Carroll Architectural Shade

What Carroll Architectural Shade does

Carroll Architectural Shade is a family-owned, Baltimore-based manufacturer and installer of custom shade, awning, and canopy structures, founded in 1958 by James Carroll Sr. and currently operated by his sons, with Chris Carroll serving as President and Owner. The company designs, fabricates, and installs a broad product portfolio in-house — including commercial and residential awnings, manual and motorized retractable awnings, roll-up curtains, flat metal canopies, shade sails, louvered pergolas, hurricane and storm shutters, and solar shades — supplemented by partner-branded offerings from Sunesta, Sunbrella, Sundance Outdoor Living, Datum, Mapes, and Altutech United. Operationally, the company runs a sales-led, direct-to-consumer model: customers request free estimates, receive on-site measurements and design renderings from sales representatives, and proceed through custom fabrication followed by in-house installation with permitting handled internally.

The business serves both residential homeowners and commercial customers (restaurants, retail stores, hotels, offices, shopping malls) across a defined regional service area of Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia, supported by a combined Baltimore headquarters at 2955 Frederick Avenue and a Washington presence. Revenue is generated through one-time project sales with custom quote-based pricing determined by materials, size, and installation complexity; no pricing is publicly listed and no recurring or subscription model is offered. Distribution is fully direct with no third-party reseller channel, and the company maintains a digital presence across Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn alongside a content-rich website and blog to drive lead generation. The company remains privately held with no outside investors, no disclosed financials, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity.

Name

Carroll Architectural Shade

Legal name

Carroll Architectural Shade

Website

https://carrollarchitecturalshade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carroll Architectural Shade is a family-owned Baltimore manufacturer and installer of custom awnings, shade sails, pergolas, canopies, and storm shutters, serving residential and commercial customers across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia with in-house fabrication and installation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Shade Structures and Awning Manufacturing

NAICS

Blind and Shade Manufacturing (337920)

akta.pro primary industry

Window Treatments & Shading Systems (Blinds, Shades, Awnings) (IMADAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pergolas, Gazebos & Shade Structures (HSAPALAD), Outdoor Window Shades & Awnings Retail (Exterior Shades, Retractable Awnings) (CRAIAKAH), Pergolas, Pavilions & Hardscape Shade Structures (HSAIACAH)

Keywords

• Custom awning manufacturing
• Commercial shade solutions
• Residential awning installation
• Retractable shade systems
• Custom canopy fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Awning Products: Sale of custom-manufactured shade products including commercial awnings, residential awnings, retractable awnings, roll-up curtains, flat metal canopies, shade sails, louvered pergolas, and hurricane/storm shutters with professional installation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Carroll Architectural Shade custom-manufactures and installs commercial and residential awnings, retractable awnings, roll-up curtains, flat metal canopies, shade sails, louvered pergolas, hurricane/storm shutters, and solar shades. Operating from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the company delivers full-service project execution from consultation and custom design through in-house fabrication and professional installation for properties throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Product overview

Carroll Architectural Shade offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom shade solutions for residential and commercial applications, featuring both proprietary manufactured products and partner-branded offerings. The core product line includes commercial awnings, residential awnings, retractable awnings (manual and motorized), patio/deck retractable awnings, roll-up curtains, flat metal canopies, shade sails, louvered pergolas, hurricane/storm shutters, and solar shades. The company distributes premium partner products including Sunesta retractable awnings and screens, Sundance Outdoor Living louvered pergolas, Sunbrella fabric awnings, and Datum/Mapes metal canopies. Accessories include smart home integration options (MyLink app), LED lighting, wind/sun sensors, and motorized control systems. All products are custom-manufactured to order with various material options (acrylic, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass) and design configurations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Awnings Custom-designed awnings for commercial applications including shopping malls, restaurants, offices, and hotels. Available as illuminated or graphically embellished designs with branding options for business identification.
• Residential Awnings Custom awnings for homes that enhance architecture, shade windows, protect interior furnishings, and help control indoor temperatures by up to 15 degrees. Available in multiple colors and patterns.
• Retractable Awnings Shade systems that extend or retract on demand, allowing users to control sun and shade over outdoor spaces. Available in both manual and motorized options.
• Roll-Up Curtains Outdoor curtains that can roll up to enclose patios or porches, offering privacy, shade, and wind protection while easily rolling up when not needed.
• Flat Metal Canopies Sleek, modern canopies made from durable aluminum metal materials that provide weather protection and low-maintenance outdoor shade solutions.
• Shade Sails Versatile, modern fabric shade sails made from durable, UV-resistant fabric. Custom-made to order in various shapes, sizes, and colors for residential and commercial applications. Block up to 95% of harmful UV rays.
• Louvered Pergolas Modern outdoor structures with adjustable roof slats (louvers) that rotate to open or close for controlling sunlight, shade, and weather protection. Motorized or manually adjustable with smart technology integration.
• Hurricane and Storm Shutters Protective shutters designed to safeguard residential and commercial properties against hurricane and storm conditions.
• Solar Shades Window and outdoor shades designed to reduce glare and block UV rays while allowing natural light in. Improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Available with motorized options.
• Sunesta Retractable Awnings Premium motorized retractable awnings from Sunesta featuring PVC coated arms, wireless controls, weather-sealed hoods, and various fabric options including Sunbrella.
• Sundance Outdoor Living Louvered Pergolas High-quality louvered pergolas from Sundance Outdoor Living built with durable materials engineered to withstand sun, rain, and temperature changes. Feature adjustable louvers and smart technology integration.
• Datum Flat Metal Canopies Custom flat metal canopy products from Datum, known for durability and aesthetic appeal.
• Mapes Flat Metal Canopies Custom flat metal canopy products from Mapes, offering top-of-the-line durability and design options.
• Sunbrella Awnings Awnings featuring Sunbrella fabric, known for longevity and UV resistance with a five-year warranty on fabric for mildew, rot, or fabric failure.
• Patio and Deck Retractable Awnings Motorized retractable awnings designed specifically for patios and decks, providing adjustable shade coverage for outdoor living spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residential awnings can help control inside temperatures by as much as 15 degrees
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DatumcoreTechnology or IntegrationTrusted manufacturer of flat metal canopies. Carroll Architectural Shade offers canopies from Datum, ensuring top-of-line products known for durability and aesthetic appeal.
• MapescoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner providing flat metal canopy products. Mapes products are offered alongside Datum products for customers seeking high-quality metal canopy solutions.
• SunestacoreTechnology or IntegrationPremium manufacturer of retractable awnings, solar shades, and smart accessories. Partnership includes MyLink system, LED light kits, motorized controls, and smart accessories (Smart Tilt, Smart Power, Smart Hood, Smart Case, Smart Drop).
• SunbrellacoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading fabric brand for awnings. Sunbrella fabrics are used for custom awnings, recognized for UV resistance, durability, and longevity.
• Sundance Outdoor LivingcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of high-quality louvered pergolas. Sundance Outdoor Living products are installed by Carroll, featuring durable aluminum construction designed to withstand various weather conditions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Aristocrat Awnings: Regional custom awning manufacturer and installer on the East Coast, comparable in size, product mix (custom commercial and residential awnings), and full-service sales-to-installation model.
• Awning & Canvas Service: Mid-Atlantic regional awning and canvas products fabricator/installer with similar custom build-and-install offerings to Carroll.
• Thorp Awnings: Mid-Atlantic region custom awning fabricator and installer competing for residential and commercial projects in markets overlapping Carroll's service territory.

Direct peers

• Sunesta: National manufacturer of retractable awnings, solar shades, and smart accessories that Carroll distributes and installs under partnership. Operates in the same product categories (retractables, motorized awnings) and shares the same shade solutions channel.
• Sunsetter: Leading national direct-to-consumer retractable awning brand with motorized and manual product lines — directly competes with Carroll's retractable awning offering for both residential and light commercial customers.
• Sunair Awnings: Manufacturer of retractable awnings, sunrooms, and outdoor shade structures for residential and commercial applications — comparable custom-shade product mix to Carroll.
• KE Outdoor (KE Durasol Awnings): Manufacturer of retractable awnings, pergolas, and window awnings serving dealers and installers nationally. Competes head-to-head with Carroll in custom residential and commercial shade structures.
• Solair Awnings: Manufacturer and supplier of retractable awnings and shade products distributed through dealer/installers, directly overlapping Carroll's residential and commercial retractable awning business.

Others

• Sunbrella: Leading awning fabric brand whose materials Carroll uses and resells — adjacent ecosystem participant whose product specifications shape awning quality and warranty positioning across the industry.
• Sundance Outdoor Living: Manufacturer-partner supplying the louvered pergola line that Carroll installs; comparable in outdoor shade-structure manufacturing capability and an upstream supplier in Carroll's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CarrollArchShad
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarrollArchitecturalShade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carroll-architectural-shade
• Instagraminstagram.com/carroll_architectural_shade
• Pinterestpinterest.com/carrollarchitecturalshade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carroll Architectural Shade