Home › Exterior shading: motorized patio screens and retractable awnings
Exterior shading: motorized patio screens and retractable awnings
Exterior shades cut the glare, heat and bugs on your patio, then lift when you want the view back. Each one is made to the opening, installed by us, and run from a remote.
Exterior shades and outdoor solar shades
Exterior shading, sometimes called outdoor solar shades or exterior shades, goes outside the glass or across the open side of a patio. It stops the sun before it reaches the surface, so it keeps more heat out than a shade on the inside. Motorized screens, outdoor roller shades and retractable awnings are the main kinds.
What a motorized patio screen does
A motorized patio screen is a fabric panel that lowers over an opening on the outside of the house or along the edge of a covered patio. Outside the glass, it stops the sun before it heats the surface, which is why an outdoor screen takes more heat out than an interior shade.
Raise it for an open view in the evening. Lower it at midday when the sun is on the patio, or when the bugs come out. It runs from a remote, so nobody is climbing a ladder or pulling a cord.
Choosing the fabric
The fabric decides how a screen feels. A tighter weave blocks more sun and heat and gives you more privacy in daylight. A more open weave keeps more of the view and lets in more light. Colour matters too: darker fabrics keep the view clearer, lighter fabrics reflect more heat.
The light filtering section of our home page lets you slide through openness levels and see the difference. We then hold real samples in your own openings, because colour shifts outdoors and across a day.
Retractable awnings
A retractable awning extends outward from the house to shade a seating or dining area and folds back when you want open sky. It suits a patio without a roof, or one where you want shade a little farther out. We can help you decide whether a screen, an awning or both fits your space.
Made to fit, then installed
Every screen is built to your measurements, not cut down from a stock size. Our installer fits it, tests it, and shows you how the remote works before leaving.
See a screen come down, and try the remote
Questions we hear
What is exterior shading?
Exterior shading is shade installed outside the glass or over a patio, such as a motorized screen, an outdoor roller shade or a retractable awning. Because it stops the sun before it reaches the window, it keeps more heat out than a shade on the inside.
How much do motorized patio screens cost?
We don't publish prices, because two openings are rarely the same. The price depends on the width and height of each opening, the fabric, the motor and how it mounts. After a complimentary consultation at your home you get a written quote for your project.
Will a patio screen block my view?
It depends on the fabric. A tighter weave blocks more sun and heat and shows less of the view; a more open weave keeps the view and lets in more light. We bring samples so you can look through them from your own patio, in your own light.
Do patio screens keep bugs out?
A closed weave with a snug fit at the sides cuts down flying insects, but a screen is not a sealed room. Results depend on the product, the fabric and the installation.
What happens to a screen in strong wind?
Every screen has wind limits set by its manufacturer, and it should be raised in high wind. We explain the limits for your product and your exposure at the consultation, and show you how the remote works before we leave.
Do I need approval from my community or HOA?
Some communities review exterior changes. Check yours before you order. We can give you product details and samples to include with your request.
How long does the project take?
Each screen or shade is made to your measurements after the consultation, so the timeline depends on the product. You get it in writing with your quote.
Where we work
We serve homes within about two and a half hours of Canyon Lake, including Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Spring Branch, Boerne, Bulverde, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Wimberley, San Marcos, Austin, Fredericksburg, Horseshoe Bay and Corpus Christi.
- Canyon Lake
- New Braunfels
- Spring Branch
- Boerne
- Bulverde
- Fair Oaks Ranch
- Helotes
- Wimberley
- San Marcos
- Austin
- Fredericksburg
- Horseshoe Bay
- Corpus Christi
More from Aperture & Co.
- Custom interior shades for the whole house
- Hunter Douglas shades, measured and installed by Aperture & Co.
- Shades for west-facing windows and patios