Most conversations about motorized screens in Tulsa center on the screens themselves: mesh color, frame finish, how far they block the sun. The controls get less attention. They deserve more. A screen that's a hassle to run stays up, and a screen that stays up does nothing. There are five main ways to run them: handheld remotes, wall switches, wind and sun sensors, smart home hubs, and the timers and scenes that tie it all together.
Handheld Remotes: The Starting Point
Nearly every motorized screen system starts with a handheld remote. Most use radio signals, so there's no need to point them at the screen like a TV remote. Somfy, one of the largest makers of tubular motors, uses a radio protocol called RTS in many of its outdoor systems.
Remotes come in single-channel and multi-channel versions. A single-channel remote runs one screen or a group of screens together. A multi-channel remote lets you pick each screen separately, which matters on a patio with three or four openings. You might drop the west screen at 4 p.m. for the low sun and leave the north side open for the breeze.
Most remotes also have a "my" or favorite position button that stops the screen partway down. That is handy for blocking glare while keeping a view of the yard.
Wall Switches for Everyday Use
A remote can get lost in couch cushions or carried off by a grandchild. A wall-mounted switch stays put.
Many Tulsa homeowners pair the two. They keep a wall switch by the back door for daily use and a remote for the patio table. Wireless wall switches mount with adhesive or screws and need no wiring, so they can go almost anywhere.
Wind and Sun Sensors
Oklahoma wind is a fact of life. Spring storms roll across Tulsa with sudden gusts, and a screen left down in strong wind can be strained or damaged. A wind sensor watches for that.
Somfy's Eolis sensor is one common example. It mounts near the screens, measures vibration or wind speed, and tells the motors to retract when gusts pass a threshold. You set the sensitivity. This is especially useful in exposed spots, such as homes on the open ridges in south Tulsa or near the river where wind runs unchecked.
Sun sensors work the other way around. They lower the screens when sunlight passes a set level, then raise them when it fades. On a west-facing patio, that means the screens come down on their own during the hottest hours of an August afternoon.
Smart Home Hubs and Phone Apps
For homeowners who want app control or voice commands, a bridge device connects the screens to the home network. Bond Bridge Pro is one option that works with many RF motor systems, including Somfy RTS. Once it is set up, you can run the screens from a phone, set schedules, and connect them to Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
That opens up a few useful habits:
- Lowering the screens from inside the house before stepping out
- Checking whether the screens are up while you are away during a storm warning
- Asking a voice assistant to close the patio as guests arrive
American Patio Enclosures offers smart home-integrated screen options through Bond Bridge Pro on its retractable screens in Tulsa, alongside standard remotes and wind sensors.
Timers and Scenes
Schedules can automate a routine that you would otherwise do by hand. Some homeowners set the screens to lower at the same time each evening in mosquito season, when insects are most active around dusk. Others set them to rise every morning so the patio is open for coffee. During spring storm season, some Tulsa owners add a bedtime schedule that raises everything, so nothing is left down if a line of storms rolls through at 2 a.m.
Scenes group several devices together. A "patio evening" scene might lower the screens, turn on string lights, and start a ceiling fan. These take a few minutes to set up and save daily effort for years.
Picking the Right Control Setup
There is no single best setup. A homeowner with one screen may be perfectly happy with a remote and a wall switch. A large patio with four openings in a windy spot benefits from a multi-channel remote, a wind sensor, and app control.
Think about who actually uses the patio. Kids and older relatives do best with a simple wall switch, while frequent travelers get real peace of mind from sensors and app control.
Controls That Fit the Way You Live
Motorized screens in Tulsa work best when the controls match the household. Remotes and wall switches handle daily use, sensors protect the system from Oklahoma wind, and smart hubs add convenience for those who want it. American Patio Enclosures installs motorized screens with Somfy motors, wind sensors, and Bond Bridge Pro integration across Tulsa and the surrounding suburbs, and can recommend a setup that fits the size and exposure of each patio. The right controls turn a good screen into one you actually use.
About the Author
American Patio Enclosures is a family-owned company that installs motorized screens, retractable screens, patio shades, and screen enclosures for homes and businesses in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, and Dallas-Fort Worth. See their work and request a quote at American Patio Enclosures, or call (918) 608-2039 to talk through control options.
Comments