How do I use shims on plexiglass?

My house has a plexiglass window in my living room that lets a lot of heat in and is too bright. Living in AZ we do not need the extra heat indoors!! I want to cover it with shims that I can stain to match my decor. Can this be done and if so how do I attach them to the plexiglass. The measurements are 14" x 80". Anxious to get started.

Thank you, Helen Zaiger


  7 answers
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jun 20, 2020

    Had you thought about using a reflective film? Or replacing the window with a more energy efficient one? I would think plexiglass wouldn't be a good option for most climates. If you cover it, you will be able to see the adhesive on the outside and most glues would not hold up with the sun beating down on it. Good luck and stay safe!

  • Peggy L Burnette Peggy L Burnette on Jun 21, 2020

    Hi Helen, I hope you want to use wooden shims. Hope this will help you. How do you glue plexiglass to wood?

    The glue acrylic to wood, use an epoxy as it does not require a chemical reaction to bond the materials together. Give the epoxy a rough surface to hold on to by using a medium grit sandpaper on the wood.


    Using Acrylic with Other Materials - Cut Plastic Sheeting

    www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk › blog › uncategorized › us...


  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jun 21, 2020

    The wood shims would be more of a permanent solution and visible from the outside, along with the adhesive. What you could try is taking a piece of plexiglass and glue or tape the shims to it and put it up to your window to see if this is the effect you want. A dry run of your project, without fully committing.

    A replacement window would be a better option, especially for energy efficiency. There are many reflective window treatments that would work for you. Also there are thermal drapes, we got ours at Walmart and they do an outstanding job.

    For a brief period we had plexiglass over our leaky windows (could not afford replacements) and it did not hold up very well at all. The plexiglass was attached by magnetic strips along the outside of the window frames inside the house. The sun heated the air between the actual window and the plexiglass, the magnetic bond gave way and the plexiglass buckled. It would not stay in place. no matter what we did. The company came out and attempted to fix it, it was good in theory, but in reality it was a disaster. We ended up settling out of court. The windows were finally replaced with energy efficient ones, using the money from the failed plexiglass.

    Shop around and get free estimates of the window products out there. Best to you.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jun 21, 2020

    HELLO THERE,

    YOU COULD USE OR HAVE FIXED FOR YOU A FILM TO DEFLECT THE HEAT, INSTEAD!

  • You get so many films to put on the windows to help you block the heat

  • Helen Katzdorn-Zaiger Helen Katzdorn-Zaiger on Jun 21, 2020

    Hi you all and thank you, I needed to be more specific. I'm going to put the shims on both sides of the plexiglass, interior and exterior. Do you think this will work.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Jun 21, 2020

    What about closing drapes over the window in the daytime?