Hear from Our Customers
Your AC won’t run constantly trying to fight the Texas sun pouring through your windows. That’s the reality for most homes in Picadilly Ridge – older windows, intense afternoon heat, and energy bills that spike every summer.
Blackout roller shades block that heat before it enters your room. Your home stays cooler without cranking the thermostat. You’ll notice the difference in your monthly bill, especially during those brutal July and August stretches.
Beyond energy savings, you get actual darkness when you need it. If you work nights, have young kids who need daytime naps, or just want to sleep past sunrise on weekends, interior roller shades give you that control. No more duct-taping blankets over windows or dealing with cheap blinds that let light bleed through the edges.
Your furniture, hardwood floors, and artwork also stop fading from UV exposure. The sun damage happens slowly, but it’s expensive to replace. Quality roller blinds for windows protect your investment without blocking your view when you want natural light.
A Plus Shutters & Shades grew out of A Plus Home Remodel, a construction company that’s been working in the DFW area since 2014. We’re based in Arlington with a dedicated showroom, and we’ve installed window treatments in hundreds of homes across Tarrant County and surrounding areas.
Picadilly Ridge homes were mostly built in the late 90s and early 2000s. We know the window sizes, the common layout challenges, and what works in this neighborhood. Most homes here have standard double-hung windows, but some have larger picture windows or sliding doors that need custom solutions.
We use Texas-made products when possible and handle everything from consultation to installation. You’re not dealing with a national franchise that subcontracts the work. Our installation team has construction backgrounds, which matters when you’re mounting hardware into different wall types or dealing with uneven frames.
You schedule a free consultation at your home. We measure your windows, look at your existing setup, and talk about what you’re trying to solve – whether that’s heat control, privacy, light blocking, or all three.
We bring fabric samples so you can see actual colors and textures in your lighting. Roller shade blinds come in different opacity levels. Some filter light while maintaining your view. Others provide complete blackout. We’ll explain what works for each room based on how you use the space.
After measurements, we give you a quote that includes materials and installation. If you move forward, we order your custom roller shades. Most orders take two to three weeks depending on the specific product and any motorization options.
Installation usually takes a few hours depending on how many windows you’re covering. We mount the hardware, hang the shades, test the operation, and clean up completely. For motorized options, we’ll show you how to use the controls and connect them to your phone or smart home system if you want that functionality.
You get a walkthrough of care and maintenance before we leave. Most roller blind windows just need occasional dusting or a damp cloth wipe. There’s no complicated upkeep.
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You’re getting window coverings built specifically for your measurements. Not cut-down stock sizes that leave gaps. Custom fit matters for blackout performance – even a half-inch gap lets in light and heat.
We offer cordless and motorized operating systems. Cordless is safer if you have young kids or pets, and it’s required by current safety standards for certain window types. Motorized adds convenience, especially if you have hard-to-reach windows or want to automate your shades for energy efficiency.
Fabric selection includes light-filtering, room-darkening, and complete blackout options. For Picadilly Ridge’s climate, we usually recommend solar shades for west-facing windows that get intense afternoon sun, and blackout blinds for windows in bedrooms or media rooms where you need darkness.
The installation includes all mounting hardware and brackets. We handle inside mount or outside mount depending on your window frame depth and what look you prefer. Inside mount sits within the frame for a cleaner appearance. Outside mount covers the entire frame and can help with light gaps.
You also get guidance on smart home integration if you’re going motorized. Most systems work with Alexa, Google Home, or dedicated apps. You can set schedules so your dark out blinds close automatically during peak heat hours, then open when temperatures drop.
Yes, but the savings depend on your windows and how much sun exposure you’re dealing with. If you have older single-pane windows or large west-facing glass, you’re losing a significant amount of cooling efficiency to solar heat gain.
Blackout window blinds block most of that heat before it enters the room. Your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain temperature, which directly reduces runtime and energy consumption. Most homeowners in this area see a noticeable difference in their bills during peak summer months.
The Department of Energy estimates that heat gain through windows can account for 25-30% of cooling costs in homes with poor window treatments. Quality roller shades with proper installation eliminate most of that waste. You’re not going to cut your bill in half, but a 15-20% reduction during summer is realistic for most homes in Picadilly Ridge.
Light filtering shades reduce glare and provide privacy while still letting natural light through. You can see general shapes outside, and light comes through the fabric. These work well in living rooms or kitchens where you want brightness without harsh sun.
Room darkening blocks most light but not all of it. You’ll get a dim room, but not complete darkness. Some light bleeds through the fabric and around the edges. These are fine for most bedrooms if you don’t need total blackout.
Blackout roller shades block essentially all light when properly installed. The fabric is opaque, and quality systems include side channels or overlapping edges to prevent light gaps. You get darkness comparable to nighttime even at noon. These are necessary for shift workers, nurseries, home theaters, or anyone who needs actual darkness to sleep. The blackout fabric also provides the best heat blocking and UV protection of the three options.
Installation typically takes two to four hours for an average home with 8-12 windows. Complex setups with motorization or unusually large windows take longer. We’ll give you a time estimate when we do measurements.
We mount brackets using appropriate hardware for your wall type. Drywall gets anchors. Wood trim gets screws. We’re not drilling randomly – we locate studs when possible and use the right fasteners to support the shade’s weight.
Small holes are unavoidable for mounting hardware, but they’re minimal and placed strategically. If you ever remove the shades, the holes are easy to patch and paint. We’re careful about your walls because we come from a construction background. We’ve seen plenty of bad installations from companies that don’t understand proper mounting techniques. Our work is clean, secure, and won’t cause damage beyond normal installation requirements.
Cordless is worth it if you have kids or pets. Dangling cords are a strangulation hazard, and current safety standards strongly recommend cordless systems for any window accessible to children. The operation is simple – you pull down to lower the shade and pull slightly to release and raise it.
Motorized costs more upfront but adds real convenience if you have multiple windows or hard-to-reach installations. You control everything from your phone or voice commands. The bigger benefit is automation for energy efficiency.
You can program your blackout blinds for windows to close automatically during peak afternoon heat, then open in the evening when temperatures drop. Most people don’t manually adjust their shades throughout the day, so they miss out on potential energy savings. Motorization handles it automatically.
Battery-powered motorized systems are easier to install since they don’t require electrical wiring. Hardwired systems are more permanent and don’t need battery changes, but installation is more involved. For most Picadilly Ridge homes, battery-powered makes more sense unless you’re doing a full renovation.
You can install basic roller shade blinds yourself if you’re handy and have the right tools. The challenge is getting accurate measurements and ensuring level installation. Even being off by an eighth of an inch can cause operational issues or light gaps with blackout shades.
Most DIY installations run into problems with mounting depth, bracket placement, or uneven window frames. Picadilly Ridge homes are 25-30 years old in many cases. Frames settle, walls aren’t always perfectly square, and you might hit unexpected issues like old anchors or wiring behind the mounting location.
Professional installation guarantees proper fit and function. We handle measurement errors, mounting challenges, and any adjustments needed for smooth operation. You also get warranty coverage on both the product and installation work.
The cost difference between DIY and professional installation is usually a few hundred dollars for a whole house. That’s worth it to avoid gaps, operational problems, or having to redo the work. Plus we complete the job in hours instead of you spending a weekend wrestling with brackets and levels.
Regular maintenance is minimal. Dust your roller shades every few weeks with a microfiber cloth or vacuum with a brush attachment. This prevents buildup that can affect operation or appearance.
For deeper cleaning, most fabrics can be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap. Don’t soak the fabric or use harsh chemicals. Blackout materials are usually vinyl-backed or specially treated, so they’re more durable than you’d expect.
Check the mounting brackets and hardware once or twice a year. Make sure screws haven’t loosened and the shade rolls smoothly. If you notice any resistance or uneven rolling, there might be dust in the mechanism or the fabric could be misaligned. Most issues are simple fixes.
Motorized systems need battery changes every 1-2 years depending on usage. Hardwired systems don’t have this requirement. The motors themselves are reliable and don’t need maintenance under normal use. If you have any operational issues, we handle service calls and can diagnose problems quickly. Most roller blinds last 10-15 years with basic care, which is significantly longer than cheap big-box options that start failing within a few years.
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