Hear from Our Customers
Your AC is working overtime. You can feel it every time you open the electric bill in July or August. The sun beats down on your windows and patio doors, turning your home into an oven and your outdoor space into a no-go zone by noon.
Exterior roller shades stop that heat before it ever reaches your glass. You’re blocking up to 80% of solar heat gain at the source, which means your AC doesn’t have to fight as hard. Most homeowners see a 15-25% drop in cooling costs once shades are installed. That’s real money back in your pocket every month.
Beyond the energy savings, you get your patio back. You can sit outside in the afternoon without squinting or sweating through your shirt. Your furniture stops fading. Your kids aren’t getting sunburned while playing in the backyard. And if you go with motorized outdoor shades, you control it all from your phone or a wall switch.
This isn’t about décor. It’s about making your home more comfortable and less expensive to cool in a climate that doesn’t mess around.
We’re a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, a company that’s been transforming homes across the DFW area for over 10 years. We’re based right here in Arlington and serve Trento, Fort Worth, Pantego, Dallas, Southlake, Mansfield, Cedar Hill, and Grand Prairie.
We’re not a franchise. We’re locals who understand what Texas heat does to homes and how outdoor roller shades need to perform in this climate. Our team handles everything from the free consultation and custom measurements to professional installation and follow-up service.
You’re working with people who’ve done this hundreds of times. We know which fabrics hold up in Trento’s sun, which motorized systems are reliable, and how to install outdoor shade blinds so they actually last. Our reputation in Tarrant County is built on doing the job right the first time and standing behind our work.
It starts with a free consultation at your home in Trento. We’ll look at your windows, patio, or outdoor space and talk through what you’re trying to accomplish. Are you focused on energy savings? Privacy? UV protection? All of the above? We take measurements and show you fabric samples so you can see the difference between solar shades, blackout roller shades, and other options.
Once you choose your style and features—like motorized operation or manual pull—we custom-build your exterior window blinds to your exact specs. Everything is made to fit your home, not some standard size that kind of works.
Installation day is straightforward. Our crew shows up on time, mounts the shades securely to your exterior walls or overhead structures, tests the operation, and walks you through how everything works. If you went with motorized outdoor shades, we’ll program your remote or app and make sure you’re comfortable using it.
The whole process typically takes a few weeks from consultation to install. You’re not waiting months, and you’re not dealing with a runaround. Just clear communication and professional work from people who know what they’re doing.
Ready to get started?
Every exterior roller shade we install is custom-measured and built for your home. You’re choosing from high-performance fabrics that block 90-99% of UV rays while still allowing airflow and visibility. These aren’t cheap tarps—they’re engineered outdoor shade blinds designed to handle wind, rain, and relentless sun.
You can go manual or motorized. Manual shades use a simple crank or pull system. Motorized options let you raise and lower your outdoor patio blinds with a remote, wall switch, or smartphone app. Some systems even integrate with smart home setups like Alexa or Google Home.
In Trento and the surrounding DFW area, we see a lot of requests for blackout roller shades on covered patios where people want full sun control and privacy. We also install solar roller shades that reduce glare and heat but still let you see outside. The right choice depends on how you use the space and what you’re trying to block.
Durability matters here. Texas weather is tough, and we only use materials that are UV-resistant, mold-resistant, and built to last years, not seasons. You’re also getting professional installation that ensures your shades operate smoothly and hold up to wind without tearing or coming loose.
The savings depend on how much sun hits your home and how hard your AC is working, but most homeowners in Trento see a 15-25% reduction in cooling costs after installing exterior roller shades. That’s because you’re blocking solar heat before it reaches your windows, which is far more effective than interior blinds or curtains.
If your summer electric bills run $250-$300 a month, you could be saving $40-$75 monthly just from shading your windows and outdoor spaces. Over a year, that’s $500-$900 back in your pocket. Most people break even on their investment in 3-7 years, and the shades themselves last much longer than that.
The Energy Information Administration says air conditioning accounts for about 28% of residential electricity use in Texas, and it’s likely higher in summer when your AC runs nonstop. Cutting that load by even 20% makes a noticeable difference on your bill and takes pressure off your HVAC system.
Exterior roller shades block heat and UV rays before they hit your glass, which is the key difference. Interior shades try to stop heat after it’s already inside, which means your room has already warmed up. By the time indoor blinds do their job, your AC is already fighting that heat gain.
Outdoor roller shades also protect your windows and interior furnishings from sun damage. You’re keeping UV rays from fading your furniture, floors, and curtains. And because they’re mounted outside, they don’t take up any interior space or interfere with your window treatments inside.
The tradeoff is durability. Exterior shades need to handle weather, so they’re built tougher and cost more upfront. But in a place like Trento where summer heat is relentless, the energy savings and comfort gain make outdoor shades worth it for most homeowners. You’re solving the problem at the source instead of managing it after the fact.
If you’re installing multiple shades or covering large patio areas, motorized operation makes life a lot easier. You’re not cranking each shade up and down manually, especially when the sun shifts throughout the day. You just hit a button or set a schedule, and your outdoor shade blinds adjust automatically.
Motorized systems also let you control your shades when you’re not home. Heading out of town? You can lower your blackout roller shades remotely to keep your home cooler and more secure. Some systems integrate with smart home platforms, so you can program your shades to lower at certain times or when the temperature hits a certain point.
The upfront cost is higher—usually a few hundred dollars more per shade depending on the system. But the convenience is real, and if you’re already investing in exterior roller shades for energy savings, the motorization often pays for itself in how much more you’ll actually use them. Manual shades work fine, but motorized ones get used more consistently, which means better energy savings over time.
Quality outdoor roller shades typically last 7-10 years or more in Texas, as long as they’re made from UV-resistant, weather-resistant materials and installed correctly. Cheap shades or poorly installed ones might start deteriorating in 2-3 years, which is why the upfront quality matters.
The fabric is the most important factor. We use materials specifically designed to handle intense sun, high heat, wind, and occasional storms. These fabrics resist fading, mold, and tearing far better than standard outdoor fabrics. The hardware—mounting brackets, motors, and rolling mechanisms—also needs to be corrosion-resistant and built for outdoor use.
Regular maintenance helps too. Hosing down your shades a couple times a year to remove dust and pollen keeps them looking good and operating smoothly. If you go with motorized outdoor shades, the motors are typically rated for thousands of cycles, so you’re not looking at frequent replacements. Most of our customers in Trento and the surrounding area get a decade or more out of their exterior window blinds without major issues.
Yes, but it depends on the wind rating of the shades and how they’re installed. Most quality outdoor roller shades are tested to handle winds of 30-40 mph when fully extended. Some heavy-duty systems are rated even higher. For severe weather, you’ll want to retract the shades to avoid damage.
If you have motorized shades, you can raise them quickly when a storm rolls in. Manual shades take a bit more effort, but it’s still straightforward. The key is not leaving your outdoor shade blinds down in extreme wind conditions, which can stress the fabric and hardware beyond their limits.
Installation quality also matters. If the mounting brackets aren’t secured properly to your exterior walls or overhead beams, even the best shades can fail in high winds. That’s why professional installation is worth it—you’re ensuring everything is anchored correctly and built to handle the conditions we see in Trento and the rest of North Texas. Our team knows how to mount exterior roller shades so they stay put and perform reliably year after year.
It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Solar roller shades block 90-95% of UV rays and reduce heat and glare, but they still let you see outside. You get a filtered view and plenty of light, just without the harsh sun. These work well if you want to use your patio during the day and still enjoy the view.
Blackout roller shades block nearly 100% of light and UV rays. You’re creating a dark, private space, which is great for outdoor rooms, covered patios where you want total privacy, or areas where you need maximum heat control. They’re also popular for patios that face west and get blasted by afternoon sun.
Most homeowners in Trento go with solar shades because they balance sun protection with visibility and airflow. But if you’re dealing with extreme heat, intense glare, or privacy concerns from nearby neighbors, blackout blinds for windows and outdoor spaces make more sense. We can show you samples during the consultation so you can see exactly how much light each option blocks and decide what fits your needs.
Local Resources
