cars). I think its black plasti dip. 

Dumb question: would shooting it with black plastidip - completely black it out? If so, reversible, right? IF SO, maybe first application of plasti dip I can make in my life. I have been feeling not cool for last 10 years or so.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
8/6/20 5:53 p.m.

You could haze it on, and it will work to diminish the sunlight,  but I promise you,  it will be absolute Hell come time to remove it. A can of smoke and a can of clear will set you back about $12 total. Easy removal comes from layers. Once you get the tint to your liking, go to town with the clear.  The whole can between the two.

An alternative could be to mist your black dip over the window to the desired darkness, and then thicken layers with the clear. The nice thing is, if you end up not liking it, peal it off. 

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise SuperDork
8/6/20 6:00 p.m.
Appleseed said:

You could haze it on, and it will work to diminish the sunlight,  but I promise you,  it will be absolute Hell come time to remove it. A can of smoke and a can of clear will set you back about $12 total. Easy removal comes from layers. Once you get the tint to your liking, go to town with the clear.  The whole can between the two.

An alternative could be to mist your black dip over the window to the desired darkness, and then thicken layers with the clear. The nice thing is, if you end up not liking it, peal it off. 

Thanks! in GRM fashion, I may go the cheap route, and go with what I have first. Thanks for the advice! I am sure it will turn out poorly, but all I care bout is keeping the sun off my cars paint.

84FSP
84FSP UltraDork
8/6/20 6:45 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

I've had bad luck with tint spray in the past.  Its kind of hard to fix if you apply it and screw it up.  If you want, you could get a clear piece of lexan or something, spray that, then mount that below the skylight

Using nightshades on a price of glass or plexus underneath it would be a great idea and very removable.  I have used it a few times directly of surfaces and think it came out really nice maybe one or two of those times.

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