For many of us, our earliest memory of an awning might be wandering past local shops as a child. Either early morning when the shops were opening or in the evening as daylight gave way to dusk, a shopkeeper stands in the road winding on a large mental handle as, as if by magic, the colourful awning that stands above their head either extends (if it’s the morning…) or folds back away (at closing time…). We smile and walk on past.
When we, as adults, consider an awning to enhance our patio or garden area, images of those shopkeepers come back into our minds and form a negative connotation: owning an awning suddenly seems like a lot of work!
Well, we at the Scottish Shutter Company are here to fix that problem because technology has improved a little in the years since you witnessed a shopkeeper working on that laborious task. Motorised awnings are very much the standard way of doing things, and they’re effortless to use. Shading your outside space no longer needs to feel like work!
The Convenience and Ease of Use of a Motorised Awning
A good awning really enhances your garden or patio, giving you shade (when it’s hot), cover (when a little rain comes out unexpectedly), and even occasionally shady cover (that’s for days when a rainbow comes out!).
But it’s rare to find someone who actually enjoys the idea of manually winding one in place, and the number of awnings that have, over the years, been damaged and destroyed because their owners were a little too busy or lazy to wind them back… well, it’s more than a few!
It’s 2024, though, and we have a smartphone app that connects to your awning controls and opens and closes your awning with a button – or even voice-activated if that’s your thing. For those who don’t want to be forced to use their phones, they come with a standard remote control, too. Nothing could be simpler.
The hardest thing you have to do is check that the particular software for the awning integrates with your existing smart home system (which it usually will):
“Siri, extend the awning, please, I think I’ll relax on the patio.” Perfect!
How Motorised Awnings Enhance Outdoor Comfort
When extending and retracting your awning is easy, you’ll actually be bothered to use it! That means outdoor comfort is within reach.
A quality, professionally installed awning provides shade and protection from UV rays, making your outdoor space far more enjoyable. Glare is reduced, so you can sit on your iPad and catch up on the latest episode of House of the Dragon (or whatever high-octane action-packed TV series you prefer!) without having to keep moving around to see the screen, and it’s cooler, so you won’t have to constantly mop your brow or suffer a nagging headache that propels you indoors.
Just make sure you choose the right fabric for your awning – you’ll be surprised how much difference it makes, not just for style but for those all-important UV-blocking properties.
Energy Efficiency with a Motorised Awning
OK, we’re not going to lie – your motorised awning will use more electricity opening and closing than a good ol’ late 80s style ratchet and handle… but…
A modern awning that you actually use will provide additional shade that actually cools the rooms it is attached to. That means fewer fans and a lower air conditioning bill. For many households, it’s a significant saving (which sadly becomes increasingly relevant as energy prices rise).
A badly installed awning isn’t going to help much here, though. For energy efficiency ratings to make any impact, the awning needs to be professionally positioned and fitted properly, so consider a professional install to help save in the long run.
Ensuring Long-Lasting Durability and Weather Resistance (Whether a Motorised Awning or Not!)
Quality materials and installation expertise are key to ensuring that your awning doesn’t break off and fly off in the first bit of windy weather—don’t skimp on either!
Durability is an essential consideration when looking into awnings because, let’s be honest, they can be expensive. No one wants your awning to fail to last out the year, and it needs to be able to handle the blazing sunshine beating on its back and the strong winds it might encounter – especially here in Scotland. Our awnings retract automatically if the wind gets up.
At the Scottish Shutter Company, we are seasoned experts at fitting awnings, which means we’re more than happy to back up our work with a five-year guarantee.
But don’t forget maintenance. Good awnings will minimise the time you need to check and clean them, but minimal doesn’t mean zero! Regular inspections will ensure long term optimal functionality.
The Beauty of a Motorised Awning
Remember that shopkeeper from your childhood? No doubt in that memory; the awning is a fetching stripe pattern, perfect for catching the attention of kids who’d like an ice cream!
Here’s a secret – you don’t need to have a stripy awning!!
Now in 2024, awnings come in a large range of looks, and many of them are very modern and fetching indeed. Your awning can be customised to fit your home’s architectural style and your personal preference, matching any exterior décor.
And here’s another secret – you can have stripes if you want!!
Excellent.
A Motorised Awning as Investment
Like many home improvements, a professionally-fitted motorised awning will add real value to your home. Obviously, you’re not planning to sell now – after all, you want to enjoy the outside with your new awning – but when that time does come, be assured that the easy-to-use, smart-home-driven, stylistically engaging motorised awning you had fitted will boost interest in your property sale.
A good long-term addition to the house is never money wasted!
Motorised Awnings From the Scottish Shutter Company
If you love your outdoor space, then make it better with a motorised awning – and there’s no one better to talk to than us at the Scottish Shutter Company. With years of experience stretching back to installing windy handles for shopkeepers, we’ve got all the expertise you need to install a perfect awning that’ll last the test of time (and that’s guaranteed).
Explore our range of motorised awnings here on our website, or contact us today to learn more about how a motorised awning can transform your outdoor space.
