Customer Reviews

Coolaroo Select Series Roll-Up Exterior Window Shade (338893)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this shade at the beginning of the summer so it's been installed for about 3 months now. I have it mounted on the "sunny side" of our sunroom and it has definitely made the room much cooler! Although we have had a fairly rainy summer here in beautiful Bucks County, the shade still looks brand new. My husband reports that it was easy to install. The price I found here on Amazon beat all the competitors so this was excellent purchase all the way around.

I was pleased with the blinds, but would have preferred an 8' length option. What I didn't like was the dangle of the cord. The bracket install was a little hectic, as I needed to switch the cord side to the left on one of the two shades I was installing on my patio. Once completed, they looked nice and suitably blocked the sun.
My biggest complaint is now, about 2 or 3 years later. The shades were removed when the house was painted. My painters only removed the shades and painted around the brackets. They replaced shades when done.
About a week later, I went to lower the shade, and it came flying out of the bracket and knocked me in the head. Then I went to inspect the other--aware now, there might be a problem--it too came out of the bracket, but I caught this one with my hands, not my head. By the way I am a woman. And I installed them originally, and had no such problem.
I got out my paper work and reread the instructions. Looked at both clutch and idle end plugs. Strung up one shade. Inside the idle end plug, the post needs to glide in and then this little piece functions to lock it in place, so it can't slide out. That little piece did not flex, it snapped and broke. So now I can't hang them. Will try to call Coolaroo and get a replacement part. The piece does come out separate from the bracket if you pry it out with a sharp edge. Just a hassle I didn't need right now.

Have had three of these shades up for three years, in the AZ sun. Shades have heldup remarkably well. Only problem I've had is all of the idle end latches have broken at least once (all but one twice). This seems to be a common problem. It wouldn't be such a problem if it weren't a hassle getting replacements. Local dealers do not (or cannot) stock spare parts so have to order them (shipping to a dealer - Home Depot - saves shipping costs) but still a hassle, and they are presently out of stock from Coolaroo. Next time I order I will get some extras and try to remember where they are the next time one breaks (and it will).

My front door faces south. House is two stories and there is a porch like roof overhang that
does nothing to block the sunlight during the day (The shadow cast by the overhang falls
too high). As a result the area is awful hot in the summer. (In winter it's good and we can
use the solar energy to warm the entry hall through the glass storm door). Bought the
shades to help block the sun. I only found ones 8 feet wide by 6 feet long on the net.
I mounted them, no problem, they work fine. The area temperature during a hot sunny day
is about 15 degrees lower than before. Great! It keeps the front door from heating up and
that part of the house seems much cooler.

One quibble. I would really have liked to have the shades 8-9 feet long, instead of 6 but I
couldn't find that option on the net. Later I learned that the shades can be special ordered
through Lowes or Home Depot. My local Home Depot store didn't have a clue about it though.
The local Lowes was aware of the product but failed to follow up on my request for ordering
additional shade material.

I think the product quality and engineering are great but the Coolaroo folks need to do a better job
getting the word out to the customer base.

don't buy if you are thinking that it might provide a measure of privacy----
but works great for what it is intended for 1. little shade, 2. stops some of the wind, 3. helps cool area on patio---but you can see right through it from both sides

The blind itself appears to be great quality and uses modern materials and a unique woven design to allow air flow, but also to keep out the light and any nosy neighbors! However, I was grossly disappointed by the blind "cord" which is designed as a loop to move the blind up or down. The loop control is made of PLASTIC! The sun eventually breaks down plastic (and everything else) and I'm just holding my breath, waiting for this plastic cord to snap, rendering the blind unmovable.

Time will tell how well this whole assembly holds up. It's beyond me why manufacturers will produce a seemingly high-quality product and then use cheap, plastic parts to complete the product. Sigh......

Quality product that truly does it's job! Once installed, I could defintely tell a difference in the temperature of our house in the summer! Easy to roll up and down as needed!