Motorized & Solar Shades
Exterior roller and solar shades that cut afternoon sun and glare on a patio, lanai, or porch — motorized or manual.
15Years in the tradeEvery job.
No exceptions.
The owner quotes the job, runs the job, and does the walkthrough with you when it's done — backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty and 15 years of habits.
- 1Motorized or hand-operated roller shades
- 2Solar mesh to cut heat and glare, or blackout for privacy
- 3Fitted to patios, lanais, porches, and pergolas
Exterior shades roll down over an opening to block sun rather than bugs. That's the difference worth understanding up front: a retractable screen keeps insects out, a solar shade cuts heat, glare, and afternoon light. Plenty of west-facing patios in Northeast Florida need the second one more than the first.
Solar mesh comes in different openness factors — a tighter weave blocks more heat and more of the view, an opener weave keeps the view and blocks less. We spec it to which side of the house you're on and what time of day you actually use the space, because the wrong choice either cooks you at 4pm or walls off the view you paid for.
Like retractables, these run motorized off a switch or remote, or manually for smaller openings. They share the same weak points too: tracks need keeping clean, and they should be rolled up in high wind rather than left down. If you want sun control and bug control on the same opening, tell us — that's usually two products, and we'll lay out what each one costs you.
We cover all of Duval County, FL
Questions we hear a lot
- What's the difference between a solar shade and a retractable screen?
- A solar shade blocks sun, heat, and glare. A retractable screen blocks insects. They look similar and use similar hardware, but they solve different problems — and if you need both on one opening, that's two products.
- Will an exterior shade keep bugs out too?
- No. Shade mesh is woven to stop light, not insects. If bugs are your actual complaint, you want a screen.
- What openness factor should I choose?
- A tighter weave blocks more heat but more of the view; an opener weave keeps the view and blocks less. We pick based on which direction your patio faces and what time of day you use it.
- Can shades go on a pergola or an open patio?
- Yes, as long as there's something solid and square to mount the housing and side tracks to. The mounting surface matters more than the shade does.
- Do exterior shades need to come up in high wind?
- Yes — same as a retractable screen. They hang in a track rather than sitting in a rigid frame, so roll them up when it blows.
Walk the job with the owner.
Tell us what you're thinking. We'll come look, point out what we'd do differently, and only quote what we're confident we can deliver.