Exterior Shades - Create More Living Space - Comfortably, Stylishly, and Year-Round
Exterior Shades Authors: Chris Tietz (owner of Kirtz® Shutters), Steve Sneary, Susanne Lavery
11 July 2025
It is important to note that the term exterior shades is used interchangeably with motorized outdoor shades, motorized shades with side tracks (sidetracks), motorized retractable shades, sun shades, sunshades, retractable shades, patio shades, porch shades, and outdoor blinds.
That is to say, exterior patio shades allow for year-round outdoor living, relaxation, and having fun with family and friends. In other words, exterior shades let you enjoy privacy and protection against harmful UV rays and sun glare, insects, wind, rain, and snow.
Contents
How to Create More Living Space Through Exterior Shades
How to create more living space as a question on many homeowners' minds. With this in mind, experts at Wellbeing Magazine recognize outdoor shades as an essential element of any outdoor living space. For instance, exterior shades provide valuable protection for plants, furniture, and occupants against intense sunlight and unpredictable weather conditions (Editorial Team, Wellbeing Magazine).
In addition, Better Homes & Gardens ranks screened-in porches as the top patio shade solution (Beck, Better Homes & Gardens). In other words, investing in a high-quality patio shade transforms any patio or porch into a comfortable and inviting area, whether during the hot summers typical of Oklahoma and Kansas or the cooler winter months.
Given these points, retractable exterior patio shades offer flexible protection when you need it most—shielding you, your family, and your guests from harsh sun, wind, rain, or snow. Equally important, and unlike permanent structures such as sun rooms, these shades can disappear when the weather is ideal, allowing you to fully enjoy the open air.
Therefore, when lowered, retractable exterior patio shades preserve your view looking out while limiting visibility from the outside in, giving you added privacy without sacrificing your connection to the outdoors.
With this in mind, Kirtz® guides you through every step of the process—from design selection and precise measuring to professional installation—so all you have to do is enjoy your transformed living space.
Expert Endorsement from Kirtz® - Why Choose Titan Screen® Exterior Shades?
An expert endorsement from Kirtz® means that our experts have analyzed the market and decided on the brand that best suits the climate and weather conditions in Oklahoma and Kansas. All things considered, Titan Screen® was the best in many aspects:
- Year-Round Outdoor Living
- Protection from UV rays, wind, rain, and insects
- Energy Efficiency: Blocks up to 95% of solar heat
- Privacy On Demand
- Customizable Aesthetics
Obviously, there are numerous patio shade companies offering a wide variety of fabrics and designs (Brown, Window Fashion Vision). For this reason and based on over three decades of experience in crafting premium window treatments, the experts at Kirtz® have carefully evaluated the outdoor shade solutions on the market.
Kirtz® choice? Titan Screen®.
In the final analysis, Titan Screen® was chosen for its exceptional quality, durability, and performance. Titan Screen® is recognized as a leading company for motorized retractable patio shade systems. For example, in 2014, under its parent company Sunmaster of Naples, Titan Screen® earned the Outstanding Achievement Award for Fabric from the International Casual Furnishings Association—marking their 60th industry award (ATA Award).
In essence, Kirtz®proudly became a certified Titan Screen® dealer in 2015. Since then, we have installed numerous exterior shades on patios, porches, gazebos, and pool areas across Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Ponca City, Tulsa, Wichita, Andover, and many other surrounding communities.
Consequently, to help customers experience Titan Screen® firsthand, we had a fully operational motorized shade installed at our Stillwater showroom. Here, visitors are encouraged to test different control systems—from handheld remotes to smartphone app integration—and explore a wide selection of fabric options. In brief, this hands-on experience helps homeowners and businesses find the best solution for their space, needs, and budget.
Titan Screen® Exterior Shades Applications
- Patios, Porches, Balconies, Verandas, Gazebos, Porticos
- Residential Applications
- Commercial Applications
Titan Screen® Exterior Shades Fabric Options and Standard Housing Options
Titan Screen®shades are offered in a variety of colors and styles. Below are out most popular shade fabric options:
- Solar 90: Blocks 90% of UV rays (6 standard colors)
- Solar 95: Blocks 95% of UV rays (9 standard colors) – customer favorite in Oklahoma and Kansas
- Super Screen: Insect protection (3 standard colors)
- Decorator Fabrics: Designer weaves and colors
- Choose from 4 standard housing colors.
Exterior Shades - Seamless Integration and Built to Last
Titan Screen® patio shades are available as built-in installations for new construction or as surface-mounted options for existing structures. Consequently, they are designed with hidden fasteners, they offer a clean, streamlined appearance.
Introduced in 2007, Titan Screen® was engineered to address common issues found in other exterior shade products - specifically improving resistance to wind blowouts and eliminating sagging across the span of the screen (Titan Screen®).
For these reasons, Titan Screen® shades were tested in Florida for wind resistance. Their shades held up to wind speeds of 152 miles per hour (Spectre of Naples).
As a result, the Titan Screen® System features a 2-piece extruded aluminum bottom bar with internal weight bars, a proprietary motor tube to eliminate sagging, and a welded zipper track system for smooth operation. Equally important, screen fabrics are selected for strength and mildew resistance.
To summarize, Titan Screen®exterior shades are:
- Resistant to Blow-Outs
- No Sagging
- Reliable Motors & Electronics
- Warranty: 10-Year on Fabric, 5-Year on Motors, 1-Year on Materials (With professional installation)
Sizes and Customization of Titan Screen® Exterior Shades
As an illustration of why Titan Screen® exterior shades are industry-leading:
Unlike other patio shades, we can install exterior shades with
- Widths up to 21 feet and
- heights up to 18 feet.
Consequently, these patio shades are tailored to your space and needs, no matter how big.
Eco-Friendly and Energy Efficient Exterior Shades
In summary, Titan Screen® patio shades provide more than just comfort—they contribute to a more energy-efficient home.
First, they block harmful UV rays before they reach your windows and doors.
Second, the patio shades help reduce indoor temperatures and lessen the strain on your HVAC system.
Third, you will have lower energy bills and reduce environmental impact.
Fourth, the shades protect flooring, furniture, and interior finishes from fading and sun damage.
Therefore, when you buy Titan Screen® exterior shades, you are making an investment in both sustainability and home preservation.
Videos of Kirtz® Titan Screen® Exterior Shades Installations
On Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kirtzshutters/patio-shades.
This video https://www.pinterest.com/pin/452400725088994180/ was made by a customer and shows our two expert installers in action.
FAQs About Exterior Shades (Frequently Asked Questions)
Yes, they extend living space, protect from elements, and reduce energy costs.
Reviews Titan Screen® Exterior Shades Installations by Kirtz®
Probably the most customer oriented business we have run across in years. Prompt, courteous, detailed, and extremely skilled in their craft. They communicate well. Something other vendors are extremely poor at.
Fast forward to April 16th 2024 The crew just left installing 4 more outdoor shades. Perfect job again. Cleaned up after themselves and made sure I was good to go.
Google Review by M.S., Stillwater:
Extremely happy with product and service! My initial call was returned promptly and appointment was made for the next day. Chris went above and beyond to make sure the measurements and installation of our sunroom shades were perfect. The shades are very high quality, fit perfectly, and installers did a very professional job of installing, cleaning up, and showing us how to use the motorized control and charging feature. We also received them very quickly. I highly recommend Kirtz Shutters!
Google Review by S.A., Oklahoma City:
Trusted Craftsmanship from Kirtz® Shutters
With over 38 years of experience, Kirtz® brings together exceptional craftsmanship and design expertise for both residential and commercial projects.
Our team has completed numerous installations of Titan Screen® outdoor shades, as well as interior shades from trusted brands like Hunter Douglas® and Alta®.
We also design and build our own line of custom interior and exterior shutters at our manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In addition to window treatments and patio shades, we offer custom woodworking projects by request—creating unique pieces such as live-edge tables, mantels, and shelves.
At Kirtz®, we are your one-stop destination for fine woodworking, window coverings, and outdoor shade solutions.
Contact Us About Titan Screen® Exterior Shades
Phone: (405) 377-6455 (office)
Sales Representative Steve Sneary, with Kirtz® since 1999
Phone: (405) 203-9577
Email: steve.sneary@kirtz.com
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-sneary-6a3638a5/
Sales Representative Don Watson, with Kirtz® since 2009
Phone: (405) 918-3415
Email: don.watson@kirtz.com
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-watson-994445293/
Email: sales@kirtz.com
References About Exterior Shades
ATA Award. “ATA international Achievement Awards. Previous Winners dating back to 1946.” https://iaa.textiles.org/previous-winners/. Accessed 3 July 2025.
Beck, Andrea. “30 Patio Shade Ideas to Maximize Your Outdoor Space.” Better Homes & Gardens, 25 March 2025, https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/porch/outdoor-rooms/shade-solutions-outdoor-rooms/. Accessed 3 July 2025.
Brown, Lindsay. ”2025 Exterior Shades & Outdoor Living.” Window Fashion Vision Guide Volume 2, Summer 2025, https://issuu.com/wfvision/docs/the_2025_guide_to_exterior_shades_outdoor_living?fr=sMDJlNjg2NjQ2MTQ. Accessed 3 July 2025.
Editorial Team. “Why Outdoor Shades Are Essential for Comfortable Gardens.” Wellbeing, 5 April 2025, https://wellbeingmagazine.com/why-outdoor-shades-are-essential-for-comfortable-gardens/. Accessed 3 July 2025.
Spectre of Naples. “LifeStyle.” https://www.spectreofnaples.com/info/docs/Titan-Screen-Brochure.pdf. Accessed 11 July 2025.
Titan Screen®. “About Titan Screen.” https://titanscreen.com/auto-draft-4/. Access 3 July 2025