Motorized Shades for Your Patio and Porch
That low, blazing afternoon sun can make a covered patio unusable for hours. Motorized shades fix it with the push of a button. Lower them to block sun, heat and wind, and raise them to open up your view again. Hot Springs Awning designs and installs motorized exterior shades sized to your patio, porch or windows.
Why Homeowners Love Motorized Shades
Push-button ease
Cooler outdoor living
Privacy on demand
Protect furniture
Neat when stored
Where They Fit
Covered patios and pergolas
Screened porches that need extra sun control
Large sunny windows and sliding doors
Outdoor kitchens and pool cabanas
Fabric Options
Choose from solar screen fabrics that cut sun but keep your view, tighter weaves for more privacy, or clear vinyl panels for wind and rain. We bring samples so you can compare them in your own light.
How Motorized Shades Work
A motorized exterior shade rolls fabric onto a tube inside a slim housing. A quiet motor inside the tube does the lifting. Side cables or tracks guide the shade so it drops straight and holds steady in a breeze. When the shade is up, all you see is the housing tucked under your patio beam or eave.
Choosing Your Shade Fabric
Shade fabrics are rated by openness, which is how much light passes through the weave. Darker colors usually let you see out more clearly. Lighter colors reflect more heat. Seeing samples in your own backyard is the best way to decide.
About 1 to 3 percent
About 4 to 6 percent
About 10 percent and up
Clear vinyl
Planning Shades for Your Patio
We look at which sides of your patio get the most sun, where you sit and what you want to see. Most homeowners start with the west side, where afternoon sun is harshest. Larger openings can be split into several shades so you can lower just the one you need. All of them can be grouped on one remote.
Bug Screens and Privacy
Some homeowners use motorized shades as a retractable bug screen. Ask about fabric options that help keep insects out when lowered while still letting air through. Tighter weaves also add privacy if your patio faces a neighbor or the street.
Using Shades in Wind and Storms
Exterior shades handle normal breezes well, but they should be raised during high winds and storms. Ask during your estimate about control options, including whether automatic sensors are available for the system you choose.
What Affects the Cost
01.
Size
Number and size of shades.Â
02.
Fabric choice
Flat pan, insulated or lattice.
03.
Guide system
Cables or enclosed tracks
04.
Mounting
Existing beams or new support
05.
Power
Whether an outlet or wiring is already nearby
Easy Care
Keep shades raised when you are not using them. Rinse off dust and pollen now and then and clean spots with mild soap and water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, yes. We can mount them to most beams and overhangs.
With solar screen fabric, yes. The view from inside stays clear during the day.
Ask about manual override options during your estimate.
They need power near the mounting location. We will review what your patio needs during the estimate.
Often, yes, if the pergola can support the housing. We will check the structure.
Shading windows and doors from outside keeps sun from heating the glass, which helps keep nearby rooms cooler.