Which Outdoor Shading Is Right for Your Patio?
Exterior shades, a retractable awning, or motorised screens. They solve different problems, and the wrong one is an expensive mistake. Here is how we help North Jersey homeowners choose.
Get a Free In-Home AssessmentThree Products, Three Different Jobs
Most people start by asking which outdoor shade is best. It is the wrong question — the honest answer depends on what is actually wrong with your outdoor space. Too much afternoon sun is a different problem from no privacy from the neighbours, which is different again from wanting to use the deck when it drizzles.
Here is what each one genuinely does well, and where each one falls short. We fit all three, so we have no reason to push you toward one.
Side by Side
| Exterior Shades | Retractable Awning | Motorised Screens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Blocking direct sun on a porch or patio while keeping the view | Covering an open deck or patio with overhead shade on demand | Enclosing a space — sun, insects and wind together |
| Blocks sun | Yes — choose openness 1–14% | Yes — overhead only | Yes — full drop |
| Keeps the view | Yes, with an open weave | Yes — sides stay open | Partly — depends on mesh |
| Insect control | No | No | Yes — zipper tracks seal the edges |
| Rain cover | No | Light rain only | No |
| Handles wind | Retract in high wind | Pair with a wind sensor to auto-retract | Best of the three in tracks |
| Motorisation | Optional | Recommended | Standard |
| Typical use | West-facing porches, pool areas, sunrooms | Open decks with no roof | Covered porches becoming three-season rooms |
Every one of these is measured and installed by us across Bergen, Passaic and Morris counties. Nothing here is drop-shipped.
Read More on Each
Exterior Shades
Solar-weave fabric that cuts glare and heat but still lets you see out. The workhorse for a west-facing porch.
See exterior shades →
Retractable Awnings
Overhead shade you deploy when you want it and roll away when you do not. Best on an open deck with no roof.
See retractable awnings →
Motorised Screens
Drop-down screens in sealed tracks. The only option here that keeps insects out as well as sun.
See outdoor shading solutions →Start With the Problem
Common Questions
Can outdoor shades survive a North Jersey winter?
Exterior shades and awnings should be retracted for the season. Motorised screens in tracks can stay down, but we still recommend retracting them in ice. All the fabric we fit is solution-dyed acrylic or PVC-coated mesh, which is built for weather — the failure point is almost always leaving something extended in a storm.
Do I need motorisation outdoors?
On an awning, we strongly recommend it, paired with a wind sensor that retracts automatically when gusts pick up. That sensor protects the awning when you are not home, and it is the single most common reason an awning gets damaged. On exterior shades it is optional; on screens it is standard.
Will an awning cover me in rain?
Light rain, yes. Heavy rain or wind, no — you should retract it. Water pools on the fabric and the weight can damage the arms. If you want genuine weather cover, you are looking at a pergola or a solid roof, not an awning.
How much of the view do I lose?
That is the openness factor. A 14% openness weave keeps a usable view and cuts most glare; a 1–3% weave gives you real privacy and heat reduction but you will notice it. We bring samples so you can hold them up against your own view before deciding.
We'll Look at the Actual Space
Sun angle, mounting surface, span, wind exposure — none of it can be judged from a photograph. Free in-home assessment across Bergen, Passaic and Morris counties.
Book a Free Assessmentor call (973) 833-1612