Hear from Our Customers
Right now, your patio probably sits empty most of the day. The sun beats down, the glare makes it impossible to see your phone, and by noon it’s too hot to even think about sitting outside. You’re running the AC harder because that same sun is heating up your whole house through the windows.
Exterior roller shades stop that heat before it ever reaches your glass. You’ll feel the difference immediately—your patio becomes usable again, your indoor temperature drops, and your cooling costs can fall by 25% or more during summer. That’s not a marketing claim, that’s what happens when you block solar heat gain at the source instead of trying to cool it down after it’s already inside.
These aren’t decorative. They’re functional. You get UV protection, glare control, and privacy without losing your view or airflow. And because they’re mounted outside, they take the beating from the weather so your windows and furniture don’t have to.
A Plus Shutters & Shades has been installing custom window treatments across Tarrant County for over 10 years. We’re a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, so we understand construction, measurements, and what it takes to make something last in Texas weather.
We work with homeowners in Pershing, Arlington, Fort Worth, and the surrounding areas who want real solutions, not sales pitches. Our team takes the time to measure correctly, explain your options clearly, and install everything so it works the way it’s supposed to from day one. We use Texas-made products when possible because the quality is better and the warranties actually mean something.
You’re not getting a national franchise or a guy with a drill and a dream. You’re working with a local company that’s been here, knows the climate, and will still be here if you need us later.
First, we come out to your home in Pershing and take a look at your space. We measure the areas you want to cover, talk about how you use your patio, and figure out what type of outdoor roller shades make the most sense. Motorized, manual, solar screens, blackout—it depends on your setup and your budget.
Once you pick your materials and colors, we order everything custom-built to your exact measurements. No cutting corners or trying to make a standard size work. When your shades arrive, our installers come back and mount them properly—secured to your structure, level, and tested to make sure they operate smoothly.
After installation, we walk you through how everything works. If you went with motorized exterior roller shades, we’ll show you the controls and make sure you’re comfortable using them. Then we clean up and get out of your way. The whole process usually takes a few weeks from consultation to completion, depending on the size of the job.
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Every exterior roller shade we install is custom-measured for your home. You’re not buying something off the shelf and hoping it fits. We carry a full range of materials—from solar screens that block heat while keeping your view, to blackout roller shades that give you complete privacy and light control for covered patios or outdoor rooms.
You’ll choose from different opacity levels depending on how much light and visibility you want. Most homeowners in Pershing go with a solar screen fabric that blocks 90% of UV rays but still lets you see outside. If you’re covering a space where you want total darkness or privacy, blackout options are available.
Motorization is popular, especially if you’re covering large areas or multiple windows. You can control your outdoor patio blinds with a remote, wall switch, or integrate them into your smart home system so they adjust automatically based on the time of day or temperature. Manual operation works just fine too if you prefer to keep things simple.
We also handle commercial projects. If you’ve got a restaurant patio, office building, or retail space that needs shade, we’ve done plenty of those installations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and know how to work around business hours.
Exterior roller shades can cut your cooling costs by 25-30% during the summer months if you’re covering south- and west-facing windows. The reason they work so well is because they block solar heat before it hits your glass. Once heat passes through a window, your AC has to work overtime to remove it. When you stop it outside, your indoor temperature stays lower without any extra effort.
The savings depend on how much glass you’re covering and how much sun exposure you’re dealing with. Homes in Pershing with large patio doors or floor-to-ceiling windows see the biggest impact. If you’re currently running your AC constantly from May through September, you’ll notice the difference in your bill within the first month.
Solar screens block up to 90% of heat gain, which can lower the temperature on your patio by 20-30 degrees. That’s the difference between a space that’s unusable at 2 p.m. and one where you can actually sit outside comfortably.
Interior shades help with glare and privacy, but they don’t do much for heat. By the time sunlight reaches an interior shade, the heat has already passed through your window and is inside your home. At that point, your AC is fighting an uphill battle.
Exterior roller shades stop the heat outside, before it ever reaches the glass. That’s why they’re significantly more effective at reducing cooling costs and keeping your home comfortable. The shade absorbs or reflects the sun’s energy on the exterior side, so your windows stay cooler and less heat transfers inside.
If your main goal is energy savings or making your outdoor space usable, exterior is the way to go. Interior shades work fine for bedrooms or rooms where you just need light control, but they won’t give you the same temperature reduction or cost savings that outdoor roller shades provide.
Yes, if they’re installed correctly and you’re using quality materials. We mount exterior roller shades directly into your structure with heavy-duty brackets, and the fabrics we use are designed to handle wind, rain, and sun exposure without falling apart.
That said, if a severe storm is coming through with high winds, it’s smart to retract your shades if they’re motorized or roll them up if they’re manual. Most exterior shade fabrics can handle normal wind and weather, but sustained high winds can put stress on any outdoor installation. Think of it like patio furniture—it’s built to be outside, but you wouldn’t leave it out in a hurricane.
We use materials that resist fading, mildew, and tearing. Texas weather is tough, and cheap shades won’t last. The products we install are made to handle the heat, UV exposure, and occasional storms that come with living here. Proper installation matters just as much as the product itself, which is why we don’t cut corners on the mounting process.
The installation itself usually takes a few hours to a full day, depending on how many shades you’re having installed and the size of the areas we’re covering. If you’re doing a single patio door, we can knock that out in a couple of hours. If you’re covering an entire outdoor living area with multiple large openings, it’ll take longer.
The timeline from consultation to installation is typically two to three weeks. That includes the time it takes to measure, order your custom shades, and schedule the install. We don’t keep pre-made inventory because everything is built to your exact measurements, so there’s a lead time involved.
Once we’re on-site, the process is straightforward. We mount the brackets, install the roller mechanism, attach the fabric, and test everything to make sure it operates smoothly. If you went with motorized shades, we’ll program the controls and show you how to use them. Then we clean up and you’re good to go.
It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Solar screens are the most popular choice for open patios because they block heat and UV rays while still letting you see outside and allowing airflow. You get shade and protection without feeling closed in. Most homeowners in Pershing go this route because it keeps the space comfortable and usable without making it feel dark or enclosed.
Blackout roller shades make more sense if you’re covering a screened-in porch, outdoor room, or space where you want complete privacy and light control. They block 100% of light and give you total coverage, which is great if you’re trying to create a theater-like environment or you need privacy from neighbors. They’re also a good option if you’re dealing with intense glare that makes it hard to watch TV or use your outdoor space during the day.
If you’re not sure, we can show you samples of both during the consultation. You can see the difference in opacity and visibility, and we’ll recommend what makes the most sense based on how you actually use your patio and what your main concerns are—whether that’s heat, privacy, glare, or all of the above.
If you’re covering large openings or multiple windows, motorization makes your life a lot easier. Instead of manually rolling each shade up and down, you hit a button and they all adjust at once. That’s especially useful if you’re dealing with shades that are 10 or 12 feet wide—those get heavy, and manual operation becomes a hassle.
Motorized shades also let you integrate with smart home systems. You can program them to lower automatically when the sun hits a certain angle or the temperature reaches a certain point. Some homeowners set them to close during the hottest part of the day and open back up in the evening when it cools down. That kind of automation maximizes your energy savings without you having to think about it.
The upfront cost is higher, but the convenience is real. If you’re someone who’s going to forget to lower the shades or just won’t bother because it’s inconvenient, motorization pays for itself in comfort and energy savings. If you don’t mind the manual operation and you’re only covering one or two areas, you can skip it and save the money.
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