Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops running nonstop trying to cool rooms with sun-blasted windows. That’s the first thing you’ll notice—lower energy bills, sometimes 20-30% lower depending on your home’s orientation and window exposure.
Your patio furniture stops fading and cracking. Outdoor roller shades block up to 95% of UV rays, which means your cushions, tables, and outdoor rugs last years longer. You’re not replacing expensive patio sets every few seasons because the Texas sun cooked them.
You actually use your outdoor space during summer. Right now, your back patio probably sits empty from June through September because it’s too hot to enjoy. Outdoor shade blinds drop the temperature enough that you can grill, eat dinner outside, or let the kids play without everyone melting. You get your yard back.
We’ve spent ten years figuring out what works in this climate. We’re not learning on your house—we already know which materials hold up against Garland’s temperature swings, which motors last, and which installations fail when the wind picks up.
We’re a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, so we understand how exterior roller shades fit into your home’s bigger picture. We’ve worked on enough homes in Arbor Creek and surrounding Garland neighborhoods to know what homeowners here deal with: afternoon sun that turns west-facing patios into ovens, privacy concerns with homes built close together, and the need for solutions that don’t require constant maintenance.
We use Texas-made products when possible because they’re built for this environment. Our installation teams have done this enough times that they spot potential issues before they become problems.
You call or fill out a form, and we schedule a time to come look at your space. We measure the areas you want covered—patios, pergolas, windows, whatever needs shade. We talk about what you’re trying to accomplish: block heat, add privacy, protect furniture, or all of the above.
We show you material options and explain the differences. Some fabrics block more light, some let you see through while still cutting heat, some are built specifically for high-wind areas. We talk about manual vs motorized operation and whether smart home integration makes sense for your setup.
Once you pick what you want, we order custom exterior roller shades built to your exact measurements. Most orders take a couple weeks to come in. Then we schedule installation, which usually takes a few hours depending on how many shades you’re putting up.
We mount the hardware, hang the shades, test everything to make sure it operates smoothly, and show you how to use them. If they’re motorized, we program the controls and make sure you’re comfortable operating them. Then we clean up and you’re done.
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You get custom-built outdoor roller shades sized for your specific openings. We handle spans up to 25 feet wide, which matters if you’ve got a large covered patio or want to shade multiple windows with one continuous shade. Off-the-shelf options don’t fit most outdoor spaces correctly.
You get weather-resistant materials designed for Central Texas conditions. That means fabrics that won’t break down under constant UV exposure, hardware that doesn’t corrode in humidity, and motors (if you go motorized) that are sealed against dust and temperature extremes.
You get professional installation with a team that’s done this hundreds of times in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We know how to mount hardware into different surfaces—brick, stucco, wood, metal—and we know how to make sure shades operate smoothly even when they’re covering large areas.
Arbor Creek homes often have covered patios or outdoor living areas that face west or southwest, which means they take the worst of the afternoon sun. Exterior window blinds installed on those exposures make the biggest difference. You’re blocking heat before it hits your windows or heats up your outdoor space, which is way more effective than trying to cool things down after the fact.
Most customers see temperature drops between 15-20 degrees in shaded areas compared to full sun exposure. The exact number depends on a few factors: what direction your patio faces, what time of day you’re measuring, and how much airflow you have.
West and southwest-facing patios in Arbor Creek get hit hardest by afternoon sun, especially in summer when the sun is high and intense from about 2 PM until sunset. If your patio is sitting at 110-115 degrees in full sun during July, outdoor shade blinds can bring that down to 90-95 degrees. Still warm, but the difference between unbearable and usable.
The shade also makes surfaces cooler to touch. Your patio furniture, grill handles, and even the concrete or decking underfoot won’t be scorching hot. That matters when you’ve got kids or pets using the space.
Quality exterior roller shades are built to handle typical Texas weather, including the strong winds we get during spring and fall storms. Most systems we install are rated for sustained winds of 30-40 mph, with some heavy-duty options rated higher.
That said, you should retract your shades when severe weather is coming. If the forecast calls for storms with 50+ mph winds, bring the shades up. It takes seconds with motorized systems, maybe a minute or two with manual cranks. Leaving them down in extreme conditions risks damage to the fabric or hardware.
The bigger durability concern in North Texas isn’t usually wind—it’s UV exposure and temperature swings. Cheap materials break down fast here. We use fabrics and components designed for constant sun exposure and the freeze-thaw cycles we get in winter. A properly installed exterior shade system should last 10-15 years with basic maintenance.
Motorized makes sense if you’re covering large areas, installing multiple shades, or if you want smart home integration. Manual crank systems work fine for smaller shades, but they get annoying fast when you’re operating big outdoor patio blinds every day.
The practical difference: motorized shades go up and down with a button press or phone app. You can set schedules so they automatically lower during peak sun hours and raise in the evening. If you’ve got shades on multiple windows or a large patio, you can control everything at once instead of cranking each one individually.
Manual systems cost less upfront and have fewer parts that can fail. But most customers who go manual on large shades end up wishing they’d spent the extra money on motors. When it’s 105 degrees outside and you need to crank down a 20-foot shade, you’ll understand why. For Arbor Creek homes with big covered patios or multiple outdoor areas, motorized usually makes more sense.
Most outdoor roller shade projects in Arbor Creek run between $2,500-$6,000 depending on how many shades you’re installing, how big they are, and whether you choose manual or motorized operation. A single large patio shade might cost $1,200-$2,500 installed. Multiple window shades or a whole outdoor living area setup costs more.
Motorized systems add roughly $300-$600 per shade compared to manual, but that includes the motor, controls, and programming. Smart home integration (connecting to Alexa, Google Home, or your home automation system) might add another $100-$200 depending on the setup.
The cost breaks down to materials, custom fabrication, and professional installation. You’re paying for shades built specifically for your openings, not generic sizes that kind of fit. You’re also paying for installation experience—proper mounting, smooth operation, and systems that won’t fail in six months. Cheaper options exist, but they usually mean lower-quality materials that won’t last in Texas heat or DIY installation that often goes wrong on large outdoor shades.
Yes, especially if you’re shading west or south-facing windows. Blocking sun before it hits your windows is significantly more effective than trying to block it with interior blinds after the heat is already inside. Studies show exterior shading can reduce cooling costs by 20-30% for affected rooms.
Here’s why it works: when sun hits your windows, the glass heats up and radiates that heat into your home. Interior blinds help, but the heat is already inside. Exterior roller shades stop the sun before it reaches the glass, so your windows stay cooler and your AC doesn’t work as hard.
The savings are most noticeable in summer months when your AC runs constantly. If your electric bill jumps to $300-$400 during July and August, you might see it drop to $240-$300 with properly installed outdoor shade blinds on your worst sun exposures. The payback period is usually 3-5 years, then you’re saving money every summer after that. For Arbor Creek homes with large windows or glass doors facing west, the difference is significant.
Not much. You should rinse them off a few times a year to remove dust, pollen, and dirt. Use a garden hose on a gentle setting or a soft brush with mild soap and water. Don’t pressure wash them—too much force can damage the fabric or seams.
Check the hardware occasionally to make sure mounting brackets are still tight and nothing’s come loose. If you have motorized shades, the motors are sealed and don’t need maintenance, but you should test them periodically to make sure they’re operating smoothly.
Retract your shades during severe weather and during winter if you’re not using them. Keeping them rolled up when not in use extends their life. The fabric lasts longer when it’s not constantly exposed to sun and weather, and retracting them prevents unnecessary wear on the operating mechanism. Most exterior roller shades need zero repairs for years if you follow basic care guidelines. When something does eventually wear out—usually the fabric after 10-15 years—we can replace just the fabric without replacing the entire system.
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