Hear from Our Customers
Your west-facing patio hits 110 degrees by 3 PM. Your furniture is fading. Your AC bill is climbing. And you’re stuck inside while your outdoor space just sits there, unusable.
Exterior roller shades stop solar heat before it ever reaches your windows or your skin. We’re talking about blocking up to 99% of UV rays and dropping surface temperatures by 15 to 20 degrees. That means your outdoor furniture lasts longer, your family stays protected, and your cooling costs can drop by up to 15% during the summer months.
You’re not adding shade for looks. You’re reclaiming space you already paid for. And in Southeast Texas, where the sun doesn’t quit from May through September, that’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
A Plus Shutters & Shades is part of A Plus Home Remodel, and we’ve spent more than 10 years working on homes across Southeast Texas. We know what the climate does to outdoor spaces here. We know how fast the sun moves across your patio in July. And we know what works.
We use Texas-made products because they’re built for this environment. Our team handles everything—consultation, custom measurements, material selection, and installation. You’re not getting a one-size-fits-all setup shipped from somewhere that’s never seen a Texas summer.
We serve Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas, Mansfield, and the surrounding areas. If you’re in Southeast Texas and your outdoor space is sitting empty because it’s too hot to use, we’ve seen it before—and we know how to fix it.
First, we come to your home for a free consultation. We measure your space, look at sun exposure throughout the day, and talk through what you’re dealing with—whether that’s afternoon glare, privacy concerns, or just trying to make your patio usable again.
Then we show you fabric options. You’ll see samples of outdoor roller shade materials that range from light-filtering mesh to full blackout, all designed to handle Texas weather. We’ll talk through motorized versus manual operation, and if you want smart home integration with Alexa or Google Home, we’ll walk through that too.
Once you choose your materials and features, we custom-build your exterior roller shades to fit your exact window or patio dimensions. No gaps, no guessing. Our installers handle the setup, test the operation, and make sure everything works the way it should before we leave. You get outdoor shade blinds that fit right, work smoothly, and hold up to the elements from day one.
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You’re getting custom-measured exterior roller shades built specifically for your space. That means we’re accounting for the size of your patio, the direction it faces, and how much sun exposure you’re dealing with during peak hours.
In Southeast Texas, outdoor living spaces are a big part of home value—98% of experts say an updated outdoor area impacts what your home is worth. But if your patio is unusable because of heat, you’re losing that value. Our outdoor patio shades give you control over temperature, UV exposure, and privacy, so your space actually functions the way you need it to.
We install motorized systems that integrate with your smart home setup if you want them. We also offer manual options if you prefer simplicity. The fabrics we use are weather-resistant and built to handle the freeze-thaw cycles, sudden storms, and relentless sun that Southeast Texas throws at them. And because we’re local, we understand what “durable” actually means here—it’s not the same as what works in Colorado or California.
You also get pest control built in. Our zipper-catch side channel system with brush pile keeps bugs out, which is a bigger deal in Texas than most people realize until they’re trying to enjoy an evening outside.
Exterior roller shades can cut your cooling costs by up to 15% during the summer. That’s because they stop solar heat before it enters your home, which means your AC isn’t fighting against heat gain all day long.
The key difference between exterior shades and interior blinds is where the heat gets blocked. Interior blinds stop light, but the heat is already inside your windows by the time it hits them. Exterior roller shades stop the heat outside, which is why they’re more effective in climates like Southeast Texas where sun exposure is intense and consistent.
If your patio or windows face west, you’re getting the worst of the afternoon sun. That’s when exterior shades make the biggest difference—not just in comfort, but in what you’re paying every month to keep your home cool.
Blackout roller shades block 100% of light and UV rays. You use them when you want complete privacy, total darkness, or maximum heat rejection. They’re ideal for covered patios, screened porches, or outdoor rooms where you want full control over light and temperature.
Solar shades, on the other hand, block UV rays and heat but still let you see through them. They’re made from mesh fabric that can block anywhere from 80% to 95% of UV rays while maintaining your view. If you’re on a patio overlooking your yard or a pool, solar shades let you enjoy the scenery while staying protected.
For most Southeast Texas homeowners, solar shades are the go-to for open patios and pergolas. Blackout options work better for enclosed spaces or areas where you want full privacy from neighbors. We’ll walk through both during your consultation based on how you actually use your outdoor space.
Yes. Motorized outdoor roller shades can integrate with Alexa, Google Home, or most smart home systems. You can lower or raise them with a voice command, set them on a schedule, or control them remotely through an app.
A lot of Southeast Texas homeowners set their shades to lower automatically during peak sun hours—usually between 2 PM and 6 PM when the heat is worst. That way, your patio stays cool without you having to think about it, and your outdoor furniture isn’t getting blasted by UV rays all afternoon.
You can also link them to temperature sensors or sun sensors, so the shades adjust based on real-time conditions. If you’re someone who wants your home to run efficiently without constant manual adjustments, motorized exterior shades make that happen. And if you’d rather keep it simple with a manual crank or pull, that’s an option too.
Quality exterior roller shades built with the right materials can last 10 to 15 years or more in Texas. The key is using fabrics and hardware designed for extreme weather—high heat, UV exposure, sudden storms, and humidity.
We use materials like Mermet fiberglass, which far exceeds the durability of standard polyester fabrics. The frames are powder-coated extruded aluminum, which resists rust and holds up to temperature swings. Cheaper materials start breaking down after a few seasons of Texas sun, but the right setup is built to handle it.
Maintenance is minimal. You’re wiping them down with a damp cloth a few times a year to remove dust and pollen. No special treatments, no constant upkeep. If you’re investing in outdoor shades, you want them to work season after season without needing replacement or repairs—and that’s what quality materials give you.
Absolutely. Exterior roller shades give you instant privacy control, which is especially useful in areas like Southeast Texas where homes are close together and outdoor spaces are visible to neighbors.
You can lower your shades when you’re using your patio and raise them when you want the space open. If you choose a tighter mesh or blackout fabric, you block visibility from the outside while still being able to see out during the day. That’s a big advantage for patios, balconies, and poolside areas where you want to relax without feeling like you’re on display.
Privacy is one of those things people don’t think about until they’re sitting outside and realize they can’t fully enjoy their space because of sightlines. Exterior shades solve that immediately, and they do it without blocking airflow or making your patio feel closed off.
Installation starts with precise measurements. We come to your home, measure your patio or window openings, and assess the mounting surface to make sure everything is structurally sound. If you’re mounting to brick, stucco, or wood, we adjust our approach accordingly.
Once your custom exterior roller shades are built, our installers handle the setup. We mount the hardware, install the shades, and test the operation—whether that’s motorized or manual. If it’s a motorized system, we sync it with your smart home setup and make sure everything responds correctly.
The whole process is usually completed in a few hours, depending on how many shades you’re installing. You’re not dealing with a multi-day project or major disruption. We clean up, walk you through how to operate your new outdoor shade blinds, and make sure you’re comfortable with everything before we leave.
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