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Texas summers are brutal. When your windows let solar heat pour in all day, your AC runs nonstop and your energy bill climbs. Roller shades with the right fabric stop that heat before it becomes a problem.
Blackout roller shades give you complete darkness when you need it—better sleep, no morning glare, and real privacy. Light filtering options let in soft natural light without the harsh sun or prying eyes. Solar shades block UV rays and heat while keeping your view intact.
You’re not just covering windows. You’re controlling light, managing temperature, and making your home more comfortable without running your HVAC into the ground. That’s what roller blinds for windows are supposed to do—and when they’re custom-fit and professionally installed, they actually work.
We’re based in Arlington and serve Briarcliff, Fort Worth, Dallas, and surrounding areas. A Plus Shutters & Shades is a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, a company with over a decade in construction and home improvement. We know Texas homes because we work in them every day.
We carry Texas-made roller shades built to handle the heat, humidity, and sun exposure that comes with living here. Our team measures, fabricates, and installs everything custom—no one-size-fits-all kits or drop-shipped products that don’t fit right.
You’ll meet with someone who actually understands window treatments, not a salesperson reading off a script. We’ll show you samples, talk through your options, and give you a straight answer about what works and what doesn’t. Then our installers handle the rest.
It starts with a free consultation at your home in Briarcliff. We measure your windows, talk through what you’re dealing with—heat, privacy, light control, whatever it is—and show you fabric samples so you can see the difference between blackout, light filtering, and solar options.
Once you choose your fabrics and features, we build your roller shades custom. If you want motorized operation, we integrate that with your smart home system or set you up with remote control. Everything is made to your exact window dimensions.
Then we come back and install. Our team mounts everything securely, tests the operation, and makes sure it works the way it should. You’re not left with a stack of boxes and an instruction manual. We handle it start to finish, and if something’s not right, we fix it before we leave.
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You’re choosing from blackout, light filtering, and solar fabrics—all designed to handle Texas heat and UV exposure. Blackout roller shades block 100% of light, which matters if you work nights, have kids who need dark rooms to sleep, or just want your bedroom actually dark in the morning.
Light filtering fabrics let natural light in without the glare or heat. You get privacy during the day and a softer, more comfortable feel in living areas and kitchens. Solar shades are built specifically to block UV rays and reduce heat while maintaining your view outside—popular in Briarcliff homes with lake or landscape views.
Motorized options mean you control your roller blinds from your phone, voice assistant, or remote. You can schedule them to lower during peak sun hours or raise them in the morning without getting off the couch. For hard-to-reach windows or whole-home setups, motorization makes sense. We install and program everything so it works with Alexa, Google Home, or your existing smart system.
They’re essentially the same thing—both terms refer to window coverings that block out light completely. Blackout roller shades use a single piece of opaque fabric that rolls up and down on a tube mechanism. Blackout blinds can also refer to this style, or sometimes to other types like cellular shades or vertical blinds with blackout features.
The key is the fabric. True blackout material blocks 100% of light when properly installed. Cheaper versions might say “room darkening” but still let light leak around the edges or through the fabric. If you need complete darkness—for sleep, shift work, or home theaters—ask specifically for blackout fabric and make sure it’s installed with side channels or mounted inside the window frame to eliminate light gaps.
In Briarcliff, most people choosing blackout options are dealing with early morning sun, privacy concerns, or trying to keep bedrooms cool during the day. The roller shade style is popular because it’s clean, simple, and works with modern home aesthetics while delivering the light control you actually need.
Yes, but only if you choose the right fabric and install them properly. Solar roller shades are specifically designed to block heat and UV rays before they enter your home. They can reduce solar heat gain by up to 80%, which means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard during peak afternoon hours.
Blackout roller shades also provide insulation benefits. The thick fabric creates a barrier between your window and your room, reducing heat transfer. In summer, they keep hot air out. In winter, they help retain warm air inside. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that energy-efficient window treatments can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%.
Here’s the reality: old or poorly insulated windows are one of the biggest culprits behind high cooling costs in Texas. Roller shades won’t fix a broken HVAC system, but they will reduce the load on it. For Briarcliff homes with large windows or western exposure, the difference is noticeable—both in comfort and on your energy bill. Motorized options let you automate this, lowering shades during peak sun without having to think about it.
Yes. Motorized roller shades integrate with most smart home systems including Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and dedicated platforms like Control4 or Savant. You can control them with your voice, phone app, or automate them based on time of day or sun position.
The motor sits inside the roller tube, so it’s hidden—no visible cords or chains. You can operate shades individually or group them by room or floor. For example, you could set all your south-facing shades to lower automatically at 2 PM when the sun is strongest, then raise at sunset.
Installation involves mounting the motorized shade and connecting it to your home’s Wi-Fi or a dedicated hub, depending on the system. We handle the programming and setup so everything works before we leave. Battery-powered motors are an option if you don’t want to run electrical wiring, though hardwired motors are more common in new builds or renovations. For Briarcliff homeowners with larger homes or multiple windows, motorization makes daily operation effortless and ensures you’re actually using your shades to manage heat and light.
It depends on what you need the room to do. Blackout roller shades are for bedrooms, nurseries, or any space where you want complete darkness and maximum privacy. They block 100% of light and provide the most insulation against heat. If you need to sleep during the day or want zero visibility from outside at night, blackout is the right choice.
Light filtering shades let natural light in while reducing glare and providing daytime privacy. You can see out during the day, but people can’t see in clearly. They soften harsh sunlight without making the room dark. These work well in living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas where you want brightness without the heat or exposure.
Solar shades are designed specifically to block UV rays and heat while maintaining your view. They’re made from a mesh-like material with different openness levels—tighter weaves block more light and heat, while more open weaves preserve your view better. Solar shades are popular in Briarcliff homes with scenic views or large windows where you want protection without losing the outdoor connection. They won’t give you nighttime privacy since you can see through them when lights are on inside.
Inside mount means the roller shade is installed inside the window frame, sitting flush within the opening. This gives you a clean, built-in look and doesn’t add any visual bulk around the window. It works best when you have enough depth in your window frame and the frame is square and level.
Outside mount means the shade is installed on the wall or molding above and around the window. This covers more area, which is better for light control and privacy since there are fewer gaps around the edges. It’s also the solution when your window frame is too shallow for an inside mount or if the frame isn’t perfectly square.
For blackout roller shades, outside mount typically provides better light blocking because the fabric extends past the window opening. For light filtering or solar shades, inside mount is often preferred for the cleaner aesthetic. During our consultation, we’ll measure your windows and recommend which mount works best based on your frame depth, wall space, and what you’re trying to achieve. Both options are fully custom, so the shade fits your specific window either way.
From consultation to installation, expect about two to three weeks. The timeline depends on how many windows you’re covering and whether you’re choosing standard or motorized roller shades. Custom fabrication takes time because everything is built to your exact measurements and specifications.
Here’s how it breaks down: We’ll schedule your free consultation within a few days of your call. During that visit, we measure your windows, discuss fabric options, and finalize your order. Once you approve everything, we send your specs to fabrication. Most custom roller shades are ready in one to two weeks.
Installation usually takes a few hours to a full day depending on the number of windows. Our team mounts each shade, tests the operation, and makes any adjustments on the spot. For motorized options, we also handle the programming and smart home integration. You don’t wait weeks with bare windows—we move efficiently while making sure everything is done right. If you’re in Briarcliff and need window treatments for a specific deadline, let us know upfront and we’ll work with you on timing.
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