Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops running nonstop. That’s the first thing you notice. Exterior roller shades block solar heat before it ever reaches your windows, which means your home stays cooler without cranking the thermostat down to 68. In Windsor Park, where summer temps regularly hit triple digits, that difference shows up fast on your energy bill—most homeowners see cooling costs drop by 25 to 30 percent.
Your outdoor spaces actually become usable again. Patios that used to bake in the afternoon sun turn into comfortable spots where you can sit, eat, and relax without squinting or sweating through your shirt. Outdoor roller shades give you control over how much sun and heat you’re dealing with, so you’re not stuck choosing between shade and a view.
UV protection matters too, especially if you’ve got furniture, flooring, or artwork near windows. These shades block up to 99% of UV rays, which means less fading and less damage over time. You’re not replacing cushions or rugs every few years because the sun destroyed them.
And if you go motorized, you’re adjusting everything from your phone or with a voice command. No cords, no cranking, no hassle. Just shade when you want it, sun when you don’t.
A Plus Shutters & Shades is part of A Plus Home Remodel, a company with over a decade of construction experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We’re not a national franchise that showed up last year. We’re local, we know Windsor Park, and we understand what Texas weather does to homes.
That matters because exterior roller shades aren’t just about picking a color and hanging fabric. They need to handle wind, rain, extreme heat, and the occasional hailstorm. We measure carefully, install correctly, and use materials built for this climate—not something that works fine in California but falls apart here after one summer.
We also run a dedicated showroom in Arlington where you can see the actual products, test the motors, and talk through options without a sales pitch. You’re making a decision about your home. We’re here to give you the information you need to make it.
You reach out, and we schedule a time to come see your space. We’re measuring windows, checking mounting surfaces, and talking through what you’re trying to solve—whether that’s heat, glare, privacy, or all three. We’ll show you fabric options, explain the difference between manual and motorized systems, and give you a clear quote with no surprises.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we order your custom exterior roller shades. Everything is built to your exact measurements, so it fits right the first time. When the shades arrive, we schedule installation at a time that works for you. Most jobs take a few hours, depending on how many windows or openings we’re covering.
We mount the shades, test the operation, and make sure everything runs smoothly. If you went with motorized outdoor roller shades, we’ll sync them to your system and walk you through the controls. You’ll know how to raise, lower, and adjust them before we leave.
After that, you’re set. If something comes up down the road—a motor issue, a fabric question, whatever—you call us. We’re local, so we can actually get to you without routing your request through three departments in another state.
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Exterior roller shades are designed to sit outside your windows or cover outdoor spaces like patios, pergolas, and porches. They block heat and UV rays before they enter your home, which is far more effective than interior blinds that only filter light after it’s already inside. In Windsor Park, where the sun is relentless from May through September, that difference is huge.
You can choose from different fabric densities depending on how much light and visibility you want. Some homeowners go with a tighter weave for maximum heat rejection and privacy. Others prefer a more open fabric that still blocks UV rays but lets you see outside. Blackout roller shades are also an option if you need complete darkness and insulation—great for bedrooms or media rooms.
Motorization is available on every system we install. You can control your outdoor shade blinds with a remote, a wall switch, or integrate them into a smart home system like Alexa or Google Assistant. Some systems even adjust automatically based on the time of day or temperature, so you’re not constantly managing them yourself.
Durability is built in. These aren’t the cheap roll-up shades you see at big-box stores. The fabrics are UV-resistant, the hardware is corrosion-resistant, and everything is engineered to handle wind and weather. In Texas, that’s not optional—it’s required.
Most homeowners see a 25 to 30 percent drop in cooling costs after installing exterior roller shades, especially on windows that face south or west. That’s because the shades block solar heat before it ever hits the glass, which means your AC isn’t working as hard to keep up.
In Windsor Park, where summer temps regularly exceed 100 degrees, that reduction adds up fast. If you’re currently spending $200 a month on cooling during peak season, you could be saving $50 to $60 per month just by controlling heat gain. Over a few years, the shades basically pay for themselves through energy savings alone.
The exact savings depend on how many windows you cover, the fabric density you choose, and how much direct sun exposure your home gets. But the principle is the same: stop the heat outside, and your indoor temperature stays more stable without constant AC use.
Yes, but only if they’re installed correctly and built for it. The exterior roller shades we install use heavy-duty mounting hardware and wind-rated fabrics designed to handle gusts without tearing or pulling loose. That said, if a severe storm is coming through with 60+ mph winds, we recommend retracting motorized shades to avoid unnecessary stress on the system.
Most of the time, though, these shades stay put through normal Texas weather—heat, rain, and moderate wind. The frames are powder-coated aluminum or stainless steel, so they won’t rust or corrode. The fabrics are UV-stabilized and water-resistant, which means they dry quickly and don’t degrade in the sun.
If you live in an area that gets frequent high winds, we can also install wind sensors that automatically retract the shades when gusts hit a certain speed. That way, you’re not worrying about damage while you’re at work or out of town.
Exterior roller shades block heat and UV rays before they enter your home, which is far more effective than interior blinds that only filter light after it’s already inside. Once sunlight passes through your windows, it’s already heating up your floors, furniture, and air. Interior blinds help with glare and privacy, but they don’t stop the heat.
Exterior shades, on the other hand, create a barrier outside the glass. The sun hits the fabric, and most of that heat gets reflected or absorbed before it ever reaches your window. That keeps your indoor temperature lower and reduces the load on your AC.
For outdoor spaces like patios or porches, exterior roller shades also give you weather protection and privacy that interior blinds can’t provide. You can block wind, rain, and direct sun while still enjoying your outdoor area. It’s a completely different function, and in Windsor Park’s climate, it makes a noticeable difference in comfort and energy use.
If you’re covering multiple windows or large outdoor areas, motorization makes a huge difference in convenience. You’re not walking around raising and lowering shades manually throughout the day—you’re adjusting everything from your phone or with a voice command. That alone is worth it for most people.
Motorized systems also let you program schedules, so your outdoor roller shades automatically lower during the hottest part of the day and raise in the evening when the sun’s gone. Some systems even integrate with smart home platforms and adjust based on temperature or time, which maximizes energy savings without you having to think about it.
The upfront cost is higher, but the long-term value is there. You’re more likely to actually use the shades if they’re easy to control, which means you’re getting the full energy-saving and comfort benefits. And if you ever sell your home, motorized outdoor patio blinds are a selling point that buyers notice.
Most installations take a few hours, depending on how many windows or outdoor spaces we’re covering. If you’re doing three or four windows, we’re usually done in half a day. Larger projects—like covering an entire patio or multiple sides of a house—might take a full day or slightly more.
The process itself is straightforward. We mount the brackets, install the roller mechanism, attach the fabric, and test everything to make sure it operates smoothly. For motorized systems, we also sync the controls and walk you through how to use them before we leave.
Custom exterior roller shades are built to your exact measurements, so there’s no cutting or adjusting on-site. Everything fits right the first time. That’s why accurate measurements during the initial consultation matter—it keeps the installation clean and fast once the shades arrive.
Absolutely. The fabric density you choose determines how much privacy you get. Tighter weaves block more visibility from the outside while still letting you see out during the day. If you want complete privacy day and night, blackout roller shades are the way to go—they block light and visibility entirely.
For outdoor spaces, exterior roller shades give you privacy from neighbors and passersby without closing off your patio or porch completely. You can still enjoy the breeze and the view, but people walking by can’t see directly into your space. That’s especially useful in Windsor Park neighborhoods where homes are close together.
The privacy benefit works alongside the sun and heat control, so you’re not choosing one over the other. You’re getting both, which makes exterior roller shades a solid investment if you’re trying to make your outdoor areas more comfortable and usable year-round.
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