Window Film in Harlem, Manhattan

Security Window Film for Harlem Garden-Level Windows

In a Harlem brownstone, the garden floor sits partly below the sidewalk behind an areaway, and its windows are the easiest way into the house. Many already have iron grilles. Security film adds a second layer: a thick clear film bonded to the glass that holds the pane together if it is struck, so breaking through takes longer and makes more noise.

It does not replace grilles or locks, and we do not pretend it does. What it does well is stop the glass from falling out in one go, which buys time and discourages a quick attempt. Paired with a frosted finish, the same window also gets daytime privacy from people passing at street level.

Window Film for Harlem Brownstones in Historic Districts

Large parts of Harlem are landmarked, including Mount Morris Park, the St. Nicholas Historic District that contains Strivers' Row, and the Hamilton Heights districts. Owners who have restored their facades have often spent years getting the windows right, and they do not want a film that makes the glass look tinted from across the street.

Clear and low-reflectance films keep the windows looking as they did, which keeps most installs simple from a landmarks point of view. Parlor floors with tall front windows usually get clear UV film to protect floors, plasterwork and furniture. If you are thinking about frosted, decorative or mirrored film on a street-facing window in a historic district, check with LPC first; we can supply the product information.

Heat Control Window Tinting for Top Floors and Rear Rooms in Harlem

Harlem's side streets mostly run east to west, so on one side of a block the rear facades face south over the backyards and take full sun all day. Top floors under a flat roof, often with a skylight over the stairs, heat up through July and August. Many of these houses rely on window units.

Heat control film on the south-facing rear windows and the stair skylight cuts the solar heat that builds up in those rooms. In winter, the same rooms benefit from sun, so for owners who want to keep winter warmth we suggest a film with moderate heat rejection, or low-E film that also holds heat inside at night.

• South-facing rear windows: solar heat control film
• Stair and bathroom skylights: heat and glare film
• Bedrooms on the top floor: lighter film to keep winter sun
• Older single-pane windows: low-E film for cold nights

Storefront and Anti-Graffiti Window Film on 125th Street

125th Street is one of the busiest shopping streets in the city, with heavy foot traffic from the subway and Metro-North stations. Shop glass there gets tagged and scratched, and displays on the sunny side fade. Anti-graffiti film is a clear layer that takes the scratches and tags, and gets replaced section by section, leaving the glass beneath untouched.

Stores along Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Malcolm X Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard use UV and solar films to protect merchandise, and security film to slow down smash-and-grab attempts. We install outside business hours.

Window Film for Newer Harlem Condos and Apartment Buildings

Many newer mid-rise buildings in Harlem have large windows and balcony doors with insulated glass. Residents want heat and glare control on the sunny side and privacy where a neighboring building is close. We check the glass type and recommend compatible films, and handle the management approval paperwork condo boards typically ask for.