Installing Outdoor Motorized Shades Is Easier Than You Think
Enjoy Your Outdoor Space Regardless of Weather with Modern Shading Solutions
How many months of the year do you actually use that beautiful patio you invested thousands in? Between Utah's intense summer sun, pesky insects, and unexpected weather changes, outdoor spaces sit unused far too often. There's a simple solution that can dramatically extend your living space and boost your home's value: outdoor motorized shades.
At AMT Integration, we work with premium brands like Draper and Screen Innovations to create sealed, comfortable outdoor environments that your family can enjoy year-round. Let's explore how these innovative shading solutions can transform your home's exterior spaces.
SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons to Love Lutron Automatic Shades
Beyond Sun Protection: The Many Benefits of Outdoor Shades
While traditional patio covers provide basic protection, modern motorized shades create a true outdoor room. They block harmful UV rays that damage furniture and make watching TV impossible due to glare. But their benefits go far beyond sun protection.
Screen Innovations' KAOS system can actually transform your patio into a genuine outdoor room. With specialized side channels and sealing mechanisms, these shades create a fully enclosed environment that keeps mosquitoes, flies, and dust outside where they belong. The sealed design also contains any heated or cooled air from your outdoor climate systems, making those patio heaters and misting fans far more effective, saving you money while keeping the space consistently comfortable.
When storms threaten your outdoor gatherings, a quick press of a button lowers these durable shades to block wind and rain. Draper's FlexShade ZIP has been tested in hurricane-force winds, using aluminum side channels with special inner cushioning to keep the fabric secure even in challenging conditions.
Size and Installation: Easier Than You Think
Are you worried your patio is too large for shades? Today's outdoor shading systems accommodate impressive spans. Draper's exterior FlexShade XL can cover openings up to 20 feet wide by 12 feet tall, while Screen Innovations' Zen 2 extends even further—up to 25 feet wide and 16 feet tall.
Adding these shades to existing structures is surprisingly straightforward. Many systems feature snap-in installation that reduces mounting time by half compared to traditional methods. Screen Innovations' shades include everything needed for a complete installation: mounting hardware, motorized cassette, and fabric.
Power options have also evolved. While hardwired connections provide reliability for permanent installations, many newer models offer wireless motors with rechargeable batteries, perfect for retrofitting existing spaces where running new wiring might be challenging.
Smart Control: Your Outdoor Space, Your Way
Manual cranks, cords, and pulls are clumsy and inconvenient for large outdoor shades and screens. Modern shades use electric motors and integrate smoothly with home automation systems, allowing intelligent control based on your preferences.
You can link your shades to temperature sensors that automatically lower them when the patio gets too warm. Set schedules based on sunrise and sunset times that adjust automatically throughout the year. You can also simply use voice commands through Josh.ai or Amazon Alexa to raise and lower your shades without lifting a finger.
Most systems offer multiple control options—smartphone apps, handheld remotes, wall switches, or full integration with Control4 and other home automation platforms. This flexibility ensures your outdoor space responds perfectly to changing conditions and your personal needs.
Ready to Extend Your Living Space?
Outdoor motorized shades transform underused patios into true extensions of your home. With sizes up to 25 feet wide, installation options for any structure, and smart controls that make operation effortless, there's never been a better time to upgrade your outdoor living.
Contact us at AMT Integration to explore how Draper and Screen Innovations outdoor shading solutions can enhance your home. We'll help you select the perfect system and handle every aspect of installation. Your new favorite room might just be the one outside your walls!
