A massive snowstorm dumped up to 2 feet of snow across much of the United States this past weekend, topping it off with a layer of freezing rain that left many stuck in their homes and out of their businesses for several days. Window Film magazine checked in with some film companies to see how they fared.

Staying Strong in the Keystone State

Some Pennsylvania cities got 20 inches of snow or more, but Scott Westfield, Urban Werk’s director of marketing and social media, says the Lancaster-based business was ready.

“We planned ahead to take the full day off on Monday, and then scheduled jobs around the storm,” says Westfield. “It still affects business, though, because fewer people called asking for our services during those days.”

The snow gave the Urban Werks staff an opportunity to have some creative fun while showing off their work. Pictured here are the film manager’s car (left) and the company owner’s car, affectionately known as the “Pink Pig.” Photos: Urban Werks

Urban Werks offers automotive, office and residential tint, plus paint protection film (PPF), windshield protection film, wraps and ceramic coatings. It also offers exotic vehicle storage services.

“Storing vehicles gives us plenty of business in the winter, especially during storms like this,” says Westfield. “People want to keep their cars out of the elements.”

Winter Woes in the Old Dominion

In central Virginia, Sterling Healan completely rearranged his week due to the weather.

“I’ve had to reschedule pretty much everything from Monday through Thursday,” says the owner of Healan Window Films, which has offices in Charlottesville and Lynchburg, Virginia. “Next week is already booked, so I’ve had to move a lot of this week’s jobs into February.”

The company does both residential and commercial film. With average temperatures in the 20s, Healan says installations would be a bad idea.

“Most exterior installations are a no-go right now,” he says. “Plus, a lot of customers don’t have their parking lots or driveways shoveled yet, so I can’t get to them.”

Though the parking lot was clear, Sterling Healan says the snow made it hard to open the door at this job.

Healan says he’s grateful he could do one job today.

“The customer cleared their parking lot, and the glass I was working on faced south,” he says. “The sun had warmed it up enough that it was safe to install.”

It’s business as usual for Richmond, Virginia-based River City Window Film, with one exception.

“I had a big job that was all single-pane glass that I had to reschedule,” says owner Mike Klotz. “It was way too cold; the film wouldn’t have stuck properly.”

Because River City offers a variety of commercial and residential film, Klotz says he’s stayed busy with indoor work.

“My work truck has four-wheel drive, so I was able to get to jobs without a problem,” he says.

Mike Klotz says River City Window Film’s truck had no problem making it through the snow.

Pushing Through in New York

Snow isn’t a big deal for Rainbow Glass Tinting in Kenmore, New York.

“We’re in the suburbs of Buffalo, so they have the area plowed out pretty quickly,” says owner Paul Bullard.

The cold, on the other hand, slows things down for the business, which offers a variety of tinting services, PPF and ceramic coating.

“When we’re working on cars, we have to take extra time to get the cars to warm and let the ice melt off before installing film,” Bullard says. “Normally, we tell customers the job will take an hour or an hour and a half. Now, we have to tell them five to six hours.”

Like shops in other states, Bullard says Rainbow Glass Tinting gets fewer customer calls during bad winter weather.

“We also offer remote start installation, which helps give us steady work this time of year,” he says.