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Tips To Have Your Best Summer Barbecue Yet

Written by admat on April 30, 2021. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades, Solar Screens, Uncategorized.

Summertime is a special time of year. No matter where you live, the chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine can quickly boost anyone’s mood. Many people love summertime for a ton of different reasons, but there is no denying the attraction of a good old-fashioned summer barbecue. After the year we’ve all experienced, this summer’s barbecues are bound to be extra-full of good times and memories. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that you host the best cookouts on the block.

Set Up Games

Sure, barbecues are an activity on their own. However, few can resist the pull of a set of ladder golf or bags. These activities can get the party started and give your guests options to move about while the food cooks. Bring out your favorite card or board games for later on when guests may feel like sitting but still need something to do.

Create a Signature Drink

Researching and mixing up a new cocktail or mocktail is a great way to make the party feel extra-special. The mixture doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and there are thousands of online options for every taste. Most guests will at least try one, and it may even become a crowd favorite.

Bring Out The Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is great for kids, but you’d be surprised how many adults enjoy doodling too. Especially if you have a cement patio or sidewalk in your yard, encourage your guests to draw a little something to commemorate. If you don’t have such an area accessible to you, setting out some markers and adult coloring books or sheets of plain paper can inspire more fun and creativity than you may realize.

Buy Food Options

Everyone is on a different diet these days. Whether we agree with it or not, it’s good to make sure that your bases are covered when it comes to food. Buy some grillable veggies for your vegetarian friends, and set outside dishes like fresh fruit, chips and salsa, or a vegetable platter as well. Those with dietary restrictions can feel at home, and you’ll give your other guests a wider array of options than simply a hot dog or hamburger.

Provide Shade and Bug Protection

One of the best ways to ensure your barbecue is a hit is to make sure that your guests are protected from harmful UV rays and disease-carrying pests. By installing patio shades, porch screens, and solar screens in your yard, you can be sure that your guests always have the option to feel comfortable and safe at your barbecues. These perks add value to your home and make your outdoor living space even more enjoyable. You’ll certainly spend more time outside with the peace of mind that these screens bring, and they’ll take your barbecues to the next level for this summer and beyond.

Whether you’re looking for motorized screens, retractable screens, or shades for your home, the time to install is now. Summer may not be here yet, but it will be soon, and it is best to prepare now. After all, no one can throw a quality barbecue with last-minute planning.

3 Ways That Solar Screens Can Help Lower Energy Costs

Written by admat on February 23, 2021. Posted in Patio Shades, Solar Screens.

One thing that seems almost inevitable in the summer months is a sudden spike in your energy bill as residents begin running their air conditioning units to try and keep their homes cool. Those who try and minimize the usage of air conditioning to lower the costs and make their homes more energy efficient often have to endure uncomfortable temperatures and hours spent directly in front of a fan. But as it turns out, solar screens and patio shades can do a lot more than block out excess amounts of outside light. In fact, installing solar screens is one of the most commonly recommended solutions to reduce energy costs, and it’s all connected to lowering the temperature of the inside of your house.

Solar Screens Are Very Efficient Insulators
Depending on the model, solar screens generally block around 80-95% of UV rays. The significantly decreased amount of rays that reach the interior of the home result in a lowered amount of heat as well. Not only does this ensure that the house is at a much more comfortable temperature should you decide to rely on fans for cooling, but those that prefer to use air conditioning won’t have to run it at such high levels, saving energy in the process.
Screens And Shades Allow for Airflow
Opening the windows altogether may seem like another excellent idea to keep cool in the summer, save for the fact that it invites all sorts of critters and insects into your home. Additionally, traditional window screens don’t have any sort of UV protection. Adding solar screens to your windows and patio shades to your outdoor patio area allows for you to enjoy the fresh air of the outdoors while still benefiting from the UV protection and insect protection the screens and shades provide.
Solar Screens Are More Affordable And Effective Than Popular Alternatives
Another common solution to insulate your windows and lower the heat gain of your home is the use of thick, insulating blackout curtains. Unfortunately, these come with a variety of drawbacks. They tend to be heavy and difficult to install and require more maintenance to keep clean. In addition, the technology used to create solar screens allows for models with increased visibility so that more natural sunlight can filter into your home. By contrast, insulating blackout curtains will cut off all-natural light, requiring you to rely on artificial lighting and increasing your energy costs.

If you’re looking to reduce your energy expenses for your Atlanta home without having to sacrifice your comfort next summer, solar screens are an extremely cost-effective way to do so. You’ll be able to enjoy all the natural benefits of summer, such as a healthy exposure to sunlight and natural airflow, without having to worry about excessive UV rays or pests.

5 Tips for Enjoying Outdoor Living In Winter

Written by admat on December 21, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades, Porch Enclosures.

Do you love being outdoors but dislike cold weather? If so, you are not alone. Winter is a difficult season for many people who relish the outdoors, but not the cold elements. There is a reason so many of us prefer staying indoors during these short cold days, cuddled up on the couch under a blanket, watching our favorite series on Netflix instead of spending time in the wintery backyard. However, winter can be a great time to enjoy nature if you take a few steps to prepare your space for cold-weather comfort.

Bring the Indoors Out

The key to enjoying outdoor living during colder months is bringing the indoors outside. A patio, gazebo, pergola, or enclosed porch is one of the best ways to experience the fresh air and calming sights of nature while still having the comforts of indoors. Installing quality patio shades is a good way to protect you from wind and other elements in your outdoor space. At the same time, there are some other measures you can take to enclose the area, like stapling clear plastic over windows and openings. Aside from enclosing it, there are a few easier ways you can make your space winter-friendly.

1. Light up the Space

Whatever space you are preparing for winter use, whether it’s a gazebo, patio, or porch, stringing up some hanging lights can go a long way. Warm-toned lights are best, as they will give off a cozier and more warming glow. Some of the most effective options are café string lights, festive accent lights to add color and depth, as well as twinkle LED lights strung in bushes or trees nearby.

1. Use Heat Lamps

Heat lamps are a bit more of an investment, but if your outdoor space is not enclosed (and you can’t use a space heater), they are a great way to keep toasty warm even on the coldest evenings.

1. Create Your Own Warmth

Another great way to make a desirable outdoor gathering place is by installing a fire ring, firepit, or outdoor fireplace. Fires generate a lot of heat without racking up a huge electric bill. There is also something very peaceful and sometimes a little festive about sitting around a fire on a chilly winter evening.

1. Decorate

The right furniture, decorations, and other adornments can go a long way in making your outdoor space feel more inviting. Throw a thick rug on the floor, put up a canopy, and choose some plush furniture. The warmer the colors you use to decorate (think red, orange, bronze, or purple), the cozier the space will feel. Bring out a few thick, fuzzy blankets, and you are ready to enjoy!

1. Enclose It

Of course, nothing will give you a more enjoyable four-season outdoor space than building an enclosed patio.

Contact Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta to learn more about creating the perfect outdoor space. Or visit us online to choose from our huge selection of custom goods, including retractable screens, motorized screens, and a variety of quality porch screens that will allow you to enjoy the outdoors all year long.

5 Reasons to Install a Motorized Patio Screen in Winter

Written by admat on December 12, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades.

While upgrading the patio might not be the first thing most of us think of when it comes to winter projects, there are several reasons that winter is the perfect time to upgrade your patio by installing a motorized screen. Let’s take a quick look at some reasons you shouldn’t wait until spring to start improving your outdoor living space.

Enjoy Spring

One of the best reasons to install a motorized screen for your patio now is that the space will be ready to enjoy when spring arrives. Wouldn’t you rather be able to lounge in your patio behind your new porch screens on the first warm day than waste precious sunshine waiting for the screens to be installed?

Avoid Landscaping Damage

Embarking on any home renovation project always involves a lot of traipsing back and forth carrying materials and equipment. Installing your motorized patio screen in winter minimizes the damage to the lawn vegetation because it will be dormant for the winter anyway.

Better Timing

While you might be tempted to wait until spring to start the installation, spring weather has a few drawbacks. As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers! Waiting for spring could mean finding yourself tackling the installation in the rain. Rain often leads to mud, and the last thing you want is to be making a mess of your lawn and tracking muddy footprints in and out of your living space.

Enjoy It Now

Another perk of getting started right away is that you can enjoy your outdoor living space through the winter. How? Along with your motorized, retractable screen, you can also install an infrared heating system to keep the space comfy and useable all year around.

Contractor Availability

During spring, you may struggle to wrangle a contractor. You are much more likely to have a quick and efficient installation in winter as more contractors are available during that time. Spring is just about the busiest season for contractors, many of whom will start on bigger projects and may not prioritize your patio project.

Upgrading your patio is easier with Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta. We offer a range of custom products, including patio screens, patio shades, and even screens that block UV rays. Our Somfy Motors motorized screens come with a five-year warranty and are trusted by over 270 million people worldwide. Contact Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta today to learn more about upgrading your patio.

The Finest Qualities of Modern Indoor-Outdoor Patio Spaces

Written by admat on November 30, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades.

Your patio is the transitional space that connects you to the outdoors when summer arrives. Different configurations range from completely enclosed spaces, often called four-season rooms, to screen porches and open stone patios or wooden decks by the pool. The possibilities are endless when you design your outdoor living space. If you are looking to build a new patio or improve an existing area, keep patio screens in mind, as they offer protection from the sun and mosquitoes while allowing you to enjoy the pleasures of summer life. Check out these ideas that may inspire your creativity for your new patio.

Keep It Covered

Open patios by the pool are a great place to get a tan, but you want part of your outdoor living space to remain free of rain. For a truly functional space that you can use any warm day of the year, be sure to invest in a roof structure or awning of some kind over your patio. Gazebos are a classic option, and many modern home designs have a covered patio built-in, but if these options don’t fit your home’s particulars, investing in a structure over your outdoor space is well worth the money.

Open Up Your Home

The doors that lead from your interior to the exterior space are a huge factor in combining your outdoor and indoor living areas. Consider large glass sliding doors or garage-type doors that open up your home to the outside on beautiful days. This design element often fits seamlessly with contemporary open floor plans.

Outdoor shades are a critical element to any great patio space. These screens help keep you and your guests out of the sun’s harsh rays while you enjoy the summer breeze and protection from bug bites and other little creatures that may try to invade your space. Motorized outdoor shades are a favorite because of the ease they provide in opening the space up to the outside.

Keep Design Elements Consistent

No matter what set-up you choose for your patio space, be sure to keep your overall design in mind. Just like the interior of your home, you want every part of your outdoor areas to have unique qualities but still flow from one area to another without jarring the senses. Stick with a general color scheme and use texture to create depth as you move from the enclosed patio to the deck and the garden.

When you design your patio, keep these ideas in mind and combine them with your wishes to create a space that will serve as your refuge and summer gathering spot for years to come.

5 Practical Renovations For Your Atlanta Backyard

Written by admat on September 21, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades.

As you are contemplating the fall season chores, you have a sudden thought – can I do more with my backyard? Can I build a structure to increase the quality of life in my home? Or perhaps you think it’s time for an upgrade to an existing patio or deck? There are few renovations that can improve both your life and your home’s value. Here are five ideas to give your backyard a facelift, while still providing a practical purpose.

Landscape Your Backyard

This is a great place to start when giving your backyard a makeover. Planting trees can provide practical considerations like natural shade and windbreaks, as well as adding an aesthetically pleasing touch, not to mention brilliant colors in the fall. The artistic use of large stones, flower beds, plants, and shrubbery can really bring your backyard to life. You can even color match some flowers and plants to coincide with the color of your leaves in the spring, summer, and fall.

Build a Beautiful Fence

Presenting a stylish fence to the neighborhood will certainly make your neighbors happy, as well as provide privacy from the outside world. You can find fencing to match the color and style of your home and even place gates where you want them. You can even add a small attached trellis or two to enhance your landscaping ideas.

Build an Outdoor Kitchen

Hosting social gatherings and events would be so much more refreshing if you could hold them outdoors. Turning part of your backyard into an outdoor kitchen provides a year-round place to enjoy the company of friends and family while appreciating the feel of an open-air environment, provided you also weatherize your kitchen with a covering of some kind and a set of either motorized patio shades or motorized retractable screens, depending on where your kitchen is located. These accessories will ensure you have some control over the climate inside the protective area, as well as shading you from the sun and keeping the bugs away while you prepare and eat your food.

Build a Patio Deck

This idea can turn an otherwise boring yard into a lively entertainment area. There are many sizes, styles, and colors to choose from, as well as convenience options like built-in seating, barbeques, refrigerators, and even wine coolers to store your favorite vino.

Build an Outdoor Seating Area

If space is limited, you can always design and build a seating area for small get-togethers. It doesn’t cost much to set down outdoor stones or tiles for flooring and place an outdoor furniture set atop it. Use the above-mentioned motorized patio shades or motorized retractable screens idea to give you a sense of seclusion.

There is so much more you can do with your backyard area. It is typically the most overlooked and underused area of a home. All it takes is some imagination and a desire to improve your home so that you can enjoy where you hang your hat to the fullest extent as you kick back and look out on a job well done.

shutters for sliding doors Atlanta, Georgia

4 Window Treatment Ideas For Atlanta Patios

Written by admat on June 30, 2020. Posted in Patio Shades, Window Treatments.

Sliding glass doors are often the preferred choice when it comes to opening the home to the patio area. Although it’s great to be able to view your yard and gardens from inside all year long, you still want to fit these doors with treatments that shade you from the sun and afford you a little privacy. When you are looking at window treatments for your patio entrance, keep these ideas in mind.

Shutters. You may think this sounds like a rather unconventional idea for a sliding door, but they are a classic choice that provides excellent energy efficiency. There are many options available today, including non-wood possibilities that are low maintenance and add value to your home, as they are permanent fixtures. Atlanta shutters also create a lovely beachy look, as they are a traditional window treatment in many areas near the water.

Privacy sheers. These products are designed for sliding glass doors and offer a sort of hybrid, with features of vertical shades and sheer drapes. This treatment is composed of soft fabric vanes with a sheer face fabric. They diffuse natural light when tilted open and come in a room-darkening option as well. The variety of privacy sheer styles available gives you many opportunities to create ambiance while providing a perfect transitional area to your patio.

Motorized outdoor shades. This trending Atlanta window treatment idea is perfect for the modern home. The outdoor shades enclose your patio while allowing you to open it up to the great outdoors with ease. Patio screens of all kinds are available to help you design the perfect patio that suits your style while increasing the comfort of your home by shielding you from the sun and keeping out bugs.

Vertical blinds. There is a reason that this window treatment option is one of the most common choices for patio doors. They come in a range of styles, textures, and colors that nearly every homeowner loves. Their contemporary style is popular among modern homeowners and will enable you to adjust your view and privacy easily.

No matter what Atlanta window treatments you choose, the desired result is the same—protection from the sun and your neighbor’s prying eyes. As you select from these window treatment options, always keep your tastes in mind, as this is a part of the home you will look at every day.

Make the Most of Your Summer With a Motorized Screen

Written by admat on May 26, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades.

The summer swelter is beginning to ramp up across the country, especially in Georgia. With sunny days and rising temperatures ahead, now is the time to be making your seasonal preparations. Many people are facing the prospect of more time in their homes this summer, providing the perfect opportunity to make the space as comfortable as possible. A motorized patio or porch screen may just be the home accessory you never knew you needed, providing protection from the elements while allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors.

Patio Screens Atlanta Motorized

What Can A Motorized Screen Do For You?

Motorized screens are retractable patio shades that allow you to seamlessly screen in your outdoor living space with the touch of a button. They provide ventilation and protection from the elements (think: UV radiation and mosquitos).

Motorized screens offer the best in pest protection, solar/UV radiation protection, and privacy. A versatile addition to your exterior spaces, motorized screens and patio shades serve several purposes. Transform your outdoors with the click of a button with a motorized shade.

Patio Screens Summer 2020

Exterior Motorized Shade Applications

One of the best things about motorized screens is their versatility. Install them in any of your exterior spaces, including:

Screened porches or patios. Instantly create privacy and shade on your outdoor patio by installing Atlanta porch shades. A stationary screen may offer protection, but it also prevents you from enjoying the outdoors to the fullest. With a retractable shade, you can enjoy the best of both worlds with the click of a button
Garage doors. We often do home improvement projects in the garage that require ventilation. An Atlanta motorized garage screen door allows you to complete all your outdoor projects with adequate airflow while keeping pests outside where they belong.
Privacy screens. A retractable screen can help you enjoy the great outdoors while retaining some of your privacy. Enjoy a soak in your hot tub or read a book in the outdoors uninterrupted. When you’re ready, simply click a button to open up to the world again.
Your four seasons room. A motorized screen allows you to use your four-seasons room as intended—through all months of the year. In the summer, you can enjoy the evening breeze without the buzz of mosquitos or even weather a summer storm. In colder winter months add a vinyl shade in tandem with your solar mesh to close off the harsh elements.

Motorized Vinyl Shades Georgia

Benefits Of An Atlanta Motorized Screen

There has never been a better time to add a motorized screen to your Georgia home. The benefits are numerous and include:

Weather protection. Porch shades can provide protection from harmful UV radiation, rain, high wind, and more.
Pest protection. Enjoy evenings outdoors without the need for irritating insect repellent.
Privacy. If you want to enjoy your porch in solitude, a patio shade provides privacy with the click of a button.

Make Your Summer Screen Your Own

Motorized retractable screens come in a variety of styles and formats to fit your needs and personal flair. We can customize your screen based on:

Size. We can customize our screens to fit your porch, patio, or four-seasons room.
Style. We have options to hang with tracks or cables, whichever best fits your enclosure style.
Décor. We help you personalize your screen by matching it with your own personal home decorating style. The best screens blend seamlessly with your style such that they are virtually invisible. We offer our screens in numerous color and texture options to fit your personal flair.

Many Atlanta residents are preparing to spend more time at home this summer. As such, now is the perfect opportunity to consider an investment in a patio or porch screen. By adding protection, privacy, and style, a motorized screen is the perfect investment of form and function. It may just be the summer accessory you never knew you needed. Contact us today to learn more about motorized screens and installation or setup an appointment to get started.

Marietta Georgia motorized outdoor shades, screens

The Screened Porches of 2020

Written by admat on April 26, 2020. Posted in Patio Shades.

So many Georgian’s are stuck in their home dreaming of the vacation they would have had. Due to the Covid-19 situation, the summer of 2020 points to evolving homeowner expectations, it may be the frequency with which locals are integrating screen porches, patios, and outdoor kitchens into original landscaping that artfully marries the house to its setting.

Gone are the days of the minimal outdoor footprint; today’s homeowners want to express themselves—which is why the traditional house is becoming more personalized. Atlanta homeowners want outdoor rooms and spaces that are wired for entertainment, useable for seven or eight months of the year, and so easy to maintain that the usual repair and replacement tasks are mostly eliminated.

Screen porch construction has become much more advanced with a vast range of products and technology available. Most of these technologies are designed to fit right into an existing home automation system. And with the popularity of Alexa and Google Home, voice control is expected.

To satisfy this more demanding criteria, Peachtree Blinds constantly stays on top of a new generation of weather-resistant materials, absorbing and applying fine building techniques that will shape non-traditional materials into designs perfectly suited to the home’s style and setting. As the standard has risen, so, too, the need to stay ahead of the curve.

The Motorized Porch Shades of 2020

One of our inovating products that has become extremely popular are our motorized screens from Universal. Motorized retractable screens are not necessarily new but the technology surrounding them is constantly evolving. From rain and wind sensors that lower or raise the screens when the weather is not cooperating to home automation integration and iphone or android device control. We also install many Alexa and Google Home controlled screens.

Vinyl Motorized Shades

Vinyl outdoor shades are available in clear vinyl for windows or see through applications as well as colored or printed designs. These shades utilize the same technologies, tracks and motors as the motorized screens above, all while allowing for a true 4 season room. Needles to say these vinyl screens have become very popular with Atlanta area restaurants and other outdoor commercial venues but they also work great for residential applications.

Retractable porch screens Lake Oconee, Georgia

Motorized Outdoor Shades – Lake Oconee, Georgia

Written by admat on April 8, 2020. Posted in Motorized Screens, Patio Shades.

This weeks motorized outdoor shade installation took place at Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee, Georgia. The screens were produced by Universal Motion Screens of Dallas, TX. The customer’s primary goal was to block the bugs and gain more enjoyment from their deck with an awesome view of the water. Powered by Somfy motors, the client will have the ease of a multi-channel remote which will allow them to operate the screens individually or as a group. The screen mesh is produced by Phifer who manufactures Pet Mesh; a 10 year warranty screen material that won’t rip, tear, or mildew.

A single window was covered with a 95% solar mesh to help reduce the incredible amount of heat that was reflecting off the water. When the screen is down it reduces the temperature coming into the house by a whopping 16 degrees!

On the outside patio you will also notice Retractable Screen Doors installed on a set of custom French Doors produced by Mirage Screens. Mirage Screens offer the same resistant pet mesh which will keep the look and consistency in tact with the rest of the patio / deck area. Mirage doors are made to retract slowly to prevent injury and a safer retraction that won’t slam or pinch fingers.

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