Hear from Our Customers
Your AC runs constantly. Your energy bills keep climbing. The afternoon sun turns your living room into a furnace and fades your furniture. You’ve tried those big-box blinds, but they gap at the edges, let in light when you need darkness, and never quite fit right.
Roller shades that actually fit your windows change all of that. You get real control over how much light enters each room. Blackout roller shades give you complete darkness in bedrooms and media rooms when you want it. Light-filtering options let in a soft glow without the glare and heat.
The right window treatments act as a barrier against Westgate’s intense summer heat. They keep your home cooler during the day, which means your HVAC system doesn’t work as hard. That’s not just comfort, it’s money back in your pocket every month. And when you’re dealing with a climate where 100% of properties face severe heat risk, that matters.
Your furniture stops fading. Your floors stay protected from UV damage. You sleep better in actual darkness. And you stop adjusting blinds ten times a day trying to find the right balance between light and privacy.
A Plus Shutters & Shades started as part of A Plus Home Remodel over ten years ago. We’ve spent that time learning exactly what works in Texas homes and what doesn’t. We’re not a national chain trying to sell you the same solution they push in Minnesota.
We’re based in Arlington and serve Westgate homeowners who need window treatments that can handle the climate here. That means understanding how the sun hits ranch-style homes, how to prevent light gaps in older window frames, and which fabrics actually hold up against Texas UV exposure year after year.
You’ll work with installers who’ve done this hundreds of times. We measure precisely because even an eighth of an inch matters when you’re trying to achieve true blackout. We mount securely because roller shades that won’t stay down aren’t doing you any good. And we use Texas-made products when possible because local craftsmanship tends to understand local conditions better.
You schedule a free consultation at your home in Westgate. We come to you, measure your windows, and show you fabric samples so you can see how different materials filter light. This isn’t a sales pitch, it’s a conversation about what you actually need in each room.
We discuss whether you want inside mount or outside mount installation. Inside mount fits within the window frame for a cleaner look but requires precise measurements. Outside mount covers more of the wall and blocks more light around the edges. Both work, it depends on your windows and your goals.
Once you choose your fabrics, colors, and operating systems, we custom-build your roller shade blinds to your exact specifications. When they’re ready, our installation team comes back and mounts them properly. We make sure the tension is right, the alignment is perfect, and there are no gaps letting in unwanted light or heat.
You get a walkthrough of how to operate and maintain your new window treatments. Most roller blinds for windows just need an occasional wipe with a damp cloth. Then you’re done. The whole process typically takes a few weeks from consultation to installation, depending on customization.
Ready to get started?
Every roller shade we install is custom-made for your specific windows. You’re not buying stock sizes and hoping they fit. You choose from a wide range of fabrics, from sheer light-filtering materials that soften harsh sunlight to complete blackout options that block 100% of light.
Westgate homes face some of the most intense sun exposure in the country. Your property has a 242% projected increase in days over 108°F in the next 30 years. That’s not a maybe, that’s what’s coming. Dark out blinds and solar shades help manage that heat before it enters your home, reducing the load on your cooling system and cutting your energy bills.
You can choose manual operation with a smooth pull mechanism, or upgrade to motorized roller shades controlled by remote, smartphone app, or voice commands. Motorization makes sense for hard-to-reach windows or if you want to automate your shades based on time of day.
We also handle exterior roller shades for patios and outdoor spaces. These use UV-resistant and water-resistant fabrics designed to withstand Texas weather. They give you usable outdoor space even during the hottest parts of the day by blocking direct sun and reducing ambient temperature.
All materials come with manufacturer warranties. Installation is backed by our workmanship guarantee. And because we’re local, we’re available if you ever need adjustments or have questions down the road.
Blackout blinds use thick, opaque fabric that blocks 100% of light when properly installed. You use these in bedrooms where you need complete darkness for sleep, or in media rooms where any light creates glare on screens. The fabric also provides maximum insulation against heat.
Light-filtering roller shades use a semi-transparent fabric that softens sunlight and reduces glare while still letting some natural light through. You can see outside during the day, but people can’t clearly see in. These work well in living rooms, kitchens, and offices where you want brightness without the harsh direct sun.
The choice depends on the room’s purpose. Most Westgate homeowners end up with a mix: blackout window blinds in bedrooms and light-filtering options in common areas. We bring samples to your consultation so you can see exactly how much light each fabric allows through.
Yes, but how much depends on your windows, your home’s insulation, and which fabrics you choose. Windows account for up to 76% of the heat entering your home during summer. Roller shades create a barrier that reflects or absorbs that heat before it warms up your interior.
Blackout roller shades and solar fabrics perform best for energy efficiency. They block the sun’s rays during peak heat hours, which means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain comfortable temperatures. In winter, they trap air between the window and the shade, adding an insulation layer that helps retain heat.
The energy savings are most noticeable on west-facing and south-facing windows that get direct afternoon sun. Those are the windows that turn rooms into ovens in summer. Covering them with the right roller shade blinds can drop the room temperature by several degrees without touching the thermostat. Over time, that adds up on your monthly bills.
Inside mount means the roller blind window treatment fits within your window frame. It looks cleaner and more built-in, and it doesn’t cover any wall space. But it requires enough depth in your window frame and very precise measurements. Even a small error can cause light gaps.
Outside mount installs on the wall above and around your window frame. The shade covers more area, which blocks more light around the edges and provides better insulation. This works better for windows with shallow frames, uneven frames, or when you want maximum light control and privacy.
For blackout applications in Westgate homes, outside mount usually performs better because it eliminates the light halo that can appear around inside-mounted shades. We measure your windows during the consultation and recommend which mounting style will give you the results you’re looking for. Sometimes we use both methods in the same home depending on each window’s characteristics.
Poor installation creates several problems. Light gaps around the edges defeat the purpose of blackout blinds. Uneven mounting causes the shade to roll crooked, which looks bad and creates unnecessary wear on one side. Loose brackets mean the shade can fall, especially if you have motorized options that add weight.
If the tension spring isn’t set correctly, your shade either rolls up too fast and snaps, or it won’t stay down at all. The ratchet mechanism needs to be clean and properly aligned or you’ll fight with it every time you try to adjust the shade. These aren’t problems you can easily fix yourself after the fact.
Professional installation from experienced technicians prevents all of this. We mount securely into studs or use appropriate anchors for your wall type. We level everything precisely. We test the operation before we leave. And if something isn’t right, we fix it then, not after you’ve lived with a frustrating shade for weeks. That’s the difference between a decade of construction experience and someone who installed their first shade last month.
Yes, we install motorized roller shades controlled by remote, smartphone app, or integrated with smart home systems like Alexa and Google Home. You can set schedules so your shades automatically lower during peak sun hours and raise in the evening. You can control multiple shades at once with one command.
Motorization makes the most sense for hard-to-reach windows, very large shades that are heavy to operate manually, or if you want home automation. It’s also helpful for anyone with mobility issues who has trouble reaching or pulling traditional cords and chains.
The upfront cost is higher than manual operation, but the convenience is significant if you have multiple windows. You’re not walking around adjusting six different shades throughout the day as the sun moves. Battery-operated motors are available if you don’t want to run electrical wiring. Hardwired options are more reliable for shades you’ll use daily. We can show you both during your consultation and help you decide what makes sense for your home and budget.
Quality interior roller shades typically last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance, even in Texas. The fabrics we use are designed to resist UV degradation, which is critical given Westgate’s sun exposure. Cheaper materials from big-box stores often fade, become brittle, or deteriorate within 3-5 years.
The operating mechanism matters too. Spring-loaded systems and quality motorized components hold up better than bargain hardware that strips or breaks. We use materials built to handle daily use in harsh conditions. That means smooth operation year after year, not mechanisms that start failing after the first summer.
Exterior roller shades face more wear from weather and typically need replacement every 7-10 years depending on exposure. But they’re also protecting your outdoor furniture and making your patio usable, so they’re taking the beating instead of everything else. Regular cleaning helps extend the life of any shade. Most just need a damp cloth wipe-down every few months to remove dust. That’s about as low-maintenance as window treatments get.
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