Hear from Our Customers
Your AC stops fighting a losing battle. When you block the sun before it enters your windows, your home stays cooler without your system running constantly. That’s the difference between a $250 summer electric bill and a $150 one.
Blackout roller shades can reduce unwanted solar heat by up to 60% during Texas summers. That’s not marketing talk—that’s measurable insulation that keeps hot air out and cool air in. Your upstairs bedrooms stop feeling like saunas by 3 PM.
You also get actual sleep. If you work nights, have young kids, or just can’t stand being woken up by sunrise at 6 AM, blackout blinds for windows do exactly what the name says. Complete darkness, on demand, without gaps or light bleed.
And there’s no maintenance. A quick wipe with a damp cloth every few months keeps them looking new. No cords to tangle, no slats to dust, no mechanisms that jam after a year.
A Plus Shutters & Shades comes from over 10 years in home remodeling across the DFW area. We’re not a franchise following a script. We’re a local company that understands how Texas homes are built and what actually works in this climate.
We specialize in custom roller shade blinds, plantation shutters, and interior solutions made right here in Texas. That means faster turnaround, better quality control, and products designed for the heat, humidity, and sun exposure you deal with in Windermere.
Every installation starts with a free consultation at your home. We measure your windows, show you samples, and talk through what you’re trying to solve—whether that’s energy costs, sleep issues, or just getting rid of those builder-grade blinds that never worked right.
First, we come to your home in Windermere for a free consultation. We measure every window, discuss what you’re dealing with—hot rooms, early morning sun, privacy concerns—and show you fabric samples so you can see opacity levels, colors, and textures in your actual lighting.
You pick the fabric, operating system, and any add-ons like motorization or smart home integration. We handle the custom manufacturing, which typically takes a few weeks since we use Texas-made products built to your exact specifications.
Once your roller blinds for windows are ready, our installers come back and handle everything. We mount them properly—no sagging, no gaps, no “close enough” measurements. The installation is clean, precise, and usually done in a few hours depending on how many windows you’re covering.
After installation, we walk you through operation and care. If you chose motorized or smart shades, we make sure everything’s connected and programmed the way you want it. Then we clean up and you’re done.
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Every roller shade we install is custom-measured for your specific windows. That means no gaps on the sides where light and heat sneak through. You choose from light-filtering fabrics that soften sunlight, room-darkening options that block most light, or complete blackout window blinds that eliminate 100% of incoming light.
In Windermere and the broader DFW area, most homeowners go with solar or blackout fabrics on south and west-facing windows where afternoon sun hits hardest. These interior roller shades create a thermal barrier that keeps heat from radiating into your rooms—the same principle as insulation, just at the window level where it matters most.
You can add motorization for hard-to-reach windows or just for convenience. Smart home integration works with Alexa, Google Home, or dedicated apps so you can schedule your shades to close automatically when the sun hits or open when you wake up. It’s not a gimmick—it’s genuinely useful when you’re trying to manage heat gain throughout the day.
Cordless operation is standard, which matters if you have kids or pets. No dangling cords, no safety hazards, just a simple pull or motorized control. And because we’re using quality materials and proper installation, these shades hold up to daily use without sagging or wearing out after a year.
Cellular and blackout roller shades can reduce unwanted solar heat by up to 60% during summer months. For a typical 2,000 square foot home in North Texas, that translates to real savings—often $50 to $100 per month during peak summer when your AC runs constantly.
The math is straightforward. Air conditioning accounts for 40-60% of your annual electricity usage in Texas, jumping to 70% or more during July and August. When you block the sun before it enters your windows, your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain temperature. That’s less runtime, lower bills, and a system that lasts longer because it’s not constantly cycling.
The biggest impact shows up on west and south-facing windows where afternoon sun hits hardest. Those are the rooms that feel like ovens by 3 PM. Blackout roller shades on those windows alone can drop indoor temperatures by 10-15 degrees compared to bare glass or thin curtains.
Light-filtering fabrics soften incoming sunlight and reduce glare while still letting you see outside during the day. They’re good for living rooms or kitchens where you want natural light but not the harsh Texas sun beating through your windows. They provide privacy during the day but not at night when interior lights are on.
Room-darkening fabrics block most light—usually 90-95%—and provide better privacy and heat reduction. You’ll still get some light around the edges and through the fabric, but it’s significantly dimmed. These work well for bedrooms or media rooms where you want darkness but don’t need complete blackout.
Blackout roller shades eliminate 100% of light when properly installed. The fabric is completely opaque, and when combined with side channels or proper mounting, there’s no light bleed. These are essential if you work night shifts, have young children who wake with the sun, or suffer from migraines triggered by light. They also provide the best heat reduction since no light means no solar heat gain.
Yes, motorized roller shades integrate with most major smart home platforms including Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and dedicated control systems. You can schedule them to open at sunrise, close when temperatures hit a certain point, or operate them by voice command from anywhere in your home.
The practical benefit isn’t just convenience—it’s energy management. You can program your shades to close automatically on south and west windows during peak afternoon heat, reducing your cooling load without thinking about it. If you’re away from home, you can close them remotely before temperatures spike.
Installation includes connecting the motorized system to your WiFi and setting up whatever automation you want. Most people start simple—scheduled opening and closing—then add more automation as they see what works. The motors are quiet, reliable, and powered either by plug-in adapters or rechargeable batteries depending on your window location.
From consultation to installation, expect three to four weeks total. The consultation and measuring takes about an hour. Once you select your fabrics and options, manufacturing typically takes two to three weeks since we use Texas-made products built to your exact window dimensions.
Installation day depends on how many windows you’re covering. A typical home with 10-15 windows usually takes three to four hours. We’re not rushing—we’re making sure every shade is mounted level, operates smoothly, and fits properly with no gaps. If you’re adding motorization or smart controls, we handle all the setup and programming during installation.
You don’t need to do anything to prep. We bring all tools and hardware, mount the shades, test operation, show you how everything works, and clean up completely. If you chose motorized options, we make sure they’re connected to your network and programmed before we leave.
Roller shades are one of the safest window treatment options available because they don’t have dangling cords that pose strangulation risks. Cordless operation is standard—you either pull the shade directly or use a motorized control. There’s nothing for children or pets to get tangled in.
This matters more than most people realize. Traditional blinds with continuous loop cords or pull cords create serious safety hazards, especially for toddlers and young children. Cordless roller blinds eliminate that risk entirely while still giving you full control over light and privacy.
The fabrics are also durable enough to handle curious pets without tearing or damage. If you have cats that like to sit in windows, the shades hold up to paws and claws better than horizontal blinds with fragile slats. And because the operation is simple—just pull down or press a button—even older kids can operate them safely without breaking mechanisms or creating hazards.
True blackout roller shades block 100% of direct light coming through the fabric itself. The fabric is completely opaque—hold it up to a light and nothing comes through. However, light bleed around the edges depends on how the shade is mounted and whether you add side channels.
Standard mounting leaves small gaps on the sides where the shade meets the window frame. You’ll get some light bleed there, especially with intense Texas sun. For most bedrooms, this is minimal and doesn’t prevent sleep. But if you need complete darkness—shift workers, migraine sufferers, or parents with light-sensitive kids—we can add side channels that eliminate edge gaps.
The other common light source is at the top where the roller mechanism mounts. Quality blackout shades use enclosed cassettes that prevent light from coming through the mounting area. When properly installed with side channels and a cassette, you get true blackout conditions—dark enough that you can’t see your hand in front of your face at noon.
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