Exterior Solar Shades in Pittsburgh, PA — Stop the Sun Before the Glass
Exterior-mounted solar shades stop the sun before it ever hits the glass — dramatically more effective for cooling hot rooms than interior solar shades. Sunrooms, west-facing great rooms, large atrium glass. Call (412) 534-5863.
- ★ Free in-home consultation
- ★ Licensed & insured installers
- ★ Lifetime workmanship warranty
- ★ Pittsburgh-based & family-owned
Exterior solar shades mount outside the window — on the wall, fascia, or window frame above the glass. By stopping the sun before it ever hits the glass, they cool rooms 30–50% more effectively than interior solar shades. The right call for sunrooms that overheat, west-facing great rooms that lose A/C effectiveness in summer, large atrium or skylight glass, and any window where keeping heat out matters more than keeping the view.
“PennShades made the whole process effortless. Measurements were perfect and the install team was in and out in an afternoon.”
“We did smart film for our conference rooms and bathrooms. Looks incredible and clients always comment on it.”
“They walked us through every fabric option and didn’t upsell us. The honeycomb shades cut our window drafts noticeably.”
Get a free in-home consultation
Send your contact info and we’ll be in touch within one business day to confirm a free in-home consultation. We bring samples, measure every window, and quote on the spot.
Signs You Need Exterior Solar Shades
Your sunroom or three-season room is unusable in summer because it overheats by 1 p.m. — interior shades don't help enough. Your west-facing great room in a newer build (Cranberry, Wexford, Sewickley Heights) runs the A/C constantly in July and August and still feels hot. You have large atrium or skylight glass that bakes the room directly above it. Your home office, family room, or kitchen has a west-facing wall of glass that the A/C can't keep up with on the worst summer days.
Exterior solar shades are the heavy-duty option for heat reduction. They cost more than interior shades and require attaching mounting hardware to the exterior of the house, but the cooling effect is dramatic. For most Pittsburgh residential applications, interior solar shades are enough — exterior is the right call when heat is the primary problem and the room is unusable without it.
Our Exterior Solar Shades Options
Within exterior solar shades we offer two main configurations. Drop-arm exterior solar shades have a top-mounted housing with two pivoting arms that swing out to hold the fabric at an angle — the angle blocks direct sun while still letting some light through. They're the right call for porches and patios where you want partial coverage but not full enclosure. Vertical-track exterior solar shades drop straight down on side rails (similar to zipper shades) — they offer the most complete sun blockage and the cleanest look.
All exterior solar shades come in motorized or manual operation. Motorized is strongly recommended for exterior shades because manual operation requires getting outside to use them — not practical for a second-story window or in bad weather. Motorized adds remote, app, voice, or sun-sensor automation. Fabric options are the same openness percentages as interior solar (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 14%), with weather-resistant exterior-grade fabric that handles UV, rain, snow, and Pittsburgh seasonal temperature swings.
Exterior Solar Shades for Pittsburgh Homes & Businesses
Exterior solar shades make the biggest difference in two Pittsburgh-area situations. First, west-facing great rooms in newer suburban builds (Cranberry, Wexford, Sewickley Heights, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair) that have huge glass walls — interior shades alone aren't enough, exterior shades drop the room temperature by 8–15°F in summer afternoons. Second, sunrooms and three-season rooms (Wexford, Fox Chapel, Sewickley) where the whole point is to use the space — exterior solar shades make them usable through July and August.
We install across Pittsburgh, Moon Township, Coraopolis, Sewickley, Robinson, Carnegie, Bridgeville, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Cranberry Township, Wexford, McCandless, Fox Chapel, and surrounding western Pennsylvania communities.
What to Expect
Call (412) 534-5863 or book online. Free on-site consultation. Exterior installations need to be assessed in person — wall structure, mounting surface, window dimensions, and access for installation. We measure, talk configuration and motorization, and quote a fixed price. Exterior solar shades typically ship in 3–5 weeks because fabric and tracks are custom-cut for outdoor use. Install is 1–2 days depending on size and access.
Why Choose Penn Shades for Exterior Solar Shades
Exterior installs have more variables — wind load, mounting surface, weatherproofing — and need a real installer. Family-owned, Moon Township-based, licensed and insured Pennsylvania installers. Lifetime workmanship warranty.
Want to see the rest of what we install? Visit the Penn Shades main site for our full range of window treatments and smart film.
Explore other solar shade variants
Interior Solar Shades
Inside-mount, clean low-profile — the most common residential choice.
Learn More →Motorized Solar Shades
Remote, app, voice, or sun-sensor automation for hands-free control.
Learn More →Commercial Solar Shades
Heavy-duty hardware and motorized systems for offices.
Learn More →Book your free in-home consultation
Stop the sun before it hits the glass. Call (412) 534-5863 or book online — most exterior solar shade projects install within 4–6 weeks.