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Shades for west-facing windows and patios
Afternoon sun is the hardest to live with. Here is how screens and shades take the glare and heat out of a west-facing room or patio.
Why the west side is the hard one
In the afternoon the sun is low, so it reaches deep into a room and straight across a patio. That is when the glare is worst and the glass is hottest. Many Hill Country homes are built to face a view to the west, which makes the sun and the view the same problem.
Stop the sun outside the glass
A motorized screen on the outside intercepts the sun before it reaches the window, so it keeps more heat out than a shade on the inside. On a patio it makes the space usable again at the hours you most want it. Raise it for evening views.
Finish the job inside
Inside, a honeycomb or roller shade softens what gets through and protects furniture and floors. A sheer or privacy sheer keeps the room bright when the sun is lower.
We pick the fabric in your light
We come at the hour the light bothers you most and hold samples up in your actual openings. A west window and a north window should not get the same fabric.
Slide through fabric openness and see the light change
Questions we hear
How do I handle strong afternoon sun on a west-facing window?
Use a denser fabric on the west side and a lighter one elsewhere. Outside, a screen stops the sun before it reaches the glass, which keeps more heat out than a shade on the inside can. Inside, a honeycomb or roller shade softens what gets through.
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.
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.
Which interior shade gives the most privacy?
A fully closed roller, roman or honeycomb shade gives the most privacy. A sheer lets in soft light while you keep the view by day, but at night with the lights on it shows the room, so many homes use a privacy sheer or a layered pair.
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.
What happens at the consultation?
We come to your home, ideally at the hour the light bothers you most, hold fabric samples up in your actual openings, and measure. There is no charge for the visit. If it looks like a good fit, we send a written 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.
- Exterior shading: motorized patio screens and retractable awnings
- Custom interior shades for the whole house
- Hunter Douglas shades, measured and installed by Aperture & Co.