Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops running constantly. That’s the first thing most people notice after installing exterior roller shades. When you block heat before it hits the glass, your home doesn’t turn into an oven by 2 PM.
You can sit on your patio in July without feeling like you’re being cooked alive. The temperature drops by up to 30 degrees in shaded areas, which means your outdoor furniture actually gets used instead of collecting dust.
Your energy bill shrinks. Studies show exterior shading can cut your AC runtime by 3 to 5 hours a day during peak summer months. That’s real money back in your pocket, and your HVAC system isn’t working itself to death.
Furniture stops fading. Outdoor roller shades block up to 95% of UV rays, so your cushions, rugs, and anything near windows keep their color. You’re not replacing stuff every few years because the sun destroyed it.
You get privacy without feeling trapped. The right shade fabric lets you see out while keeping neighbors from seeing in. You control the light, the heat, and who’s watching your family barbecue.
A Plus Shutters & Shades started as part of A Plus Home Remodel, and we’ve spent over 10 years installing custom window treatments across the DFW area. We’re not new to this, and we’re not learning on your house.
We know Cypress Canyon. We know the heat, the storms rolling in from the Gulf, and how fast your patio can go from perfect to unbearable when the sun shifts. That’s why we focus on outdoor roller shades and exterior window blinds that actually hold up to Texas weather.
Every shade we install is custom-measured and built for your space. We don’t sell you something off a truck and hope it fits. You get exactly what your home needs, installed by people who’ve done this hundreds of times.
You call us or fill out a form, and we schedule a free consultation at your home. We’re not there to pressure you. We measure your windows or patio openings, look at your setup, and talk through what you’re trying to solve.
We bring samples so you can see the actual fabrics and materials. Some people want blackout roller shades for full sun control. Others want something lighter that still lets a breeze through. We walk you through the options based on what makes sense for your space and budget.
Once you decide, we order your custom shades. Everything is made to your exact measurements. When they’re ready, our installers show up on time, get them mounted properly, and test everything before we leave. If you go motorized, we make sure the controls work and show you how to use them.
The whole process usually takes a few weeks from consultation to installation. No surprises, no runaround. You know what you’re getting and when it’ll be done.
Ready to get started?
These aren’t the cheap pull-down blinds you see at big box stores. Exterior roller shades are built to live outside and take a beating from sun, wind, and rain without falling apart in two years.
In Cypress Canyon, where summer heat regularly pushes past 100 degrees and storms can kick up without much warning, you need outdoor patio blinds that can handle both. The fabrics we use are designed for high-wind areas and UV exposure. They won’t crack, fade, or rip the first time the weather gets rough.
You can choose manual operation or go motorized. Motorized outdoor roller shades let you control everything from your phone or voice assistant, which is helpful when a storm’s coming and you’re not home. They’re also just easier to use when you’ve got a large patio setup.
We install these on covered patios, pergolas, screened porches, and directly onto exterior windows. If you want to turn an open patio into a three-season room, blackout blinds for windows and outdoor spaces give you full control over light and temperature. You’re not stuck with one setup year-round.
Exterior roller shades can drop the temperature in a shaded area by up to 30 degrees during peak Texas summer heat. That’s not a small difference. When you block the sun before it hits your windows or patio, you’re stopping heat transfer at the source instead of trying to cool it down after it’s already inside.
The U.S. Department of Energy says outdoor shading devices can cut air conditioning costs by up to 50%. In real terms, that means your AC might run 3 to 5 fewer hours a day when exterior shades are doing their job. Over a summer in Cypress Canyon, that adds up fast.
The key is that exterior shades work better than interior blinds because they stop heat outside. Interior blinds trap heat between the glass and the fabric, so your windows still get hot and radiate that warmth into your home. Exterior roller shades prevent that from happening in the first place.
If they’re installed correctly and you’re using the right materials, yes. The outdoor roller shades we install are rated for high-wind conditions, which matters when storms roll through Cypress Canyon with little warning. The fabrics are designed to handle wind, rain, and UV exposure without tearing or degrading.
That said, if a hurricane or severe storm is coming, you should retract motorized shades or roll up manual ones to protect them. These shades are tough, but they’re not indestructible. Leaving them down in extreme wind can damage the fabric or the mounting hardware.
We make sure everything is anchored properly during installation. The brackets, tracks, and mounting points are built to handle normal Texas weather, including the occasional strong storm. If you’re in an area that sees frequent high winds, we can talk through options that give you extra durability without sacrificing function.
It depends on the fabric you choose. Some outdoor shade blinds are designed to block light and visibility completely, like blackout roller shades. Those are great if you want full privacy and maximum heat control, but you won’t see through them.
Other fabrics are what’s called “solar shades.” These let you see outside while blocking most of the sun and UV rays. From inside, you get a clear view of your yard or patio. From outside, people can’t see in clearly, especially during the day. It’s not a one-way mirror, but it gives you privacy without making you feel like you’re sitting in a cave.
The percentage of openness in the fabric affects how much you can see and how much light gets through. A 5% openness fabric blocks more light and gives more privacy than a 10% fabric. We bring samples to your consultation so you can see the difference and decide what works best for your space.
For a standard patio with two to four shade panels, installation usually takes a few hours. If you’re covering a large pergola or multiple window openings, it might take most of a day. It’s not a week-long project, and you’re not left with a torn-apart patio for days.
The timeline from consultation to finished installation is typically two to three weeks. That includes measuring, ordering your custom shades, waiting for them to be built, and scheduling the install. If you need something faster, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.
Motorized outdoor roller shades take a little longer to install because we’re running wiring and setting up the controls. If you’re adding them to a smart home system, we make sure everything connects and works before we leave. Manual shades are quicker since there’s no electrical work involved.
Not really. These are built to live outside, so they’re designed to handle dirt, pollen, and weather without constant upkeep. Most of the time, you can hose them down or wipe them with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris.
If you’re in Cypress Canyon, you’ll probably want to clean them a few times a year, especially during peak pollen season or after a storm. The fabric doesn’t absorb dirt like indoor curtains, so it’s usually a quick rinse and you’re done. Avoid pressure washers or harsh chemicals, which can damage the material.
Motorized shades need occasional checks to make sure the motor and controls are working smoothly, but that’s about it. If something stops working, it’s usually a simple fix. We’re available if you run into issues, and most problems can be handled without replacing the entire shade.
If you have a large patio or multiple shades, motorized is worth it. Manually rolling down three or four outdoor patio blinds every time the sun shifts or a storm’s coming gets old fast. With motorized outdoor roller shades, you hit a button or use your phone, and they’re down in seconds.
Motorized shades also let you set schedules. You can program them to lower automatically during the hottest part of the day, which saves energy even when you’re not home. If you’ve got a smart home setup with Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control them with voice commands.
The upfront cost is higher, but the convenience is significant. If you’re installing exterior window blinds on hard-to-reach windows or covering a large outdoor area, motorized makes the system actually usable instead of something you avoid because it’s a hassle. For smaller setups or single shades, manual operation works fine and saves you money.
Local Resources
