Hear from Our Customers
You stop avoiding your own patio. That’s the short version.
The longer version: your outdoor space becomes usable during the 100+ days of triple-digit heat we get here. Your furniture stops fading every season. Your energy bill drops because your AC isn’t fighting the sun through west-facing windows all afternoon. And when you’re sitting outside at 7 PM, you’re not still sweating from the heat radiating off your deck.
Exterior roller shades block up to 99% of UV rays. That means real protection for your skin, your furniture, and your floors. Motorized options let you adjust coverage throughout the day without getting up. You control the glare, the heat, and the privacy with one touch.
This isn’t about making your patio prettier—though that happens too. It’s about making it functional when it’s 105°F outside and you’ve got people coming over.
A Plus Shutters & Shades comes from 10 years of construction and remodeling work across the DFW area. We’re not new to this. We opened a dedicated showroom because we kept seeing homeowners in Brookhollow and surrounding neighborhoods deal with the same problem: beautiful outdoor spaces they couldn’t use half the year.
We work with Texas-made products built for this climate. Our team measures, custom-fits, and installs every exterior roller shade to your exact specs. You get a free consultation up front where we show you samples, talk through your options, and give you a straight answer about what will actually work for your space.
Brookhollow’s family-oriented, close-knit feel means people talk. We’ve built our reputation here by showing up on time, installing it right the first time, and being available when you have questions.
First, we come to your home for a free consultation. We measure your space, look at sun angles, and talk about what you’re trying to solve—heat, glare, privacy, or all three. You’ll see fabric samples, color options, and we’ll walk through manual vs. motorized controls.
Once you decide what you want, we order your custom outdoor roller shades. Everything is built to your measurements. No generic, off-the-shelf sizing that leaves gaps or doesn’t fit right.
Installation day is straightforward. Our team shows up with everything needed to mount your exterior window blinds. We handle the brackets, the alignment, and the final adjustments. If you went with motorized shades, we program the controls and show you how to use them—whether that’s a remote, wall switch, or your phone.
You’re not waiting weeks. From consultation to installation, most projects wrap up in under two weeks. And if something ever needs adjusting, we’re local. You call, we come back.
Ready to get started?
Every exterior roller shade we install is custom-measured for your space. You’re not working with standard sizes that kind of fit. We’re talking exact measurements for your patio, pergola, or windows.
You choose from different fabric opacities depending on what you need. Solar mesh fabrics block heat and UV rays while still letting you see outside. Blackout roller shades give you full privacy and light control—good for bedrooms with west-facing windows or covered patios where you want complete shade.
Motorized options integrate with smart home systems. That means voice control through Alexa or Google, or app control when you’re not home. Some homeowners in Brookhollow add wind sensors so shades retract automatically when storms roll through. Others use sun sensors that adjust coverage as the day goes on.
The frames and hardware are built to handle Texas weather—wind, rain, and heat that doesn’t quit. These aren’t indoor blinds you’re hanging outside. They’re engineered for exterior use, which is why they last years without fading, warping, or losing tension.
You also get a warranty that covers both product and installation. If something goes wrong, you’re not troubleshooting it yourself or dealing with a national call center. You’re calling us.
Expect a temperature drop of 15-20°F on surfaces under the shade. That’s not an exaggeration—it’s the difference between a deck that’s too hot to walk on barefoot and one where you can sit comfortably at 3 PM in July.
The fabric blocks up to 99% of UV rays, which is what causes that radiating heat. Without direct sun hitting your furniture, floors, and skin, everything stays cooler longer. Even after the sun shifts, shaded areas cool down faster than exposed ones.
This also takes load off your AC if you’re shading windows. Less heat coming through glass means your system isn’t running constantly to keep up. Most homeowners see a noticeable difference in energy bills during summer months, usually around 20-30% savings on cooling costs for shaded rooms.
Yes, if you go with motorized shades. We install systems that integrate with Somfy TaHoma, which connects to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and other smart home platforms.
You can set schedules so your shades lower automatically at certain times—like mid-afternoon when the sun hits hardest. Or you can control them manually from an app when you’re not home. Some people drop their shades before they leave for work so the house stays cooler all day.
Voice control works exactly how you’d expect. “Alexa, lower the patio shades” does what it sounds like. If you’ve already got smart home devices, this fits right in. If you don’t, the system still works with a remote or wall switch. You’re not locked into one control method.
They’re built for it, but you need to retract them during severe weather. The fabrics and frames handle normal wind and rain without issue. We’re talking about materials designed for outdoor use in climates like ours—heat, humidity, and sudden storms.
That said, if you’re getting 40+ mph winds, you should retract the shades. Motorized systems can include wind sensors that do this automatically. When wind speed hits a certain threshold, the shades roll up on their own. You’re not scrambling to get outside and crank them up manually before the storm hits.
For everyday weather—afternoon showers, gusty days, or just leaving them down overnight—they’re fine. The hardware is corrosion-resistant, and the fabric won’t mildew or fade from moisture. We’ve installed these on homes across Brookhollow for years, and they hold up as long as you’re not leaving them down during a tornado warning.
Installation day itself usually takes a few hours, depending on how many shades you’re adding. A single patio shade might take two hours. A full outdoor living area with multiple shades and motorization could take half a day.
From the time you schedule your consultation to the day we install, you’re looking at about two weeks. That includes time for custom fabrication. Everything is made to your measurements, so there’s no rushing it with an off-the-shelf product that doesn’t fit right.
We don’t drag projects out. You get a clear timeline up front, and we stick to it. If something delays fabrication—rare, but it happens—we let you know immediately. Most Brookhollow homeowners are surprised by how fast the whole process moves compared to other home improvement projects they’ve done.
Solar shades block heat and UV rays but still let you see through them. The fabric is a tight mesh that stops sun from penetrating while keeping your view intact. You can see your yard, your neighbors can’t see you clearly, and the temperature stays manageable. These work well for patios where you want airflow and visibility.
Blackout roller shades block everything—light, heat, and view. They’re solid fabric, not mesh. You use these when you want complete privacy or total shade, like on a covered patio where you’re trying to create a dark, cool space even at midday. Some people use blackout shades on exterior windows that get direct afternoon sun, especially bedrooms or living rooms with west-facing exposure.
Both options block UV rays and reduce heat. The choice comes down to whether you want to see out or shut everything out. Some homeowners in Brookhollow mix both types—solar shades on open patios, blackout shades on enclosed spaces or windows. We walk through what makes sense for your setup during the consultation.
Yes, especially if you’re shading windows with direct sun exposure. When you block heat before it hits the glass, your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool those rooms. That’s where the savings come from—reduced cooling load during the hottest parts of the day.
Homeowners typically see a 20-30% drop in cooling costs for shaded areas. If you’re covering a large west-facing wall or multiple patio doors, that adds up over a summer. The shades pay for themselves over time, usually within a few years depending on your energy rates and how much sun exposure you’re dealing with.
Beyond the bill, your HVAC system lasts longer when it’s not running nonstop. Less wear and tear means fewer repairs and a longer lifespan before you’re replacing the whole unit. Exterior shades also protect your floors and furniture from fading, which saves you money on replacements. It’s not just about the electric bill—it’s about reducing overall costs tied to sun damage and cooling.
Local Resources
