Motorized Window Shades

[svelte]

Anybody ever had them? How did they work out?

We’re needing to redo our patio area and I’m tired of the patio cover – I would like the patio open to the sky.

We’re thinking of doing something like this:

http://dropshade.com/window-shades.html

I think it is the perfect solution – keeps the house cool and free of harmful rays, yet leaves the patio wide open to the sky.

[La Jolla Renter]

I had one covering a big window in the past. They work great because they block the sun before coming through the window.

Make sure the installer you use maps out exactly how they are going to get power to the units. I’m not a fan of contractors showing up and beating holes in stucco and drywall.

I prewired 4 windows on my recent remodel so I could install them this summer or next if I find I really need them.

[spdrun]

I’m confused — by “open to the sky”, do you mean you want to have a glass roof? Do those things work on non-vertical windows?

[svelte]

Good advice LJR, I’ll do that. I ran the idea by my wife the other day and she loved it. We are getting ready to do some work that may need stucco repair anyway, so it would be wise to do both things at once.

SP, I can see how what I wrote was unclear. I am thinking about just removing the patio cover all together. Ripping it out. Removing it will let more light into the house when I want it in, and keep me from feeling enclosed when I’m kickin back in a chair out back.

[montana]

I installed three motorized solar shades and a motorized retractable awning a year ago. We love them.

Our house sits to the South East and has great views of Elfin Forest. Unfortunately, the sun blasts that side of the house in the morning and we frequently drew our shades. And then a week later we would remember that we had a great view and pull the shades up. Now, the exterior motorized shades are programmed (via remote and app) to come down at sunrise automatically (you can still see through the shade despite them being 95% solar shades) and then roll up around 1pm when the sun passes over the house.

The shades serve a purpose of preserving our view and ensuring that we see it every day as well as blocking all of the heat that used to enter the house. Our interior shades were only ‘slowing’ the heating of the house. Prior to the solar shades on a typical 85 degree August day, the A/C may kick on around 10 or 11am. Now with the shades, the A/C doesn’t kick in until later in the afternoon.

Our courtyard use to never get used during midday when it was in the mid 80’s as, now with the awning, it is a great place to relax midday. The awning rolls out around 11am and retracts around 5pm.

We have a few other large windows that we will most likely add motorized shades this year.

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