Neighbour's Glass Shade Is Reflecting Sunlight to My House

My neighbour's newly install glass shade on their front door is reflecting sunlight to my house and it is very bright and annoying. I will approach my neighbour politely to discuss what can be done to address the bright reflected sunlight.

The reflection is from a shade made of glass and it looks to be dark tint already.

I myself have no idea what can be done but I rather approach them with a solution. Is there any film that can be applied to the glass to eliminate the reflection?

Should I even consider paying for it if they refuse? I know I should not but I want things done

EDIT: Is not their front door, but a shade

http://users.tpg.com.au/platinum822/2.jpg
http://users.tpg.com.au/platinum822/1.jpg

EDIT2:
The post is to ask forum members recommendation on material/solution that can dampen the reflection so I can discuss and propose to my neighbour as this is the best approach in opening a conversation rather than tell them to simply fix it. With all the feedback, I have decided the following approach.
• Approach my neighbour later, at the mean time just count the days and minutes/hours I am impacted. No point asking for changes if it is just a week or 2.
• Another reason to approach later is the current shade is new install, so they may be reluctant to change.
• When I do approach, recommend frosting as other have suggested. It does go with their wall colour. Currently is some dark transparent tint.

Thanks all that have replied and having read the comments, I will group the reply as follow.

An eye for an eye – I much rather avoids that and live in a neighborhood where everyone can coexist peacefully. I deal enough with douchebag in my life and I don’t want to live next to one.

Break their glass shade that is causing the reflection – Let’s not do that for reason same as above and it is illegal. I much rather call bikie

They have every right to build their house which ever way they see fit – I agree, but please be considerate of others (me). Picture this, you have a weekly team meeting and your manager always fart in every meeting. Under this argument, then it is your problem and if you not happy then leave the company, don’t discuss this matter with the manager who is farting or HR.

Is my problem so close your blind and darken your house – true, but I feel I should not have to adjust my living condition in my own house in my own privacy because of external factors caused by others. Some external factor is unavoidable like neighbour renovating their house, but I feel the sun reflection can be avoided/addressed. I have neighbour approach me politely point out my outdoor spotlight is disturbing them and I happily address their concern. Is nice when everyone is friendly to each other.

More light the better – Not if the light is blinding you when you are inside your own house. Picture night time driving and incoming traffic is high beam you 4 cars away for 20min.

It is just seasonal – If it is 2 weeks in a year then I will tolerate, but considering my house is 2 story then it is likely to be much longer. Also considering the intensity, I think it will be many days to come.

Comments

        • Oh I was thinking we were magnifying the reflection haha

  • +3

    There is a precedent for this,
    Although your door may have to burst into flames or melt before you get anything.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-23930675

    • Vegas too. Vdara hotel death ray.

  • +2

    It could be payback for your shiny car.

    Put a blind at the end of your porch. It's only a seasonal thing.

  • +1

    ULPT: Shatter the glass shade and they will replace it with a cloth one.

  • +1

    looks pretty cool i'd say

  • -1

    Yes close your blind dirr

  • make a sun clock from it

  • +2

    Nice house man.

  • +5

    The sun is changing position seasonally. Chances are not won’t be an ongoing problem just a recurring one twice a year.

    • +1

      Yep, I was scrolling through the comments to say this! Give it a few weeks and see if it's still a problem

      • +4

        Even when it does reflect light this, how many minutes does it last for? The sun continually moves.

        • +2

          I'm thinking this exactly. To imply with this post it's all day defies the laws of physics!
          (Happy to shown otherwise!)

          It's like when they were testing The Mummy mirror myth on MythBusters, the reflected spot would only work for a certain amount of time as the sun moved.

  • +2

    You can ask council to check that their structure is permitted. If not then they may have to take it down. Are you sure it’s glass?

    Your issue seems like a very minor annoyance. Have you heard of these things called blinds? You can install them on your windows to block incoming light. They are a fairly recent invention so you might have to shop around - bunnings, spotlight, ebay, Amazon, online shopping???? Seriously….

    • Your old science books told you there are 4 seasons in a year? No wonder you spend your days dribbling on OzBargain.

  • +5

    Yo, install a solar panel on your front door.

  • +2

    Plant one or two short scrub trees with big leaf e.g. magnolia at your front yard near the fence or suggest your neighbour plant a medium-size tree to block the line of sight between that reflection and your front door. This will be good for the environment too.

  • -3

    It's you problem. Do something about your door to prevent the light coming in for 5 minutes of the day this does occur. If my neighbour came to me with this I would laugh in his face.

    • +1

      A temporary shade/screen on top of the fence will help.

      Agree is a bit presumptuous to expect the neighbor to fix such a triviality.
      Gone in a week or two.

    • +2

      This is why neighbours don’t talk and instead have to post to forums in the hope of solutions

    • So what you're saying is your some sort of psychopathic idiot who laughs at unfunny things.

  • +3

    What kind of glass shades reflect so much light? I really want one of those.

    • I think is call a silver mirror … ;-p

    • At first I thought it was a solar panel but turns out it is some transparent very dark tint material. The photo taken at the front door show the reflection lit up my front porch which is normally well shaded because of the balcony.

      • They will charge you for power from the sun.

      • Maybe, Just maybe the neighbour is totally unaware of the reflection, and why should they cover it with something else to mask it, the idea of tint is to stop direct light but still allow enough to see by in daytime, suggesting covering it with matting etc kills the whole purpose of it being tinted?

        Annoying as it is its not important, covid is killing ppl the world is on the brink of war etc and you're getting stressed over a few hrs of light?

  • If it helps: sun reflection will only happen for a few days, maybe a week, every year.

    Also trees might grow.
    Unless they are chopped off …

    We had golden windows from a 40 level building reflecting sunlight at sunset.
    Lasted a few weeks only. And it was quite nice actually. Attractive.

    • If it is 2 week in a year then I have no problem. If it is late spring to early autumn then that is a different story. I will wait it out and see.

  • +2

    Blinded by the light

    Revved up like a deuce

    Another runner in the night.

  • Well if nothing works you could chuck a rock at it. Just don't get caught while doing it…. Kidding

  • +2

    Plants in your front yard. Couple of kafir limes in pots will look good, give you fragrant edible ingredients, create virtually no mess and will be easy to look after. Or you can go for something denser, if you are prepared to put in slightly more effort looking after the plants.

  • Don't worry about it. Storm season is approaching. A few nice pieces of hail will deal with it soon enough.

  • +4

    All I want to know if the neighbors name is azeem!

    Azeem Light! thank you azeem!

    • Where is Korben Dallas when you need them?!

    • +1

      Wasn't it "Aziz"?

      • +1

        Yeah, but only a couple letters out

        • +1

          What can I say

          Nobody's prefect :)

    • +3

      Hahaa

      War is coming.

      I will return to this thread in 1000 years.

  • Frosting

  • +3

    Install a mirror to reflect it back?

  • I would recommend that when you talk to the neighbour you mention that you or someone in your household has Photophobia.

    Hopefully that would make them more willing to make changes.

    • +2

      You would recommend lying to the neighbor so that they have to go out of their way to fix a minor annoyance?

      You sound nice and well centered.

      By the way… Before you respond back to me with negativity. I have PTSD because previously a neighbor shined a torch into my house and I wet myself because I have an extreme case of photosensitivity.

      So please be kind in your response! :P

      • I have an extreme.fear of snakes please leave ozbargain. due to being penalty boxed a lot I must now include this is a joke

  • If it's an occasional issue, talk with the neighbour.

    When it's a problem for you, there's an old ghetto filmmaking trick to reduce glare from shiney objects. Spray hair spray on it. I've never seen it used on a big reflection like this, but you never know.

    • +8

      Yep, I am the most terrible neighbour in the world because all I want is to ask politely that they consider frosting the glass.

    • Do you think all his neighbours live in fear or something because he's concerned about a bright light reflecting directly at his front door? Do you people think before you post, or just bash the keyboard randomly?

  • +3

    I would be glad to have more light into my house

  • U must be rich. You own a 2 story house in Sydney

    • can't be that rich if it's just a story house.

  • +2

    Well if it's bothering you then you should put shade in front of your house to stop it coming inside your house. You can't ask others to change their house for your convenience.. it is selfish to even expect that from neighbor.

    Use something like this in front of your entrance Artiss-4-Panel-Divider-Freestanding-Partition…search on amazon as links not allowed in comment.

  • -2

    scuze me do what i want - send me a letter with the photo and your number

  • +5
  • +1

    I don't understand what that "glass shade" is and how it can reflect so much light. Can you link a similar product just for the sake of understanding what they've installed?

    If you approach them, their initial approach will probably be that you are complaining for the sake of complaining. But make sure you show those photos and I'm sure they will work with you if there is anything that can be done (as long as you are nice about it). They probably have no idea how bad it is.

  • +2

    Given the continual rotation of the earth, I highly doubt it shines directly in your front door for more than about 5 minutes a day. I think you're just going to have to get over it, or install some curtains or similar.

  • +1

    Step 1:
    Wait for nightfall

    Step 2:
    Grab a brick

    Step 3:
    Use your imagination 🤭

    • +1

      Step 2:
      Grab a brick

      To build a bridge?

      • +1

        Nope. Build a tower in the middle of the road to block the sunlight

      • +2

        Build a wall and make the neighbour pay for it?

  • -2

    There's only one solution for this, which is

  • Put a hook on the door and hang your jacket on it. This will block the door window and stop the reflective light into your house. Just find someway to block the door window I guess. You can also try block-out blinds.

  • Next week: "neighbours' cars windows and windshields are reflecting light into my house"

    (Even then doesn't really explain the physics issue…)

    • If it is an eye for an eye approach then I will waste money and buy a glass transport truck and park it in between and deflect the sunlight back.

  • +1

    Keep in mind this will only occur for a small portion of the year due to the sun's trajectory

    • +1

      I hope so and if it is then I will tolerate it. I will wait and "see" how many days and hours I am impacted

      • +1

        In the meantime plant a tree at your fence (or nature strip if allowed)

  • I get something similar from direct setting sun, straight at the front door through the frosted glass onto the light tiles. Happens at specific times of year for a brief period of time.

  • +4

    We had a similar situation with our new neighbours’ spotlight pointing directly in our bedroom window all night long. My partner bitched about it to me every night for about a month (as well as our other neighbours & his workmates) told him to go to talk to the neighbour if it bothers him so much but he refused. Neighbour ended up coming to talk to us about the fence, partner mentioned the spotlight problem to him, he apologised, said he didn’t realise and he went and redirected the spotlight at the end of the conversation. Maybe just go have a conversation about it with them even without a solution.

  • I want to know how this turned out.

    • Plan is

      • Approach my neighbour later, at the mean time just count the days and minutes/hours I am impacted. No point asking for changes if it is just a week or 2.
      • Another reason to approach later is the current shade is new install, so they may be reluctant to change.
      • When I do approach, recommend frosting as other have suggested. It does go with their wall colour. Currently is some dark transparent tint.

  • +1

    On a similar note..

    I've heard about some disputes with reflective roofs.
    The case I heard about in Vic the person was forced to replace the roof.

    Here is another one:

    https://www.9news.com.au/national/shiny-roof-costs-homeowner…

  • I thought you were overreacting, but that is genuinely bright.

    It might be worth just raising it with them, I wouldn't be comfortable putting my neighbours through this if I were them.

  • -1

    Sook much.

    • +5

      I am crying everyday as I am now blinded. I am sailing on a river made from my tears

  • +1

    move on mate, its not like you stand at your front door all day

    Australians are whingers

    • -1

      That's Poms you pillock.

  • +2

    The post is to ask forum members recommendation on material/solution that can dampen the reflection so I can discuss and propose to my neighbour as this is the best approach in opening a conversation rather than tell them to simply fix it. With all the feedback, I have decided the following approach.
    • Approach my neighbour later, at the mean time just count the days and minutes/hours I am impacted. No point asking for changes if it is just a week or 2.
    • Another reason to approach later is the current shade is new install, so they may be reluctant to change.
    • When I do approach, recommend frosting as other have suggested. It does go with their wall colour. Currently is some dark transparent tint.

    Thanks all that have replied and having read the comments, I will group the reply as follow.

    An eye for an eye – I much rather avoids that and live in a neighborhood where everyone can coexist peacefully. I deal enough with douchebag in my life and I don’t want to live next to one.

    Break their glass shade that is causing the reflection – Let’s not do that for reason same as above and it is illegal. I much rather call bikie

    They have every right to build their house which ever way they see fit – I agree, but please be considerate of others (me). Picture this, you have a weekly team meeting and your manager always fart in every meeting. Under this argument, then it is your problem and if you not happy then leave the company, don’t discuss this matter with the manager who is farting or to HR.

    Is my problem so close your blind and darken your house – true, but I feel I should not have to adjust my living condition in my own house in my own privacy because of external factors caused by others. Some external factor is unavoidable like neighbour renovating their house, but I feel the sun reflection can be avoided/addressed. I have neighbour approach me politely point out my outdoor spotlight is disturbing them and I happily address their concern. Is nice when everyone is friendly to each other.

    More light the better – Not if the light is blinding you when you are inside your own house. Picture night time driving and incoming traffic is high beam you 4 cars away for 20min.

    It is just seasonal – If it is 2 weeks in a year then I will tolerate, but considering my house is 2 story then it is likely to be much longer. Also considering the intensity, I think it will be many days to come.

    • I wonder why you don't just buy about 6 large pots with tall plants, end of problem, work for upstairs as well

  • just paid $500 to install 1 skylight in my kitchen 2 days ago!!! OP got it for free, what an absolute bargain

  • +1

    This could be a blessing during winter

  • Make an anonymous complaint to council

    • I can see how that works.
      Hi…
      I live opposite this bloke and his new glass shade is reflecting into my house, and only my house .
      .. yes you can come and see for yourself, its number 8 Complain st.. please park in the driveway… '

  • +1

    I would erect a solar panel and steal their sunlight, win win.

    Seriously though, all you will have to do is approach them (if you don't know them) and politely explain. If it is really an issue, you should be okay with splitting costs for the film (and even apply it for them if they're unable/unwilling to do so).

  • +1

    I don't know if it is me getting older and crankier, but there sure are a lot of (profanity) on OzBargain.

  • +2

    Put a small citrus in the line of sight, take advantage of that reflected light and grow something edible. You can get free fruit and take advantage of the free reflected light, true Ozb style.

  • +2

    Wouldn’t it only be happening at a certain time of day, at a particular time of year? Not sure it will be a significant issue very often.

  • plant a tree or small structure in your yard to block the reflection

  • +3

    I feel like my retinas burned out just seeing that photo

  • Since your neighbour annoys you during the day. You can annoy him back during the night with this device. Yeh?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/580270

  • +1

    Very surprised people are putting it off as a minor nuisance.

    I'm shocked at the intensity of it.

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