Name: The Yardstick
Address: 2033 Gateway Place Suite 500, San Jose, CA, 95110, US
Telephone: 408-214-1300

Protect yourself from the blinding sun or allow the morning dawn to come in at the push of a button. Experiencing the lushness of your yard is just a click away, as is the shade protection and privacy of complete coverage – without sacrificing your view. Featuring an eclectic collection of colors, styles, and opacities, you can create the home you’ve always envisioned.

Whether you’re looking to escape or embrace the outdoors, a new retractable exterior screen can transform your living space. Our exterior screens provide more than privacy; they are a stylized and convenient addition that can transform your hot, unused space into a comfortable part of your daily life.

Let’s discuss the ways a retractable exterior screen can improve your home and business.

Expert Retractable Exterior Screen Installation by The Yardstick

For over 65 years, The Yardstick has been crafting custom window treatments in the greater San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area. From our gallery and showroom in Campbell, we’ve helped thousands of clients add more personality and craftsmanship to their homes – with interior window treatments and exterior shading solutions.

You can come to our showroom, but we’re also happy to bring the showroom to you with our in-home consultations.

Let’s Create Something Extraordinary

Call or email us to schedule
a free in-home estimate:

Email us

408-214-1300

* Some fees and restrictions apply. View Contact Page for more details.

Texton Motorized Zipper Shades

The Yardstick carries exterior screens by Texton.
They’re known for their precise designs and innovative channel system that ensures your columns and structure remain intact during installation and use. Homeowners no longer need to sacrifice the top of their window sills to accommodate a retractable exterior screen thanks to their Z-lock technology, which also protects the screen during heavy winds and rain.

texton exterior screen zip channel Z-lock Technology by Texton.

Texton Screen Products

Every Texton retractable exterior screen features a motor, with different options based on power distribution and cost. Before installation begins, we’ll help you understand the options and choose the configuration option that’s right for you.

Zip Screen

A locked design that further protects the screen from wind and manipulation due to the lack of gaps between the fabric and the rails.

Wire Guide

Features enhanced wind protection and is suitable for unique patios and rooms with different alignments.

Pivot Arm

Provides additional shade and wind protection as the arm pushes the screen up instead of raising it.

Benefits of Retractable Exterior Screens

Provide convenient shade from the hot sun
Privacy at the click of a button
Stylized designs that complement homes and spaces, increasing home value
Provides shade without sacrificing your view
Protect your home and family from harmful UV rays
Helps avoid bugs
Energy efficient – studies show retractable screens will help insulate your home when mounted on window exteriors, saving you $$$ on your energy bills

Elevate your patios and open rooms with a mechanized system that changes your home at the click of a button. From cozy to outdoorsy, the convenience of a retractable exterior screen is just one click away.

The Yardstick Promise & Warranty

Our retractable exterior screens come with a:

1-year Warranty that Begins On Installation
5-year Warranty on Motors

We’re not just an official dealer and installer, we’re window treatment design experts who take you from the showroom to the finished installation and beyond.

Our experts take care of it all with you in-home and in our showroom – design & product consultations, measurements, cutting, customization, installation, and servicing (if required).

Our team is dedicated to helping you create the exact space you’ve always envisioned, whether you already have the perfect retractable exterior screen in mind or are looking for a complete window treatment consultation, our expert team can walk you through every step.

Our retractable exterior screens are just a small part of the many window treatments and coverings we offer to homeowners, businesses, and project partners.

Many of the custom draperies in our house came from Yardstick back in the 1970s -1990s. They were my mother’s go-to shop for window coverings. Also, it was her favorite fabric store back in the day. I remember spending countless hours browsing through the pattern books for my next year’s school wardrobe.

Fast forward many years, to 2022. The house is mine now. The last time the window treatments were changed was in the ’90s when mom put in white shutters. It was time for a refresh. I stared looking for a window covering company, but the search stopped when I saw that The Yardstick was still around. I called and scheduled an appt with Jack. He came out with a bunch of displays and samples. I didn’t know what I wanted, other than just wanting some sort of shades on some of my windows. Jack asked me what my goals were, such as privacy, diffused light, etc., and based on that he showed me what he thought would be best for each window. I was overwhelmed when it came to picking out colors and fabrics, but Jack’s suggestions were spot on.

I ended up with all Hunter Douglas. I got banded shades in my living room and dining room. I love being able to open them all the way or just open them enough to overlap the bands and let in diffused light, while offering a little privacy. In the kitchen we went with roller blinds because I have a monster house behind me that looks straight down into my kitchen. In my office we went with a pleated shade with the top-down feature because I get afternoon sun and it allows me to block the sun as it travels west without compromising my view too much.

I added the motor to all of the shades that I can’t reach. Best thing ever! I also got the wifi hub for the motors, so I can open and close them from my smart phone. I just used it yesterday when I left the house at night and realized I had left the blinds open. I was able to close them from my car via my cell phone.

Customer service is top-notch and installation was great. I had some tricky situations with where my shades were going, but Mark and Sean figured it out. They had tricks up their sleeves for each obstacle. They installed everything, cleaned up and gave me a lesson on how everything works.

My house is so bright and cheery now. Good riddance to my old shutters!

thumb Janice G.
11/30/2023

Exterior Screen Colors and Designs

Exterior screens manufactured by Texton are made of X-weave fabric, and come in different opacities of 70%, 90%, and 95%. The highest opacity fabric will block 95% of sun and UV rays.

Blackout

Light-Filtering

Screen

Sheer

Fabric Color Selections

White

Onyx

Obsidian

Slate

Mahogany

Sunset

Graphite

Stone Grey

Sand

Black (70%)

Metal Color Selections

White

Paperbark

Bronze

Woodland Grey

Black

Alternative Retractable Screen Manufacturers

We also offer exterior screens from SunPro. Contact us to see which products are the right choice for your home or building improvement projects.

Energy Savings from Solar Screens

You could be saving thousands in cooling costs!

Installing a retractable exterior screen or window treatment adds more than style and convenience, it can help reduce your reliance on that expensive air conditioner or cooling system!

According to this large study done by the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), the average San Francisco resident could reduce cooling energy use by up to 28% when using roller shades. It also states that a South-facing home in San Francisco can see upwards of 71% in cooling cost savings when using single-clear roller shades throughout the year.

The full study was conducted across 50 different cities in the United States and revealed that fabric awnings or exterior shades could reduce air conditioner use and save upwards of $200 or 50% of your annual cooling costs! Yet another PAMA study also revealed that while interior shades could see a 50% reduction in energy use, exterior screens saw an 85% reduction. That same study states that energy costs rose by 10% from 2007 to 2012, and they’ve only risen more since then.

Research by Opinion Dynamics and the California Public Utilities Commission showed that window coverings lowered cooling costs across every California city – from a reduction of 17% in Palm Springs to 36% in Sacramento.

The results are in, no matter where your home is, an exterior solar screen can save you hundreds of dollars every year on increasing energy bills!

Retractable Exterior Screens by The Yardstick

Cool your home. Reclaim the open space in your backyard. Create comfort while retaining your view. All at the push of a button!

Retractable exterior screens are a transformative window treatment that can filter out the sun or bathe your home in sunlight. They also provide convenient shading and wind protection to protect your home from the elements.

Add color, personality, and convenience to your home or business with one of our elegant choices from top exterior shade suppliers. It all starts with a free consultation.

Use the button below, stop by our showroom, or call us at 408.763.8350 for a free quote.

Get a FREE Estimate

What Our Customers are Saying

Excellent service from The Yardstick. Jack came out and measured windows foe replcement of blinds. They were delivered in a timely manner and installed by Sean very efficiently today. Sean was very professional and courteous and very helpful to us. Great job Sean! Would definitely use this company for our future needs.
Manel Stanley

thumb Manel D.
6/08/2023