Replacing solar film on a two-storey arched foyer window
This Douglasdale home has a large arched transom window above the front entry — a two-storey Palladian-style opening that pours afternoon sun into the foyer and stairwell. The solar film on it had aged out: hazing and edge lift meant the view was clouding while the heat and UV protection faded. The brief was a replacement on difficult-access glass: strip the old film cleanly, prep every grid pane back to fresh glass, and install new clear solar-control film — all from a scaffold built over the entry.
- Service
- Solar window film replacement
- Location
- Douglasdale, SE Calgary
- Material
- Clear solar-control window film
- Scope
- Two-storey arched foyer window, scaffold access
Project challenge
Height and geometry. The window sits above the front door, so every pane — including the curved arch segments — needed safe working access, controlled film removal without adhesive residue falling into the entry, and precise trimming around the radial grid bars. Old film that has baked in Calgary sun for years does not peel cleanly; it comes off in stages with the right solvents and patience.
Installed solution
We built scaffold access over the entry, stripped the failed film pane by pane, cleaned the glass back to bare, and installed new clear solar-control film matched to the homeowner’s goals: cut heat and UV without darkening the foyer. The arch segments were hand-templated so the film follows the curve without gaps or overlap lines.
From aged film to clear glass
Glass review
Aged film assessed pane by pane; removal method chosen to protect seals and avoid residue on the grid bars and frames.
Installation focus
Scaffold work over the entry, hand-templated arch segments, and clean edge lines on every grid pane.
Result
Heat and UV control restored with clear film — the foyer keeps its daylight and the view stays crisp.
When solar film is due for replacement
Solar film does not last forever. Bubbling, hazing, purple tint shift, or edges lifting from the glass are the usual signs it has aged out. Replacement is a two-step job — controlled removal, then a fresh install — and pricing reflects both. High or awkward glass like foyer arches adds access planning: send photos of the window from inside and out, and we will confirm whether ladder or scaffold access applies before quoting.
Related services
Have a high or arched window that needs film?
Send a few photos of the glass and your goals — we will review access, film options, and give you a planning range before any site visit.