However, these products also feature the ability of allowing you to maintain your views out of your windows, which is especially important if you bought your home due to the marvelous scenery that surrounds it.  In addition to letting you maintain your fabulous views and protecting your home from harmful UV rays, solar shades do a fantastic job of reducing heat in the home.

It has been said that most companies offering solar shades carry a range of similar products, but this may not be entirely true.  Most companies do carry sun shades, rolling shutters, solar shades, and a wide variety of other shade solutions, but the difference is in the quality of the products.

In fact, it has been shown that products in the lower price ranges do a miserable job of blocking out Ultra Violet rays, which ends up costing you even more money in the long-run, when you will have to replace your faded furniture, carpeting and/or wooden flooring.  Therefore, you should always look for a company that specializes in solar shade products, a company that offers a range of products that may be at the higher end of the price spectrum, but they actually save you money over the long term

Exterior Rolling Shutters - Solar Shades

If you get good quality, exterior sun shades, they will provide as much as 80% heat protection, which will be a real relief when you see your home cooling bills drastically reduced.  In addition, if you opt for custom-made solar shades, they will actually add to the beauty, decor and value of your home.

 When it comes to sun protection, most people simply think of reducing the glare so that they can see their flat screen or flat panel TVs and PC monitors, and these products do provide a crucial role in that regard.  However, you should take a closer look at the product you are going to get because the materials used in their construction play a crucial role in durability.

For example, if you are going to get automated shutters, then it especially important to choose a manufacturer with a reputation for quality and durability rather than opting for the less expensive product that is not going to give you a good return for your investment.  Not only that, it will end up looking like a horrible attachment to the outside of your windows.

Skandic provides comfortable, elegant, durable, attractive products that are also durable and will add to your home’s energy efficiency.  This is an excellent combination, and it is what you should look for when you select the solar shade product for your home.

Skandic has been providing custom shade solutions in San Diego since 1978, and the company has built a reputation for outstanding quality and durability.  When you are going to make a choice to beautify your home and make it more energy efficient, take a look at the fine products at Skandic.

If you live in this region, and if you are only beginning to think about hurricanes at the end of the month of May, the first storm may catch you unprepared.  That’s when people begin to panic, look for plywood or some other way to secure their windows and doors against the coming storm, and they run and try to get supplies to get them through while the storm passes and things get back to normal.

However, plywood does not offer the protection your windows and doors will need during a hurricane.  Wind-driven debris can crash straight through plywood with enough force to cause very serious damage inside the home.

Therefore, the best thing you can do is to prepare for hurricane season before the first storm strikes, and even before the start of the season, rather than waiting until the storm warning is sounded to begin taking precautions.  Among the basics that you should have on hand to get though a storm are: water, food, a well-stocked first-aid kit and flashlights, just to name a few.

However, those are personal preparations to get you and the ones you love through the worst of the storm, but what precautions can you take to secure your home, especially your windows and doors?

Among the best products that are available to protect your windows and doors from the storm are hurricane shutters.  You can find all different types of hurricane shutters, including:

Storm Panel Hurricane Shutters

Storm panel hurricane shutters:

These are the least expensive of the permanent shutters that you can add to your window.  They are removable, and they tend to be sturdy.  However, they require storage, can be difficult to handle, can require more than one person to hang, can sometimes not line up correctly, and they have sharp edges.

Accordion Hurrican Shutters

Accordion hurricane shutters:

These are permanently affixed, so they do not require additional storage.  They can be prepared by one person without much trouble, and some can even be locked with a key, providing additional security and a theft deterrent.  On the other hand, they can affect the aesthetics of the home, seeming bulky and out-of-place.  They also glide on wheels, so there is a tendency for these shutters to break more easily than other shutter systems.

Colonial Hurricane Shutters

Colonial hurricane shutters:

These are also permanently affixed, and do not need extra storage space.  They can be handled and made ready by one person, and they are decorative, so they can add to the beauty of your home.  Then again, some colonial shutters require a center rod or storm bar to lock them in place, which can increase the time it takes to get them ready.  Additionally, these cannot be used to protect doors, so they must be used with other shutter systems to provide complete home protection.

Bahama Hurricane Shutters

Bahama hurricane shutters:

Like the two previous types of shutters, these do not require extra storage since they are permanently affixed.  They can be made ready by one person, and they provide privacy and shade, even when they are open.  Nevertheless, they are traditionally weaker than other shutter systems, even though some newer models do protect well.  There have been complaints that they block out too much light, and their design places a limit on their use.

Rolling Hurricane Shutters

Rolling hurricane shutters:

These are also permanently affixed, but these are placed above the window, rather than beside the window like the other models.  They are easily made ready by one person since all it takes is the touch of a button.  These can also be used on doors, and they provide some of the best protection available, as well as providing a great theft deterrent.  They can also add great beauty since they can be made to fit the color, look, and feel of the home.

Skandic has been providing custom shutter solutions since 1978, and we recommend roll-down or rolling shutters to protect your home against hurricanes.  Skandic offers a low-impact solution that is available at the push of a button, and this solution will protect your home against the worst of the storm.

If you have to evacuate the area because of the coming storm, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your home will be protected against hurricane winds, airborne debris, and any potential vandals.  Hurricane season runs from June 1st to October 31st, but you can use your rolling shutters year round to provide safety, reduce energy loss, and save money on your cooling and heating bills.

If you are considering other types of shutters because of the cost, think about the safety that rolling shutters will provide, first and foremost, and then consider t he additional savings that rolling shutters can provide.  You will see that the savings will offset your rolling shutter purchase, but the peace of mind that you will have really has no price.  Call Skandic and inquire about our hurricane shutters, and we will be more than happy to provide the perfect solution for your needs.

Control at the Touch of a Button

When you discover Somfy San Diego, you are discovering motors and automatic control solutions for shades, blinds, drapes, retractable awnings, screens, rolling shutters, projection screens and much more. 

Somfy offers products that are high performance and premium quality to control both artificial and natural lighting.  You can raise your expectations as high as you want because Somfy is guaranteed to surpass even the most stringent requirements.

Somfy provides ease of use, privacy and glare control, energy savings, and extra living space through the many products that it has made available on the market. 

In addition, when the sun is too strong, it can make your deck too hot and your patio uncomfortable, and you can set your patio awning to roll out automatically and give you the needed shade and comfort.  On days when there is too much wind, sensors on the awning retract it automatically so that you do not have to worry about it.  You no longer have to worry about any of these things, so you can simply enjoy your time outdoors.

All of your comfort will be at the touch of a button with Somfy.  You will use the same remote control for your awning, patio lighting and for your heating system. 

Radio Technology Somfy®  (RTS) has become the absolute reference in secure remote control for the home, and there have been over four million systems installed throughout the world.  It has unparalleled ease of use, and RTS motors and controls are completely compatible systems.

If you need instant privacy, you can close all ground floor shades and draperies with the push of a button and you will be hidden away from prying eyes. 

Skandic is your approved Somfy dealer in San Diego, and we will install any of the Somfy products that you require to make your life much more comfortable and private. 

These marvelous products have even been feature in Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and you can visit www.somfy.com for more product information.

Skandic Awnings and Sunscreens

A patio awning is a wonderful thing: capable of both form and function, it serves the double duty of adding aesthetic value to your home, and of giving your home ample protection from the ravages of the elements, most notably the abuse brought about by the sun, the wind and of all sorts of precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.). Even more, awnings of this sort can also help to “blend or integrate” the entryways of your home with your garden, giving you easier and much more comfortable access to your garden from your home, and vice versa.

First, let us take a look at the visual aspects of owning a patio awning. Awnings are a great way to ornament your patio or garden without overwhelming them. They do not feel out of place in a patio, in addition to providing valuable shade during those beautiful San Diego sunny days in open areas. Also, Skandic awnings come in a wide variety of colors, depending on the material they are composed of. When choosing colors and styles, you are only limited by your imagination. Also, the frames used for holding awnings up can also be composed of different materials, each with their own set of aesthetic and structural advantages. To make your home look beautiful.

With this beauty comes also a very important function that awnings fulfill perfectly: protection. Awnings, in addition to having their own aesthetic charm, are also durable enough hold their own against different forms of weather (sun, rain, snow, sleet, hail etc.). The covers used at Skandic are made of durable materials in order to withstand the rays of the sun, especially during the latter parts of the morning and the noon. All this, again, comes with the valuable shade these accessories provide for us.

What’s more, awnings are easy to maintain and even upgrade with accessories of their own. There are specialized parts and outdoor accessories of every sort to make the experience of hanging out in your patio a much more pleasant one. A little lubricant and a specialized cleaner (to help maintain the waterproof nature of the cover, along with providing additional sun protection) will go a long way in keeping your awning in good shape. Remember, too, to fold your awning in when the wind picks up, and when you are not using it, as many an awning has been lost, even done damage to property and to other people, simply because it got blown off its position by strong winds.