Hear from Our Customers
Your patio stops being the hottest part of your property. You can actually sit outside in the afternoon without squinting or sweating through your shirt. Your furniture quits fading, your energy bill drops, and bugs stay on the other side of the screen.
That’s what happens when you install exterior roller shades built for Texas heat. The shade blocks UV rays before they hit your windows or your skin. Surface temperatures drop by 15 to 20 degrees, sometimes more depending on exposure. Your AC doesn’t have to fight as hard, which means you’re looking at 20 to 30% savings on cooling costs during peak months.
You also get privacy without losing airflow. The tighter the weave, the more privacy you get during the day. A 1% openness fabric blocks nearly everything while still letting you see out. At night, you’ll want to add lighting or close them fully, but during the day, you control exactly how much sun, heat, and visibility you’re working with.
If your outdoor space currently sits unused from May through September, this is what fixes that.
We’ve been installing custom window treatments across the Arlington and DFW area for over 10 years. We’re a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, and we focus exclusively on shutters, shades, and barn doors. We’re not a big box store, and we’re not flipping between 12 different services.
We work with homeowners in Littig, TX who want outdoor shade blinds that actually hold up. That means weather-rated fabrics, motorized systems that don’t quit after one season, and installation that doesn’t leave gaps where heat and bugs slip through. You’ll meet with someone who measures your space, shows you samples, and explains what works for your setup and your budget.
We use Texas-made products when possible, and everything we install is backed by our experience and your expectations. If it doesn’t fit right or doesn’t perform the way we said it would, we make it right.
You schedule a free consultation. We come to your home in Littig, TX, measure your patio or outdoor area, and talk through what you’re dealing with—heat, privacy, bugs, glare, or all of the above. We’ll show you fabric samples with different openness levels so you can see the difference between 1%, 5%, and 10% weaves.
Once you pick your fabric, color, and operating system, we order your custom outdoor roller shades. Most systems are motorized with one-touch controls. If you want smart home integration with Alexa or Google Assistant, we set that up too. Lead times vary depending on size and customization, but we’ll give you a realistic timeline upfront.
Installation usually takes a few hours depending on how many shades you’re adding. We mount the headbox, install the side channels or guide wires, and test the motor to make sure everything runs smooth. If it’s a retractable system, we’ll show you how to operate it and what to do if you ever need to troubleshoot.
After we’re done, your patio is ready to use the same day. No curing time, no waiting period. You’ll have full control over shade, heat, and privacy as soon as we leave.
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You’re getting motorized exterior roller shades with heavy-duty components built for Texas weather. That includes powder-coated aluminum headboxes, reinforced side channels, and high-performance fabrics that resist mold, mildew, fading, and tearing. We use Rollease Acmeda motors and clutches made in the USA, designed to handle heat without burning out.
The fabric options range from light-filtering to near-blackout, depending on how much privacy and UV protection you need. A 1% openness fabric blocks 99% of UV rays and gives you high daytime privacy. A 5% or 10% openness lets in more light and air while still cutting heat and glare. If you want full blackout roller shades for sleeping porches or covered patios, we can do that too.
In Littig, TX, where summer heat regularly pushes past 95 degrees and patios face south or west, most homeowners go with motorized systems and tighter weaves. You’ll also get wind resistance if your area is exposed—our high-tension designs stay rigid even in gusty conditions, and side channels keep the fabric from flapping or pulling away from the frame.
Pricing typically runs between $1,500 and $6,000 depending on size, fabric, and how many shades you’re installing. We give you a free estimate after measuring your space, so there’s no guessing.
Expect surface temperatures to drop by 15 to 20 degrees, sometimes more if you’re blocking direct afternoon sun. The shade works by stopping UV rays and heat before they reach your windows, furniture, or flooring. That’s different from interior blinds, which trap heat between the glass and the fabric.
The exact temperature drop depends on your fabric choice, the direction your patio faces, and how much sun exposure you’re dealing with. A 1% openness fabric blocks more heat than a 10% openness, but both will make a noticeable difference compared to no shade at all. Most homeowners in Littig, TX see the biggest impact on west-facing patios during late afternoon, which is when the sun hits hardest.
You’ll also notice your AC running less. When your windows aren’t absorbing direct heat, your cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep indoor temperatures stable. That’s where the 20 to 30% energy savings come from.
Yes, as long as you choose a fabric with some openness. A 5% or 10% openness weave lets you see through while still blocking heat and UV rays. A 1% openness fabric gives you more privacy and sun protection, but your view will be more limited—you’ll see shapes and light, but not fine details.
During the day, you’ll have a clear view outward while people outside won’t be able to see in easily. At night, when your interior lights are on, the visibility reverses—people outside can see in more clearly than you can see out. If nighttime privacy matters, you’ll either want to close the shades fully or add interior lighting that balances the contrast.
Most people in Littig, TX use outdoor roller shades during the day to block heat and glare, then retract them in the evening when temperatures drop. If you go with a motorized system, it’s a one-touch adjustment. You’re not stuck with one setting all day.
A quality system with weather-rated fabric and components should last 10 to 15 years, sometimes longer if you maintain it. The key is using materials designed for outdoor exposure—powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel hardware, and fabrics treated to resist UV damage, mold, and mildew.
Cheaper systems from big box stores often use polyester fabric and plastic components that degrade faster in heat and sun. We use fiberglass and vinyl mesh that’s more impact-resistant and won’t stretch or fade the way polyester does. The motors are also rated for high temperatures, so they won’t burn out during a Texas summer.
You’ll want to rinse the fabric occasionally to remove dust and pollen, and check the side channels to make sure nothing’s blocking the track. If you’re in an area with high winds, the reinforced side guides and high-tension design keep the fabric from flapping or tearing. Most of our clients in Littig, TX don’t have to do anything beyond a quick rinse once or twice a year.
They save energy because they block heat before it enters your home. When the sun hits your windows and walls directly, your AC has to work harder to offset that heat gain. Exterior roller shades stop that transfer by creating a barrier between the sun and your glass.
The savings depend on how much sun exposure you’re blocking and how much of your home’s cooling load comes from windows and outdoor living areas. Most homeowners see a 20 to 30% reduction in cooling costs during peak summer months, especially if they’re shading large glass doors or west-facing windows. That can add up to a few hundred dollars per year depending on your energy rates and usage.
The motorized part doesn’t directly save energy, but it makes it easier to use the shades consistently. If you have to crank them down manually every afternoon, you’re less likely to do it. With a motor, you press a button or set a schedule, and the shades adjust automatically. Consistency is what drives the savings.
Exterior roller shades block heat and UV rays before they reach your windows. Interior shades block light and provide privacy, but the heat is already inside by the time the sun hits the fabric. That’s why exterior shades are more effective for temperature control and energy savings.
Exterior systems also need to be built tougher. They’re exposed to wind, rain, dust, and temperature swings, so the materials and motors have to be weather-rated. Interior shades don’t face those conditions, which is why they’re usually lighter and less expensive.
If your main goal is cooling your patio, protecting outdoor furniture, or reducing your AC load, exterior roller shades are the right move. If you just want privacy or light control inside your home, interior shades work fine. A lot of homeowners in Littig, TX use both—exterior shades for heat and outdoor spaces, interior shades for bedrooms and living areas.
You can try, but most people underestimate how precise the installation needs to be. If the headbox isn’t level, the shade won’t roll evenly. If the side channels aren’t aligned, the fabric will bunch or pull to one side. If the motor isn’t wired correctly, it won’t work at all—or worse, it’ll work for a few weeks and then quit.
Motorized systems add another layer of complexity. You’re dealing with electrical connections, programming, and sometimes smart home integration. If you don’t have experience with that kind of setup, it’s easy to make a mistake that costs more to fix than it would’ve cost to hire someone in the first place.
We’ve seen plenty of DIY installs that looked fine at first but failed within a season because the components weren’t rated for outdoor use or the mounting wasn’t secure enough to handle wind. A professional install means the system is measured correctly, mounted securely, and tested before we leave. You also get a warranty and someone to call if something goes wrong. That’s worth paying for.
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