Commercial Motorized Shades for Year-Round Comfort
An uncomfortable patio is an empty patio. Motorized shades let your staff block low afternoon sun, wind or a passing shower with the push of a button, then roll them out of sight when the weather is nice. Hot Springs Awning designs and installs motorized exterior shades for restaurants, bars, hotels, offices and retail spaces.
Where Motorized Shades Pay Off
Restaurant and bar patios
West-facing storefronts
Office buildings
Event venues and pavilions
Benefits
Push-Button Control
Heat and Glare Control
Clean Appearance
More Usable Space
Options
How Motorized Shades Work
A motorized exterior shade is a fabric panel wound around a tube inside a compact housing. A quiet motor inside the tube raises and lowers the fabric. Side channels or cables guide the shade as it moves and help hold it steady in a breeze. The housing mounts to a beam, header, soffit or wall, so the shade disappears when it is up and drops into place when you need it.
Choosing Shade Fabric
The fabric does most of the work, so choosing it well matters. Solar screen fabrics are rated by openness, which is the percentage of the weave that lets light through. Darker fabric colors usually give a clearer view out, while lighter colors reflect more heat. We bring samples so you can see the difference on site.
Tighter weaves (about 1 to 3 percent):
Medium weaves (about 4 to 6 percent)
Open weaves (about 10 percent and up)
Clear vinyl or weather panels
Planning a Shade System for a Large Space
For restaurants and venues with long open sides, we often divide the opening into several shades. That keeps each shade a manageable size and lets you lower only the side that is getting sun. Multiple shades can be grouped on one control so staff can raise or lower a whole wall at once. We plan the layout around posts, beams, doorways and service paths.
Operating Shades in Wind
Exterior shades are built for outdoor use, but strong wind puts stress on any fabric. Staff should raise shades in high winds and storms. Ask during your estimate about control options that make that easy, including whether automatic sensors are available for your system.
What Affects the Cost
01.
Number and size of shades
Wider and taller openings need larger tubes and motors.
02.
Fabric choice
Solar screens, vinyl and specialty fabrics vary in price.
03.
Guide system
Cable guides cost less; enclosed side tracks hold fabric tighter.
04.
Mounting surface
Existing beams make installation simpler than building new supports.
05.
Controls
Individual remotes, grouped controls and wall switches all affect scope.
Care and Maintenance
Keep shades raised when not in use to protect the fabric. Brush or rinse off dust and pollen periodically, and clean with mild soap and water. Avoid pressure washing. Check guides and housings once or twice a year for debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask about manual override options during your estimate.
Usually, yes. We mount shades to existing beams, posts or overhangs.
It depends on the fabric. We will bring samples so you can choose.
Yes. Shading glass from the outside stops much of the sun's heat before it reaches the window, which helps keep interiors cooler.
Yes. Shades can be grouped so one button raises or lowers a whole patio side.
Motorized shades need power at the mounting location. We will review what your site needs during the estimate.