Motorized exterior screens are a great way to add privacy, shade, and protection to your patio or deck. They can be used to create an outdoor living space that can be enjoyed year-round. Motorized exterior screens can also help to reduce your energy costs by keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. If you're looking to add some motorized exterior shades to your patio, there are quite a few things you should know. In this post, we'll cover everything from the motorized exterior shades styling and functionality options to the different types of installtions that will be right one for your home. By the end, you'll be an expert on motorized exterior shades and ready to make a decision! Lets start with some key benefits before getting into the technical side of things... Sun Protection Sun protection is one of the most popular reasons for installing motorized patio shades. These shades can block out up to 95% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, keeping your skin safe and protected. Not only will you be protecting yourself from the sun, but you’ll also be keeping your furniture and flooring from fading. Motorized exterior shades are a great way to keep your patio cool and comfortable all summer long. Insect Prevention Another great reason to install motorized patio shades is insect prevention. No one wants bugs flying into their outdoor living space, and with motorized exterior shades, you can keep them out! These shades create a barrier that bugs can’t penetrate, making your patio a bug-free zone. Motorized exterior shades are the perfect way to enjoy your patio without the annoyance of mosquitos and other bugs. Pollen Prevention If you suffer from allergies, motorized exterior shades can help you enjoy your patio without all the sneezing. Depending on you fabric selection (more on that later) patio shades can help keep pollen and other allergens out of your outdoor living space, making it a safe haven for allergy sufferers. With motorized shades, you can enjoy your patio with less worry about your allergies. Customization One of the best things about motorized exterior shades is that they’re completely customizable. You can choose the size, color and fabric of your shades to create the perfect look for your patio. Motorized exterior shades are also available in a manual operation, giving you the option to choose how you want to operate your shades. Ease of Use Motorized exterior shades are extremely easy to use. With the push of a button, you can open or close your shades. Exterior shades are also great for people with pets or small children, as there’s no need to worry about cords that could be dangerous. Motorized exterior shades give you the ultimate in convenience and ease of use. Fabric Selection When it comes to motorized exterior shades, you have a wide selection of fabrics to choose from. From "bug screens" (which are similar to your window screens) that will prevent insects from entering your patio to more dense fabrics that can block up to 95% of the sun light. There also multiple color options available to choose from, so you can find the perfect fabric typr to match your home and patio furniture. Unit Color Selection Patio Shades units are available in a variety of colors to match your home’s exterior. The housing, tracks and weight bar are made of extruded aluminum which are powder coated to offer years of protection. Whether you want your motorized exterior shades to blend in or stand out, you can find the perfect color to complement your home. Control Your Motorized Shades Controlling you solar screens could not be easier, and there are multple ways to do so... -Handheld Remote: All motorized exterior shades come with a handheld remote for easy operation. You can use the remote to raise or lower your shades by simply touching a button. -Wall Switch: Motorized exterior shades can also be operated with a wall switch called a Somfy Smoove. This is a great option if you don’t want to keep a remote handy or if you want to control multiple shades at once. -Smart Device: Control your shades with your smart device using the Somfy myLink app. This feature also inetgrates with most popular home automations systems such as Control4. Now lets get technical. Anatomy of a Motorized Shade Lets look at the components the make up a motorized patio shade. Housing: The housing is the top part of the motorized exterior shade where the fabric attaches to the roller. The motor is also located inside the headrail and is actually located inside the roller itslef Fabric: As we mentioned before, there are a variety of fabrics available for motorized exterior shades. fabrics can range from see-through to almost blackout and and afew choices in between. Tracks: Tracks are vertical supports that attach to the back of the fabric and connect to the bottom weight bar. The tracks help secure the motorized exterior shades to the structure and help keep the fabric taut. Weigth Bar: The bottom bar is the bottom part of the motorized exterior shade where the fabric is attached. Since the shade is gravity fed the weight bar plays an important role not only to lower the screen but also to keep the screen taut. Weight Bar: The weight bar helps keep motorized exterior shades from blowing away in the wind. Pile: There will be a pile or "brush" at the bottom of the weight bar. Since the weight bar will not rest on the patio floor when the shade is down, the manufacture adds a brush to the bottom side of the weight bar to keep the bugs from crawling through under the bar. The reason it is important for wieght bat to hover just above the floor is so that the fabric can remain taut. U-Channel: The U-channel is a preconstruction channel that is installed during construction prior to brick or the appliction of stucco. This channel is built to receive the track insert that will attach to the fabric via the fabric welded zipper. Zipper Track Insert: The tracks have an insert inside that have a slot that accepts the zipper on the outer edges of the fabric. This helps to keep the fabric from flopping around in the wind and helps keep the fabric taut. Motor: The motor is located inside the roller and there for is tubular in shape. One of the most popular brand of roller motors is Somfy. The Somfy motors come with a 5 year warranty. The motor simply plugs into a standard outdoor 110V outlet and draws only about 1.5 amps when in use. Installation Professional installation is recommended for motorized exterior shades. With proper installation, your motorized shades will provide years of enjoyment. These shades are measuresed to be within 1/8" tolerance so there is little room for guesswork. Types of Installation When it comes to the installation of the motorized screens it is important to take the building materials and surface areas. Generally, there are two types of sytems to be installed, surface mounted tracks and receessed mounted tracks. If you are adding shades to your existing patio it is very likely you will be using the surface mount track system. If you are remodelling your patio or you have a new construction home you may want to consider the receessed track system. Brick Surface The track system is mounted on the brick wall with special brick anchors and screws. This installation can be done as part of a new construction or a retrofit project nand is the most common type of installtion because typically no construction is needed for this type of installation. Wood Surface A solid wood mounting surface is the most straightforward surface to mount on. Exterior screws can be used to mount the housing and tracks to a wood surface. Stucco Surface Stucco is a little trickier to mount on because it can be uneven. With stucco there is typically foam behind the stucco so it is important to know the construction of the patio or home to be certain there is a sold surface behind the stucco to mount to. Surface Mount Track System A surface track system is the most popular type of motorized exterior shades. This system does not require any construction and can be installed on almost any type of patio or home. The tracks are mounted to the wall with L brackets and then the motorized screens are attached to tracks via a fabric zipper that is inserted into the track. Recessed Track System This type of installation requires that the tracks be set into soffit or ceiling as well as the walls or columns during construction. This will give your motorized screens a very sleek look when they are open because the tracks are flush with ceiling and the walls or columns. Funtionality Most motorized exterior screens can be operated with a remote control, wall switch, or even your smart phone. Many of the motorized screens also come with sun and wind sensors that will automatically retract the shades when the sun gets too hot or the wind picks up. This is a great feature to have because it will protect your motorized screens from damage. Finally, we discuss the buying process... On Site Consultation The first step is to have an on site consultation with a motorized screen company. This will allow the company to see your patio or deck and ask you questions about your specific needs. Product Selection During the on site consultation, you will work with the motorized screen company to select the right fabric and product colors for your home. There are many different types and styles of motorized screen fabrics, so it is important to select the one that best fits your needs. Final Measurements After you have selected the fabric and product colors, the motorized screen company will take final measurements of your patio for the shades. This is an important step because the motorized screens are custom made to fit your specific space. Schedule Installtion Once the motorized screens are manufactured, the company will schedule a time for installation. The installation process is typically a one day process. After the motorized screens are installed, you will be able to enjoy your new outdoor space even more! In Conclusion Motorized exterior shades are a great way to add privacy and shade to your patio among other benefits. They can be operated manually or ideally motorized for added convenience. Motorized screens are available in a variety of sizes and colors to match your home’s décor, and can be installed on almost any type of patio or pergola. With proper installation, motorized exterior shades will provide years of enjoyment. Still have questions? Our team of experts are here to help. Give us a call or send us an email and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call or email us today for more information on motorized exterior shades. motorized patio shades are the perfect way to add privacy, sun protection, and style to your home. Call or email us today for more information on motorized exterior shades.