Window Film in Georgetown, Washington DC

Storefront Window Film on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue

M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are among the region's best-known shopping streets, lined with boutiques, national retailers, galleries and restaurants in two- and three-story historic buildings. Shops on the north side of M Street face south and take sun on their display windows for most of the day. Wisconsin Avenue runs roughly north-south, so its storefronts catch morning or afternoon sun depending on which side they are on.

Merchants come to us for fading and heat. Clothing, home goods and art in a sunny window lose color fast, and a small shop with a large display window can get uncomfortably warm on a summer afternoon. Two products cover it: a clear UV film for the merchandise and a pale solar film for the heat, and neither darkens the glass, which is what Georgetown's reviewers expect of a storefront. For logos and graphics, sign rules apply, so we check before cutting anything.

Window Film for Georgetown Waterfront Offices

Below M Street, the waterfront holds office buildings, hotels and condos along K Street, Water Street and the Washington Harbour complex, facing the Potomac and Georgetown Waterfront Park. Offices there get two kinds of light: direct sun from the south and west, and glare reflected off the river. Both wash out screens and heat perimeter offices.

A neutral, low-reflectance solar film cuts heat and glare while keeping the river view clear. In multi-tenant buildings we work through management for approval and install after hours. Conference rooms on these floors often get frosted bands too, since glass-fronted meeting rooms are common in renovated waterfront suites.

Old Georgetown Act Review and Window Film

Georgetown is a historic district under the Old Georgetown Act, and exterior changes visible from public space are reviewed by the Old Georgetown Board under the Commission of Fine Arts. The board pays close attention to windows, so the guiding principle for film is simple: it should not change how the building looks from the street.

Interior film that reads as clear glass meets that test in most cases. Mirror, colored or dark films on street-facing windows are likely to raise questions. When a project is borderline, such as a strong solar film on a large front window, we suggest checking with the Commission of Fine Arts staff before installation and provide the product data they ask for.

UV and Heat Control Film for Georgetown Rowhouses

Georgetown's residential streets are lined with Federal-style brick houses, frame cottages, Victorian rowhouses and larger freestanding homes on the hill toward Georgetown University and the upper blocks. Many have original or very old glass in multi-light sashes. Inside are hardwood floors, antique furniture, rugs and art that owners want to protect.

Clear UV film is the most common residential request here. It filters most of the ultraviolet behind fading and is very hard to see. Top-floor bedrooms and rear rooms facing south toward the river get heat control film, and garden-level rooms near the sidewalk get privacy or security film.

• Clear UV film for parlors with antiques and art
• Heat control film for top floors and south-facing rear rooms
• Privacy film for garden-level rooms near the sidewalk
• Security film for rear doors and lower windows