Exterior Roller Shades
Exterior roller shades help reduce sun, heat, and glare while creating more comfortable, enjoyable outdoor living spaces.
More Comfort. More Time Outdoors.
Exterior roller shades help transform patios, porches, and other outdoor areas into more comfortable and enjoyable living spaces. Installed along the exterior of your home, they provide an effective first line of defense against intense sunlight while maintaining the clean, streamlined appearance of a roller shade.
Why Choose Exterior Roller Shades?
01.
Reduce Sun & Heat
Block a significant amount of direct sunlight before it reaches your outdoor space or windows, helping create a cooler, more comfortable environment.
02.
Manage Glare
Reduce harsh sunlight and glare while still maintaining a connection to your surroundings with appropriately selected screen fabrics.
03.
Add Privacy
Depending on the fabric and lighting conditions, exterior shades can provide additional privacy and create a greater sense of enclosure.
04.
Extend Your Living Space
Make patios and covered outdoor areas more comfortable throughout more of the day, turning them into a natural extension of your home.
Choose Your Guide System
The way an exterior shade is secured along the sides affects its appearance, stability, and how enclosed the space feels. Depending on your application, exterior roller shades may be available with cable guides or a zip-channel system.
Cable Guides
Stainless steel cables run vertically along each side of the shade, helping guide the bottom bar as the shade raises and lowers. The sides of the fabric remain open, creating a clean, minimal installation that works well when sun and glare control are the primary goals.
Open, Minimal Design
Keeps the sides of the shade unobstructed for a lighter appearance.
Guided Operation
Helps keep the shade aligned as it travels up and down.
Maintains Airflow
Open sides allow air to move more freely through the space.
Ideal for Sun Control
A streamlined choice when shade and glare reduction are the main priorities.
Zip Channels
The edges of the shade fabric are captured within vertical side channels, creating a more secure and enclosed system. Zip channels provide greater fabric retention and are especially useful when you want increased stability or a more complete screened enclosure.
Secure Fabric Retention
Keeps the edges of the fabric contained within the side channels.
More Enclosed Feel
Reduces open gaps along the sides for a more complete perimeter.
Enhanced Stability
Provides greater support for the fabric than an open-sided guide system.
Insect-Screen Applications
When paired with the appropriate screen and system, zip channels can help create a more enclosed outdoor space and reduce insect entry.
Choose How to Operate Your Shades
Exterior shades can be configured with operating systems suited to the size, location, and everyday use of the installation.
Manual Operation
Select exterior shade systems may be available with manual controls for straightforward adjustment when needed.
Motorized Operation
Raise and lower your exterior shades with a compatible remote, wall control, app, or smart-home system. Motorization makes it easy to manage large shades and multiple openings throughout an outdoor space.
Automated Control
Depending on the motorization system selected, compatible sensors, schedules, and smart-home integrations may provide additional ways to manage your shades automatically.
Where They Shine
Exterior Roller Shades are Best for...
Covered Patios & Porches
Create a more comfortable outdoor room by adding adjustable protection around the open sides of a covered space.
West-Facing Spaces
Manage intense afternoon sunlight that can make patios and outdoor seating areas difficult to enjoy during certain hours.
Large Outdoor Openings
Exterior roller shades can provide streamlined coverage across wide openings while retracting neatly when they're not needed.
Maintaining the View
Screen fabrics can reduce sun and glare without completely separating your outdoor space from the landscape beyond.
Exterior Roller Shade FAQs
Exterior roller shades are retractable shades designed for outdoor applications. They use durable exterior-rated fabrics to provide adjustable coverage for patios, porches, windows, and other exterior openings.
Yes. Exterior shades can help reduce solar heat by blocking sunlight before it reaches the shaded area or passes through the glass. Actual performance depends on factors such as fabric, color, openness, orientation, installation, and surrounding conditions.
Yes, depending on the fabric selected. Screen fabrics are available with different openness levels that affect both visibility and solar protection. We'll help you choose the right balance based on how important the view is to your project.
They can provide additional privacy, but visibility through screen fabrics changes based on the fabric and relative lighting on each side of the shade. If privacy is a priority, we'll help you choose an appropriate material while explaining what to expect during different lighting conditions.
Certain exterior shade systems can help reduce insects when they're designed with appropriate screen material and a retention system that limits gaps around the shade. If insect protection is an important goal, the system should be selected specifically for that application.
Yes. Motorization is a popular option for exterior roller shades, particularly for large openings and spaces with multiple shades. Available controls and automation capabilities depend on the system selected.
Depending on the motor and control system, exterior shades may support schedules, sensors, apps, smart-home integrations, or other automation features. Compatibility varies by manufacturer and product.
Exterior shades should always be operated according to the manufacturer's guidelines and limitations. Wind ratings and recommended operating conditions vary by system, size, installation, and other factors. Certain systems may also be compatible with environmental sensors.
In many cases, yes. Multiple shades can be installed across separate openings and operated individually or together, depending on the layout and control system selected.
Our Process
From Selection to Setup
01 — Discussion
We learn about your windows, lifestyle, and goals.
02 — Product Selection
We help you choose the right window treatments and control system.
03 — Professional Installation
Your system is installed and configured specifically for your home.
04 — Personalized Setup
We walk you through operation and help you get everything working the way you want.
See Our Exterior Roller Shade Projects
View More Images from Our Local, Austin-Area Installs Here.