BDF S15 Window Film Daytime Privacy and Heat Control Mirror Silver 15 (Dark) - 36in X 12ft

I'm located in Climate Zone 5, summer temps can hit 95 deg F, winters can drop to -20 deg F.This review is based on a summer install of skylights after 2 days. Will update if I see issues over the rest of summer and winter.I was looking for a product that could be installed on 4x double-paned skylights in my 11-13ft vaulted ceilings. The skylights measured 18" x 43" each, so I purchased the BDF S15 Silver (18% Visible Light, 78% Solar Rejection) 36" x 12ft.So these windows high up, at an angle, and would take some serious aerial acrobatics to install on my own, WHILE handling a cutter at the end to remove the recommended 2" all-around buffer (suggested in the installation video). My thought process was that I could cut it up perfectly in half and just glue it on.Life isn't perfect, and neither are my handyman skills.Even with long rulers, cutting boards and careful remeasurement, it took me 30 mins, was never quite perfect and I ended up with slightly smaller cutouts 0.3" - 0.5".It took me 20 mins to go up and down the ladder to clean the 1st skylight, pre-spray the window, detach the film liner and spray the film, attach the film, spray the film (again) and squeegee. I was down to 7 mins by the time I worked on the 4th and final skylight.It still ends up looking pretty good with a major reduction in solar heat, and the imperfect cuts aren't that visible given the window height.The first yellowish pic shows a skylight pre-install.The second bluish pic shows the same skylight 24 hrs post-install (same clear skies). No drying/wrinkling issues. Pretty dramatic difference.The third bluish pic is a bathroom skylight immediately post-install. No bubbling or wrinkling issues when I first did it. I git gud.The fourth bluish pic is the same bathroom skylight 24 hrs post-install.Couple of learning lessons:1) Get ready for a bit of a messYou literally have to saturate the window, the film (while removing the liner), and the film again (after gluing to squeegee). This means dripping light soapy water everywhere. There's no way around this, just accept it and mop up afterwards.2) Perfection is hard to achieve ... on skylightsUnless you worked at Cirque du Soleil, it might be hard to cut the film on the window itself. If you're ok with imperfection on skylights, you can probably pre-cut the film.

By following the directions and watching a video we did get it up on a large front window without any air bubbles.But I didn't realize how much it is just like a mirror from inside before it is fully dark out if you have a lamp on, after it is dark, and before the sun is completely up in the sky in the morning if a lamp is on. . It's almost like a slightly darker bathroom mirror and all you can see is your own image and the image of your room.Before putting it on all your windows, try it on a small one to make sure having the window turn into a mirror even in the evening will be okay for you.I only put it on one big window on the street about 3 months ago. I may or may not keep it. I really don't like that inside mirror look. And no way could I have the curtain open with a Christmas tree. It is distractingly irritating.I did give it 4 stars because it did go on well and people can't see in during the day unless the house has a window in front and one behind so they can "see through" it. With the film they can still see through it.

One tiny mistake and it all goes to heck. I finally got it to work but only after wasting most of the roll.

I have nosy neighbors who just like to look in my windows so I needed a way to prevent that (apartment patio door). If someone is walking at a distance they aren’t going to see anything. If they are standing about 10 feet from the door they can see animals and if they try to look in they are going to see through the glass just a touch more difficult. Overall it does the job and I’m pretty happy with it!

It really is as described and like other reviewers, I could not figure out what side was the "outside". But I would like to share how I used this film. I recently moved to the west coast and the house I purchased - a mile from the ocean - has a large "eyebrow" window facing due west. I could not believe how hot the sun coming through this "eyebrow" would make the large open room. As an experiment I placed one of my moving paper blankets over the "eyebrow" and there was an incredible difference in temperature. I had to figure out a way to block the sun. So I read the reviews on this film. What no one mentioned and I discovered is that you can actually "stitch" the film to a sheer fabric. I laid a sheer curtain down and used the film as a "liner". I used Velcro to attach the film, and then realized I needed to anchor the film better due to weight and discovered it was very easy to stitch through the film and attach it to the curtain fabric with a few anchoring stitches. I hung it up as an experiment by nailing it to the walls of the window. Living in an upscale neighborhood I knew I would get major dissatisfaction from neighbors if I had attached this as a film directly to the window, but by using it as a lining, the film "drapes". I get the benefit of it blocking sunlight without the negativity of it being adhered to the window to the distraction of my neighbors. So far a big thumbs up. It dramatically reduced the heat in the room while allowing the light to shine through. NOTE: doing what I did, it's a rather bluish tint behind the sheer but not dislike-able at all.

The biggest problem I had with this window film is getting it cut where a lay flat against the window for that I think the quality is very good it seems like it's very hard to cut trim