Motorized or Manual?
Posted by Mark Hequin on
Whether you have a window thats a little uncomfortable to operate or just want the convenience and safety of motorized window treatments, you will have various options to choose from. From choosing how the shade is powered to what control you prefer, there can be an overwhelming amount of options. The following is a bit of an introduction to help you choose.
When selecting a motorized window treatment, there is not only a choice of the type of product, but also a choice of how the product is powered. MAAD for Design offers rechargeable battery powered motors in the majority of our products. There is no need for electricians to wire the shades, saving you both time and money. The window treatment simply recharges with a charging cord that connects to a port on the shade motor and plugs into a standard outlet. Your window treatments will need to be charged approximately twice a year. This option the simples, much like recharging your phone, just not nearly as often (imagine only having to charge your phone once a year)!
If you don’t want to pay attention to recharging your motorized shades and are constructing or remodeling, you will need your window treatments hardwired. This will require that an electrician runs the wiring prior to installation of the insulation and drywall. The benefit of this is maintenance-free operation for as long as you can imagine and you can forget about charging forever.
After you choose the product and its type of motorization, you will need to choose how you are going to control it. The options include: a handheld remote, wireless wall switches, an app on your Smartphone or Home Automation integration and voice control.
A handheld remote is programmed to operate a single shade or a group of shades with the push of a button. Remotes are available as single channel or multi-channel and determine how many shades can be operated with one remote.
Wireless wall switches work in the same way as a remote, but obviously the switch is attached to the wall making it a safe option to keep it away from little ones. This is also a great option when you don’t want to be searching for a remote!
The best part of an app on your Smartphone is you can work your shades from anywhere whether you are home or on the road. This option does require the addition of a bridge or hub to connect the shades to your Wi-Fi so they can communicate with mobile devices and internet routers. Once the hub is added, you can program “scenes” or functions, that set the shades to operate automatically. Perfect for programming the shades to lower during the heat of the day to protect flooring and furniture and make your home more energy efficient.
The addition of the bridge/hub also allows the shades to be connected and operated via other home automation systems, as well as via voice control on Google Home, Amazon Alexa and other voice activated assistants. Voice control is a great hands-free option when you are busy in the kitchen or not near your remote or wall switch.
Still a little confused about what is right for you and your home? Give MAAD for Design a call! We offer an array of products and options.