Adding windows to your home is a great way to bring light and warmth into your house, and with Perth's predominantly sunny days, it could save you on electricity bills as well. But before you start planning your build there are a few privacy regulations that you should be aware of, and how using
window films
can keep your new project on track.
Most states, Western Australia included, require all residential properties to meet privacy guidelines to ensure that yours and your neighbour’s privacy is not infringed on by the surrounding homes. Essentially, these guidelines are in place to restrict anybody peeping into each other’s homes.
If it feels like houses are getting closer to each other, it's because they are. The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed in November 2018 that the average floor size of new homes had reached a 22-year low, with new homeowners choosing to install fancier amenities rather than purchase larger blocks of land. This all means that the new generation of homebuyers are living closer to each other, and on smaller blocks.
As homes and land plots get smaller and smaller it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid building homes that overlook other properties. Gone are the days of single storey homes with large backyards and high fences. Now, if you have a two-storey home, you need to take steps to avoid any spaces that can view into your neighbour’s property. This includes windows, balconies, terraces, decks or patios.
WA Residential Design Codes 5.4.1 and 6.4.1:
“Major openings and unenclosed outdoor active habitable spaces, which have a floor level of more than 0.5m above natural ground level and overlook any part of any other residential property behind its street setback line are required to be…provided with permanent screening to restrict views within the cone of vision from any major opening or an unenclosed outdoor active habitable space.”
To comply “Screening devices such as obscure glazing, timber screens, external blinds, window hoods and shutters are to be at least 1.6m in height, at least 75 per cent obscure, permanently fixed, made of durable material and restrict view in the direction of overlooking into any adjoining property.”
In lay terms, if you have a direct line of sight into your neighbour's property either from a low border fence or an overlooking high level, it's your responsibility to obscure the view - and the same goes for your neighbours if they can view into your home or yard.
There are a lot of options in the market for privacy screens but most require a permanent addition to your home that will block out the view and the daylight.
Privacy window film, or
frosted window film, is a great solution that allows your home to still take in the daylight, warmth and view, while still staying privacy compliant. The beauty of privacy window films is that you don’t need to construct any new partitions or screens to stay within the privacy guidelines. Frosted window films use your already existing glass windows or balcony fences as the privacy barrier.
ALLCOOL Window Films'frost (opaque) films can be quickly and easily applied to almost any glass surface. The huge benefit of privacy window film over other privacy methods is that frosted window film still
allows 80% of light
to be transmitted. Meaning that your home retains the look and feel that you want it to.
Privacy window films are by far the easiest privacy option for windows and balconies. Their versatility means that the window film can be cut to
any shape or size, and it also gives you the option to only obscure the portion of the glass that you are required to. Allowing you to enjoy the beautiful view that you bought your home for.
Frosted window films require very little cleaning and maintenance compared to other privacy methods. Unlike fences or screens that may require special upkeep, window film is easily cleaned at the same time as your windows.
When you're building your home, or adding that second storey, be sure to consider the privacy regulations and
consult with ALLCOOL Window
Films on the options we can provide. We offer a variety of privacy window films and have the experience to know which solution will suit your home.
Click here to view our full range of
privacy window films or
request a free quote
