Window Tinting in the Outer Sunset, San Francisco

Window Film for Outer Sunset Rowhouse Picture Windows

Most of the Outer Sunset was built out in the 1930s and 1940s, much of it by Henry Doelger and other builders putting up long rows of stucco houses with a garage at street level and the living room above. The signature feature is a large front picture window, sometimes framed by smaller side lights, looking straight out at the avenue and the houses across it.

Because the avenues run north to south, those front windows face either east or west. West-facing fronts get the afternoon sun on clear days, low and bright off the ocean, and east-facing fronts get it in the morning. On the many gray days, the bigger concern is that a lit living room is fully visible to the street after dark. A frosted or gradient band across the lower part of the picture window solves the privacy issue without curtains, and it leaves the upper glass open for light, which these rooms need on foggy days.

Low-E Window Film for the Outer Sunset Fog Belt

This is one of the foggiest parts of San Francisco. Summer days can stay gray and cool from morning to night, with wind off the ocean pushing the chill into houses that were built with single panes and modest heating. Large picture windows lose a lot of warmth that way.

A low-E layer turns the warmth of the room back on itself instead of letting it leak out through the pane, which makes the area near a big window more comfortable and takes some load off the heater. It is not as effective as new double-pane windows, but it costs a fraction as much and goes on in a day. For houses that already have double panes, we check the glass type and choose a compatible film.

• Low-E film on single-pane picture windows
• Frosted bands for street-facing living rooms
• Clear UV film for west-facing rooms
• Interior-only installs to avoid salt exposure

UV Film for Outer Sunset Homes, Even Under Fog

Fog lowers the heat, but it does not stop ultraviolet light. A good share of UV gets through cloud cover, which is why people near the beach still get sunburned on gray days. Floors, rugs and furniture near a west-facing window fade steadily over the years, even if the room never feels sunny.

Clear UV film blocks nearly all of that ultraviolet and is very hard to see on the glass. It pairs well with low-E film, and some low-E products include UV blocking, so one film can handle both. Some homeowners also choose a light heat control film for the west-facing front, which helps on the clear, bright fall days.

Salt Air, Sand and Window Film Near Ocean Beach

The blocks closest to the Great Highway take the most weather. Wind carries salt spray and fine sand that pits and hazes exterior surfaces over time. For that reason we install film on the inside of the glass for homes near the beach. Interior film is protected from weather and lasts much longer than anything on the exterior.

Salt residue on the outside of the glass is unrelated to the film and still needs regular rinsing. Inside, cleaning filmed glass is simple: a soft cloth and a mild cleaner once the film has cured. We also wipe down the frames before installing, since fine sand in the tracks can get trapped under the film edge.

Storefront Window Film on Judah, Noriega and Taraval Streets

The Outer Sunset's shops cluster along Judah, Noriega, Irving and Taraval: cafes, bakeries, surf shops, restaurants and service businesses. On days when the fog clears, south-facing storefronts get strong light and displays fade. Clear UV film handles that, and frosted or decorative film covers back-office and restroom windows. Near the beach, interior installation keeps the film away from sand and salt.

Many of these businesses have apartments above them, and the residents upstairs face the same choices as homeowners on the avenues: low-E film for cold evenings, frosted film on street-facing bedrooms and UV film for the bright days. Owners of mixed-use buildings can treat the storefront and the flats in one visit.