CLiC Smart Glass vs Blinds and Window Film for Redmond Homes

Most Redmond homes handle privacy the same way: blinds, curtains, or a frosted film that stays frosted no matter what you want. CLiC smart privacy glass offers a different answer. One window switches from clear to private on demand, so you keep the light and the view until the moment you do not want either.

Glass Daddy Redmond installs CLiC, and the question we hear most is how it compares with what homeowners already know. This guide sets CLiC beside blinds and window film, shows where it earns its place in a house, and explains why the smartest time to add it is often during a full-frame window replacement in Redmond.

What Is CLiC Smart Privacy Glass?

CLiC is switchable privacy glass made by Cardinal IG. It shifts from clear to private in under 100 milliseconds, with no tint and no blinds. In its private state it diffuses light instead of blocking it, so a room stays bright while the view stays hidden. It works in windows, doors, and interior glass.

How CLiC Works and Why It Is Not Old Smart Glass

CLiC uses a patented polymer stabilized cholesteric texture applied directly to the glass surface. That detail matters because there is no film layer inside the unit. Older smart glass relies on PDLC film, which can leave a milky haze even when switched to transparent. CLiC is designed to look like ordinary glass in its clear state, so it blends in beside the regular windows in the same room.

Power works differently too. CLiC draws power in its clear state and uses none while private, the opposite of standard PDLC glass. For a bathroom or bedroom window that spends most of its time private, that is the efficient position to rest in.

The glass does more than switch. According to the details published for CLiC smart privacy glass by Cardinal IG, the laminated construction blocks 99.9% of UV rays, adds sound insulation, and helps with intrusion resistance and storm protection. It integrates with smart home systems and cleans like ordinary glass. The product is backed by Cardinal IG's manufacturer warranty.

CLiC vs Blinds vs Window Film

Here is how the options stack up for a typical Redmond window.



• Blinds and curtains: Low cost up front, but they block the view and the daylight together. They collect dust, rely on cords and moving parts, and are awkward on tall, wide, or oddly shaped windows.
• Frosted or privacy film: Permanent privacy with no off switch. The window stays frosted at noon when you want the view, and film can bubble or peel over the years on sun baked west and south walls.
• Older PDLC smart glass: Switchable, but with a hazy look in its clear state and a film layer built into the unit.
• CLiC smart privacy glass: Clear or private in under 100 milliseconds, no cords or hardware on the glass, daylight kept in private mode, plus UV and sound benefits.

Blinds still make sense for budget rooms and for a bedroom you want fully dark. CLiC makes the most sense where privacy and daylight both matter all day long.

Where Smart Glass Makes Sense in a Redmond Home

Redmond's high desert sun is strong, and homeowners here tend to want daylight without exposure. These are the spots where CLiC pays off most:

• Bathroom windows beside a tub, shower, or vanity
• Street facing living rooms and front entry sidelights
• Home offices and bedrooms that face a neighbor
• Interior glass between rooms where you want a quiet, private space on demand
• Large picture windows where blinds would hide the view you paid for

Because the glass blocks 99.9% of UV rays, it also helps protect floors, furniture, and artwork from the fading that strong sunlight causes. That is a useful bonus on west and south elevations.

The Best Time to Add Smart Glass: During Full Frame Replacement

Switchable glass needs power at the window. In a finished wall, that means opening the drywall and running power to an opening never designed for it. A full frame replacement already removes the old frame, trim, and casing and exposes the rough opening, which is usually the easiest moment to plan a power connection.

If your windows are rotted, out of square, drafty, or due for a new style, you are already paying for the wall work. Adding CLiC to the windows where privacy matters most is a smaller step at that stage than coming back later. Glass Daddy Redmond measures every opening before ordering, so the measurement visit is the right time to mark which windows should be smart glass and where the power should come from.

Retrofit CLiC for Homes That Are Already Built

CLiC has traditionally been limited to new construction, because power can be wired into the window before drywall goes up. As covered in this CLiC retrofit smart glass press release, the company developed retrofit methods so Redmond homeowners do not need to build a new house to get it. The work involves cutting into finished drywall, running power to the window, and restoring the surrounding surface cleanly.

For the installation side of the story, see our guide to CLiC glass installation in Redmond.

Get a Smart Glass Estimate in Redmond

Not sure if CLiC, a new full frame window, or a simple glass replacement fits your house? Glass Daddy Redmond will look at the opening, explain your options, and give you a clear price. We also handle residential glass replacement in Redmond for single units and whole houses, and we are licensed, bonded, and insured under CCB 236893. Request a free smart glass estimate in Redmond to get started.