insight : motorization playbook, part 1
Motorization 101: The Basics of Motorized Window Coverings The first article in our yearlong series examines the four basic items required for selling motorized treatments BY O’D MCKEWAN
I
generally begin all of my motorization courses by explaining that there are four basic items required for selling motorized window coverings. The first is a window covering. I know it seems obvious, but it should be the first thing you try to determine with your clients. Since almost all window coverings can be motorized, it is much easier to determine the window covering type and then build a motorization system around it. Trying to specify power supplies and wiring and control types without knowing what kind of window coverings you are going to use can cause you a lot of stress, waste a lot of time, and leave you and your client with undesired results.
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The second item for a motorized window covering is a motor type. Again, this seems obvious, and most dealers rely on their manufacturer to determine the motor types. But the more advanced you get with motorization, the more you can customize your project by specifying the type and size of the motor that will work best for your specific needs. I like to break motor types into four simple categories.
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TUBULAR MOTORS (the most
versatile): They turn tubes that can be used to lift and lower multiple types of window coverings, including roller shades, sheer shades, roman shades, cellular shades, blinds and awnings.
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TRACK MOTORS: They move
carriers back and forth for draperies and panel tracks.
HORIZONTAL MOTORS: They rotate tilt bars in the headrails of horizontal blinds.
CELLULAR MOTORS: They turn
the shafts in cellular headrails to lift and lower cords for cellular shades and roman shades.
Once the window covering and motor type have been selected, the next determination is the power supply needed for the motor. We will take a much deeper dive into power supplies later on in the series, but to start
