somfy home automation garden route
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings is an accredited Somfy Expert serving Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness, and Mossel Bay. We specify, install, and support Somfy motorisation for blinds, awnings, and outdoor living systems.
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Morning light fills the bedroom on schedule. The awning extends before the patio overheats. The outdoor blinds retract when the wind picks up. Somfy makes your home respond to the day without you thinking about it.
Somfy motorisation replaces manual chains, cords, and cranks with quiet electric motors controlled by remote, app, or voice. The motors sit inside the headrail of your blinds or the cassette of your awning. Nothing visible changes about how your window coverings look. Everything changes about how they work.
On the Garden Route, the real value of Somfy is outdoor automation. Wind sensors retract awnings automatically when conditions exceed safe thresholds. Sun sensors extend shade when UV intensity rises. Rain sensors protect fabric canopies. Your outdoor living space manages itself, even when you are not home. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has installed Somfy systems across the Garden Route since 2010.
Why an accredited Somfy Expert matters: Somfy motors are only as good as their specification and installation. Correct motor sizing, mounting position, sensor placement, and protocol selection determine whether a system works reliably for years or gives you problems. Duncan handles every Garden Route installation personally.
Somfy uses two wireless protocols. RTS (Radio Technology Somfy) is one-way radio, simple and reliable for individual motors and remotes. io-homecontrol is two-way with encrypted feedback, giving you confirmation that motors have reached their target position. io is required for TaHoma hub integration and smart home scenes.
The TaHoma hub connects all Somfy io-homecontrol motors to one app. From your phone you can control individual blinds, group them by room, create scenes (morning, evening, movie night, braai time), and set time-based schedules. TaHoma integrates with Google Home and Amazon Alexa for voice control, and with Apple Home for io-homecontrol motors only. RTS motors are not compatible with Apple Home.
Somfy Eolis wind sensors detect unsafe wind speeds and retract awnings automatically. Sun sensors extend shade when UV intensity rises. Combined wind and sun sensors automate outdoor blinds and awnings together. Every sensor Custom Blinds installs is calibrated to Garden Route coastal conditions.
Mains wired motors for new builds and renovations where cabling is accessible. Battery rechargeable motors for retrofits where no wiring exists. Solar panels for hard-to-reach outdoor installations. Duncan recommends the right power source for each window during the site assessment.
Roller blinds and zebra blinds are the most commonly motorised indoor products. Somfy Sonesse motors are whisper quiet with five year manufacturer warranties. Honeycomb blinds can also be motorised for automated temperature control.
Somfy is strongest for outdoor blind automation because of the wind and sun sensor integration. Automated outdoor blinds respond to changing conditions, protecting fabric and maintaining comfort without manual intervention. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings manufactures outdoor blinds in Knysna with Somfy motors integrated from the start.
Retractable folding arm awnings, louvre awnings, and patio shade awnings all work with Somfy motorisation. Wind sensors are standard on most awning installations to protect the fabric and framework automatically.
“Somfy outdoor automation is where we see the biggest impact on the Garden Route. Awnings and outdoor blinds that respond to wind and sun without anyone touching a switch. The fabric lasts longer, the patio stays comfortable, and clients stop worrying about weather damage.”
For Apple Home without a hub, see MotionBlinds.
Yes. Wireless and rechargeable Somfy motors can be retrofitted into most existing roller blinds and outdoor blinds without structural changes or rewiring. Duncan assesses compatibility during a site visit and recommends the correct motor and power source.
RTS is simpler and costs less, suitable for individual motors with dedicated remotes. io-homecontrol offers two-way feedback, encryption, and TaHoma hub integration for whole-home control. If you want app control, voice assistants, or scenes, io is the right choice. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings specifies the correct protocol for each installation.
Yes. Somfy offers rechargeable battery motors and solar panel accessories for installations where mains wiring is not available. Battery motors are ideal for retrofits. Solar panels work well for outdoor blinds and awnings in hard-to-reach positions on the Garden Route.
Yes, with one condition. The TaHoma hub integrates with Google Home and Amazon Alexa for any Somfy motor, and with Apple Home and Siri for io-homecontrol motors only. RTS costs less, so a system specified on RTS to save money silently loses Apple Home. You can control Somfy motors by voice, include them in smart home routines, and trigger automations from any platform. Full Somfy vs MotionBlinds comparison.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings installs Somfy home automation from Mossel Bay through George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay. Duncan handles every site assessment and installation personally.
Somfy systems are low maintenance. Battery motors need recharging every few months depending on usage. Sensors should be checked annually. Custom Blinds offers post-installation support and can schedule annual checks for Garden Route clients.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. Accredited Somfy Expert since 2010.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings is an independent, owner-managed business established in 2010 by Duncan Kane, based in Knysna on the Garden Route. The company supplies and installs indoor blinds, outdoor blinds, shutters, awnings, shadeports, fly screens and security screens across the Garden Route. As an accredited Somfy Expert, we specify, supply, and install Somfy motorisation, TaHoma smart home control, and sensors across blinds, awnings, shutters, and outdoor shading systems. Canvas awnings are manufactured in Knysna and the Custom Lifestyle Shutters range is manufactured in Cape Town. Over 10,000 installations across the Garden Route provide the technical reference base for product specification. Custom Blinds® is a registered trademark of Saxon Commodities.
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Send rough sizes, a photo or two of the opening and anything you already know. We come back on fabric, system and pricing, usually within one working day.
We have what we need to start on your assessment. Expect a reply on the number you gave, usually within one working day.