Installation was great. The product looks great. However I have been trying to get service for months and have called and left messages and even tried to schedule a new sales call. No one had ever returned my calls and now I get a generic message that the voicemail is not working. My shade has been stuck in 50% down for months with no sign of repair. read more

Bryson and Aaron from Shade Outdoor Solutions did a fantastic job installing our shades and were very nice to work with! The shades have transformed the way we enjoy our time on the patio - no more bugs! It was an excellent company to work with and we highly recommend them! read more

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OMG, absolutely horrible! I'm a tenured homeowner and took the time to get three bids. Eventually I went with the highest big based on promises of superior product, amazing installation contractors and superb warranty. Man did I get duped! First there were severe delays - understood. Then the install was stretched into weeks, and none of it was done to spec. When asked about why something was done incorrectly there was no communication. Contractors would simply pack up and leave like pouty children instead of discussing a solution. This behavior stems from the top. Mr. Kulp couldn't be bothered to set a schedule for any meetings. He chose when and if to show up for work. Eventually Mr. Kulp terminated the contract (What!?) I was left with a set of unfinished screens that don't even function properly and a lot of unfinished trim work that remains as-is to date. There are so many better options out there. Don't fall for this trap. --- "Bop in the nose." HAHA! - See Owner's reply to this review. That is another reason not to do business with these clowns. You'll get bopped in the nose if you don't appreciate lousy workmanship and crap service. To date, not one of the screens functions as designed and I'm now on the hook for $135/hr diagnosis and repair of the issues on these "complete" screen installs (work to be completed by another company of course). read more

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Excellent professional, timely and quality product and service. My wife and I are enjoying the shade provided by Gary and crew. The shades add a whole new environment for living. Thank you Gary for another job well done. Best wishes, Les Conley, CFO Capitol Company read more

The Best outdoor Product that you can invest in ...... Period!! We had a huge problem with my patio.....WE COULD NOT USE IT, because of the harsh sun and the gusty winds that hit it from all directions, even though it was covered. We DID NOT want to permanently enclose it since we like the openness and the breeze that it had to offer during the harsh summers. We DID NOT want to use awnings, since they would not stand up to the winds. So we called Gary and he introduced us to a product called MAGNATRACK Motorized screens with SOMFY motors.. They were just PERFECT for what we needed. It is slightly more expensive than the framed in screens but they provide a MUCH better FUNCTIONAL solution. They have various screens for different sun block % to choose from. We chose both the 90 and 95% variants for our patio and customized it based on the intensity and direction of sun. The warranties on each component are greater than the industry standard. The team that installed it were extremely professional and did a great job. It was done in ONE day. The technology is amazing and can the screens can weather 85 MPH winds which is AMAZING. We can USE our patio now and its like an additional room . Great for winter entertaining along with a tower heater and great protection from the summer heat. There is very MINIMAL water entry through the screens. This was a huge BONUS for us since our patio was always completely drenched after every rain. Thank you Gary and the team for this great product and wonderful service. I would HIGHLY recommend them. read more

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From the salesman, who did an excellent job of finding out what we were looking for instead of simply glossing over everything, to the installers, who were on time, careful, personable, and professional, to the follow up after installation, Shade was an excellent company to work with. As for the shade itself, it has simply transformed the way we enjoy our time outside by the pool. We highly recommend Shade! read more

I was looking for a product that would allow sunlight to get into our home and still allow protection and a place to sit outside to enjoy a rainy day. I found the Arcadia product and was contacted by Gary Culp who was able to give me all of the information I needed. As someone who is in the construction business, I appreciate the high quality materials and appearance of the Arcadia Louvered Roof. After receiving the estimate, I received a call letting me know that the installation crew was available the next week and would begin work. I was impressed by the skill and professionalism of these craftsmen. The tolerances and fit of the finished product are exceptional. The crew completed my patio cover and cleaned up their work area each day. They left the back patio in much better shape than when they came to work each day. I highly recommend the Arcadia product and especially Shade Outdoor Living Solutions to anyone interested in a high performance, high quality patio cover that allows the homeowner the option of controlling the amount of light (and rain) in their outdoor living area. I look forward to many, many years of enjoyment from this product. read more

Shade-Outdoor Living Solutions - Shades & Blinds Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Shade Outdoor Living Solution helped me when my original solar shade company got sold and I was having trouble with them. Gary of Shade Outdoor Living Solution was willing to help me even though the job was small and the system I had was old and had been installed by someone else. He came by personally and then sent his workers over. The workers were clean, polite and considerate. In between ordering the fabric and the installation of the solar shade all communication was prompt, polite and clear with updates on the arrival of the fabric. They were on time and the installation was seamless. My solar shade is as good as new. Best of all the price was much lower than the ridiculous amount the original company wanted to charge. read more

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Starting at the beginning with meeting Gary Kulp we were impressed with the quality of work he showed us. His men showed up with great personalities and skill. The finished work is beautiful. I highly recommend his company. read more

Shade-Outdoor Living Solutions - The louvers are closed, but also beautiful when open. We are added shades too. - Shades & Blinds Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Our neighbors hired Shade to install motorized, retractable screens on their porch, and the end product was so well done, and they were so happy with the result, that I had to contact Shade to see what they could do for our house. The quality of the product they use is first class. I'm sure I could have found a cheaper product (in both quality and price) but after a life of learning lessons they hard way I know that you get what you pay for. So I contracted with Shade to install retractable screens on my porch and bedroom windows. My wife gets migraines and we wanted to be able to darken the bedroom when she got them. The pandemic has interrupted supply chains and slowed projects like this down some, but Shade kept me informed and it only took two months from first contact to final install. The men that did the work were polite and professional. They left the site so cleaned up that there wasn't a scrap for me to pick up. The end results are exactly what I wanted, and the screens work like a charm. We can make the bedroom much darker during the day, and I'm sure they will help us keep the room cooler during the summer. I highly recommend Shade. read more

I called this company for an estimate for a retractable patio shade solution. The salesman was on time and professional. His presentation was insightful. What I appreciate most of all is that he really didn't try to sell or convince me to buy. He just presented the facts and left. When I decide to move forward with retractable shades I will absolutely use this company. read more

Chris Bennett was the rep that was sent to my home to explain the pros and cons of a shade for my patio and quote me an estimate . He arrived on time and was professional. The product he suggested was amazing the best around as far as I could find. The exact some motor, screen , casings system and Warrenty as another company I had interviewed. Chris said there would be a seam three feet from the top as they could not get screen that would be tall enough for my patio. The other company did not mention that there would be a seam so I wanted to go back and check with them. Chris's price was over $1000 higher. I realized I may not be comparing apples to apples. When Chris asked me what I thought I told him it was a lot of money and a big decision that I would think about it and get back to him. He became very pushy about an answer right then. I told him again I just couldn't make the decision right then. He became very aggressive said he was a busy man and asked me again to commit right now. As if he left my house without an answer I would be holding him up from moving forward with other clients. It's not like I asked to sit at my kitchen table for a few days while I decided. He got angry and said he was busy and I was wasting his time. I stood up and told him this felt very threatening so if he need my answer right now my answer was NO. He made a big show of deleting the proposal he had just worked up for me. I felt threatened, intimidated and unsafe in my own home. I opened my front door and asked him to leave. I am sure he would have never spoken to a man that way. I waited a week before I wrote this review kind of afraid of him coming back. As a widow if I had read what happened to another woman I would not have put myself in that situation. read more

They have a high quality product with impecable customer service. They installed my patio shade last year and it has been up and running without a glitch, When I calle for a routine service visit, Shade Outdoor Living Solutions was prompt to respond. They were at my house for less than 20 min, performed a complete check of the shade and gave proper maintenance. I am very happy to have chosen them ! read more

Several of my neighbors here in Kissing Tree, San Marcos, TX have used Gary and his company "Shade-Outdoor Living Solutions" for motorized Sun Shades. Thus I was already familiar with the product and saw it in action. My neighbors highly recommended I look into getting an estimate with this company. I did so. Mr. Gary Kulp came out, took measurements, discussed options, and gave us a quote. No high-pressure sales pitch. The product sells itself. Retractable Sun shades provide relief from sun,, glare, and make an area feel cooler. Plus the motorized shade has built in safety auto-reversing bump functionality, and can withstand winds up to 80MPH I'm told. How can you beat that? Now, the COVID Virus did impact the manufacturing process, it took a few months for my complete order to be fulfilled and shipped by the Florida manufacturer. (I don't hold that against Gary and his company. COVID impacted almost every aspect of society). Ours was a rather large project requiring the installation of (5) 8-foot motorized screens. The installation team was very professional. They worked diligently to get the shades installed, ensured I knew how to operate them, and completely cleaned up the area prior to leaving the worksite. My wife and I are very pleased with the end result of Sun Shades that also allow for an insect-free porch area when all screens are fully down......thus creating a whole new living space for us to enjoy! These products are well designed, and Gary (and the manufacturer) stand behind them with an exceptional warranty. The overall project was not cheap--but you have to pay for quality that will last. I highly recommend Shade-Outdoor Living Solutions. Check them out. You truly won't be disappointed. read more

I had three different recommended shade companies come to my house to bid on a 23 ft. motorized sun shade project. I chose Shade Outdoor Living Solutions because they had the superior product. Their Progressive Motorized Screen with its Magnatrack systems was perfect for my west facing balcony that looks over Lake Travis and gets hit by storms frequently. Other screens have sensors that raise your screen when there is a storm. Not this one. It's built to protect your home and balcony belongings when storms hit. It's designed to protect homes in Florida hurricanes. It's awesome. The solar screen I selected blocks 95% of the UV rays, which has reduced my electricity bill and cooled my home significantly. It is warranted against wind damage for wind speeds up to 85 mph and its Magnitrack system ensures the screens ability to stay aligned at all times. But with my project, I needed a well-designed bar and housing that could hold the massive screen and not sag over time. Shade Outdoor Living Solutions offers a highly engineered aluminum light weight highly reinforced bar that's specifically designed for big projects like mine. It clearly differentiated them from their competition. Just looking at it, it was obvious. Ask to check it out, and you'll see it also. The installation was done very well, and I'm protected by the product's warranty. I highly recommend Shade Outdoor Living Solutions Progressive Magnatrack System. read more

Shade-Outdoor Living Solutions - Shades & Blinds Near Me - Austin, Texas

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In the time of Covid with a myriad of logistical (read closed borders and shipping halts) barriers. Gary and his team made it happen. He was open, communicative, and with us every step of the way. The quality of the product and installation was beyond expectations. He will be my first call for every back patio need moving forward. read more

I spent a ton of time researching different awning products and couldn't be happier with my Sunesta motorized awning (made in US with some German and French parts) ! They did a great job throughout the whole process (despite me changing the order several times). I went with a roof mounted install and this was the only company I found that did it properly. They have a very experienced roofer that can install the mounting brackets on raised raised copper pads that go under the shingles. This allows water to flow around the raised pads and stay away from the bracket and mounting bolts. Every other company just installs the brackets directly on top of the shingles which can cause water penetration issues. Their installers were fantastic and really knew what they were doing. The fabric that he recommended also looks terrific. ! All in all, 10/10 from start to finish. read more

I am a happy retractable screen owner thanks to Gary and his team. My backyard has been a problem for me for years due to the mosquitos. I am a mosquito magnet and once it starts getting hot out I can no longer go out without a coating of bug spray on. I decided to contact Shade to see if retractable screens could be an option. Gary came out and measured and the screens were ordered. I only waited a month for them to come in an be installed. They are everything I was hoping for. I can enjoy my patio with the screens up or down. I have had them for 2 weeks now and this weekend we spent every evening outside. I haven't been able to do that for years. A permanent screened in-porch was an option but now I have the best of both worlds. THANK YOU SHADE read more

We hired this company after deciding to extend our back porch by attaching a pergola. We wanted to be able to see the open sky and continue to get sunshine on our porch, but at the same time be able to block unwanted sun. After looking at some very well constructed wood pergola's and talking with another company that had a pergola that would open and close we went with Arcadia. Our original intent was to keep out the sun in the hotter summer months, but we now realize that the additional shelter has kept out the icy rain during the cold winter. If we had not purchased this louvered pergola we couldn't close it during the rain, and then open it up when the sun shines in. This allows us to use our back porch even more than we imagined. We are sooo glad we went with Arcadia. First because it would have been a HUGE mistake to just have a regular pergola that did not open and close to block out the sun AND the rain. Secondly, Arcadia as a company is top notch. Gary, the owner mentions in his advertising about how he has employees and not contractors that may come and go, but I really did not realize the value that added to the project. Each of his employees was nothing short of fantastic. They made sure the job they were doing was excellent, not just OK. I have hired other contractors who send out workers, that you know don't care, or OK work will suffice. Not Arcadia, their attention to detail, and desire to do the best job possible is unparalleled. Gary's employees acted as if they were constructed the pergola at their house. At the end of the job they looked for any errors or places they could improve. They were obviously proud of their job, and took pictures upon completion. Ever had any other contractor workers take pictures and admire their work, or did they just leave and not correct those small mistakes that you have to either end up fixing or living with? Arcadia also followed up at the end to further inspect their job and to ensure that all was working well. read more

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I hired Shade and More to install an Arcadia louvered roof system at my house. I am extremely pleased with the results. I got bids from two different louvered roof companies. The other company was actually cheaper than the Arcadia solution, but I felt like the Arcadia solution offered a higher quality solution (better/quieter motor, higher quality parts, wider beams to deflect more water), so I decided to go with them and I am glad I did. It looks great and has totally changed the look and feel of my outdoor space. My specific project included a single support beam with two sides of the porch attached to my roof. It's very stable. I also had them wire the system for a ceiling fan and two LED lights. Note that you need to purchase your own fan, but they provide the LED lights. You need to hire an electrician (which Shade and More can recommend) to install the fan and lights. Before adding the porch, we had no desire to spend time in the back yard b/c it was too hot. Now, it's very inviting and we've added some party lights to make it look and feel even better. In fact, one of my teenage sons said "the porch looks cool and modern and now it makes the rest of your house look old." So there's that. In terms of Shade and More, they showed up on time EVERY time they said they would (which is huge to me), Matt (the project manager) and his team were very professional, and the work was completed in two days with no issues. I told Gary I would serve as a reference for him, so if you have questions about the project, you can contact Gary and he will put you in touch with me. My only minor issue was that I put down a big down payment, but then the work didn't start for a few weeks b/c I agreed to combine my order with another order to save on shipping costs (and the savings were passed on to me). I knew this upfront, so it wasn't a surprise, and I wasn't in a hurry, so it wasn't a huge deal, but I would have preferred that the work start closer to my down payment. The electrical costs (for the fan and embedded lights) were also higher than initially projected, but this was done by a separate company, so this wasn't an issue with Shade and More, just something to be aware of. Bottom line, I'm extremely pleased and would highly recommend the Arcadia louvered roof system from Shade and More. It looks awesome and completely changed my back yard. Everyone that has been to my house also really likes it. read more

I researched various products and ideas for increasing my useable space throughout the hot summer months and rainy times. I am so thrilled with my motorized awnings that I am planning to add a third. These products have more than doubled my covered area, giving my home a beautiful, resort style feel. Gary Kulp has worked with me to find solutions and I appreciate his expertise and great attitude. Yes, I'd do it again! read more