Until Spring: Why Fall Is the Perfect Time to Install Exterior Patio Shades

Polar Shades | Outdoor Living & Home Improvement

As temperatures begin to cool throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, homeowners are finally enjoying the outdoor spaces that can be difficult to use during the hottest summer months.

But there's something many homeowners overlook: fall and winter are excellent times to invest in exterior retractable patio shades.

While most people associate exterior shades with summer, planning your installation during the cooler months offers several advantages.

The cooler season is also when you can see your patio at its most honest. Without the distraction of extreme heat, it's easy to notice where the sun hits at 3 PM, which seats get glare, and which areas could use more privacy. Those observations make it much easier to choose the right shade locations and fabrics.

1. Get Ahead of Next Summer's Heat

Anyone who has experienced a Las Vegas or Phoenix summer understands how intense the desert sun can become. By the time temperatures reach triple digits, many homeowners are already wishing they had installed exterior shades.

Why wait?

Installing exterior shades during the fall or winter means your patio can be ready when the heat returns. Instead of scrambling to schedule an installation during peak demand, you can enjoy your completed outdoor living space from the beginning of the season.

2. Enjoy Your Patio Throughout the Year

Exterior retractable shades aren't only about summer heat. They also provide valuable sunlight and glare control during cooler months.

In fact, the lower angle of the winter sun can create uncomfortable glare on covered patios. A properly selected exterior shade allows homeowners to manage sunlight without permanently enclosing their outdoor living area.

When you want an open patio, retract the shades. When direct sunlight becomes uncomfortable, lower them. It's outdoor living on your terms.

3. Protect Your Outdoor Furnishings

Today's patios often include substantial investments in outdoor furniture, televisions, kitchens, decorative finishes, and entertainment systems.

Direct sunlight can contribute to fading and deterioration of certain materials. Exterior shades help reduce solar exposure, offering an additional layer of protection for your outdoor investments.

Shades can also help with privacy. Depending on the fabric selected, exterior shades can offer varying levels of visibility, privacy, and sunlight control, so you can keep the view you love while limiting the view in from outside.

4. Motorization Makes Everything Easier

Imagine controlling your patio shades with the touch of a button.

Polar Shades offers motorized exterior shading systems featuring advanced motorization technology, including Somfy options. Motorization makes operating large exterior shades simple and convenient. Depending on the system selected, homeowners may also have options for compatible automation controls.

5. Custom Manufactured for Your Home

Not every patio is the same. Some homes have standard openings, while others feature expansive outdoor living spaces with openings spanning 15, 20 feet, or more.

Polar Shades manufactures custom exterior shading systems at our Las Vegas manufacturing facility. Our team evaluates the opening, mounting conditions, operating requirements, fabric, and hardware to help determine the appropriate solution.

What to Do Before You Buy

A little preparation helps you get the most from your project:

• Notice the sun. Pay attention to when and where glare is strongest on your patio.
• Decide on priorities. Think about whether you want more privacy, more glare control, or both.
• Consider operation. Decide whether you prefer manual or motorized shades, and whether you'd like compatible automation controls.
• Plan for the whole patio. Look at every opening, not just the sunniest one, so the system works as a whole.
• Ask about installation. Confirm who will install the shades and what licensing and warranty terms apply.

The Advantage of Buying Manufacturer-Direct

For homeowners in the Las Vegas and Phoenix valleys, Polar Shades offers something special.

We don't simply resell someone else's patio shades. We design them, manufacture them, sell them directly to our retail customers, and professionally install them. Our retail customers benefit from local service backed by a manufacturer whose products are distributed throughout the United States.

Start Planning Your Outdoor Living Upgrade Today

Don't wait until the first 110-degree day to start thinking about exterior shades. Plan ahead, improve your outdoor comfort, and prepare your patio for the seasons ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fall a good time to install exterior patio shades? Yes. Installing during the cooler months means your patio is ready when the heat returns, and you avoid scrambling for an installation date during peak demand.

Do exterior shades help in winter? Yes. The lower angle of the winter sun can create glare on covered patios, and exterior retractable shades let you manage sunlight without permanently enclosing the space.

Why install patio shades before summer? Planning means your patio is ready from the start of the hot season, instead of waiting until temperatures are already in the triple digits.

Do exterior shades protect outdoor furniture? Direct sunlight can contribute to fading and deterioration of certain materials. Exterior shades help reduce solar exposure, adding a layer of protection for furniture, televisions, and finishes.

Are motorized exterior shades available? Yes. Polar Shades offers motorized exterior shading systems, including Somfy options, and, depending on the system, compatible automation controls.

Can exterior shades be made for large patio openings? Polar Shades manufactures custom exterior shading systems, including for openings spanning 15, 20 feet, or more. The team evaluates the opening, mounting conditions, operating requirements, fabric, and hardware to recommend the right solution.

What does manufacturer-direct mean? Polar Shades designs and manufactures its shades, sells them directly to retail customers, and professionally installs them in the Las Vegas and Phoenix valleys.

What should I do before buying exterior patio shades? Notice where and when glare is strongest, decide on your priorities for privacy and sun control, consider manual or motorized operation, plan for every opening, and confirm installation, licensing, and warranty details.

Can exterior shades provide privacy? Depending on the fabric selected, exterior shades can offer varying levels of visibility, privacy, and sunlight control.

Plan Your Patio Shades

Contact Polar Shades to start planning exterior retractable shades for your patio.

Polar Shades — Out With the Old, In With the View.