The Property
This contemporary home sits on an elevated lot overlooking a valley in Tillsonburg, Ontario. The second storey features a large covered patio with glass railings, a ceiling fan, and panoramic views across the surrounding countryside. The owner uses the property as a summer residence and spends winters in Florida, so the patio and its openings face months of unattended exposure to wind, snow, and ice every year.
The Challenge
The patio had three problems that needed one solution. In summer, the hilltop location meant constant exposure to mosquitoes and insects. The owner wanted to enjoy the valley views and the evening breeze without being driven indoors.
In the shoulder seasons, wind from the valley would sweep across the patio from changing directions, making it uncomfortable even on mild days. The owner needed a way to block wind selectively, closing off one or two sides depending on conditions while keeping the others open.
In winter, it was a different issue entirely. With the owner away for months, five large openings, one spanning over 16 feet and the others approximately 12 feet each, all roughly 8½ feet tall, sat fully exposed to Ontario weather. Snow, ice, and wind would take a toll on the patio, the furnishings, and the structure itself.
The Sunrise Solution
Sunrise reviewed the openings, the mounting conditions, and the owner's seasonal needs before recommending a system direction. The result was a dual-layer approach: five motorized roll shutter units for wind protection and full winter enclosure, paired with motorized insect screens for bug-free summer evenings.
The roll shutters were built with extruded aluminum slats in a retention system, custom-fitted to each of the patio's five openings. The retention system holds the slats firmly against wind uplift, which matters on an elevated hilltop patio that catches wind from multiple directions.
All five roll shutters and the motorized insect screens operate independently through a smart home system. The owner controls every unit from a phone or tablet, whether sitting on the patio or away in Florida. The system also connects to the home's interior blinds, giving unified control over the entire property from one interface.
How It Works in Practice
Each shutter operates on its own. On a breezy summer evening, the owner drops one or two shutters on the windward side while keeping the others open to the view. When insects are the issue, the motorised screens come down instead, keeping bugs out while letting the breeze through.
When wind picks up from the valley, specific shutters can be lowered from anywhere using a phone. When winter arrives and the owner heads south, all five roll shutters close fully and seal the patio from snow, ice, and wind until spring. From Florida, the owner can check on the shutters, close them ahead of an incoming storm, or open them on a mild day if someone is visiting the property.
Built to Fit the Architecture
The dark charcoal colour was selected to match the home's metal roof, trim, and architectural details. When the shutters retract, they disappear into the box housings and leave a clean, open patio with nothing blocking the view. When closed, the slats sit flush within the retention system for a tight, finished look from every angle.
Project Details
Location: Tillsonburg, Ontario (Norfolk County, Southwestern Ontario)
Property type: Elevated second-storey covered patio, hilltop residential property
Number of openings: 5
Largest opening: Over 16 feet wide
Standard openings: Approximately 12 feet wide × 8½ feet tall
Roll shutter slat type: Extruded aluminium, retention system
Colour: Dark charcoal (black-brown)
Operator: Motorised with smart home integration (phone and tablet)
Insect screens: Motorised insect screens on patio openings
Seasonal use: Summer insect protection, wind control, full winter enclosure
Have an Elevated Patio or Exposed Opening?
Every project starts with photos, rough measurements, and a short description. Sunrise reviews the opening first, then recommends the right system direction for your property. If you have a patio, deck, or other exterior space that needs seasonal protection, wind control, or winterisation, send Sunrise the details and find out what's possible.
