Hands-free heat control
Single press from a wall switch or remote drops or retracts the shade. The 4 PM glare problem solves itself with a wall remote on the way out the door.
Motorized Outdoor Sun Shades
Motorized solar shades, wall switch to smart hub.
Talius Habitat solar shades on a Somfy tubular motor. Drop a 19-foot wide shade in 20 seconds from a wall remote, the Somfy app, or a sun sensor that fires on its own.
- Canadian-made by Talius
- Custom-fit, every install
- Free no-pressure consult
- Across Ontario
- 10-year warranty
- Transparent pricing
What you get
One press, shade down.
A motorized outdoor sun shade is a Talius Habitat solar mesh on a Somfy tubular motor. The motor pulls the mesh down on guides built into the side rails, lands at the deck, and seals against the bottom rail. Press again and it goes back up into the slim aluminum cassette.
Standard ship-out includes a hardwired wall switch and a handheld RTS remote on every install. Smart-home pairing through Somfy TaHoma, Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit is optional and works on the same motor. Sun sensor add-on lets the shade deploy automatically based on light intensity, which is the killer feature on west-facing decks.
Single-pane Talius Habitat shades run up to 19 feet 2 inches wide by 14 feet tall on a single motor, which is roughly 268 square feet of coverage. Wider openings split into linked multi-pane runs that drop together from one switch. The 10-year warranty covers the screen, motor, mesh, and aluminum frame.
What sets motorized shades apart
Four reasons buyers go motorized.
Sun-sensor automation
Optional sun sensor reads light intensity and deploys above a set threshold. The shade comes down on its own when the sun hits, retracts at sunset.
Smart-home ready
TaHoma bridge pairs the motor with Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit. Voice command, schedule, geofencing all work the same as your other smart devices.
Wind-sensor compatible
Solar mesh acts like a sail on wide openings. The wind sensor auto-retracts above a set gust threshold, which protects the mesh on lakefront and rooftop installs.
Controllers + automation
Wall switch, sensor, or app.
Every motorized solar shade install ships with a hardwired wall switch and a handheld RTS remote. Both work without internet and without any setup. That covers daily operation.
Sun sensors and wind sensors are the automation layer that makes motorized solar shades worth the upgrade over manual on a west-facing deck. The sun sensor reads light intensity, the wind sensor reads gust speed, both fire the motor without you watching the weather. Pair on top with the Somfy TaHoma bridge for Alexa, Google Home, or HomeKit and the shade slots into your smart-home routines for free.
- Hardwired wall switch in standard or designer faceplate
- Handheld RTS remote with 1, 5, or 16 channels
- Sun sensor for automatic deploy on bright afternoons
- Wind sensor for automatic retract above gust threshold
- Somfy TaHoma bridge for Alexa / Google Home / HomeKit (optional)
- Multi-shade scene support on the same controller
Where motorized fits best
Three scenarios motorized earns the upgrade.
West-facing decks at 4 PM
Solar mesh drops on a sun-sensor schedule when the afternoon glare hits. The deck stays usable through the worst part of the day without you watching the weather.
Wide single-pane shades (over 12 ft)
Cranking a 16-foot solar shade by hand turns into a workout the second summer. Motorized handles the same opening from one switch in 20 seconds.
Smart-home integrated households
Already running Alexa, Google Home, or HomeKit? The shade joins your existing routines, scenes, and schedules without learning a new app.
Our Process
From first call to final install.
Three steps. No surprises. Most installs ship within 3–4 weeks of the consult.
Book a free quote
Tell us your opening size, what you're solving for, and your city. We respond within one business day.
Consult & measure
An installer visits your patio, takes measurements, walks you through mesh and motor options. No-pressure, no charge.
Install
Custom build at our shop, then a half-day install on your patio. You're using it the same evening.
What it costs
Motorized adds a known premium over manual shades.
A motorized solar shade costs more than a manual hand-crank version on the same opening. The premium covers the Somfy motor, the wiring, the wall switch, and the handheld remote. On openings over 10 feet wide, the upgrade pays back in convenience by the second summer because the manual crank gets old fast on a heavy solar mesh. Sun sensors, wind sensors, and smart-home pairing are known add-ons priced separately. We send a written quote on your specific opening within one business day of the site visit.
- Opening width and height (up to 19'2" × 14' on a single pane)
- Mesh density (55%, 90%, 95%, or 99% blockage)
- Sun sensor, wind sensor, or both
- Smart-home bridge (TaHoma, Alexa, Google, HomeKit)
- Frame colour (5 stock or custom RAL match)
- Install complexity (drive distance, soffit access, masonry mounts)
Common Questions
What buyers ask first.
Related reading
Helpful pages for next steps.
- Manual outdoor sun shadesHand-crank version, when it makes sense, when it doesn't
- Smart-home integrationTaHoma, Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit pairing details
- West-facing decks at 4 PM glareThe clearest case for sun-sensor automation
- Talius solar mesh density guide55, 90, 95, 99 blockage tiers and when each fits
Other service
Solving for the other half?
Same retractable hardware on a track, different mesh. Bug protection on one side, sun and heat on the other. Bundled installs save on the second unit.
See motorized patio screensGet a Free Quote
Free site visit. Honest quote on the spot.
Tell us your opening size, what you're solving for, and your city. We respond within one business day with available consult times and a starting price range.