Window Film in Lincoln Park, Chicago

Privacy Window Film for Lincoln Park Greystone Bays

The classic Lincoln Park greystone has a raised first floor and a big front bay a few steps above the sidewalk. That puts the living room roughly at the eye level of anyone walking by, and on a block near the park or the zoo, a lot of people walk by. Owners want daylight in that room without feeling like they are on display.

Most owners end up frosting the bottom half or two-thirds of the bay. The top stays clear for sky and tree views, and the bottom blocks the line of sight from the street. For garden units below grade, where the window sits near ankle height, a full frosted pane is often the simplest choice.

One-way or reflective films are another option, but they only work while it is brighter outside than in. At night with the lamps on, the effect reverses, so we usually pair them with shades or steer people toward frosted film instead. For a room you mostly use in daylight hours, though, a light reflective film can be a reasonable choice.

UV Film for Hardwood Floors in Lincoln Park Homes

Restored oak floors, built-in cabinets and older furniture are common in Lincoln Park houses, and they all show sun damage. You see it when a rug is moved and the wood underneath is a different color. Clear UV window film blocks nearly all ultraviolet light and slows that change, and it is hard to spot on the glass.

South-facing rooms, rear additions with large windows, and top-floor rooms with skylights or dormers usually need it most. We can film just those windows rather than the whole house. Kitchens with a big rear window over the sink are another frequent request, since cabinets and countertops near that glass take sun all afternoon.

Window Tinting for Two-Flats and Rental Units in Lincoln Park

Plenty of Lincoln Park owners live in one unit of a two-flat or three-flat and rent the others, including to DePaul students and young professionals. Tenants tend to ask for privacy in bedrooms and baths, and for relief in the top-floor unit, which can get hot under the roof in July.

Heat control film on the sunniest windows of that top unit helps, alongside attic insulation and ventilation. For bedrooms and baths, frosted film is inexpensive and holds up to cleaning, so it works well in rentals where windows get less careful treatment. If a pane gets scratched between tenants, that single piece can be replaced without redoing the room.

• Frosted film for street-facing bedrooms and baths
• Heat control film for hot top-floor units
• Clear UV film for floors and built-ins
• Low-e film for older single-pane sashes

Storefront Window Film on Armitage, Halsted and Clark

The shops along Armitage and Halsted are mostly in older two- and three-story brick buildings with the store on the ground floor. Boutiques, fitness studios and cafes all use those front windows differently. A boutique wants UV protection for the display. A fitness studio wants frosted film so members are not on view from the street. A cafe wants less afternoon glare across its tables.

Parts of Lincoln Park are in Chicago landmark districts, so for buildings that are designated, we keep to clear or frosted interior films that do not change the facade much and can be removed later. That approach also keeps the shops on these blocks looking like the century-old storefronts they are.