The phrase “cost to install solar shades” is searched thousands of times a month by homeowners who want cooler interiors, lower energy bills, and less glare. Yet the answers they find online are often generic. CountBricks brings clarity by combining local material pricing, labor benchmarks, and AI-powered estimating to give you a number you can actually plan around.
• Energy savings of up to 30 % on cooling costs
• UV protection that extends furniture life
• Improved privacy without losing daylight
• Modern curb appeal that boosts resale value
1. Fabric & Openness
Higher-performance, low-openness fabrics block more heat but cost more per square foot.
2. Manual vs. Motorized
Motorized shades add $150-$300 per opening for tubular motors, wiring, and smart-home integration.
3. Window Dimensions
Oversized sliders require custom tubes, wide-width fabric, and additional labor for safe handling.
4. Mounting Conditions
Retrofit installation on masonry or steel lintels demands specialty anchors and longer labor hours.
5. Location & Access
Two-story elevations or hard-to-reach clerestories require lift rental, safety harnesses, and extra personnel.
• Basic manual shade, 36”×60”: $275-$375 installed
• Premium manual shade, 48”×72”: $425-$550 installed
• Motorized shade, 48”×72”: $675-$850 installed
• Multi-window whole-home package (2,000 sq ft home): $6,000-$9,500 installed
These numbers pull directly from the CountBricks live pricing engine, updated daily with supplier feeds. Because labor markets shift weekly, our AI recalculates margins in real time, ensuring you never budget on outdated information.
1. Speak your scope: During a quick voice call, our AI captures window sizes, quantities, and fabric preferences.
2. Instant blueprint takeoff: Upload a floor plan or exterior photo; CountBricks AI measures each opening within seconds.
3. Real-time materials match: The system pairs your specs with current fabric SKUs, motor kits, and mounting hardware priced within your ZIP code.
4. Labor mapping: We apply localized residential construction wage data and productivity rates from CountBricks’ 7,000-project database.
5. One-click proposal: The completed estimate streams into a branded PDF you can e-sign on any device.
DIY Pros
• Lower up-front labor cost if you own the right tools
• Flexible weekend schedule
DIY Cons
• Risk of incorrect measurements; custom shades are non-returnable
• Limited warranty coverage on self-installed motor kits
• Time investment often outweighs savings
Professional Pros with CountBricks Partners
• Precision laser measurements for flawless fit
• Certified installers protect manufacturer warranties
• Integrated smart-home setup and customer training
• Electrical rough-ins for new motor circuits
• Finish painting after surface-mount brackets
• High-reach equipment rental for bays and clerestories
• HOA submittal fees if exterior color changes
CountBricks flags these items automatically, preventing surprise change orders.
Several utility districts now provide rebates for solar-shading retrofits. CountBricks keeps a database of regional incentives and inserts eligible credits directly into your proposal totals. We also partner with financing providers for low-interest plans, so you can spread costs without delaying the project.
• Accuracy Within 2 %
Our AI cross-checks three independent supplier databases and live labor indexes.
• Speed in Minutes
Traditional contractors may take days to price shades. CountBricks delivers in under 15 minutes.
• End-to-End Support
From blueprint takeoff to final invoice, every step occurs inside one cloud platform.
Ready to pinpoint your exact cost to install solar shades? Visit CountBricks.com/services to schedule a complimentary voice consultation. In under a half hour, you’ll have a detailed, line-item proposal, an installation timeline, and access to our vetted installer network.
A recent CountBricks client in El Paso owned a two-story, 2,400 sq ft stucco home with severe afternoon heat gain. They requested motorized exterior solar shades on 13 windows plus a 12-foot patio door.
• Fabric: 5 % openness charcoal mesh for optimal sun control
• Motorization: Low-voltage DC tubular motors with Zigbee integration
• Mounting: Surface-mount aluminum tracks powder-coated to match fascia
• Labor: Two certified installers over 2.5 days
• Total cost to install solar shades: $8,740, delivered within 2 % of the final invoice
1. Precise Measurements
The homeowner uploaded a PDF of their builder’s plans. CountBricks AI extracted all window dimensions in 43 seconds.
2. Real-Time Supplier Pricing
Our platform compared three local distributors, locking in fabric at $2.15/sq ft below the national average.
3. Incentive Capture
El Paso Electric’s $0.80 per square foot solar-screen rebate saved the client $1,012—automatically deducted in the proposal.
• Interior temperatures dropped 6 °F during peak hours
• HVAC runtime decreased 23 %
• Payback period projected at 3.2 years
• Schedule installation in cooler months when labor demand—and rates—are lower
• Opt for 5 % openness on east and west façades; go 10 % on north windows for natural light
• Bundle multiple openings to leverage bulk fabric pricing
• Ask CountBricks to pre-wire motor locations during other remodel work to reduce electrician call-outs
When you’re ready, head to CountBricks.com/consultation. A five-minute voice call provides all the data our AI needs to generate an exact number, a firm schedule, and a stress-free path to cooler, more comfortable living.
