Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops running constantly. That’s the first thing most people notice after installing exterior roller shades in Ford Oaks. When you block heat before it reaches your windows, your home stays cooler without working your system to death.
You’ll also stop squinting through your windows or closing all your blinds just to see your TV. Outdoor shade blinds cut glare while keeping your view intact, so you can actually enjoy natural light without the harsh Texas sun beating through your glass.
And if you’ve got a patio that’s unusable after 10 AM, motorized outdoor shades change that completely. Drop them with your phone or voice command, and suddenly you’ve got 15-20 degrees of relief and a space you can use during the hottest part of the day. No bugs, no blinding sun, no privacy issues from neighbors.
The energy savings are real too. Most homes see 20-30% drops in cooling costs during summer months because your AC isn’t fighting solar heat gain all day. That’s not marketing talk—that’s what happens when you stop heat at the source instead of trying to cool it down after it’s already inside.
A Plus Shutters & Shades started as a branch of A Plus Home Remodel, a construction company that’s been transforming homes across the Dallas-Fort Worth area for over a decade. We’re not new to this. We’ve seen what works, what fails, and what homeowners in Ford Oaks actually need when it comes to beating Texas heat.
We only install Texas-made products because they’re built for this climate. The cheap stuff from big box stores? It warps, jams, and falls apart within a year or two. We’ve replaced enough of those systems to know better.
Our team handles everything from consultation to installation, and we back our work with a five-year installation warranty. You’re not dealing with subcontractors or rotating crews. You get experienced installers who’ve done this hundreds of times and know how to get it right the first time.
We start with a free consultation at your home. You show us the windows or outdoor spaces you want to cover, and we take exact measurements. We’ll also show you fabric samples so you can see the difference between solar screens, blackout roller shades, and other options based on how much light control and privacy you need.
Once you choose your materials and operating system—manual, motorized, or smart home integrated—we order everything custom-built to your specs. Most orders take 2-4 weeks to fabricate, depending on size and complexity.
Installation day is straightforward. Our crew shows up on time, handles all the mounting and setup, and tests everything before we leave. For motorized systems, we’ll program your controls and walk you through how to operate them. If you’re integrating with Alexa, Google, or another smart home system, we’ll make sure that’s working too.
After install, you’ve got our contact info. If something needs adjustment or you have questions about operation, you call us directly. No phone trees, no runaround.
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Every exterior roller shade we install uses heavy-duty components designed for outdoor exposure. That means stainless steel chains that won’t break in Texas heat, exterior-grade fabrics that block 86-99% of UV rays depending on your selection, and mounting hardware that holds up to 105 mph winds. We’re not exaggerating that number—it’s backed by actual engineering specs and field testing.
For motorized systems, we use Rollease Acmeda motors with Somfy TaHoma integration. That gives you app control, voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant, and the ability to set schedules so your shades lower automatically during peak sun hours. You can also tie them into your smart home ecosystem with IFTTT or Samsung SmartThings if you want more advanced automation.
Ford Oaks homes deal with intense afternoon sun, especially on west-facing patios and windows. That’s where exterior shades make the biggest difference. By blocking solar heat gain before it penetrates your glass, you’re preventing the greenhouse effect that makes rooms unbearable and drives up cooling costs. The temperature drop is immediate and noticeable—most clients tell us they feel the difference within hours of installation.
You also get privacy without losing your view. The mesh weave lets you see out clearly during the day while blocking the view from outside. At night, you’ll want interior blinds or curtains for full privacy, but during daylight hours, outdoor roller shades give you coverage without feeling closed in.
For most standard patio or window installations, you’re looking at $1,500 to $5,000+ depending on the size of the area you’re covering and whether you want basic motorization or full smart home integration. A single large patio door might run $1,500-2,500, while covering an entire outdoor living space with multiple shades and automated controls can push toward the higher end.
The price reflects the quality of components and the complexity of installation. Exterior-grade systems have to withstand constant weather exposure, so they use thicker fabrics, heavy-duty motors, and corrosion-resistant hardware. Cheaper systems fail faster—we’ve replaced plenty of big box store shades that lasted less than two years.
Custom sizing also affects cost. If you’ve got oversized openings or need shades that extend beyond standard dimensions, fabrication takes longer and requires more material. We’ll give you an exact quote after measuring your space and understanding what features matter most to you.
Yes, but the savings depend on how much sun exposure you’re currently dealing with. Homes with large west or south-facing windows see the biggest impact because that’s where solar heat gain hits hardest during Texas summers. Most of our Ford Oaks clients report 20-30% reductions in cooling costs after installing exterior roller shades on their primary sun-facing windows and patios.
The reason it works is simple: you’re stopping heat before it gets inside. Interior blinds and curtains try to block heat after it’s already penetrated your glass, which means your AC is still fighting that thermal load. Exterior shades reject up to 78% of infrared heat and block 86-99% of UV rays depending on fabric density, so your windows stay cooler and your HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard.
You’ll notice the difference most on your July and August bills. That’s when the sun is most intense and your AC runs longest. The payback period varies, but if you’re spending $300-400/month on cooling during peak summer, a 25% reduction means you’re saving $75-100 monthly, which adds up over the years you’ll use these shades.
Yes, during the day. The mesh fabric we use for most outdoor roller shades is woven to allow outward visibility while blocking the view from outside. You’ll be able to see your yard, pool, or street clearly without feeling like you’re sitting behind a solid barrier. The denser the fabric (higher UV blockage), the slightly more muted your view becomes, but it’s still clear enough for normal use.
At night, the situation reverses. When your interior lights are on and it’s dark outside, people can see in through even the densest solar shade fabric. That’s just how light transmission works. If you need evening privacy, you’ll want to pair exterior shades with interior blinds, curtains, or blackout roller shades that you can close after sunset.
For most Ford Oaks homeowners, this setup works perfectly. Exterior shades handle daytime heat and glare while maintaining your view and curb appeal. Interior treatments handle nighttime privacy and room darkening when needed. You get the benefits of both without compromising on either function.
The actual installation usually takes 2-6 hours depending on how many shades you’re having installed and whether we’re mounting to brick, stucco, wood, or metal structures. A single patio shade might take 90 minutes. A full outdoor living area with four or five motorized shades could take most of a day.
The timeline from order to installation is typically 2-4 weeks. That’s how long it takes to custom-fabricate your shades to exact measurements with the fabric and operating system you selected. We don’t stock pre-made sizes because every home is different, and custom fit is what makes these systems work properly and look clean.
We’ll schedule your install date when we place your order, so you know exactly when to expect us. Our crew shows up on time, handles all the drilling and mounting, runs any necessary wiring for motorized systems, and tests everything before leaving. If you’re integrating with smart home controls, we program those during the install and make sure you’re comfortable operating everything before we’re done.
The most common issue is a power problem—either a tripped breaker, loose connection, or dead batteries in the remote. We walk you through basic troubleshooting over the phone, and that solves about 60% of service calls without us needing to come out.
If it’s a mechanical issue like fabric bunching on the roller or debris caught in the track, that usually requires a service visit. We’ll come out, diagnose the problem, and handle repairs under your warranty if it’s a defect or installation issue. If it’s damage from weather or accidental impact, we’ll let you know what needs to be replaced and give you a straight cost before doing any work.
The motors and components we install are built to last 10-15 years with normal use, but Texas weather is tough on everything. We use Rollease Acmeda and Somfy systems specifically because they hold up better than cheaper alternatives and have readily available replacement parts if something does eventually fail. You’re not stuck with an orphaned system that can’t be serviced five years down the road.
They’re most effective for heat control, but they do provide some insulation during winter. In summer, exterior roller shades can drop surface temperatures by 15-20 degrees and reduce indoor temps by a similar amount by blocking direct solar radiation. That’s their primary function and where you’ll see the biggest benefit in Ford Oaks.
During winter, lowered shades create an air gap between the fabric and your windows, which adds a layer of insulation that helps retain heat inside your home. It’s not as dramatic as the cooling effect, but it does reduce heat loss through glass, especially on north-facing windows that never get direct sun in winter.
The real value is year-round UV protection. Even in cooler months, UV rays fade furniture, artwork, and flooring. Exterior shades block 86-99% of UV depending on fabric density, which protects your interior furnishings from sun damage regardless of season. If you’ve ever had a couch or rug fade near a window, you know how expensive that problem gets over time.
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