Historic Oakwood Window Film in Raleigh

Interior Window Film for Oakwood Historic District Houses

Oakwood's houses date mostly from the decades after the Civil War into the early 1900s: Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire and later Craftsman houses, many restored with great care. The windows are usually tall double-hung wood sash, sometimes with original glass that has the slight ripple of older manufacturing. Owners in Oakwood rarely want anything that changes how those windows look from the street.

Interior window film fits that goal. It goes on the inside surface of the glass, leaves the sash, frame and exterior untouched, and in clear form is very hard to see from the sidewalk. Oakwood is a local historic district, so exterior changes go through the Raleigh Historic Development Commission. Interior film is generally treated as a minor matter, but we suggest a quick call to preservation staff if you are unsure, and we can provide product information for them.

Before filming old glass we check every pane for cracks, loose putty and paint lapped onto the glass. Film needs a sound, clean surface, and it is not a substitute for glazing repair.

UV Window Film for Oakwood Antiques, Floors and Art

A lot of Oakwood houses are furnished to match their age, with heart pine floors, antique furniture, family portraits and textiles. Tall windows and high ceilings let in a lot of light, and over years the ultraviolet part of that light fades wood finishes, fabrics and works on paper.

Clear UV film blocks nearly all ultraviolet while passing almost all visible light, so rooms look the same and colors read true. For parlors and dining rooms with valuable pieces opposite a sunny window, we sometimes add a light heat film on that glass for extra protection.

• Clear UV film for original and wavy glass
• Low-E film for drafty single-pane sash
• Decorative film for transoms and door glass
• Pane-by-pane inspection before installation

Low-E Film for Drafty Single-Pane Sash in Oakwood

Original wood windows in good repair are worth keeping, but single-pane glass loses heat on cold winter nights and gains heat on summer afternoons. Low-E film improves both, reflecting room heat back inside in January and reducing solar heat in July, without replacing the sash.

Low-E film works best combined with good weatherstripping and, where the owner wants them, interior or exterior storm windows. On single-pane glass in humid rooms, we mention that the glass can run a bit colder in winter, which can increase condensation in kitchens and bathrooms without good ventilation.

Window Film for Blount Street Offices and Inns

Along the western edge of the neighborhood, Blount and Person Streets hold historic houses converted to offices, state agency use, law practices and bed-and-breakfasts. Those buildings have the same old windows as the houses, with the added needs of a workplace: glare on screens, privacy for street-facing offices and UV protection for furnishings in public rooms.

Clear and light films address those needs without changing the historic look. For offices on the street side, frosted or decorative film on the lower sash adds privacy while the upper sash stays clear.