Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops running constantly. That’s the first thing you’ll notice when you install the right roller shades. In Marshall Ford, where summer temps regularly push past 100°F and the sun beats down on south- and west-facing windows all afternoon, your cooling system is fighting a losing battle without proper window coverage.
Roller blinds for windows do more than look clean and modern. They block heat before it enters your home, cutting cooling costs by up to 30%. That’s real money back in your pocket every month, not some vague “energy savings” promise.
You’ll also stop watching your furniture fade. UV rays are relentless here, breaking down fabrics and discoloring wood floors over time. Blackout roller shades and solar options block up to 99% of UV radiation, which means your couch, your hardwood, and your artwork stay intact longer. You sleep better too—blackout blinds for windows give you total darkness when you need it, no matter how early the sun comes up or how bright the streetlights are outside.
A Plus Shutters & Shades brings ten years of construction expertise to every installation in Marshall Ford and the greater Austin area. We’re not new to this. We know how Texas homes are built, how the heat moves through them, and what actually works when it comes to controlling light and temperature.
We operate out of a dedicated showroom and serve Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas, Southlake, Mansfield, Cedar Hill, and Grand Prairie—but we know Marshall Ford specifically. It’s a small community northwest of Austin where people want quality work without the runaround. We use Texas-made products because they’re built for this climate, and we install them right the first time.
You’re not getting a sales pitch here. You’re getting straight answers about what roller shade blinds will do for your home and how much they’ll cost.
First, we come to your home in Marshall Ford and measure every window you want covered. Not approximate measurements—exact ones. Roller shades need to fit precisely or they don’t block light and heat the way they should. We’ll also talk through your priorities: blackout for bedrooms, solar shades for living areas, motorized options if you want smart home integration or just hate dealing with cords.
Next, we walk you through fabric options, opacity levels, and mounting styles. Inside mount gives you a cleaner look. Outside mount covers more of the window frame and blocks more light. We’ll tell you what makes sense for each room based on how you use the space and how much sun it gets.
Once you pick your materials, we order everything custom. No stock sizes that kind of fit. When your interior roller shades arrive, we schedule installation at a time that works for you. The install itself is quick—usually a few hours depending on how many windows we’re covering. We mount the brackets, hang the shades, test the operation, and clean up completely before we leave. If you went with motorized or smart roller shades, we’ll program them and show you how the controls work.
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Every roller shade we install is custom-made for your specific windows. You’re choosing from blackout fabrics that block 100% of light, light-filtering materials that soften glare while keeping your view, or solar shades that cut heat and UV rays but still let you see outside. All of it is designed to handle Texas sun without fading or warping.
Motorized roller shades are a bigger deal than most people realize. They’re not just convenient—they’re safer if you have kids or pets, since there are no cords to worry about. The new safety standards that went into effect in 2024 basically require cordless operation for new installations anyway, so motorization is becoming the default. Our motors are whisper-quiet, under 48 decibels, and they integrate with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit if that’s your setup.
Energy efficiency is the other major factor here. Austin Energy will pay you up to $1.73 per square foot for installing qualifying solar shading. The federal government is offering a 30% tax credit on energy-efficient window treatments through the end of 2025, up to $1,200 per year. That’s not a rebate you apply for and maybe get—it’s a tax credit you claim when you file. We’ll give you the documentation you need to make that happen.
Marshall Ford sits in Travis County, right in the path of that intense afternoon sun that makes Austin-area homes expensive to cool. The right blackout window blinds or solar roller shades can drop your indoor temperature by several degrees without touching the thermostat, and that’s where the savings add up.
Blackout roller shades block 100% of light. You install them in bedrooms, nurseries, or media rooms where you need complete darkness. They’re also the best option for privacy—nobody can see in, day or night. The fabric is thick, often with a backing layer, and it also provides solid insulation against heat.
Light-filtering roller shades let diffused light through while still cutting glare and giving you privacy during the day. You can see shapes and movement outside, but people can’t see details inside. These work well in living rooms, kitchens, or offices where you want natural light without the harsh sun beating in. They won’t make the room dark, but they will make it more comfortable and reduce how hard your AC has to work.
If you’re trying to decide, think about how you use the room. Bedrooms almost always benefit from blackout. Living spaces usually do better with light-filtering or solar shades unless you have a serious glare problem on a TV or computer screen.
Yes, especially if you have high windows, large windows, or kids in the house. Motorized options remove the cord hazard entirely, which is why the new safety standards are pushing everyone in that direction anyway. You’re looking at $150 to $1,200 per window depending on size and features, but you’re also getting convenience and safety that manual shades can’t match.
In Marshall Ford, where summer heat is a constant issue, motorized roller shades let you program your windows to close automatically during the hottest part of the day. You’re not home at 2 p.m. when the sun is blasting your west-facing windows, but your shades can be. That keeps your house cooler and your energy bill lower without you lifting a finger.
The smart home integration is a bonus if you’re already using Alexa or Google Home. You can control everything from your phone or set schedules so your blackout blinds for windows open with sunrise and close at night. The motors we use are quiet and reliable, and they last years without maintenance.
Most homes see a 10% to 30% reduction in cooling costs after installing energy-efficient roller blinds, depending on how many windows you cover and what type of shades you choose. In a place like Marshall Ford where summer cooling bills can hit $300 to $500 a month, that’s $30 to $150 back in your pocket every month during peak season.
The savings come from blocking heat before it gets inside. About 30% of your home’s cooling energy escapes through uncovered or poorly covered windows. Solar shades and blackout roller shades stop that heat transfer, which means your AC doesn’t have to run as long or as hard to keep your house comfortable.
On top of the monthly savings, you’ve got the Austin Energy rebate of up to $1.73 per square foot and the federal tax credit of 30% on qualifying energy-efficient window treatments. If you’re covering ten windows at an average of 15 square feet each, that’s 150 square feet. Austin Energy would pay you around $260, and the federal credit could save you several hundred more depending on your total cost. The shades pay for themselves faster than most people expect.
Yes. UV rays are what cause fading, and roller shades with UV protection block up to 99% of those rays depending on the fabric you choose. Texas has one of the highest UV indexes in the country, and Marshall Ford gets long hours of direct sunlight, especially in summer. Without protection, your furniture, floors, and artwork will fade noticeably within a few years.
The damage happens gradually, so most people don’t realize how bad it’s gotten until they move a piece of furniture and see the color difference on the floor underneath. Hardwood develops discolored patches. Fabric on couches and chairs loses its vibrancy. Even painted walls can fade near windows.
Solar roller shades are specifically designed to block UV while still letting you see outside. Blackout options block everything, UV included. Both will extend the life of your furniture and flooring significantly. It’s not just about aesthetics either—you’re protecting the value of everything in your home. Replacing a faded couch or refinishing hardwood floors costs a lot more than installing the right window treatments in the first place.
Installation usually takes a few hours depending on how many windows we’re covering. If you’re doing a whole house—say, 15 to 20 windows—we might be there half a day. For a single room or a few windows, it’s often done in under two hours.
The process is straightforward. We mount the brackets, hang the roller shade, check the operation, and make sure everything is level and secure. If you ordered motorized shades, we’ll program them and walk you through the controls before we leave. There’s no mess, no drywall damage, and no complicated setup on your end.
The longer part is the lead time before installation. Because everything is custom-made to fit your exact window measurements, it usually takes a couple of weeks from the time you order to the time we install. We’ll give you a clear timeline upfront so you know what to expect. Once we’re at your house, though, the actual install is quick and clean.
Yes. Custom means custom. We’ve installed roller blinds on floor-to-ceiling windows, angled windows, skylights, and oversized picture windows throughout the Marshall Ford and Austin area. If it’s a window, we can cover it.
Oversized windows are actually where roller shades shine. They’re one of the few window treatments that can span a wide area without sagging or looking bulky. We’ll measure carefully and recommend the right mounting style and fabric weight to make sure the shade operates smoothly even on a large window.
Unusual shapes—like arched or angled windows—sometimes require a different approach. We’ll talk through your options during the consultation and let you know what will work best structurally and aesthetically. The goal is always the same: proper fit, smooth operation, and the light control or privacy you need. If you’ve got a tricky window that other companies have passed on, bring it up. We’ve probably handled something similar before.
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