Society Hill Window Film for Old Rowhomes and Towers

Window Film on Old Glass in Society Hill Rowhomes

The brick rowhomes on Spruce, Pine, Delancey and the small courts between them date from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and many were restored in the decades after World War II. Some still have early sashes with old glass that has a slight wave to it. That glass is irreplaceable to most owners, and it is also more fragile than modern float glass.

We look at each pane before quoting. Darker and more absorptive films raise the temperature of the glass in sun, and old or flawed panes do not tolerate that well. For original glass we stay with clear, low-absorption UV films, and on panes with visible cracks or loose glazing we will tell you to leave them alone. On houses where the sashes were replaced with modern units, the full range of films is open. Owners often treat the newer rear windows and additions with heat control film and leave the front windows with clear UV film only.

Society Hill Historic District and Window Film

Society Hill is a designated historic district, and the Philadelphia Historical Commission reviews exterior changes to buildings there. Clear interior film does not change the look of a facade, which is why it is the default recommendation for front windows on these blocks. Mirrored, colored or dark films can read as an exterior change and are not a good idea without checking first.

If you plan anything beyond clear film on a street-facing window, contact the Historical Commission before installation. We can provide the film's visible light and reflectance figures from the manufacturer's data sheet so the conversation is specific. That way the decision rests on published numbers rather than a small sample held up to the light in a hallway.

Heat and Glare Film for Society Hill Towers Condos

The three Society Hill Towers designed by I.M. Pei rise above the neighborhood near the Delaware River, with large window walls on every unit. Residents facing east look out at the river and New Jersey and get strong morning sun along with glare reflecting off the water. Units facing west look over the rooftops toward Center City and take afternoon sun instead.

Heat control and glare reduction film are the most common requests in the towers. A neutral film keeps the view sharp and reduces the heat that builds along the glass. Because the window walls define the buildings' appearance, building management sets rules on which films residents can use, and we quote within those rules.

• Glare film for east-facing river views
• Heat control film for west-facing units
• Privacy film for bathrooms and bedrooms
• UV film to protect floors and furniture

UV Window Film for Society Hill Interiors and Collections

Many Society Hill homes are furnished with period pieces, old rugs, family portraits and book collections. A sunny front room on the south side of Pine Street will fade all of those over the years. Clear UV film is the least intrusive way to slow that down, since it blocks nearly all ultraviolet light without tinting the glass.

The same film helps the small shops and restaurants around Headhouse Square and the Shambles, where displays sit right against the glass and owners want the storefront to look unchanged. Bookshops and antique dealers in those old storefronts have the most to lose from a sunny window, and they are often the first to ask.