Hear from Our Customers
Your patio stops being a furnace. That’s the first thing you’ll notice when exterior window blinds are installed correctly with commercial-grade hardware and UV-resistant fabric.
The second thing is your energy bill. When you block heat before it hits the glass, your AC isn’t fighting a losing battle all afternoon. Some homes see cooling costs drop by 20-25% just from adding outdoor shade blinds on west-facing windows and patios.
Then there’s the stuff inside. Your furniture stops fading. Your floors don’t bleach out in patches. You’re not replacing curtains every few years because the sun cooked them.
And if you go motorized, you’re adjusting shade coverage from your phone while you’re still at work. By the time you pull into the driveway, your house is already cooler and your back patio is comfortable enough to use.
We’re based in Arlington, and we’ve been working in North Richland Hills long enough to know what holds up and what doesn’t. We’re part of A Plus Home Remodel, so we’ve got over a decade of construction experience behind every install.
That matters because mounting outdoor roller shades isn’t just about drilling holes. It’s about load distribution, wind resistance, and making sure your shade doesn’t rip off the wall during a storm. We’ve seen what happens when big-box stores send untrained crews, and we’ve fixed plenty of those jobs.
We’re not a franchise. You’re working with people who live in the area, understand the climate, and actually answer the phone when you call.
We start with a free consultation at your home. We’ll measure your space, talk about where the sun hits hardest, and go over fabric options based on how much light and airflow you want. If you’re interested in motorization or smart home integration, we’ll cover that too.
Once you approve the quote, we order your custom outdoor patio blinds. Everything is made to your exact measurements, so there’s no gap at the edges where heat sneaks through.
Installation day is straightforward. We mount the hardware, install the shade, and test the operation to make sure everything runs smooth. If it’s motorized, we’ll sync it with your system and show you how to control it. Then we clean up and walk you through care and maintenance.
The whole process usually takes a few weeks from consultation to install, depending on customization. You’re not waiting months, and you’re not dealing with a rotating cast of subcontractors who don’t know your project.
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Every exterior roller shade we install uses commercial-grade mounting hardware designed for outdoor use. That means rust-resistant materials, reinforced brackets, and tension systems that keep the fabric taut even in wind.
The fabrics are solution-dyed, which means the color goes all the way through the material. It won’t fade or bleach out after a summer of 100-degree days. You can choose from different openness levels depending on whether you want full blackout or filtered light with a view.
Motorization is available on any setup. You can control your shades with a remote, wall switch, smartphone app, or voice command if you’ve got Alexa or Google Home. We use Somfy motors, which are the standard in the industry for a reason.
In North Richland Hills, most of our clients prioritize west and south-facing coverage since that’s where afternoon heat does the most damage. If your home backs up to open space or faces a golf course, you’re probably dealing with intense sun exposure from multiple angles. We’ll map that out during the consultation so you’re covering the right areas without overspending on spots that don’t need it.
It depends on how much glass you’re covering and which direction it faces. West-facing windows and patios take the hardest hit from afternoon sun, and that’s where you’ll see the biggest impact.
Most homes in North Richland Hills that add outdoor roller shades to problem areas see a noticeable drop in how often the AC runs during peak hours. Some report 20-25% reductions in cooling costs during summer months, but that’s with good coverage on the hottest exposures.
The key is blocking heat before it gets inside. Once it’s through the glass, your AC is just playing catch-up. Exterior shades stop that transfer at the source, which is way more effective than interior blinds or blackout roller shades alone.
If they’re installed correctly with the right hardware, yes. The motor itself is sealed and weather-resistant, and quality systems like Somfy are built for outdoor use.
The bigger concern is the mounting. If the brackets aren’t anchored into solid structure or if the tension isn’t set right, wind can whip the fabric around and cause damage. That’s why we don’t just screw into siding and call it done.
We also recommend retracting your shades if you know a serious storm is coming. Motorized systems make that easy since you can do it from inside. Most of our clients set up automation rules so their shades retract automatically when wind speed hits a certain threshold.
Yes, depending on the fabric you choose. Outdoor roller shades come in different openness levels, which refers to how tight the weave is.
A 5% openness fabric blocks 95% of UV and heat but still lets you see outside. It cuts glare without making your patio feel like a cave. A 10% openness lets in more light and gives you a clearer view, but it doesn’t block as much heat.
If you want full privacy or total blackout, you can go with a tighter weave or a solid fabric. Most people in North Richland Hills go with something in the 3-5% range because it balances heat control with visibility. You’re not staring at a wall, but you’re also not squinting into the sun every afternoon.
The actual installation usually takes a few hours depending on how many shades you’re adding and whether we’re running power for motorization.
The timeline from consultation to install is typically 2-4 weeks. That includes measuring, ordering your custom shades, and scheduling the install. If you’re doing something more complex like integrating with a smart home system or covering a large outdoor living area, it might take a bit longer.
We don’t rush the process because getting the measurements and mounting right the first time matters more than speed. A shade that’s even slightly off in width or tension won’t perform the way it should, and fixing it later is a hassle nobody wants.
Location and heat control. Interior roller shades, even blackout blinds for windows, stop light but they don’t stop heat. By the time the sun hits an interior shade, the heat is already inside your home and your AC is working to remove it.
Exterior roller shades block heat and UV before it ever reaches the glass. That makes them way more effective for energy savings and temperature control, especially in Texas where summer sun is relentless.
The tradeoff is durability requirements. Outdoor shades need weather-resistant fabrics, sealed motors if they’re motorized, and stronger mounting systems to handle wind. They cost more upfront, but the energy savings and extended outdoor living space usually make up for it within a few years.
Yes, as long as the structure can support the weight and mounting requirements. We install on covered patios, pergolas, screened porches, and directly onto exterior walls above windows.
During the consultation, we’ll assess what you’ve got and let you know if any reinforcement is needed. Most standard patio covers and home exteriors are fine, but if you’ve got an older structure or something custom-built, we might need to add blocking or use different mounting hardware.
We’ve worked with everything from new construction homes in North Richland Hills to older properties that need creative solutions. The goal is always a secure install that’s going to last, not just something that looks good for a season and fails when the wind picks up.
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