COLOSSAL SHADE DELIVERS BIG PERFORMANCE TO OUTDOOR SPACE

The owners of a new home in Austin, TX, were looking forward to spending some quality time on their patio and by the pool. Unfortunately, there was a pesty problem.

“They were getting a ton of mosquitoes and flies on their patio,” said Jared Adams, co-owner of Shading Texas. “In addition, there were the concerns we often see in outdoor spaces: glare, rain and uncomfortable temperatures.”

As they searched for a solution, the size of the 25' x 10' was a sticking point. “Several other companies suggested installing a post in the center of the opening because it was too wide, but the homeowners wanted to keep the single large opening,” said Adams. “They came to us and we were able to accommodate them using the Draper® FlexShade® ZIP XL.”

The FlexShade XL headbox uses an integrated cradle support system to minimize deflection, which, in turn, allows wider outdoor “zipper”-style shades. But retaining the single large opening wasn’t the only aesthetic concern.

“The large modern/contemporary home has matte bronze framed windows and they wanted to be sure the finished look was perfect,” said Adams. “The Draper bronze color was a perfect match to enable a seamless look between the screen and window frames. Plus, the Phifer® TuffScreen® fabric retained their view of the pool.”

The FlexShade ZIP XL is powered by a Somfy® RTS motor, which ties into the home automation system via the Somfy TaHoma®. This gives the owners several control options: They can operate the screens using voice commands, a smartphone app and their smart home system. V