Motors and home automation

Although it is now possible to motorise most types of window coverings, there are certain situations where the automation process can have a really big impact.

Amongst their many features and advantages, motors are easy to use, child safe and provide convenience. So when deciding which window coverings you may like to motorise, work through these key benefits to identify the areas where they can be most useful.

In our experience this will include things like :-

Blockout roller blinds which are located behind a sheer curtain. By motorising the blind you won’t need to open and close the sheer curtain everytime you want to raise or lower the blockout blind.

Children’s bedrooms or play areas. By eliminating chains and cords, not only can ensure your childrens safety, but you can also prevent the chains and cords being damaged by rough treatment.

If you have a blind fitted in a hard to reach area, for example located high on a staircase or landing, a motor can make controlling it much easier and avoid the need for an excessively long chain or cord to hang down. 

As detailed above, both types of motor offer advantages. Battery motors are easy to install, require no electrical work and can run for over 12 months before needing a recharge. Hard wired motors are more cost effective to purchase, and will never need to be recharged. So which is the best solution for you ? 

This really comes down to how easy or difficult it will be to make the necessary electrical connections in your home. In most situations, the cost savings from purchasing hard wired motors as oppose to battery motors, disappears very quickly once the cost of electrical work is added in. Also, it may not be possible to get the electrical connection in the absolute perfect spot due to structural limitations with your home. 

However, if the motorisation is to assist an older member of the family, or someone with disabilities, a hard wired motor may still be the best option. Recharging a battery motor requires a charging lead to be connected to the motor, and this may not be physically possible for that person without assistance.

We can advise you on how each option would work in your home, and go through the recharging process with you, so you can fully understand your options.

This is choice based on how you want to utilise and control the motors. For some customers they like the idea of a single channel remote mounted on the wall next to each motorised product. This makes ease of use incredibly simple. However if there are multiple motors in a room, each requiring its own wall mounted remote, this may detract from the overall aesthetic of the room.

As many products can have motors retrofitted, it’s also worth considering if you may add additional motors in the future. If that’s a possibility we would be suggesting you future proof yourself by opting for the 15 channel remote, even if only one channel will initially be used.

We can advise you on the best way to setup a system that will provide you with full access to your window furnishings, even when you are not home.

Utilising the latest technology we can show you to how to control you motorised products using your smartphone, or a home assistant such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant.

We will also make recommendations to you about any additional hardware you may require if you have a particularly large home, or a home with wi-fi ‘dead spots’.