Motorized Blinds

Lutron’s proprietary motorized shades known, as Sivoia QEDs are superb. QED stands for Quiet Electronic Drives. It’s a well-made product, which includes the shade material, bracketing components to the quiet motors and reliable controls. No other company provides such a “one in all” product. Lutron makes the motors, controls and even the wire needed for its shades.

A motorized shade comprises of: motor and its controls, brackets, wires and of course the shade itself. Most other manufacturers just outsource these components from different manufacturers, assemble these and sell it as their product. Now, that may be a smart business idea, but what about the dependability of such a product that relies on a number of producers for its making? Apart from the dependability, the overall looks and finish of such an assembled unit is not as good as that of Lutron. Generally, the shades are so located that you really don’t see much of them, but ‘finished’ look concept goes further to what Lutron is offering, as I’ll explain later. Lutron has features that no other manufacturer provides. The most important feature is that these shades are really quiet, and hence the ‘Q’ of QED. Over the years other manufacturers too developed not-so-noisy products, but those are not silent really.

The motor installed in Lutron’s QEDs also has intelligence (a microchip), which informs the control the positioning of the shade at any given time (this is called feedback). Other companies provide motors with similar facility but only in some selected applications. Apart from conveying the position of the shades, the microchip performs one more important function. It’s called ‘’intelligent hem bar alignment’. Simply put it means that the shades in case of Lutron are perfectly aligned.

Rooms that have multiple shades of different sizes, this feature provides a very ‘finished’ look. Perhaps now you can better appreciate that ‘finished look’. But, there aren’t many users who really care for a precise alignment of the shades. The competitive brands are close to that but they just remain’ close’ but don’t have IT.

For the purpose of simplicity let me give an analogy. Lutron procures and mixes right the key elements and cooks the food for its dealers. It has excellent kitchen [read assembly] facilities and experienced chefs that have proven capabilities. The company’s dealers just serve this enjoyable food to their clients. The motorized shade solutions provided by others are more like parts of the meal, which the dealer has to merge before serving the same to its customers. That makes it easy to understand that a Lutron dealer has to pay more for a pre-cooked meal and charge more for this product. Undoubtedly, if price were not a major factor most of the consumers would prefer to buy Lutron.

Lutron helps the dealers to sell better by enabling them a better presentation of the product.

Continuing with my analogy, Lutron helps their dealers by preparing and printing the menus for them. Their quotes are prepared with a custom designed software program called the Shade Configuration Tool (SCT) that has all the useful diagrams and details a customer could ever ask. The non-Lutron dealers fail to provide such solutions in such a manner to their prospects. Lutron makes available food samples that are known to tempt diners. Lutron marketing tools are outstanding, both visually appealing and informative.

Lutron delivers quality sample binders that are complete and professionally assembled. Lutron has heightened the experience of selecting a motorized shade. It has successfully narrowed down the gap for purchasing quality product. The logic behind Lutron’s unique sales approach and business model is a matter of academic discussion. I’m here to discuss only the difference of pricing. And since the price is all we want to hear about, don’t forget I tried explaining the reason why Lutron costs more. It all depends upon your budget, needs and requirements, and what are you willing to let go for the sake of acquiring what you wish to have!

There’s none denying one fundamental aspect of marketing that any product that requiring installation will fail the company if it does not have competent professionals for doing the needful. Perfect installation backed by excellent standards of customer care forms the two essential prerequisites for this business of motorized shades.

There are two producers for tubular motors required for motorized movement of window shades. These are Somfy and Lutron. While Lutron offers both, the motor and the shade, Somfy provides only the motor that can be used with any window shade. Both the companies offer the needed controls like wall switches, remotes and interfaces that are needed for the operation of their respective motors.

In late 90′s, Lutron introduced its QED (Quiet Electronic Drive), and sold it with its own brand of shades (roller shades mostly). The product created a stir in the market, being almost noiseless and almost redefining the parameters of competition in this segment of industry. Prior to the introduction of noiseless motors by Lutron, the consumers never thought that noise level would ever influence their purchase of motorized shades. It’s only during the last few years that Somfy too started production of such motors with a slight difference of noise level on the higher side. The difference is negligible and for most of the customers it’s not a deciding factor.

Two versions of ‘quiet’ motors required for motorized operation of window shades are available from Somfy. There’s an AC powered version, ST50 and another recently introduced DC powered version ST30. Ac Motor works on high voltage whereas DC needs a low voltage for its operation. The power supply that comes to your home or office is AC and a motor working on AC can just be plugged in to your socket. Low voltage DC motors can also be plugged into any socket, but you necessarily have to use the original cord provided with the motor because that houses a transformer for bringing down the voltage and converting it to DC voltage. The cord is like your computer cord or cell phone cord that come with a built-in arrangement for power conversion. The advantage of low DC power is that it involves no issues of building codes and you don’t need the services of an electrician for wiring of low voltage powered motorized window shades. So, the absence of an electrician brings down the cost and the complexities of wiring.

The QED comes in three different capacities. These are the QED64, QED100 and QED225. The numbers at the end represent the area in square feet of fabric that the motor is designed to lift up. It means that the QED64 can carry up a shade of 8X8 feet; the QED 100 would lift a shade of up to 10X10 feet, whereas QED 225 is made to lift a shade of about 15X15 feet, though such sized shades are rarely used in residential buildings. It is experienced that the motors are generally able to carry more weight than is indicated by the numbers. The capacity of the motor has a direct bearing on its diameter that determines the diameter of the tube that the motor moves. Tube diameter in turn decided the width of the shades that can be lifted without getting them bent in the process. It is understandable that if the tube bends, it will not be able to lift the shades uniformly and causes the fabric to sag and thus develop creases. So, the motor size not only decides its lifting capacity but also the width of the fabric that has to be moved. Here are the sizes for Lutron motors: QED64 has a 1 5/8″ tube, the 100 uses a 2 ½” tube and the larger 225 comes with a 3 1/2″ tube.

Somfy’s quiet motors, called the Sonnesse line, also use different tube sizes. The ST30 has a 1 1/2″ tube; the ST50 may have a 2″ or 2 1/2″ tube. The lifting capacity of the ST50 can vary from 100 and 225. For very large applications Somfy offers larger motors, but so far they have not been included in the Sonnesse (quiet) product line. For interior applications, a motor larger than an ST50 is rarely needed, and that holds good even if the same motor drives multiple shades.

Both, the QED and Sonnesse motors have proven to be reliable. Both come with a warranty of 5 years.

Installation of skylight blinds enables you to have perfect light control. A roof skylight has the potential of a home improvement measure. In a way they represent your family’s living area in an approving new light. The provision of a skylight blind or shade enables you to maneuver the level of light filtering in and provides protection against UV rays, thus adding to your comfort.

The manufacturers of skylights generally produce skylight blinds and shades, thus offering you one stop service. Skylight installation helps you to better manage energy, light, glare and UV rays.

Solution One – Pleated Skylight Blinds For Décor Dynamics:

To the advantage of the consumer, pleated skylight blinds come in a wide-ranging variety of colors, fabrics and textures of varying transparency. All these factors enable these blinds to have extraordinary characteristics of offering outstanding insulation resulting to utmost energy efficiency.

A metallic finish is perfect for the purpose and helps to provide the required degree of privacy also. Fabrics with metallic coatings bonded with aluminum come in a vast range varying from ultra-transparent for near natural visibility, to a complete blackout that totally darkens the room. For enhanced décor of any room, pleated sky light blinds make an excellent choice, adding to the appeal of the surroundings.

Pleated blinds for roof skylights are generally provided with guide wires and tension wires to for holding the blind in position. To facilitate hard to reach skylight windows a wand is provided. Good quality skylight blinds are robust and have fire resistant fabrics with an anti static coating that makes their maintenance so easy. Insect resistant fabrics that can camouflage water markings add to the life of these blinds and they continue to look beautiful for many years.

Motorized pleated skylight blinds provide the ultimate luxury. While you continue to sit comfortably in your favorite corner, the blinds can be adjusted to suit your mood and requirements in a matter of seconds by the mere flicking of a button.

Solution Two – Vote For Venetian Skylight Blinds:

Another decorative skylight installation very much in vogue these days is offered by Venetian skylight blinds. Incoming sunlight and its glare are reduced to its barest minimum, while your view to the outside world is barely affected. They also help to reduce heating cost. Their design does away with the risky and nasty cords. Humid areas, like that of a bathroom are best provided with colorful aluminum blinds.

Solution Three – Skylight Shade Scenarios:

Having a cellular skylight shade is another trendy design for the interiors. Compared to a sky light blind, it offers better insulation because of the structured minute heat trapping air pockets within the fabric. It improves energy efficiency by about 15%. A new solar battery model comes with a light block shade that helps darkening the room during the day. It enables you to dispense with the hassles of installation, thus making it cost effective equivalent of motorized skylight blinds.

Solution Four – Sun blocking Skylight Awning:

Those wanting to have an open roof skylight have a very good option in the form of a skylight awning. It’s a durable home improvement measure that prevents heat from entering your room. Generally the quality of fabric incorporated with this kind of awning wouldn’t block your view. For conveniences of operation go for a motorized operation controlled thru a wall switch or you may have a remote control unit.

Though a roof skylight is primarily a home improvement measure, it improves the value of your property, while enhancing the quality of your life.