Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops fighting a losing battle. When outdoor roller shades block solar heat before it reaches your windows, your HVAC system runs 20-30% less during peak hours. That’s real money back in your account every month, not a marketing claim.
Your outdoor spaces become usable again. Patios, porches, and west-facing rooms that used to be unbearable from 2pm onward suddenly work for your family. You can work from home without the glare, eat dinner outside without sweating through your shirt, and stop worrying about your furniture fading from UV exposure.
The difference is immediate. The day we install your exterior window blinds, you’ll feel it. Rooms stay cooler. Glare disappears. And you’re not constantly adjusting your thermostat trying to keep up with Allandale’s relentless sun.
A Plus Shutters & Shades started as a construction company serving the Austin area. We’ve spent over 10 years working on homes throughout Allandale, so we understand what your house is up against. The heat. The afternoon sun that turns west-facing rooms into ovens. The way energy bills spike every summer.
We opened our shutter showroom because we kept seeing the same problems. Homeowners were spending thousands on HVAC repairs when the real issue was solar heat gain. Now we install Texas-made exterior roller shades that actually address the problem at the source.
We’re not the biggest operation in Austin, and we’re fine with that. What matters is that when you call, you’re talking to people who know Allandale homes and understand what works in this climate.
We start with a consultation at your home. We’ll look at your outdoor spaces, measure your windows and patios, and talk through what you’re trying to solve. If you’re dealing with afternoon glare in your home office or a patio that’s too hot to use, we’ll show you exactly how outdoor shade blinds can fix that.
Once you approve the plan, we custom-build your exterior roller shades. We’re talking about weather-resistant fabrics that can handle Texas heat, motorized systems that integrate with your smart home setup, and frames built to span up to 25 feet if needed. Everything is measured to your exact specifications.
Installation typically takes a day, depending on how many shades you’re adding. Our team has construction backgrounds, so the install is clean and precise. We mount everything securely, test the motorized controls, and make sure you know how to operate your new outdoor roller shades before we leave.
After that, you’re set. Most customers notice the temperature difference immediately, and the energy savings show up on the next utility bill.
Ready to get started?
These aren’t basic patio roller shades. You’re getting motorized exterior window blinds designed specifically for the Central Texas climate. The fabrics block up to 95% of UV rays while still allowing filtered light through, so you’re not sitting in the dark. They’re built to withstand the temperature swings we get in Allandale—those mornings that start at 65 and hit 105 by afternoon.
The motorization matters more than you’d think. You can program your outdoor roller shades to deploy automatically during peak sun hours, which means you’re blocking heat even when you’re not home. Integration with Amazon Echo or Google Home is standard. One command drops all your shades at once.
Energy efficiency is the big one. Allandale is looking at a 228% increase in days over 108°F in the next 30 years, according to climate projections. Your cooling costs are only going up unless you address solar heat gain now. Exterior shades stop the heat before it penetrates your windows, which is significantly more effective than interior blinds or blackout roller shades alone.
You’re also protecting your investment. UV damage to furniture, floors, and artwork adds up fast. These outdoor shade blinds extend the life of everything inside your home while making your outdoor living areas actually livable during summer months.
Expect to invest between $800 and $2,500 per shade, depending on size, fabric selection, and motorization features. A standard patio installation with three to four outdoor roller shades typically runs $4,000 to $8,000. Larger spans or premium fabrics push that higher.
The cost breaks down into materials, motorization, and installation. Weather-resistant fabrics built for Texas heat aren’t cheap, and motorized systems with smart home integration add to the price. But you’re looking at a 20-30% reduction in cooling costs, which means most Allandale homeowners see payback within three to five years.
We don’t finance, but we do provide detailed quotes upfront. No surprises, no upselling once we’re at your house. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying before we order anything.
Yes, and the impact is measurable. Exterior roller shades block up to 80% of solar heat before it reaches your windows, which means your AC isn’t working overtime to cool air that’s already been heated by direct sunlight. Most customers in Allandale see a 20-30% drop in summer cooling costs.
The difference between exterior and interior shades matters here. Interior blackout blinds for windows only block heat after it’s already inside your home. Exterior window blinds stop the heat outside, which is far more effective. Think of it like stopping someone at the door versus trying to push them back out after they’re already in your living room.
The ROI is straightforward. If you’re spending $300-400 per month on cooling during Allandale summers, you’re saving $60-120 monthly. Over a year, that’s $720-1,440 back in your pocket. The shades pay for themselves, and then they keep saving you money.
The ones we install will. We use fabrics specifically engineered for extreme climates—materials that resist fading, won’t crack in heat, and handle the occasional freeze we get in Central Texas. These aren’t the flimsy outdoor shade blinds you see failing after two summers.
Motorized components are sealed against dust and moisture. The frames are powder-coated aluminum that won’t rust or warp. We’ve had installations up for seven-plus years in the Austin area that still operate like new. Regular maintenance isn’t really necessary beyond occasional cleaning.
Wind is the main concern with any exterior shade system. We mount everything to structural points, not just surface-level. If high winds are forecast, you can retract your outdoor roller shades with a button press. Most customers just leave them down unless a storm is coming—they’re built to handle typical Texas weather without babysitting.
Light rain and typical weather are fine. Your exterior roller shades are water-resistant and designed to stay deployed through normal conditions. You’re not running outside every time clouds roll in.
For severe storms with high winds, yes—retract them. Wind is the only real threat to any exterior shade system. Sustained winds above 40 mph can stress the fabric and mounting hardware. Since these are motorized outdoor shades, retracting them takes about 30 seconds from your phone or wall switch.
Most Allandale homeowners set them and forget them for weeks at a time. The fabric dries quickly after rain, and the motorized components are sealed against moisture. We’ve never had an installation damaged by rain alone—only by customers who left them deployed during severe wind events after we specifically told them not to.
Yes. We install motorized systems that work with Amazon Echo, Google Home, and most major smart home platforms. You can control your outdoor roller shades by voice, phone app, or programmed schedule. Integration is part of the standard installation.
The scheduling feature is what most customers end up using daily. You can program your exterior window blinds to deploy automatically at 1pm when the sun hits your west-facing windows, then retract at sunset. You’re blocking heat during peak hours without thinking about it, even when you’re not home.
If you’re already running smart thermostats or automated lighting, adding patio roller shades to that ecosystem is straightforward. We’ll sync everything during installation and show you how to create scenes—like “leaving for work” that adjusts your shades, locks, and thermostat all at once. It’s not complicated, and it works reliably.
Most residential installations are done in one day. If you’re adding outdoor shade blinds to three or four windows or a large patio area, expect us to be there for four to six hours. Bigger projects with multiple outdoor spaces might stretch into a second day.
The timeline from order to installation is typically two to three weeks. That’s how long it takes to custom-build your exterior roller shades to your exact measurements and fabric selections. We’re not pulling stock sizes off a shelf—everything is made specifically for your home.
We’ll give you a firm installation date when you place your order. Our crews show up on time, work efficiently, and clean up completely before we leave. You’re not dealing with a multi-week construction project. We install, test everything, walk you through the controls, and you’re using your new outdoor roller shades that same afternoon.
Local Resources
