Hear from Our Customers
Right now, your outdoor space probably sits empty most of the day because the sun makes it unbearable. You’ve got furniture out there that’s fading, and when you do try to use the patio, you’re squinting or sweating within minutes.
Outdoor roller shades change that. They block up to 99% of UV rays and drop surface temperatures by around 15 degrees. That means your patio furniture stops fading, your sliding glass doors aren’t radiating heat into the house, and you can actually sit outside during peak afternoon hours.
The difference shows up on your energy bill too. When you stop heat before it hits the glass, your AC doesn’t fight a losing battle all day. Most homeowners see energy savings around 20-30% during summer months. Your system runs less, lasts longer, and you’re not adjusting the thermostat every hour trying to stay comfortable.
A Plus Shutters & Shades grew out of A Plus Home Remodel, a company that’s been working in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for over 10 years. We opened a dedicated showroom in Arlington because we kept seeing homeowners struggle with the same problem: window treatments that looked good but didn’t actually solve the heat issue.
Chestnut sits right in the path of that relentless Texas sun, and most indoor solutions just aren’t enough. We focus on exterior roller shades because they work better than anything you hang inside. When you mount the shade outside the window, you stop the heat before it ever reaches the glass.
We’re local, we stock Texas-made products, and we don’t subcontract installations. The team that measures your windows is the same team that installs your shades.
You schedule a free consultation, and we come to your home in Chestnut to measure your windows and talk through what you’re dealing with. We bring samples so you can see the materials, test the opacity levels, and understand how motorized vs manual operation works.
Once you pick your style and features, we custom-build each shade to fit your exact window dimensions. There’s no guessing or trimming on-site. Everything is made to spec before we show up.
Installation typically takes a few hours depending on how many windows you’re covering. We mount the shades to your exterior walls or window frames, test the operation, and walk you through the controls. If you go motorized, we sync everything to your phone or smart home system before we leave.
You’ll notice the temperature difference immediately. The real test comes on your next energy bill.
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Every exterior roller shade we install is custom-measured for your specific windows. You’re not working with standard sizes that leave gaps or don’t quite fit right. We measure, we build, we install.
You choose your opacity level based on how you use the space. Solar shades let you see outside while blocking heat and UV rays. Blackout roller shades give you complete light control, which matters if you’re covering bedroom windows or trying to reduce glare on a TV.
Motorized options come with Bond automation, so your shades work with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. You can set schedules, control them from your phone, or just use voice commands. Manual operation is available too if you prefer a simpler setup.
Materials are UV-resistant and built for Texas weather. You’re not replacing these in two years because they faded or the mechanism broke. In Chestnut, where summer heat is a given and outdoor spaces matter, exterior shades hold up better than any indoor option. They take the beating from the sun so your windows, furniture, and AC system don’t have to.
Exterior roller shades block heat before it reaches your windows, which makes them significantly more effective than indoor blinds. When sunlight hits glass, it turns into heat that radiates into your home. Indoor shades trap that heat between the window and the fabric, so you’re still dealing with most of it.
Mounting the shade outside stops that process entirely. You can expect temperature drops of 15-20 degrees on the glass surface itself, and most homeowners see a 20-30% reduction in cooling costs during peak summer months. The exact savings depend on how many windows you cover, which direction they face, and how much direct sun exposure you’re dealing with.
South and west-facing windows in Chestnut take the hardest hit from afternoon sun. Those are the spots where exterior shades make the biggest difference. You’ll feel it as soon as you walk into the room.
Yes, solar shades are designed to block heat and UV rays while maintaining visibility. The fabric is woven with tiny perforations that let you see through from the inside, but the weave is tight enough to reject up to 99% of harmful UV rays and a significant portion of solar heat.
The openness factor determines how much you can see. A 5% openness shade blocks more light and heat but reduces visibility slightly. A 10% openness shade gives you a clearer view while still providing solid sun protection. During the day, you can see out clearly, but people outside have a harder time seeing in because of the light differential.
If you want complete privacy or total blackout for a bedroom or media room, we can install blackout roller shades instead. Those block 100% of light but obviously eliminate the view. Most people use solar shades for living areas and patios, then switch to blackout options for bedrooms where light control matters more than seeing outside.
Quality exterior roller shades are built specifically for outdoor conditions and should last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance. The fabrics we use are UV-resistant, which means they won’t fade or break down under constant sun exposure the way cheaper materials do.
The mechanisms matter just as much as the fabric. We install commercial-grade hardware that’s designed to handle wind, heat, and repeated use. Motorized systems use sealed components to keep dust and moisture out. Manual systems use stainless steel or powder-coated aluminum that won’t rust or corrode.
Texas weather is tough, but exterior shades are made for it. You’re not dealing with the same fragility you’d see with indoor curtains or cheap vinyl blinds. The biggest maintenance item is occasional cleaning to remove dust or pollen. Most people just spray them down with a hose once or twice a year. If something does go wrong with the motor or fabric, we handle repairs and stand behind the installation.
Motorized shades use a small electric motor to raise and lower the fabric with the push of a button, a phone app, or voice commands through your smart home system. Manual shades use a hand crank that you turn to roll the shade up or down.
The main advantage of motorized operation is convenience, especially if you’re covering large windows or multiple openings. You can set schedules so your shades automatically lower during peak sun hours and raise in the evening. If you’re covering a second-story window or a hard-to-reach spot, motorized makes a lot more sense than climbing a ladder every time you want to adjust the shade.
Manual operation costs less upfront and doesn’t require any wiring or power source. It’s reliable, simple, and there’s nothing electronic to break. For most people, the decision comes down to budget and how often you plan to adjust the shades. If you’re going to lower them in May and leave them down until September, manual works fine. If you want flexibility and convenience, motorized is worth the upgrade.
Yes, exterior roller shades are one of the most effective ways to prevent furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading. UV rays are the main culprit behind sun damage, and solar shades block up to 99% of those rays before they ever enter your home.
When you stop UV light at the window, you’re protecting everything inside the room. Sofas, rugs, hardwood floors, and wall art all last longer because they’re not getting hit with direct sunlight day after day. The difference is especially noticeable in rooms with large windows or sliding glass doors that face south or west.
Indoor blinds and curtains help, but they’re still letting UV rays hit the glass and pass through to some degree. Exterior shades create a barrier outside the window, so the UV never makes it to your furniture in the first place. If you’ve already noticed fading on your couch or rug, installing exterior shades now will stop further damage. It won’t reverse what’s already happened, but it will prevent the problem from getting worse.
Exterior roller shades typically cost between $400 and $1,200 per window, depending on size, material, and whether you choose manual or motorized operation. Larger openings like patio doors or wide picture windows cost more because they require more fabric and heavier-duty hardware.
Motorized shades add to the upfront cost, but they also add convenience and can increase your home’s resale value. Smart home integration is becoming a standard feature buyers look for, especially in newer homes around Chestnut and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The return on investment shows up in two ways: lower energy bills and longer-lasting furniture and flooring. Most homeowners see a 20-30% drop in cooling costs during summer, which adds up quickly in Texas. When you factor in the money you’re not spending on replacing faded furniture or running your AC constantly, the shades pay for themselves over time. We offer free consultations and quotes, so you’ll know exactly what your project costs before we start any work.
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