| "What is the difference between Somfy and Lutron?" | | | | customers will care about these issues if the installation |
| This is a question that many motorized shading | | | | was shoddy, shades did not fit or wiring mistakes |
| customers ask us every day. However, after many | | | | were made. |
| years in this industry, I have never been able to provide | | | | As stated above, Lutron delivers a fully motorized |
| a simple, two or three sentence response to this | | | | shade with controls. In doing so, Lutron reaches down |
| query. The fact is that there are many differences, | | | | the value chain further than Somfy. Therefore, in terms |
| some glaring and some more nuanced. This series of | | | | of total system appearance and matching, Lutron's |
| articles will (finally) provide a complete answer to this | | | | shades, being all from a single source have little room |
| common question. The first article will offer a simple | | | | for variance. All the components are designed to fit |
| overview of the primary difference between the two | | | | together. Along with product seamlessness, the single |
| companies; subsequent articles will go into much | | | | source model provides a high degree of manufacturer |
| greater depth and detail. | | | | accountability. Not surprisingly, all of this comes with a |
| Lutron and Somfy are the two dominant players in the | | | | price, and is one of the reasons that Lutron shading |
| motorized shades industry. Broadly speaking, each falls | | | | systems are more expensive than a Somfy solution. |
| into the category of motorized shades and both sell | | | | Somfy systems involve purchasing different parts |
| their products through a vast network of dealers | | | | from different sources which allows any type or style |
| installers. However, a defining, fundamental difference | | | | of window shade from any fabricator to be motorized. |
| lies in the fact that Pennsylvania-based Lutron | | | | This offers more choice but also opens system |
| manufactures motorized shades (shades 2B motors) | | | | appearance and matching to more variance. To avoid |
| as well as controls and does not sell its motors | | | | an unfinished appearance, the dealer must ensure that |
| separately. Somfy, a French company, manufactures | | | | the best quality, matching components (brackets, |
| only motors and controls and does not sell shades of | | | | fascia, enclosures, screws etc) are used. Also, Somfy |
| any kind. | | | | motors can be fitted into specialty shades like Hunter |
| It cannot be overstated that in both cases, the end | | | | Douglas Silhouettes or Duettes which some clients |
| customer's experience will depend on how well the | | | | prefer. Somfy offers more flexibility. |
| product is installed and the service and professionalism | | | | Lutron provides a total solution with minimal system |
| of the motorized shade provider. Installation quality can | | | | variance and Somfy offers a critical piece of the |
| vary more than any product differences and this will | | | | solution, with more flexibility but greater system |
| always be the defining success (or failure) of any job. | | | | variance. A Lutron system costs more than a Somfy |
| Installers must be trained properly and held to high | | | | solution. But pricing is also a function of product |
| quality and service standards. Both Somfy and Lutron | | | | features and whether a project is new construction or |
| provide frequent training sessions for their products, | | | | retrofit, as well as other control systems (home |
| but in the end, the dealer must make the commitment | | | | automation) that may be factors. This series of articles |
| to ongoing education for all staff persons. There are | | | | will address all of these considerations, but first, the |
| important feature differences between the two | | | | primary difference had to be explained. |
| systems, which subsequent articles will cover, but few | | | | |