Motorized shades in Texas heat: glare, comfort, and privacy
Why so many homeowners automate their shades, which fabrics to choose, and how to plan for tall windows.
New homes are built with big windows, and west-facing glass takes the full afternoon sun for much of the year. Motorized shades solve three problems at once: glare on screens, heat build-up, and privacy after dark.
Choose the fabric by the room
- Solar screen fabrics cut glare and heat while keeping the view. Good for family rooms and kitchens.
- Blackout fabrics for bedrooms and media rooms.
- Dual shades put a solar and a blackout shade in one window, so you get both.
Let them run on a schedule
The real value of motorization is that you don't have to think about it. With Lutron shades, the system can lower west-facing shades in the afternoon, raise them at sunset, and close bedroom shades at bedtime. Shades can also join lighting scenes, so "Movie" dims the lights and closes the media room shades together.
Tall windows and two-story rooms
Two-story family rooms are where motorized shades pay off most. Those windows are hard to reach, and they let in the most heat. If you are building, ask for low-voltage wire to the top of those windows before drywall. If your home is finished, battery-powered Lutron Triathlon shades are a clean retrofit option with no new wiring. Triathlon also comes in a wired version for new construction.
What to expect from installation
- A design visit to measure, review fabrics, and decide mounting
- A written proposal with each window listed
- Installation and programming, usually in one or two days per home
- A walkthrough of keypads, the app, and schedules
