Why Most Glaziers Won't Retrofit CLiC Glass, and What the Job Actually Takes

CLiC glass is a smart privacy glass that switches from clear to private at the touch of a button, and it usually reaches a home one way: as a factory option on brand new windows. Putting it into a house that is already built is a different job, and in our experience few glaziers take it on. Glass Daddy Redmond does. This post explains what the work involves so you can judge any CLiC quote you get. For the basics, start with our guide to CLiC glass installation in Redmond.

What Is a CLiC Retrofit?

A CLiC retrofit installs CLiC smart privacy glass in an existing home instead of a new build. The crew opens the finished wall, runs power to the window, fits a CLiC panel made to your opening, and restores the surface around it. The job takes glazing, electrical connection, and finish work together, which is why few Redmond glaziers offer it.

Why CLiC Usually Comes With New Windows

CLiC is made by Cardinal IG, and the manufacturer details are at CLiC smart privacy glass by Cardinal IG. Window makers such as Marvin and Kolbe offer it as a factory option on new windows. That makes sense from a build standpoint. When windows are ordered for a new house or a full replacement, power can be routed through the wall before drywall and interior finishes go on. Nothing has to be cut open.

The default answer in the industry is therefore to buy new windows. That works for a new build. It is a poor fit for a homeowner in Redmond, Eagle Crest, or Tumalo whose windows are in good shape and who only wants privacy in a bathroom, a bedroom, or a street facing room.

What a Retrofit Actually Involves

A finished home was never wired for smart glass. Retrofitting CLiC means doing three jobs that most companies split between different trades, or avoid altogether:



• Glazing. The opening is measured and a CLiC panel is made to fit it. Accurate measurement matters because an insulated glass panel cannot be trimmed on site.
• Power. Power has to reach a window that was never designed to have a connection, and the control has to live somewhere sensible, such as a wall switch or a smart home system.
• Wall restoration. Reaching the window means cutting into finished drywall. The surface then has to be restored so the finished result does not look like a repair.

Each task is manageable on its own. The difficulty is doing all three in one clean job, in a home where people are living. Most glass shops are set up to handle the glass, not the wall around it. Our press release on CLiC retrofits in Central Oregon covers how we approach it.

What Retrofit Day Looks Like in a Redmond Home



1. Measure and plan. We measure the opening, check the frame, and decide where the power will run and where the control will sit.
2. Fabricate. Your CLiC panel is made to the measured size.
3. Protect and open. The room is protected and the wall is opened only as far as needed to reach the window.
4. Install. The old glass comes out and the CLiC panel is set in the opening.
5. Connect and test. Power and controls are connected and every switch is tested.
6. Restore and walk through. The wall is finished, the area is cleaned, and we show you how the controls work.

Where a CLiC Retrofit Makes the Most Sense

Because a retrofit adds cost and wall work, choose the openings where privacy and daylight both matter all day. The most common candidates in Central Oregon homes are:



• Bathroom windows beside a tub, shower, or vanity
• Entry sidelights and front door glass
• Living rooms and bedrooms that face a street or a close neighbor
• Home offices where you want a private room on demand

Our post on CLiC smart glass compared with blinds and window film helps you decide where it earns its place and where a blind is still the better choice.

Retrofit or Replace the Window?

If your windows are sound, a retrofit is usually the right call. Keep the windows you have and add CLiC only where it matters.

If your windows are rotted, drafty, or out of square, the better move is to add CLiC during full frame window replacement in Redmond. The old frame and trim are already out, so the opening is exposed and planning the power connection is simpler. For a single failed unit that does not need CLiC, our residential glass replacement in Redmond team can look at the window first.

Questions to Ask Any Company Quoting CLiC

Ask these before you sign:



• Have you retrofitted CLiC into a finished home, and can I see photos of the work?
• Who handles the power connection, and who restores the wall?
• Where will the power supply and control be located?
• What does the manufacturer warranty cover, and what does your own workmanship warranty cover?
• Will the quote show glass, power work, and wall restoration as separate lines?

A company that has done this work will answer without hesitating. A company that has not will usually steer you toward new windows.

Why Glass Daddy Redmond Does This Work

We have completed CLiC retrofit installs in existing Central Oregon homes, and we measure every opening before we quote so the price reflects your actual window and wall. Glass Daddy Redmond serves Redmond, Bend, Terrebonne, Powell Butte, Eagle Crest, and Tumalo, and we are licensed, bonded, and insured under CCB 236893.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CLiC glass be installed in a house that is already built?

Yes. A CLiC retrofit installs the glass in an existing home by opening the finished wall, running power to the window, setting a panel made to the opening, and restoring the wall. Glass Daddy Redmond performs these retrofits across Central Oregon.

Do I need new windows to get CLiC glass?

No. New windows with factory CLiC are one route, but a CLiC panel can also be fitted into an existing opening when the window is in good condition. If the window is failing, adding CLiC during a full frame replacement is often simpler.

Why do so few glaziers install CLiC in existing homes?

In our experience, a retrofit requires glazing, an electrical connection, and wall restoration in one job. In new construction, power is wired before drywall goes up, so most CLiC work happens at the build or at the window order. Many glass companies are not set up for the finished wall work.

How much does a CLiC retrofit cost in Redmond?

CLiC is a premium product, so it costs more than standard glass. The price depends on panel size, the number of openings, the control system, how far power must travel, and the wall work involved. Glass Daddy Redmond gives a written estimate after measuring the opening.

Get a CLiC Retrofit Estimate in Redmond

Not sure if your home is a good candidate? We will look at the window and the wall, explain your options, and give you a clear price. Request a free CLiC retrofit estimate in Redmond or call (541) 527-7080.