Window Film in Greenwich Village, Manhattan

Window Film for Greenwich Village Townhouses

The Village is full of Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses from the first half of the 1800s, many with their original proportions and some with old glass still in the sash. Owners here put a lot of effort into keeping those windows. Film has an advantage over replacement in that respect: it adds UV, heat or privacy performance without touching the frame, the putty or the muntins.

Old glass needs more care than new. It can be thin, slightly wavy, or carry small chips along the edges, and those panes do not like extra heat. We favor clear UV films and light films with low solar absorption for original sash, and we look at each pane before quoting. If a particular window is too fragile to film, we say so.

Privacy Window Film for Garden and Parlor Floors in the Village

West of Sixth Avenue the street grid breaks down, and blocks like Bedford, Grove, Perry and Charles are narrow, with houses facing each other at close range. Garden-level rooms sit a few steps below the sidewalk, which puts passersby at eye level with the kitchen or the bed. Parlor floors face the street at stoop height, where people pause on the way past.

Frosted or etched-look film on the lower sash is the common solution for garden floors. It lets light in and stops the casual glance. Parlor windows often get a lighter treatment: a gradient that screens the lower panes and stays clear at the top. Rear windows overlooking shared gardens and the backs of other houses get frosted film in bathrooms and dressing rooms.

• Garden floors: frosted lower sash for street-level privacy
• Parlor floors: gradient film, clear at the top
• Rear rooms: frosted bathroom glass facing neighboring houses
• Doors with glass panels: privacy film plus optional security film

Greenwich Village Historic District Rules for Window Film

The Greenwich Village Historic District, designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1969, covers much of the neighborhood, and several smaller districts and extensions surround it. LPC reviews changes that affect the look of a building from the street, and windows are one of the things it watches most closely.

Film applied to the inside of the glass is not a change to the window itself, and a clear, low-reflectance product keeps the facade looking as it does. Frosted or mirrored film on a street-facing window does change its appearance, so we suggest checking with LPC staff before using those on the front. Rear windows not visible from a public street are generally less of a concern, though co-op and condo rules still apply.

Window Tinting for Village Shops and Restaurants on Bleecker Street

Bleecker, Hudson and Christopher Streets are lined with small shops, cafes and restaurants in the ground floors of old buildings. Their windows are modest in size and often the only daylight in the room. For those, clear UV film protects displayed goods and a light solar film takes the glare off the counter without making the shop look dark.

Restaurants with sidewalk-facing tables use frosted bands at seated eye level to give diners some privacy from the street. Offices for therapists, doctors and small studios in the area use the same approach. We work before opening or after close.