Shading systems are an important part of modern outdoor living as they deliver comfort, privacy, and year‑round usability. Two recent Colorado installations demonstrate how FlexShade ZIP and ZIP XL systems from Draper At Home are meeting that need and reshaping expectations for outdoor living.
A New Approach to Downsized Luxury
When a pair of Aurora homeowners transitioned from a large rural property to a 55+ community, they gained walkability and convenience but lost the privacy and sun protection they once enjoyed.
“They wanted to sit out on the patio and enjoy the sunset, but they also needed privacy from the walking trail right behind their house,” says James Nimock, owner and CEO of SunSaver. SunSaver specified the Draper At Home FlexShade ZIP, a system engineered to lock the fabric into slim side channels, eliminating light gaps and preventing blowouts during Colorado’s windy afternoons. The result is a clean, architectural enclosure that preserves views while creating a comfortable, protected outdoor room at the touch of a simple handheld remote.
Castle Rock: Four‑Season Luxury Entertainment
In Castle Rock, the design challenge was different but equally demanding. The homeowners frequently host outdoor events, including family dinners. However, their west‑facing patio was unusable during summer evenings and exposed to neighboring upper‑story decks.
“They host outdoor dinners all the time and were unable to use their patio during the summer months,” Nimock explains. “With the ZIP XL, they can now enjoy the patio year‑round.”
SunSaver recessed a FlexShade ZIP XL into the patio structure, creating a seamless integration with the home’s architecture. With spans up to 25 feet wide, ZIP XL delivers the scale required for large openings while maintaining fabric tension and structural stability.
In winter, the homeowners can lower the shade, activate a heating source, and enjoy a fully enclosed, climate‑controlled space. Again, the control needed to be simple, with a handheld remote fitting the bill.
Finding the Right Outdoor Shade Partner
Nimock has worked with shading systems for decades, and his assessment is direct. “I believe Draper At Home has the highest‑quality zipper shade on the market. The interior components and the welds are far superior,” Nimock says. “And they actually stand behind their warranties. That matters more than anything.”
From the manufacturer’s perspective, the engineering behind the ZIP family is intentional. “The ZIP detail keeps the fabric securely in the side channels, preventing blowouts and eliminating light gaps,” says Clint Childress, Draper At Home residential market director. “ZIP XL allows us to go up to 25 feet wide, which opens up design possibilities other systems can’t match.”
And because Draper At Home manufactures in the U.S., designers gain access to custom powder‑coat finishes, a broad fabric library, and shorter lead times. These are critical advantages in today’s project‑driven environment. (For more about solar-powered outdoor shades from Draper at Home, see the sidebar below.)
A Market Shift Toward Outdoor Performance Spaces
According to Nimock, ZIP‑style exterior shades now represent at least half of SunSaver’s business. “As homes develop, we’re seeing more covered patios and permanent structures,” Nimock says. “Draper At Home ZIP shades are the perfect complement. They turn those spaces into usable rooms.”
Related: Navigating the Landscape
Nimock encourages homeowners and designers to evaluate not just the product, but the partnership behind it. “Your warranties and future service are only as good as the dealer in front of you and the manufacturer behind the product.”
For performance‑driven homes, the combination of engineering, reliability, and design integration that shades bring to the table elevates outdoor spaces to become true living environments.
For more information, visit www.sunsaverawnings.com and draperathome.com.
Take Outdoor Shades Off the Grid
Motorized outdoor shades is a great way to create a flexible outdoor living space without glare, bugs, or weather interruptions. But even if there is an existing patio or other structure in place, there may not be a handy electrical supply right where you need it. That’s where the FlexShade ZIP 127 with Solar Panel and ZIP XL with Solar Panel from Draper At Home come in. With the addition of a battery motor and solar panel, these shading solutions for better outdoor living can now easily be installed in even more applications!
One installation issue that can give property owners pause is the need to run wiring to outdoor shades. This is a special concern on retrofit projects, where burying electrical access means digging up existing concrete or otherwise damaging existing infrastructure. With rechargeable battery motors, that’s no longer an issue.
What if you want to enjoy your patio with the shades down but there is a power issue? Or a power outage leaves you with deployed outdoor shades as strong storms approach? Since these solar-powered ZIP shades aren’t tied to the grid, but instead rely on their own stored power, rest assured that even when the grid is down your shades will still work!
Rechargeable battery shades are already super convenient, with months of typical operation before requiring a charge. Adding a solar panel surpasses even that convenience. Now you never have to worry about recharging, and with advanced power management, these ZIP shades charge even without direct sunlight!
Wireless power, wireless control. But if you are looking for more than a handheld remote option, you can tie these ZIP shades into your shade or whole home control, thanks to its compatibility with the Bond Bridge Pro. This brings network, app, and voice control into the mix — again, without wiring. And you can also tie into the Bond Breeze Weather Station so your shades will respond to weather conditions and always be in the right place!
Add shades without increasing utility costs or carbon usage. Feel good about creating a more comfortable and safe outdoor living and entertaining environment without breaking the bank. Using the FlexShade ZIP 127 with Solar Panel and the FlexShade ZIP with Solar Panel will increase capacity and hours/days available without generating the need for more outside power!
Learn more at draperathome.com.
