Indoor Venetian Blinds
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies plaswood venetian blinds nationally with free delivery and Garden Route installation. The warmth and grain of real wood. None of the warping, fading, or coastal damage. Manufactured locally in 50mm slats with a factory 3-year warranty and free nationwide delivery from Custom Blinds South Africa. Available online with free delivery nationwide, or through a Garden Route consultation with the same expert advice and professional installation.
You chose wooden blinds because they looked beautiful. Within two years, the Garden Route’s humidity had warped them. The salt air corroded the fittings. The UV bleached the finish. Plaswood gives you that same warmth, and it stays that way for fifteen years.
Plaswood venetian blinds are composite window treatments made from UV-stabilised PVC blended with wood fibres to create a material that looks and feels like real timber. They are also known as faux wood blinds, fauxwood venetians, or synthetic venetians. If your heart is set on genuine timber for a dry inland room, our wooden blinds in real basswood are made to measure with national delivery too, and you can order real wood venetian slats online. The composite is manufactured in South Africa specifically for South African climate conditions, not imported and adapted, but engineered from the ground up for the UV intensity, humidity, coastal salt air, and temperature swings that define life here.
The product was developed by Hunter Douglas, the world’s largest blind manufacturer, specifically in response to the failure of real wood venetians in South African coastal and high-UV environments. Rather than adapting an existing product, Hunter Douglas engineered a new composite from the ground up for local conditions. This is not a generic imported faux wood blind, it is a purpose-built system with components specified for South African UV, salt air, and humidity levels.
The key difference between plaswood and ordinary PVC blinds is the composite formulation. Low-grade PVC blinds yellow within two years under South African sunlight. Plaswood includes UV stabilisers rated above 500, the same protection standard used in external cladding, which prevents colour fade even in direct north-facing windows. We have installations from 2010 in Knysna that show no colour change at all.
Each blind is built around a corrosion-resistant aluminium head rail rather than steel. This matters enormously for any property within 10 kilometres of the ocean. Steel head rails rust within months in coastal areas like Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, and Knysna, aluminium simply does not corrode.
Plaswood is not only for the wood-grain look. The range also includes plain smooth colours with no timber grain, including clean whites and soft greys, so a crisp modern interior gets the same moisture resistance. Choose from 28 colours in the online shop.
Custom Blinds stocks plaswood venetians in 50mm slats exclusively. This is a deliberate choice, not a limitation. The 50mm width provides the best balance of light control when tilted, minimal stack height when raised, and a clean architectural proportion on South African windows, which tend to be larger than European or American standard sizes. Narrower 25mm or 35mm slats look busy on wide windows and allow less light when open.
Plaswood vs fauxwood vs synthetic, same product, different names. In South Africa, these terms all refer to composite venetian blinds made from PVC and wood fibre. The brand name “Plaswood” has become the industry standard. You may also see them listed as EcoPlas, EcoWood, or faux wood venetians. Custom Blinds supplies the genuine Plaswood product, manufactured locally with the full factory warranty.
South Africa has some of the highest UV radiation levels on earth, extreme coastal humidity along the Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal coastline, dramatic temperature swings between summer and winter, and aggressive salt air that penetrates kilometres inland from the coast. Real wood blinds fail under these conditions, warping, cracking, fading, and corroding within two to five years. Plaswood composite handles all four challenges simultaneously because the material was formulated for precisely these conditions.
The moisture resistance is what makes the biggest practical difference. Wood absorbs water. In a bathroom, kitchen, or coastal bedroom, absorbed moisture causes the slats to swell and bow, eventually they jam in the closed position and will not tilt. Plaswood does not absorb moisture the way timber does. Bathroom steam, kitchen moisture, and Garden Route humidity will not cause it to swell, warp, or develop mildew.
Temperature stability is the second factor. South African homes routinely experience 30-degree temperature differences between a winter morning and a summer afternoon. Wood expands and contracts with these swings, loosening ladder strings and distorting slats. The plaswood composite remains dimensionally stable across the full range, from sub-zero Drakensberg mornings to above 40°C Karoo afternoons.
Properties along the Garden Route coast face the harshest conditions for any window treatment in South Africa. Salt spray corrodes metal components, humidity warps organic materials, and UV intensity is amplified by reflected light off the ocean. We have installed plaswood venetians in waterfront homes in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, and Mossel Bay since 2010. The blinds from those first installations are still functioning perfectly, the aluminium head rails show no corrosion, the slats show no colour fade, and the tilt mechanisms operate as smoothly as the day they were fitted.
| Feature | Plaswood (faux wood) | Real wood | Aluminium |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV resistance | ✓ Rated 500+: no fading | ✗ Fades and cracks in 2–3 years | ✓ Good: powder coat protects |
| Moisture tolerance | ✓ Better suited to damp conditions | ✗ Swells and warps | ✓ Water resistant |
| Coastal salt air | ✓ Aluminium rails, no corrosion | ✗ Steel fittings rust | ✓ Aluminium throughout |
| Appearance | Realistic wood grain texture | Natural timber: warmest look | Metallic: modern, minimal |
| Insulation value | ✓ Good: composite insulates | ✓ Natural insulator | ✗ Conducts heat and cold |
| Weight | Medium: lighter than wood | Heavy: limits max width | Lightest option |
| Cleaning | Damp cloth: wipe-clean surface | Specialist wood cleaner required | Damp cloth |
| Motorisation | ✗ Not available (slat weight) | ✗ Not available (slat weight) | ✓ Somfy motors available |
| Price range | Mid-range: best value for wood look | Premium: highest cost | Entry to mid-range |
| Best for | Bathrooms, kitchens, coastal, whole-house | Dry inland bedrooms and lounges | Modern interiors, offices, automation |
| Lifespan in SA | 15–20+ years | 5–8 years (coastal: 2–4) | 15–20+ years |
Custom Blinds South Africa supplies plaswood in every standard configuration for every room in a typical home. Plaswood venetian blinds work in every room of a South African home because the composite material handles moisture, UV, and temperature extremes equally well. However, certain rooms benefit more than others from the specific properties of plaswood versus alternative blind types like roller blinds or aluminium venetians. You can also compare the full venetian range online.
This is where plaswood earns its keep. Daily steam from showers and baths creates conditions that destroy wood within months. Plaswood’s sealed composite surface handles daily shower steam without swelling or warping the way natural wood does. We install more plaswood venetians in Garden Route bathrooms than any other room, the combination of coastal humidity and shower steam is too aggressive for any other wood-look product.
Cooking generates heat, grease vapour, and moisture. Plaswood handles all three. The surface wipes clean with a damp cloth, no specialist cleaners needed. Unlike fabric roller blinds, venetian slats do not absorb cooking odours.
The 50mm slats provide excellent light control for sleeping. Tilted fully closed, they create near-complete darkness, parents with young children report an extra hour of morning sleep. The wood grain finish adds warmth that aluminium venetians lack, making bedrooms feel like rooms rather than offices.
Large lounge windows with north-facing exposure are the toughest test for any blind material. Plaswood’s UV rating above 500 means these blinds will not fade, yellow, or become brittle, even on the most sun-drenched elevation. The insulating properties of the composite also reduce heat gain through glass, keeping rooms cooler without air conditioning.
Properties that sit empty between visits accumulate heat, humidity, and salt residue. Wood blinds left in these conditions deteriorate rapidly. Plaswood venetians require zero maintenance between visits, no conditioning, no dehumidifying, no special care. Open the house, wipe down the blinds with a damp cloth, and they are pristine.
“We’ve installed plaswood venetians in coastal homes from Mossel Bay to Plett since 2010. Not one has warped. Not one has faded. That’s the difference between a product engineered for South Africa and one imported from elsewhere.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings, 20 years on the Garden Route
Made to measure from R847. Free delivery nationwide.
Custom Blinds offers two ways to buy plaswood venetian blinds depending on where you are in South Africa. Garden Route customers receive on-site professional measuring and installation. National customers order online with self-measuring guidance and free delivery anywhere in the country.
If you live in Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, or anywhere along the Garden Route, Duncan visits your home to measure. He takes the measurements, calculates the recess deductions (10mm width and drop for a precise fit), and handles everything through to installation. WhatsApp Duncan on 079 523 5407 to book a consultation.
For customers outside the Garden Route, the online shop gives you instant pricing. Enter your window measurements, choose your colour, and the system calculates the price immediately. Every plaswood venetian order includes free delivery to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, and every town in between. No minimum order, no hidden surcharges, no conditions. Production takes 5 to 7 working days from confirmed order, plus courier transit.
Custom Fit Guarantee. Measured too wide? We trim it free of charge. Measured too narrow? It is remade at a reduced price. This guarantee applies to all online shop orders, because getting measurements right matters, and mistakes should not cost you twice.
Plaswood venetians cannot be motorised due to the weight of the 50mm composite slats. If automated blinds are a priority, consider motorised roller blinds with Somfy motors, they integrate with smart home systems and offer full remote control. For the wood-look aesthetic with automation, aluwood venetians in the lighter 25mm profile are worth exploring. See our aluwood blinds guide for a full material comparison.
Plaswood venetians give you adjustable light-angle control that flat-panel blinds cannot match. Across 4 alternative indoor blind types, each has a specific strength plaswood does not. Roller blinds offer the cleanest lines and widest fabric range from R671. Zebra blinds combine sheer and opaque bands on a single roller for continuous day-to-night adjustment. Honeycomb blinds insulate better than any flat slat by trapping air in cellular cells. Aluminium venetians cost less but cannot match plaswood’s warm finish.
Plaswood venetian blinds are made from a Hunter Douglas engineered UV-stabilised PVC composite blended with wood fibres, producing a finish that looks and feels like real timber. Hunter Douglas developed the system specifically for South African conditions: high UV intensity, coastal salt air, and humidity that destroys real wood within years. The composite includes UV stabilisers rated above 500, corrosion-resistant aluminium head rails, and a sealed composite surface that resists moisture, salt, and humidity far better than natural timber.
Plaswood venetians are the best wood-look option for bathrooms in coastal areas like the Garden Route, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. The composite surface stands up to daily shower steam far better than natural wood, and the aluminium head rails resist salt-air corrosion. Custom Blinds has installed plaswood venetians in coastal bathrooms since 2010 with zero warping or mildew issues.
Plaswood venetian blinds last 15 to 18 years or longer in South African conditions, including coastal environments. By comparison, real wood blinds typically last 5 to 8 years inland and 2 to 4 years in coastal properties. The UV stabilisers prevent fading, the composite resists warping, and the aluminium components do not corrode.
Plaswood and faux wood are different names for the same type of composite venetian blind. In South Africa, “Plaswood” is the dominant brand name and has become the generic industry term. You may also see them called fauxwood, EcoPlas, EcoWood, or synthetic venetians. Custom Blinds supplies the genuine Plaswood product with a factory 3-year warranty.
Made-to-measure plaswood venetian blinds start from R847. Enter your measurements in the Custom Blinds online shop and it calculates your exact price instantly. Plaswood is more affordable than real wood venetians while lasting significantly longer, particularly in humid and coastal environments. Free nationwide delivery is included on every order.
Plaswood venetians cannot be motorised because the 50mm composite slats are too heavy for standard venetian motors. For automated window treatments with a similar aesthetic, Custom Blinds recommends motorised roller blinds with Somfy motors or lighter aluwood venetians in 25mm profiles. Both options integrate with smart home systems for remote and timed control.
Custom Blinds provides professional on-site measuring and installation across the Garden Route, Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. Duncan visits your home, takes precise measurements including recess deductions, and handles everything through to final installation. WhatsApp Duncan on 079 523 5407 to book.
Plaswood venetians clean with a damp cloth and nothing else. The composite surface does not absorb dirt or grease the way natural wood does, so dust wipes off easily. For stubborn marks, diluted Clean Green works as a spot treatment. The anti-static properties of the composite mean dust does not cling the way it does to fabric or real wood blinds. For more detail, read how to clean blinds in South Africa.
Free nationwide delivery. Factory 3-year warranty. Professional Garden Route installation available.
Continue Reading
Lightweight, modern, and available with Somfy motorisation for automated control.
How to angle venetian slats for maximum privacy without losing natural light.
Which products survive salt air, humidity, and UV, and which ones fail.
A pricing breakdown across plaswood, aluminium, roller, and more.
Last reviewed: March 2026. All plaswood venetian blinds are custom manufactured to your window measurements. Prices calculated at time of order.
For sliding doors: See the best blinds for sliding doors with prices and measuring tips.
Custom Blinds® is a Garden Route window covering specialist established in 2010, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. Plaswood venetian blinds ship nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za. Orders are backed by our Custom Fit Guarantee, written workmanship guarantee, and full manufacturer warranty on slats and mechanism.
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