Enjoying your garden should be as easy and relaxing as being inside. The weather in Scotland can present a certain level of unpredictability and attitude, so it’s important that you can respond in kind. Awnings present a fantastic way to protect from quick showers or mid-summer blazing sun, but they can also be a hassle. Manual awnings need winding in and out, and, if we’re honest, sometimes that extra effort just doesn’t seem worthwhile, meaning the awnings just sit, rarely used for the majority of the summer season. What’s needed is the shade and shelter of a well-constructed awning, combined with the convenience and ease of use of modern technology… Enter smart motorised awnings!
What Are Motorised Awnings?
Doing away with the most cumbersome and unloved ‘feature’ of awnings, motorised awnings replace that hefty hand crank with a smooth motor that extends and retracts the awning as and when needed. After all, lounging on the patio is meant to be relaxation, not exercise!
With a premium fitting, motorised awnings are a step above traditional manual ones, with a smooth motion that ensures the awning is properly and uniformly extended when in use, and fully retracted when not. Not only does the automation provide convenience, it also increases the life of your awning, ensuring it’s never left open to be battered by the weather.
Coming with a range of operation methods: remote controls, wall switches, or smart home integration, motorised awnings do everything they need to provide you with effortless outdoor comfort and shade.
The Benefits of Motorised Awnings
When comparing motorised awnings with traditional manual ones, the benefits are clear:
- Convenience – Being able to extend or retract your awning at the touch of a button means there’s no weighing up the manual effort when using your outdoor space. You just use the awning as it is intended. This makes it ideal when the weather changes without warning – a particular consideration when living in glorious Scotland!
- Improved control – The precise control of a motorised awning means you can adjust it as needed, moving in and out with the rising and setting of the sun as needed. With better sun protection and cooler shaded spaces, enjoying your garden has never been easier.
- Protecting your space (both outside and in) – Awnings help protect your patio furniture from the elements, providing shade where needed in the hot weather. This protection extends inside the house, providing shade at window level that blocks potential UV light damage. With an awning that’s controlled with a remote or through voice activation, you can even use it when inside, allowing you to enjoy your living room or kitchen more comfortably, even when the sun is battling to take over the space. Not to mention, an awning is great for allowing you to watch TV without sacrificing natural light.
- Improving your aesthetic – A motorised awning adds style to your home exterior, with a sleek fit that blends in with the architecture. There are no visible manual handles or long cords to detract from the inviting look. With LED lighting to further enhance the overall effect, motorised awnings are a quality addition to your home decor.
- Smart home integration – For homeowners modernising their home with centralised smart controls, the Somfy motors that power our motorised awnings are compatible with the standard range of smart home systems, such as Google Home, Alexa, and HomeKit. Awnings can be enhanced with scheduled use or through activation by automated sensors, extracting or retracting based on the wind, sun, or rain – having wind sensors that can auto-retract your awning if a storm picks up and threatens, it can be especially beneficial in coastal locations.
Installing a Motorised Awning
At the Scottish Shutter Company, we provide professional installation that comes with a five-year perfect fit guarantee. We are meticulous in our approach and work to fit your awning to properly match your space.
Professional fitting is essential with a motorised awning, and a DIY job just won’t cut it (plus, you’ll want a qualified electrician to complete the electrics). Experience means precise measurements, an understanding of the potential pitfalls (and how to overcome them), as well as reassurance that if anything does go wrong, we uphold our reputation and make sure it’s rectified. When you’re installing something as impactful as a motorised awning, the last thing you want is to cut corners on its fitting.
The Scottish Shutter Company is here for you throughout the process. We’ll help you find the perfect awning for your home, undertake a thorough pre-fit for measurements, customise your awning as needed, and fit it precisely. Customer satisfaction and happiness are at the very core of our business.
Enhancing Your Outdoor Space with SSC
A motorised awning represents effortless comfort in your garden, providing shade when and where it’s needed, and a quick bit of rain protection should the weather temporarily turn. With a light-integrated motorised awning, your garden can become the inviting sanctuary you always intended – day or night.
To learn more about our awnings, call The Scottish Shutter Company today for a quick chat. We can discuss your options, make a few recommendations, and book a visit for a detailed quote.
