Sometimes it gets too hot to bear in the summer. With the windows wide open and the sun beating down, you can see straight into your neighbor’s house. But you needn’t put up with that; there are techniques to obscure their illumination. The best methods for obstructing your neighbors’ views of the stars are covered here. Check out these suggestions!
If your neighbors use bright security lights, their illumination can be a serious distraction. The bright lights outside your window make it difficult to obtain a good night’s sleep. There are times when the rising sun in your bedroom will keep you up at night, tossing and turning because you can’t get comfortable.
A Detailed Guide on How to Block Neighbors Light
Step 1: Talk to Your Neighbor.
Having a conversation with your neighbor is the only option you have to block their light. Even though it seems like a simple way to start, this is the best way to get this project going. Make sure to have a calm and discreet conversation with your neighbor regarding their lighting. If you want to avoid an argument, choose a neutral location where neither of you will feel unsafe.
You should explain in a calm and collected manner how their lights are interfering with your ability to get to sleep and work at night. Recommend some noise-reducing practices, such as drawing the blinds or curtains after a specific time of day or turning down the volume on the TV when everyone is home from work, if they keep turning on more lights or televisions than usual.
Step 2: Talk to Your Landlord
You can go to the landlord if your neighbor refuses to stop being a nuisance. In some cases, the property management may be entitled to intervene and demand that they take corrective action. Moreover, many rental agreements include language allowing the property owner and his chosen representatives to have a one-on-one conversation with tenants about any issue that may impact their lease, such as the necessity of removing pet waste or maintaining a suitable level of noise. Maintaining composure while conversing with them is essential. You should make it obvious that you find it difficult to function without complete darkness or blackout blinds or drapes because of their brightness.
Step 3: Using Permanent Solutions
Depending on how stubborn your neighbor is, you may have to resort to more drastic measures to get them to lower their volume. Putting up some blackout drapes or shades is the simplest solution. Washing them in the washing machine or having them dry cleaned isn’t a problem because they’ll be useful for years.
The only drawback is that they are largely ineffective if light is coming in from numerous locations, like above and below your room. If this is the case, you have the option of having blackout film professionally installed on the offending window(s) or purchasing closing blinds or curtains, both of which give you complete control over whether light enters your home from the street or the neighbor’s yard.
Step 4: Using Temporary Solutions
Clear packing tape or aluminum foil tape may be used in place of window coverings if your neighbors’ lights are too intense to be muffled by those alone. As useful as aluminum foil tape is, it only lasts a few weeks before it starts to come loose and flake off.
Clear packing tape, on the other hand, can stick to glass for up to three years without losing its stickiness and costs only $5 to $10 for a roll instead of the $30 to $50 for a DIY blackout solution. If the possibility of using aluminum foil tape appeals to you, you can learn more about it by clicking here.
Step 5: Using DIY Solutions
If the light from next door is bothersome and you can’t lower the blinds or draw the shades, you can always resort to a do-it-yourself remedy. You’ll need a thick sheet of white poster board, some aluminum foil tape, and a few minutes to cover the window. It’s possible, but it depends on the intensity of the light and the type of glass being utilized.
It is more expensive than just using packing tape or aluminum-foil tape for 3 weeks to 3 years. This will run you approximately $5 to $10 per window, depending on how many windows you plan to cover.
Step 6: Using Personal Actions
You should resort to using personal acts if nothing else works. To accomplish this, you can purchase a set of ultra-bright LED solar path lights and position them on your window sill so that they face your neighbor’s house at night when you think they will be there.
If their light comes from above, point the route lights upwards; if it comes from below or to the side, point them downwards; and so on; then you must install enough solar panels so that they remain illuminated all night and face directly onto their lighted room(s).
Some individuals just aren’t affected by bright illumination pouring in through their bedroom windows at night, so the efficacy of this strategy will rely on the brightness of their lights and the sensitivity of their neighbors to light spillage. It may last as long as five years before needing replacement, depending on your environment and how bright your neighbor’s lights are, but this option will cost you between $5 and $10 per set of solar path lights, making it the least expensive option on the list.
Step 7: Using Public Actions/Laws
Calling the city’s code enforcement office and informing them that someone has filed a complaint about the excessive amount of light coming in through the neighbor’s window(s) at night is another option if your private efforts fail to solve the problem.
To accomplish this, they will drive by your house during the day, peer into your bedroom(s), and then go to your neighbor’s house to warn them that they are violating local lighting ordinances/laws by leaving too much light on in their bedroom(s) at night.This is because having too much light on at night is an annoyance to neighbors and can also be dangerous to would-be intruders.
How effectively this works will depend on how concerned your neighbors are about their own privacy and how far they are willing to go to prevent you from complaining (by, for example, moving the lights or installing blackout shutters or blinds to prevent light from beaming into your bedroom) (s). If they are given a timely warning and make the necessary corrections, etc., the cost to you will be less.
Step 8: Moving Houses
Since there is no other structure between your two homes, it may be time to look elsewhere if you’re having problems with excessive glare from the sun or street lights. The extent to which this is feasible for you will be determined by factors such as how close you intend to be to your neighbors, how far they are away, and so on.
Some areas have more light pollution than others, so the cost will vary depending on where you plan to move and how much it will cost to obtain a new home to live in. If you want to keep your neighbors in the dark, follow these easy steps.
What Is Considered Nuisance Lighting
Inappropriate lighting, or lighting that is too bright relative to its surroundings, is considered nuisance lighting by the American Medical Association. Your neighbors’ houses, the lights outside your own, and the streetlights are all potential sources. The health effects of overexposure to light have been connected to:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Troubles Sleeping
- Emotional and mental breakdowns
To ensure your house is safe, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends a quick and easy test. A black fabric (like a pillowcase) and a bright alarm clock are the first things you’ll need. Then, enter the room where you want to install a light blocker. Make sure that all lights, both tabletop and ceiling-mounted, are turned off.
Then, test whether or not you can see the time clearly enough by placing the clock under the dark material (usually about 10 feet away). If not, you may need to address the issue of excess lighting in that section of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Do if My Neighbors Light Is Too Bright?
To a large extent, you have no recourse if the light from a neighbor’s property bothers you. No legal action can be taken against your neighbors for violating the municipal code, which typically merely regulates the type and wattage of bulbs that can be installed on a property. A complaint is more likely to lead to a fight between the two sides than a real change.
You should talk to your neighbor about your concerns if you find the amount of light coming from their house to be excessive or otherwise unsettling. It’s important to keep in mind that state rules on this issue vary greatly; while some jurisdictions allow citizens to file lawsuits against those who violate local zoning ordinances, others have much more lax guidelines.
Can Neighbours Complain About Outside Lights?
In most cases, neighbors do not have the legal right to object to another person’s outdoor lighting unless the light is directly impacting their own property. Take the case of a neighbor whose outdoor light shines into your window and makes it hard to see inside. In this scenario, you may have a legal issue on your hands. As an alternative to complaining to your neighbor, you could try installing brighter lights or simply turning off the lights.
Why Do My Neighbors Have Blue Lights?
To increase their nighttime visibility, law enforcement and military personnel frequently employ the use of blue lights. They can also go through most materials, making them a handy tool for surveillance purposes. Unfortunately, there are some unfavorable side effects of blue light exposure as well. It might lead to fatigue, headaches, and even trouble sleeping.
Even though blue lights are usually associated with police and the military, they can also be seen at night hanging from streetlights and other public utilities in cities.
Conclusion
There are some options if light pollution is making it difficult for you to fall asleep. To begin with, you can attempt to block the light by putting up blackout curtains or shades. In addition, you can use an eye mask to shield your eyes from the light or put up window film to prevent glare.
If none of these options work, you may want to discuss ways in which your neighbors and you can reduce the amount of light that shines into your windows after dark. It’s possible for us to all have more restful nights and more fruitful days if we work together. This guide about how to block neighbors’ lights was written with your convenience in mind.
