9 Signs You Should Be Using Your Sun Shades Outside

July 17, 2024

The warm weather is finally here, which means it's time to get outside and soak up some sunshine! But before you head out, make sure you have the right sun shades installed to help you better enjoy those sunny days. Keep reading for signs it's time to use your new sun shades.


1. You're Squinting to See Your Screen


Trying to send that email on your phone or watch TV on your patio? If you find yourself squinting or struggling to see your screens, it's likely time to add some sun shades. The right shades will reduce glare and allow you to see your screens clearly, without disruptive reflections. You'll no longer have to strain your eyes just to text or watch your favorite shows outside.


2. The UV Index is High


Checking the UV index is a great way to monitor sun exposure. If your area has a high UV index (6 or above), it means the sun's rays are intensified and can easily damage your skin and eyes in our experience. Adding sun shades is an effective way to lower UV exposure while still being outside. By blocking harsh rays, quality sun shades can provide a UVE protection of up to 90% when using the right materials according to ARPANSA. You'll stay safe from sun damage while having fun outdoors.


3. You Have Faded Furniture


Has your patio furniture seen better days? Faded, cracked fabric and wood are signs your outdoor furnishings need some shade. A pergola or awning will minimize sun damage to your furniture investments. According to Global Newswire, between 2022 and 2030, the shade market has had a CAGR of 17%, so now is a great time to add some! Protect your furniture from further fading and cracking by shading it with a sturdy pergola or retractable awning.


4. You Feel Too Hot in the Afternoons


If you find the midday sun makes your patio uncomfortable by early afternoon, sun shades are for you! Strategically placed shade structures like pergolas and awnings will provide cooling relief from intense sunshine. You'll be able to enjoy your space longer without overheating. Beat the afternoon heat with the breeze and shade of an awning. Your afternoons outdoors will become enjoyable again.


5. The Sun Wakes You Up Too Early


Are morning rays creeping into your bedroom and disrupting your sleep? Light-filtering window shades are the solution. Soft, diffused lighting will still let you wake gradually without harsh glare. You'll start your mornings feeling more refreshed. Sleep in a little later without the morning sun blaring into your room. Filtered shades create a peaceful wake-up environment.


6. You Want More Daytime Privacy


Sun shades like exterior roller shades provide privacy along with shade. Enjoy dinner on your patio free from disruptive street noise and passersby. Shades down grant you extra privacy during the day without blocking your whole view. With the right sun shades, you can still enjoy views of your yard while blocking out unwanted eyes and sounds from beyond your property line. Your patio remains private and peaceful.


7. You Have an Outdoor Workspace


More people are taking advantage of balconies, patios, and porches as outdoor workspaces. But screens can be hard to see and the sun's glare makes video calls challenging. The right sun shades improve visibility while cutting distracting reflections, making your outdoor home office more usable. Stop struggling through outdoor work sessions. Proper shade removes squinting and frustration with glare. You'll get more done in your outdoor workspace.


8. Kids Want a Shaded Play Area


Give your kids the gift of outdoor fun with a shaded play area. From playgrounds to sandboxes, a sun shade allows for hours of play without risk of sunburns. Pergolas, shade sails, and umbrellas can all create cooling coverage over playsets. And you'll have peace of mind knowing your little ones are protected from harsh UV rays while they play outside.


9. Pets Need Shade Too


Don't forget your furry friends also need an escape from the summer sun! Shaded rest areas allow your pets to be outside but not overheated. Shade sails, trees, canopies, and porous pergolas give your pets places to relax in the shade without missing the fresh air. Your dogs and cats will thank you for looking out for them on sunny days.


Ready to enjoy your outdoor living spaces while staying cool and comfortable? There are so many options when it comes to sun shades. Awnings, pergolas, solar screens, window shades, and more — there's a perfect shade solution for your needs. Give your patios, porches, balconies, and terraces the protection they deserve, and make time outside even more enjoyable. Call SunSaver, Inc to learn more about buying
sun shades for your outdoor area.

July 9, 2025
Our longtime Family of Customers — many of whom have been with us since we opened in our founder Karen Nimock’s home (lovingly known as “Grammy K” in our homes) back in 1996 — know that we proudly stand behind the quality of our products, the strength of our warranties, and the exceptional service we provide. We will step in anytime you need us to be of Service, however, when you find your awning auto-retracting on you, all it takes is two new AAA batteries replaced in your wind sensor! How Do You Know if it's Time to Change the Batteries in Your Retractable Awning’s Wind Sensor? You've had your awning for more than 2 years. Wind sensor batteries need to be replaced around every two years to ensure proper communication between your wind sensor and your awning's motor. Your awning retracts without any wind. Without clear communication between the wind sensor and the motor, your motor's safety feature will turn on, retracting your awning when not necessary. You click the button to bring your awning out, but it goes right back in . Again, with a poor functioning battery in your wind sensor, your motor will rely on its safety feature to stay retraced. When your wind sensor batteries need to be replaced, it can not communicate to your retractable awning's motor properly. Your motor is looking for the wind sensor, can't find it, so the motor's safety feature clicks on and auto-retracts to keep your awning safe. Luckily, this can easily be fixed by replacing the batteries with two AAA batteries! View the videos we made for you below to help you replace your batteries: 1. If you have a Somfy Wind Sensor click here. 2. If you have a SummerSpace Wind Sensor click here. As always, we are happy to be of Service and come help you change your batteries anytime. You can call us at (303) 872-6132. We look forward to shading your world and brightening your day! Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
retractable awnings
July 1, 2025
In this blog post, we'll debunk three common myths about retractable awnings to help you make an informed decision about enhancing your outdoor space.
May 29, 2025
The top 5 benefits that come with choosing a retractable awning over a stationary awning: 1. User Choice With a stationary awning, you're stuck with shade 100% of the time. With a retractable awning, you get the flexibility to choose when you want your area shaded or when you want to soak in the sun. Whether you are shading your deck, patio, or pergola - retractable awnings give you the luxury of choosing when you want to be shaded or not. 2. Longer Life Span Due to the nature of their extended exposure to the element, stationary awnings are much more prone to weather damage, faded fabrics from sun exposure, and dirt, debris, and animal damage. Retractable awnings on the other hand have increased protection from the elements. When it storms, you can bring them in. When you're not using your patio awning, you can retract it in. 3. Protection Retractable awnings offer UV protection, privacy protection, and because you can add drop shades and adjust the pitch the way you want it, they also protect your furniture from sun damage. Fixed awnings only shade a portion of your area, and when the sun changes, you're stuck with whatever angle the awning has. A retractable awning on the other hand can be angled exactly how you need it to cover your porch and furniture, while also adding a drop shade for additional shade throughout the sunniest parts of the days. Win-win! 4. Convenience With the click of the button you get the sun or shade you want in a retractable awning. It truly doesn't get easier than that! 5. Add-Ons With a retractable awning you get the options to add on an additional front drop screen, a cassette that fully protects your awning when retracted, manual or motorized use, a wide variety of beautiful colors, a wind sensor for extra protection, and so much more. At SunSaver, we understand the importance of personalized customer service and provide a customer satisfaction guarantee. We are not just a business, we are a family. When you become our customer, you become part of the SunSaver family. To schedule a free in-home consultation for the retractable awning company Colorado homeowners recommend, call today at (303) 872-6132. We look forward to shading your world and brightening your day! Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
May 13, 2025
With so many outdoor shading options, how do you choose?
April 30, 2025
When it comes to enhancing comfort, energy efficiency, and style in your home, exterior solar shades are a smart investment. They help block heat and glare from the sun before it reaches your windows—keeping interiors cooler and protecting furniture from UV damage. To make the best choice for your space, here are the top three things to consider before buying: 1. Opacity Take time before purchasing to decide how much view you want to maintain, how much light you want to enter past your shade. South and west-facing windows often benefit from lower openness to combat intense afternoon sun, while east-facing areas might do fine with higher openness for soft morning light. 2. Manual or Motorized This is completely your choice! Do you want your shades to be controlled by the click of a button, or do you prefer a manual feature? Motorized options are great for large or hard-to-reach windows and can often be programmed or integrated with smart home systems. Manual options are great for smaller, easy to reach shades. 3. Color and Design Before purchasing, it's great to consider the color of fabric that will look best with your home. At SunSaver, we offer various options to ensure your style will integrate smoothly with your home. Exterior solar shades can make a huge difference in the comfort and efficiency of your home. By considering openness, functionality, and design, you’ll be better equipped to choose shades that not only look great but also work hard for you all year long. Thinking about adding solar shades to your home? Visit our website at sunsaverawnings.com to request a free in-home estimate. We look forward to shading your world and brightening your day! Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
April 9, 2025
With the arrival of spring sunshine and warmer days, it's the perfect time to give your retractable awning a little TLC! April and May are ideal months for a quick awning refresh to keep your awning looking fresh and working like a charm all season long. Here’s a simple way to clean your awning at home: 1. Gently brush off loose debris or leaves. 2. Check for bird nests or anything that may have found a cozy home over the winter. 3. Mix a mild dish soap with warm water and use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe the fabric. 4. Be sure not to scrub too hard—gentle pressure is best to avoid damaging the fabric. 5. Rinse thoroughly and allow it to air dry fully before retracting. Cleaning your awning now can really help extend the life of your fabric and keep it looking great year after year. Want us to handle the cleaning for you? We’re happy to help! Our team offers professional awning cleaning to spruce up both the fabric and hardware of your retractable patio awning. To schedule your professional awning cleaning, contact us here and we'll be happy to get you scheduled. Whether you choose to clean your awning, or call us in, we’re always here to be of Service and ensure you get the most out of your awning! Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
March 13, 2025
Does the idea of having a warm outdoor space to enjoy the snowy Colorado views right in your backyard sound amazing? If so, we've got you covered. Our louvered pergolas are entirely customizable and the benefits are endless: Year round warmth to enjoy your backyard whenever you like Evening lighting features perfect for relaxing or hosting Expanded outdoor space to use anytime of the day Sun protection when you want it, or retract the shades to soak in the sun - your choice! UV protection while still maintaining the beautiful Colorado views Increased privacy while dining, relaxing, and enjoying your new outdoor perogla So many more! Whether you live in Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora or throughout Colorado, when it comes to installing your louvered pergola, we're Colorado's top outdoor shading company. From sales, to installation, to service - SunSaver, Inc. is a company that delivers. To schedule your free in-home consultation, visit us at sunsaverawnings.com or give us a call at 303-694-6847. Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
February 26, 2025
Our latest pergola project (pictured here) in The Meadows of Castle Rock is just gorgeous, isn't it? Our installation team works with Excellence at the top of their values, and we must say - they truly are Excellent. We've had a growing interest in our outdoor pergolas this year, and there's no question as to why. There are serious PERKS to having an outdoor pergola in your Castle Rock backyard! Our family of customers love how their pergolas: 1. Extend their outdoor living space 2. Increase their property value 3. Offer year round use 4. Give space for a private, secluded retreat 5. Allow year round access for dining and entertainment 6. Provide the shade and comfort they crave while enjoying their backyard and retaining their beautiful views. If you'd like to learn more about installing an outdoor pergola in your Castle Rock backyard, contact us today at sunsaverawnings.com . When it comes to shade in Colorado, we've got you covered! Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail
solar shades company
February 26, 2025
Are you wondering how to find a dependable solar shades company? Read this blog to discover how to find a reliable solar shades company!
February 11, 2025
Whether you are interested in retractable awnings, outdoor solar screens, window shades, or outdoor pergolas - we have you covered! As Colorado's premier retractable awning & solar shade specialists, we take pride in serving the Front Range and Mountain communities since 1996. With our core values; Excellence, Transparency, and Clear Lines of Communication, at the forefront of everything we do - we have a family of happy customers who continue to send all of their friends and family our way. While you can check out what our customers have to say on our Google Reviews or browse our website for information, we would love to meet you in person at the Colorado Home and Garden Show this week through Sunday, February 16th at the Colorado Convention Center. You can see first hand what our products look like and meet us in person to ask any question you have. We look forward to meeting you, and especially to shading your world and brightening your day! Can't make the Home & Garden show, but would love a a free in-home consultation? Call us today at 303-694-6847 and we'll be happy to get you scheduled. Serving Arvada, Aurora, Avon, Boulder, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Denver, Dillon, Elizabeth, Englewood, Erie, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fredrick, Frisco, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette Lakewood, Larkspur, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Monument, Morrison, Parker, Silverthorne, Thornton, Vail