Question 1

What are exterior patio shades?

Accepted Answer

Exterior patio shades are fabric or screen shades that mount outside the house, over a porch, patio or outdoor room. They stop heat and glare before it reaches the glass or the seating area, which is why they cool a space far more effectively than an interior blind on the same opening.

Question 2

What openness factor should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Openness is how much of the weave is open, and it decides the trade between view and shade. A more open weave keeps the view and cuts glare. A tighter weave blocks more sun and gives more daytime privacy but softens the view. West-facing patios that take the afternoon sun usually want a tighter weave than a north-facing porch.

Question 3

Do patio shades work in Texas heat?

Accepted Answer

That is the case they are built for. Blocking sun on the outside of the glass stops the heat before it enters, so the patio stays usable in the afternoon and the rooms behind it take less heat load. It is the same reason exterior shading outperforms interior shading on a west wall.

Question 4

Can patio shades be motorized?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Motorized patio shades run on a remote, a wall switch, an app or a schedule, and can be battery, hardwired or solar charged. On wide spans motorization is often the practical choice, because a large exterior shade is heavy to crank by hand every day.

Question 5

Are retractable patio shades an option?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Retractable shades roll up out of the weather when you are not using the space, which keeps the fabric out of wind and hail and extends its life. Fixed shades suit spots where you want shade permanently in place.

Question 6

Will they hold up to wind and storms?

Accepted Answer

Exterior shades should be retracted in high wind, and that is the main reason we recommend motorization on larger openings: it is quick to raise them when weather turns. We size the hardware to the opening and go over the wind guidance at the consultation.

Question 7

How much do patio shades cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the width of the opening, the fabric, and whether you motorize. We measure the opening and quote from those measurements at the free in-home consultation, so the number you get is the number, not a range that moves later.

Question 8

Do you install patio shades across Texas?

Accepted Answer

Yes, across all our Texas territories: DFW and the Mid-Cities, North Texas, Dallas, Cedar Creek Lake, Waco and the Austin metro. Find your city on our service areas page.

Exterior Patio Shades in Texas

Shade the outside of the glass, not the inside

Stop the sun before the glass

Types of outdoor and patio shades we install

Solar screen patio shades

Motorized patio shades

Retractable patio shades

Outdoor roller shades

Porch and outdoor room shades

Exterior solar shades for windows

Measured at your windows, built to those numbers

Patio shade questions, answered

Where this works best

Built for Texas wind

Patio shades across Texas

See it move

Exterior patio shades we have installed across Texas