Home window tint in Chicago

The rooms that need it most

Most homes don't need every window filmed. The usual problems are a few specific rooms: a living room that bakes every afternoon, a sunroom you can't sit in from June to August, a bedroom that's bright at 6 a.m., or hardwood that has faded in a stripe next to the patio door.

• West- and south-facing windows: the most heat and glare, and the most fading.
• Sunrooms and large picture windows: more glass means more heat coming in.
• Home offices and TV rooms: glare on screens.
• Bathrooms, front doors and street-level windows: privacy without blinds.

Heat, glare and UV

Solar control film blocks a large share of the sun's heat and glare at the glass, before it reaches the room. Most quality films also block over 99% of UV, which protects floors, rugs, furniture and artwork from fading. You can pick a film that's close to clear if you don't want the windows to look tinted from outside.

Privacy options

Reflective films give daytime privacy: you see out, people outside see a reflection. At night, with lights on inside, that flips. For privacy at all hours, frosted and decorative films give an etched-glass look that still lets light through. They're common on bathroom windows, front door glass and sidelights.

Safety film for glass doors

Safety film is a thicker clear film that holds glass together if it breaks. It's a good fit for sliding doors, large ground-floor windows and glass near play areas.

What to expect

We come out to measure, check your glass type, and show you samples on your own windows. Most homes are installed in a day. The film takes a few weeks to fully cure; light haze or small water spots in the first days are normal and clear up on their own. Don't clean the inside of the glass for the first few weeks.