Motorised Curtain Systems: Preparing During Renovation

Dining area with a round table, curtains at a tall window and a ring chandelier — Motorised Curtain Systems: Preparing During Renovation

Motorised curtains can be added later, but if wiring, niche size and fixings are not planned during renovation, walls and ceilings get opened up again. The key preparation steps.

The idea of motorised curtains often comes up at the very end of a renovation, when the ceiling has already been painted. That is when it turns out there is no power point near the track, the motor will not fit into the concealed niche, and running a cable to a wall switch means fresh plastering. The system itself can be fitted later, but most of the groundwork that makes it work comfortably belongs to the first-fix stage.

Deciding on the system

Preparation depends on the type of system, so the first step is to decide what will be installed:

  • Curtain track motor: moves fabric curtains along the track. The motor sits at one end and needs a power point on that side.
  • Tubular motor: hidden inside the tube of roller blinds and some Roman blinds. The cable has to reach the top of the blind.
  • Venetian blind motors: control both lifting the slats and changing their angle.
  • Battery-powered models: need no cabling and suit retrofits, but the battery must be recharged or replaced from time to time.

If a room will have two motorised layers, such as a sheer and a heavy curtain, plan for two separate motors and two power points.

It is also worth separating the windows where a motor really earns its place. A double-height living area, an out-of-reach roof window, a window behind a large piece of furniture or a very long track are all awkward to operate by hand every day. On an ordinary window in a small room, a motor is more a matter of comfort. Seeing that difference early lets you focus the electrical work where it is most needed.

Power point and cable route

A mains-powered motor needs a power outlet on its side of the track, usually inside the ceiling niche or just above the end of the track. Its exact position depends on which end the motor will be at, and that decision is made together with the window's opening direction and furniture layout. The outlet should be close enough to the motor that no cable is visible, yet accessible enough to disconnect for servicing.

If you plan to use a wall switch, a separate cable is run from the switch to the motor. If control will be by remote or a smart home system, the switch cable is sometimes unnecessary, but if the decision is still open, laying a spare conduit is far easier than chasing the wall later. All electrical work should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician, with the circuit protected by its own breaker.

Ceiling niche and fixings

A concealed curtain niche is the neatest home for a motorised system, but its size must follow the technical documentation of the chosen model. The motor housing may be taller and wider than the track itself, and two rows of track need a deeper niche. These dimensions should be given to the installer before the plasterboard ceiling goes up.

A motorised curtain pulls on the track every time it moves, so fixings should never rely on plasterboard alone. Along the line of the track, either fix directly into the concrete slab or install solid backing behind the plasterboard, such as timber or metal profile. With heavy curtains, also check the motor's rated load against the manufacturer's figures.

Control and everyday convenience

Modern systems can be operated by remote, wall switch, phone app or smart home platforms. Motors use different communication protocols, so if the home already has a smart system, compatibility should be checked in advance. Scenes are possible too: curtains opening in the morning, the sunny side closing during the day, everything closing when you leave the house.

A few practical points are worth keeping in mind:

  • it should be possible to draw the curtain by hand during a power cut; some motors start moving on their own when the fabric is given a light tug;
  • in a bedroom, motor noise is one of the selection criteria;
  • the motor must be removable without breaking into the ceiling, and the niche design should allow for this;
  • the open and closed end positions are set after installation.

Add this list to the renovation plan

  • Which windows will be motorised and with what type of system.
  • Which side each motor will be on and the exact position of the power point.
  • If there is a wall switch, its location and cable route.
  • Width and depth of the ceiling niche and the position of both tracks.
  • Solid fixing backing along the track line.
  • Service access to the motor.

Zaferoğlu İnşaat carries out renovation across the full range of work, right through to the interior design set out in the project. When the curtain system is discussed at the same stage as the electrical and ceiling plans, motorised curtains look like a natural part of the interior rather than a gadget added afterwards.

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