Awnings • Plettenberg Bay
Fall arm awnings tilt outward above your windows, blocking the sun before it heats the glass. Fully retractable, no posts, no permanent projection. When the Plett view calls, they disappear flush against the wall.
Plett faces north toward the Indian Ocean. From midday onward, the sun pours through every north and west facing window, turning comfortable rooms into greenhouses. A fall arm awning intercepts that heat at the glass, before it crosses into the room, without blocking the Robberg views you bought this house for.
“Fall arm awnings solve a problem that indoor blinds cannot. By the time sunlight has passed through the glass, the heat is already inside. A fall arm catches it on the outside, and you can tilt it to follow the sun as it moves through the afternoon. I recommend them on every west facing window in Knysna.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings | 20 years experience
Fall arm awnings use a fabric panel mounted on a roller above the window. Two spring loaded arms, one on each side, pivot from brackets fixed to the wall. When you extend the awning, the arms drop outward and the fabric unfurls, projecting at whatever angle you set. At 0 degrees the fabric hangs vertically like a blind. At 90 degrees it projects horizontally. At 180 degrees it drops fully down. Any position in between is possible.
This adjustability is the key advantage. As the sun moves through the afternoon, you tilt the arms to track it. Morning sun sits high, so you set a shallow angle. Late afternoon sun drops low and hits windows directly, so you extend the arms further. When the sun sets or the weather changes, you retract the awning completely. It rolls up into a compact cassette or against a pelmet, sitting flush against the wall with no visible projection.
Operation is either manual (crank handle at the base of the window) or motorised with Somfy. Motorised fall arms can be fitted with sun sensors that extend the awning automatically when UV intensity exceeds a threshold, and retract it when clouds cover or the sun moves off the window. For Plett homes where owners travel or manage the property remotely, this hands off operation is practical.
People often confuse fall arm and folding arm (retractable) awnings. They are distinct products designed for different applications.
A folding arm awning projects horizontally outward from the wall on articulated arms to create overhead shade over a patio, deck, or entertainment area. It covers a large horizontal area below it. Think of it as a retractable roof.
A fall arm awning projects at an angle from the wall to shade a vertical surface: the window itself. It does not create overhead cover for a space below. Think of it as an adjustable external blind mounted above the window.
Simple rule: If you need shade over a patio or seating area, choose a folding arm awning. If you need to stop sun from heating a room through the glass, choose a fall arm awning. Many Plett homes use both: folding arms over the entertainment area and fall arms on the exposed windows.
The primary application. Plett’s north facing coastline means most homes receive intense sun from late morning through to sunset on the north and west facades. This is the sun that heats rooms most aggressively because it hits windows at a direct angle. A fall arm awning on the outside intercepts this heat before it crosses the glass, reducing indoor temperature noticeably without blocking the ocean views that make these rooms special.
Elevated properties with panoramic glazing and extreme UV exposure. These homes have some of the largest window areas on the Garden Route, often floor to ceiling across the entire ocean facing facade. Fall arm awnings on individual windows or in series across the facade give precise control. Tilt them shallow in winter to allow warming sun. Drop them further in summer to block the high intensity UV.
Estate properties where architectural guidelines restrict external additions. Fall arm awnings retract completely flush, leaving no visible projection when not in use. This clean profile typically meets body corporate requirements. Custom Blinds provides specification drawings and colour samples for estate applications. The compact form factor also suits holiday homes where the awning needs to look intentional and refined rather than temporary.
A significant number of Plett properties are occupied part time or managed as short term rentals. Fall arm awnings with Somfy sun sensors extend and retract automatically based on UV intensity. No guest instructions required, no property manager intervention. The windows stay cool, the views stay open, and the system handles itself. For owners managing from Johannesburg or Cape Town, the Somfy TaHoma app provides remote control from anywhere.
The frame is powder coated aluminium with stainless steel spring mechanisms rated for coastal conditions. The cassette housing (where the fabric rolls up when retracted) can be colour matched to your building facade.
Fabric choice affects both performance and appearance. Solution dyed acrylic is the standard for Plett: it holds colour under sustained UV, breathes to prevent heat buildup on the fabric surface, resists mould in Plett’s humidity, and dries quickly after rain. For maximum privacy or weather blocking at a specific window, PVC coated polyester provides a solid, waterproof panel.
Widths up to 6 metres per unit are available. Projection depths range from 0.75m to 1.4m depending on the arm length specified. Duncan recommends arm length based on the window height, Plett’s specific sun angles at the property’s position, and how much shade coverage is needed during the intense midday to sunset period.
A fall arm awning (also called a drop arm awning) is a retractable fabric awning that mounts above a window. Two spring loaded arms pivot from the wall, allowing the fabric to tilt outward at any angle from 0 to 180 degrees. It shades the window glass directly rather than creating overhead patio cover.
A folding arm awning projects horizontally to create overhead shade over a patio or seating area. A fall arm awning projects at an angle to shade a vertical window surface. Folding arms cover the space below. Fall arms protect the window from direct sun. Many homes use both.
Yes. Somfy motorisation is available with remote control, wall switch, app control, and automated sun sensors. Sun sensors extend the awning when UV intensity rises and retract it when conditions change. This is particularly useful for Plett holiday homes managed remotely.
Up to 6 metres per unit. Projection depths range from 0.75m to 1.4m depending on arm length. Duncan recommends the right size based on your window dimensions and sun angle.
Fall arm awnings perform well in moderate wind because the angled fabric sheds gusts rather than catching them like a flat surface. For exposed positions, motorised units with Somfy wind sensors retract automatically when gusts exceed a safe threshold. Manual units should be retracted in strong wind.
In most cases, yes. Because they retract completely flush against the wall, fall arm awnings leave no visible permanent projection. Custom Blinds can provide specification drawings and colour samples for body corporate or estate applications at Goose Valley, Brackenridge, Whale Rock, and other managed estates.
Pricing depends on the width, arm length, fabric type, and whether you choose manual or motorised operation. Every awning is custom manufactured, so pricing is quoted after Duncan’s site visit. Contact us for a no obligation assessment.
Site assessment. Custom manufactured. Somfy motorisation available. Installed by our team.
Custom Blinds® installs fall arm awnings across Plettenberg Bay, Beachy Head, Brackenridge, Whale Rock, Goose Valley, Robberg, Keurbooms, and surrounding areas. We also install retractable and louvred awnings, outdoor blinds, shutters, security shutters, shadeports, and screens in Knysna. For fall arm awning enquiries, contact Duncan on 079 523 5407. See also: fall arm awnings product page | fall arm awnings Knysna | fall arm awnings Sedgefield | all awning types | folding arm awnings.
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