Retractable Awnings, Canopies And Exterior Solar Shades For The Home

"Why Are Markilux Retractable Awning More Expensive Than Some Alternatives?"

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:41:00 GMT

The best answer to that is to point to several of our customers who moved to the United States from Europe. We’ve been told more than once that they sought Markilux retractable awnings here in the United States because they were familiar with the product and company in Europe. One customer in Walnut Creek specifically mentioned to us that her parents in Germany bought a Markilux over twenty-five years ago that is still working perfectly! She wanted to make sure that she bought a Markilux retractable awning because of their reputation for quality – and viewed the two 5010 full-cassette awnings as an investment in her home.

Markilux is the only retractable awning manufacturer in the world who designs and manufacturers their own line of awning fabrics. Markilux was actually one of the original creators of the technical design standards for solution-dyed acrylic awning fabric, which is the most commonly used fabric for high-end outdoor shading solutions. But Markilux didn’t stop there – they’ve created new, exclusive awning fabrics utilizing high-tech nano-particle finishes for fabrics that have light weight, strength, beauty and are long-lasting. With over 200 fabric choices, no one else even comes close.

We’ve also had many customers with engineering backgrounds who have purchased Markilux retractable awnings, retractable canopies and retractable exterior solar shades. Engineers – and those who simply appreciate fine engineering and quality construction – marvel over the technical quality of the designs and craftsmanship that goes into the manufacture of Markilux awnings. Markilux retractable awnings are all custom-made to order in Germany, and the quality of materials used, and attention to detail in design and manufacturing shows through.

Just as Mercedes Benz has built a reputation for making cars that can last a lifetime, Markilux has done the same with retractable awnings, retractable canopies and retractable exterior solar screens.

Sun Protection For Windows

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:41:00 GMT

We recently sold several Markilux 730 Drop-Arm Window Awnings to a customer in Portola Valley here in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. Our customers had acquired a Markilux 990 full cassette awning last year for their deck, and loved it so much they came back to us for exterior window awnings to help protect their interior rooms from the sun.

The Markilux 730 Drop-Arm Window Awning is a very sleek design, and perfect for situations where you want to shade a window from the sun without completely blocking your view, and also allowing ambient light and the breeze to come into your house - a perfect "green" solution to keeping your house cool! This type of exterior window treatment is used all over Europe and provides a very nice, elegant solution for shade. What’s nice about them is that the fabric rolls up completely into the cassette, which is mounted above the window on the exterior of the building – making them very unobtrusive when retracted.

The Markilux 730 Drop-Arm Window Awning can be had with a remote control motor, or built to operate manually with a winding handle that allows the operation of the awning from inside the building through a very small gearbox that comes in from the outside into the interior of the house. You can read more about this great window awning here: http://www.markiluxawnings.com/Markilux-730-830-Drop-Arm-Cassette-Window-Awning

In the case of our customers on the Peninsula just north of Silicon Valley, they choose to motorize the window awning which was the largest of the three, and to have the other two smaller window awnings operate manually. They choose to match the awning fabric and cassette color of their existing Markilux 990 full cassette deck awning, so all of their shade solutions match beautifully.

The deck awning and the window awnings provide a really nice look to their house – check out some of the photos of the installation on our Gallery: http://www.markiluxawnings.com/Photos-Of-Retractable-Awning-Installations .

Our customers are thrilled with the beautiful look and the shade the awnings provide - look for their customer testimonial on our website soon!

Beat The Heat!

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:41:00 GMT

This past weekend was one of the hottest on record for this time of year in the San Francisco Bay area - with temperatures hovering around the 100 degree mark and above almost everywhere.

On Sunday, I was sweltering at the annual Joseph Phelps Winery members party (we love their wines - and were lucky enough to taste some of their great older wines that they poured that day). In Napa Valley it was over 100 degrees, with almost no breeze. Everyone was seeking out the shade under the tents or under the few vine-covered trellises.

One of the obvious things I noticed was that no matter where people were on the terrace of the Joseph Phelps Winery (which is a beautiful place, by the way!) that as the sun moved during the day, it hit different areas and heated the terrace up so that people had to scramble for shade. And even worse, as soon as the sun started to go down in its arc - around 3 PM - there was no escape.

I realized how different it was from the same conditions the day before - when it was just as hot on the Peninsula. We had a party on our deck under our awnings on Saturday, and even in the near 100 degree heat, it was definitely bearable. Everyone had a good time, keeping cool in the shade, listening to music on our outdoor speakers, playing with the kids and the dogs, eating good food and enjoying iced drinks - really like resort living at home.

You could also really tell the difference inside. The one room where we don't have a shade on the window turned into a hot, stultifying oven, but the rest of the house, while warm at nearly 80 degrees - was nowhere near the 90 to 100 degree plus temperatures found outside and in the unshaded room.

As you know, everyone says California has "dry heat" - but even dry heat is horrible if you are baking under the sun - or if the sun is turning your house into an oven. Lots of people at the party were raving about how cool the awnings were (literally and figuratively), and several people asked how they could get some for their houses. Of course we were more than happy to oblige :-)

On Monday and Tuesday, our phones were ringing off the hook with calls from all over the Bay Area, looking for a cool way to beat the heat. We had a call from the General Manager of the restaurant and bar of a very high end hotel call call us and say "I need one of your Markilux awnings RIGHT NOW for my patio - I'm losing customers who can't sit outside. How fast can you help me?

Don't wait too long and suffer in the heat - order your Markilux awning, exterior solar shade or window awning now so you can be prepared when the really hot weather comes!

Welcome to SensorShade Solutions & Markilux Awnings

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:42:00 GMT

Welcome to the Bay Area's home for the world's finest retractable awnings, exterior solar screens, retractable canopies and retractable window awnings!

It looks like the rains are finally over, and we're about to hit summertime in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the weather warms up, we're getting more and more calls every day for shade solutions.

Increasingly, people are realizing the big difference between Markilux products and those that have been sold in the U.S. to date. Once people hear about the difference in quality and see the products, they realize why Markilux is THE choice for high-end homes, restaurants, hotels and businesses around the world.

Take a look around through our website - it is filled with information. We'll also be updating this blog frequently.

We're happy to answer any questions that you may have - so feel free to give us a call anytime.

Coolest regards,

The Markilux & SensorShade Solutions Team