https://customblinds.co.za/insights/ Guides on choosing, measuring, buying and living with blinds, shutters, awnings and outdoor blinds in South Africa and on the Garden Route. en-ZA https://customblinds.co.za/insights/7-best-blinds-for-privacy-and-light/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/7-best-blinds-for-privacy-and-light/ The seven blind types that keep the street out and let the daylight in, compared for day and night privacy, with the right one for each room. Free nationwide delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/a-guide-to-choosing-your-indoor-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/a-guide-to-choosing-your-indoor-blinds/ Roller, venetian, vertical or honeycomb. What each indoor blind does best, where it belongs, and how to order it made to measure with free delivery across South Africa. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/affordable-outdoor-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/affordable-outdoor-blinds-south-africa/ Made-to-measure outdoor blinds priced live at common South African patio sizes, what moves the price, and how to order online with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluminium-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluminium-blinds-south-africa/ Aluminium blinds handle moisture, heat, UV and daily use better than wood or PVC, and cost less. 25mm vs 50mm, finishes, rooms and ordering. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-blinds-price-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-blinds-price-south-africa/ Aluwood venetian blinds from R545 made to measure. Live shop prices at four window sizes, what drives the price, and how aluwood compares with aluminium and real timber. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-blinds-south-africa/ Aluwood venetian blinds: aluminium slats with a wood grain finish, made to measure from R545 with a matching valance and free delivery nationwide. Slat sizes, finishes, coastal performance and ordering. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-vs-timber-venetian-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/aluwood-vs-timber-venetian-blinds/ Both look like wood. One lasts on the coast. Aluwood and real timber venetian blinds compared on moisture, UV, lifespan and price, with live South African prices. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/ar-blind-visualiser-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/ar-blind-visualiser-south-africa/ Free tools on the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings shop: see a blind on a photo of your own window, price your exact size, and ask Melvin. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/automated-blinds-eliminate-chains-and-save-you-time/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/automated-blinds-eliminate-chains-and-save-you-time/ Chainless and motorised blinds for Garden Route homes: child and pet safety, app and voice control, battery motors with no wiring, and what can be retrofitted. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bamboo-blinds-sustainable-luxury/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bamboo-blinds-sustainable-luxury/ Why bamboo is the natural choice for a considered home: renewable, warm filtered light, and a roller or venetian style for every room, made to measure with free delivery across South Africa. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bedroom-to-bathroom-perfect-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bedroom-to-bathroom-perfect-blinds/ A bedroom needs darkness, a bathroom needs moisture resistance, a kitchen needs easy cleaning, a living room needs light without losing the view. The right blind for every room, made to measure with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-and-shutters-for-summer/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-and-shutters-for-summer/ Shading is the simplest way to keep a South African home cool. Honeycomb for insulation, sheer rollers for glare, double rollers for day and night, shutters for airflow, and awnings that stop heat before the glass. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/garden-route-coastal-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/garden-route-coastal-blinds/ The best blinds brand for a coastal home is the one whose components survive salt air, UV and humidity from day one. What salt, humidity and UV do, which blind for each coastal room, and what ships nationally. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-estate-apartment-living-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-estate-apartment-living-south-africa/ Floor-to-ceiling glass, open plan, close neighbours, north-facing walls that cook by midday. Honeycomb for heat, sunscreen rollers for privacy, blockout for bedrooms, no-drill for sectional title. Mix them in one order. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-for-rental-properties-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-for-rental-properties-south-africa/ No-drill tension-mount roller blinds for rental flats, student digs and Airbnb properties: no holes, no deposit risk, blockout or sheer, and the blind moves with you. Free delivery across South Africa. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/insights-blind-automation-garden-route/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/insights-blind-automation-garden-route/ How blind and awning automation works: Somfy motors with app, voice and wind sensors, Eve MotionBlinds for Apple homes, what scheduled blinds can do, retrofits, batteries and child safety, fitted across the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-opacity-should-i-choose-for-my-window-shades/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-opacity-should-i-choose-for-my-window-shades/ Opacity decides how much light gets in, how much privacy you get and how the room feels. Sheer light-filtering, blockout, honeycomb duotone and the duo-roller, room by room, with colour's effect on it, from Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-for-kitchens-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-for-kitchens-south-africa/ Moisture-proof, grease-resistant, built for the way you cook. Which kitchen blind for which zone, no-drill for tiled surrounds, cleaning, prices and ordering online with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-south-africa/ Seven types of blind compared for South African homes: roller, venetian, honeycomb, double roller and zebra, vertical, outdoor and shutters. Which room, which coast, which door, and how to buy. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-maintenance-in-holiday-homes/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-maintenance-in-holiday-homes/ Salt air, humid closed rooms, guest wear and an owner in another city. The products that survive a Garden Route holiday home, the turnover routine, and how to keep mould out. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-vs-curtains/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-vs-curtains/ Blinds win on light control, maintenance, coastal durability and lifespan. Curtains win on insulation and quiet. What twenty years of Garden Route installations say about which works where, and why layering is often the answer. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-blockout-blinds-guide/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-blockout-blinds-guide/ Blackout or blockout: the same dense fabric that stops light at the weave. Roller, honeycomb and vertical blockout compared, which rooms need it, how to close the edge gap, no-drill for renters, and ordering online from R671 with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/buy-outdoor-blinds-online-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/buy-outdoor-blinds-online-south-africa/ Made-to-measure outdoor blinds shipped free to every province, with all hardware, a 3-year warranty and the Custom Fit Guarantee. Screen, clear PVC or canvas, how to fit them in an hour, and what to check before you buy. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/can-window-blinds-look-like-shutters/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/can-window-blinds-look-like-shutters/ 50mm venetian blinds fitted inside the reveal in white or a soft neutral come closest to the shutter look. How to get the effect, when real shutters earn their place, and the mixed approach that keeps the whole house consistent. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/cat-proof-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/cat-proof-blinds-south-africa/ Rigid, cordless window coverings survive cats. Plaswood venetians and PVC shutters come closest; aluminium slats crease; sheer fabric snags. Why cats damage blinds, the cord problem, dogs, kittens and prices. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/ensuring-child-safety-with-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/ensuring-child-safety-with-blinds/ Blind cords are an underestimated hazard. Cordless spring rollers, cordless honeycomb, motorised blinds and shutters remove it; cleats and separated cords reduce it until you can. EN 13120 explained. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/choosing-blind-colours-simple-guide-2025/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/choosing-blind-colours-simple-guide-2025/ Match blind colour to the light, the architecture and the room. Palettes by style and by room, why texture changes colour, regional South African palettes, and how to confirm the choice in your own light. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bamboo-blinds-south-africa-guide/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/bamboo-blinds-south-africa-guide/ Bamboo roller and venetian blinds for South African homes: what they do, where they suit, how they compare with aluwood, fabric and synthetic blinds, and how to order made to measure with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/corner-star-security-screens/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/corner-star-security-screens/ Corner Star security screens: SS316 marine-grade stainless mesh in aluminium frames, fitted across the Garden Route by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. Types, materials, colours, installation and care. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/complete-guide-to-outdoor-blinds-awnings-and-shutters/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/complete-guide-to-outdoor-blinds-awnings-and-shutters/ Three outdoor products for South African weather: outdoor blinds shipped nationally, awnings and aluminium security shutters installed across the Garden Route. Which fabric, which awning, which combination for wind, sun, rain or security. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-installation-checklist-flawless-fit/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-installation-checklist-flawless-fit/ Six steps from measuring to final test for fitting made-to-measure blinds yourself: measure three times, choose the mount, prepare the window, level the brackets, seat the blind, test it. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/custom-made-vs-ready-made-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/custom-made-vs-ready-made-blinds-south-africa/ Ready made comes in fixed widths and fails in a few years. Custom is made to your window and lasts a decade. The real cost over ten years, when ready made makes sense, and how to measure for custom yourself. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/eco-friendly-window-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/eco-friendly-window-blinds-south-africa/ What makes a blind eco-friendly: a renewable material, less energy through the glass, a long life, and a short supply chain. Bamboo, honeycomb and made-to-measure in South Africa, with the honest limits. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/eve-motionblinds-smart-homes-made-simple/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/eve-motionblinds-smart-homes-made-simple/ Eve MotionBlinds motors pair straight to Apple Home from an iPhone, with Bluetooth and Thread and no bridge for basic control. What they do, which blinds take them, and how the Garden Route installation works. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/exterior-roller-blinds-south-africa-2025/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/exterior-roller-blinds-south-africa-2025/ Exterior roller blinds stop heat, UV and wind at the glass or the patio edge before they reach the room. What they do, how to choose fabric and mechanism for your climate, and how to buy them made to measure online. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/fly-screen-solutions-knysna/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/fly-screen-solutions-knysna/ Made-to-measure fly, mosquito and security screens fitted across greater Knysna by the Knysna-based Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team. Estuary mosquitoes, baboon zones, salt and forest damp, and the right screen for each. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/fly-screens-plettenberg-bay/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/fly-screens-plettenberg-bay/ Made-to-measure fly and mosquito screens fitted across Plettenberg Bay, Keurbooms, Natures Valley and Harkerville. Coastal-grade aluminium frames, fixed, sliding or hinged, measured on site by Duncan. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/home-decor-blinds-ai/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/home-decor-blinds-ai/ See a blind on a photo of your own window, then ask Melvin, the shop's AI assistant, before you order. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/home-office-blinds-ideas-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/home-office-blinds-ideas-south-africa/ Translucent rollers kill screen glare and keep daylight, venetians steer light onto your face for calls, honeycomb cuts heat and noise. The home office blind, chosen by the hour of the working day. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-buyers-guide/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-buyers-guide/ Which honeycomb fabric for which room, how to measure for the snug fit that makes the insulation work, corded, cordless or motorised, colours, and the rooms honeycomb should not go in. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-price-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-price-south-africa/ Made-to-measure honeycomb blinds from R1,050, a standard bedroom window from R3,290, live shop pricing. Prices at four sizes, blockout against duotone, what drives the price, and how honeycomb compares with rollers. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-save-energy-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-blinds-save-energy-south-africa/ Tightly fitted honeycomb blinds cut winter heat loss by 46% and summer heat absorption by 78% in Coulisse testing. What the US Department of Energy and Oak Ridge measured, the technical numbers by fabric, and how fit and habits decide your saving. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-vs-roller-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/honeycomb-vs-roller-blinds-south-africa/ One insulates, one keeps it simple. Honeycomb for bedrooms, nurseries and heat; rollers for range, wet rooms, wide spans and budget. Compared on insulation, light, noise, moisture and price, and how most homes use both. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-cost-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-cost-south-africa/ A straight answer on blind prices in South Africa: starting prices by type from the live calculator, ranges across window sizes, a worked example at a standard window, and what moves the price. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/buy-blinds-online-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/buy-blinds-online-south-africa/ What separates a good online blinds shop from a risky one: made to measure, live pricing, a fit guarantee, South African manufacturing and real support. The five mistakes people make, and the four steps that avoid them. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/top-retractable-awnings-comparison/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/top-retractable-awnings-comparison/ Arm quality, fabric grade, motor, wall substrate and wind sensors: the five things that separate a folding-arm awning that lasts from a costly mistake, how folding-arm, louvre and patio-shade awnings compare, and why every awning starts with a site visit. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-choose-shutters/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-choose-shutters/ Four questions choose your shutters: exposure, security, maintenance tolerance and opening size. PVC for coastal and wet rooms, aluminium for security, timber inland only. Hinged, bi-fold or bypass, and why 89mm louvres. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blind-company-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blind-company-south-africa/ Blinds are bought rarely, made to one window and lived with for years. How to judge a supplier: knowledge still growing, own ranges, world-class product handled every day, and the selection that comes to you. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-clean-aluwood-venetian-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-clean-aluwood-venetian-blinds/ Close the slats flat, wipe each with a barely damp microfibre, tilt and repeat. No oils, no sealing, no removal. How often by room and coast, what is safe on the printed grain, and salt deposits. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-clean-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-clean-blinds-south-africa/ Ten minutes a week and the right technique for each material. Roller, venetian, honeycomb, wood and bamboo, shutters and outdoor blinds, plus mould removal and the signs that cleaning will not fix. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/patio-enclosure-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/patio-enclosure-south-africa/ Three retractable levels of patio enclosure, from side blinds to a full outdoor room under a louvre awning, and where building plans usually come in. Outdoor blinds ship free nationwide; louvre awnings and outdoor rooms are fitted on the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-quote-online-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-quote-online-south-africa/ Two numbers decide the price of a blind: width and drop. How to measure them, how the mount changes the quote, what a calculator can and cannot price, and what to check before you accept any online blinds quote. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-measure-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/how-to-measure-blinds/ Steel tape, millimetres, three readings each way, no deductions. Inside mount versus face fix, the seven measuring mistakes behind most remakes, and the Custom Fit Guarantee that backs every online order. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/lifestyle-indoor-shutters-plettenberg-bay/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/lifestyle-indoor-shutters-plettenberg-bay/ Custom Lifestyle Shutters for Plettenberg Bay: marine-grade PVC, 89mm louvres in white, a hidden tilt system with no centre rod. What they suit, what they do not, PVC against timber on the coast, and how the fitting works. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/locklatch-custom-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/locklatch-custom-blinds/ LockLatch keeps windows and doors partially open while locked. Fitted alongside security screens on the Garden Route for ventilation without an open invitation, wildlife deterrence and unoccupied holiday homes. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/no-drill-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/no-drill-blinds-south-africa/ Grip-fit, magnetic and tension no-drill blinds compared by the Garden Route installer who has fitted all three. Clamps slip in heat, magnets need steel, spring tension holds for years. Made to measure online with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/no-drill-vs-regular-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/no-drill-vs-regular-blinds-south-africa/ The same roller blind on a different bracket. No-drill for renters, tiled reveals and aluminium frames; drilled for the full range including venetians, honeycomb and motorised. Compared, and how to order. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/north-facing-windows-south-africa-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/north-facing-windows-south-africa-blinds/ In the southern hemisphere north is the sun side. Honeycomb for heat and UV, sheer sunscreen rollers for light with a view, outdoor shade to stop heat before the glass, and why blockout alone is the wrong answer. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/nursery-blockout-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/nursery-blockout-blinds/ Blockout rollers for darkness, cordless or motorised for safety, honeycomb for insulation and quiet, automation for routine. Seven decisions that make a nursery sleep-ready, from Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings, delivered free nationwide. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-braai-area-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-braai-area-south-africa/ Screen mesh for most braai areas, clear PVC for full sealing with the view, canvas for privacy. Openness factor, colour, wind, what it costs, motorisation, and ordering online with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-for-outdoor-dining/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-for-outdoor-dining/ Made-to-measure mesh and clear PVC outdoor blinds turn an exposed patio into a dining room that works in every season. Fabric, openness, side channels, motorisation, cost and how to order, with free SA delivery; Ziptrak systems fitted in the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-coastal-guide/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-coastal-guide/ What survives salt air and a south-easter: screen and clear PVC fabrics, side channels, powder-coated aluminium and stainless fixings, and when to raise the blind. Made in Knysna, fitted on the Garden Route, shipped nationwide. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-vs-awnings-plett/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-blinds-vs-awnings-plett/ Awnings shade from above and retract on a wind sensor; outdoor blinds close the sides against wind, rain and neighbours. How Plettenberg Bay wind, sun angle and season decide between them, and why most Plett patios end up with both. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-living-make-home-feel-bigger/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/outdoor-living-make-home-feel-bigger/ The patio you already own is the room you are not using. Outdoor blinds for the sides, a louvre or folding-arm awning above, screens for insects and privacy: the combinations Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings fits on the Garden Route, and which suits a townhouse or a freestanding home. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/understanding-outside-window-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/understanding-outside-window-blinds/ Outside blinds stop heat, glare and UV before they reach the glass; clear PVC gazebo blinds enclose patios, jetties and restaurant frontages with the view intact. How Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings makes them in Knysna, and how to order. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-the-differences-between-pvc-and-aluminium-shutters/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-the-differences-between-pvc-and-aluminium-shutters/ PVC shutters for indoor light, privacy and wet rooms; aluminium security shutters with a 4-pin key lock for doors and exposed openings. Side by side, when each is right, and why most Garden Route homes fit both. Both with a warranty of up to 7 years. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/quality-blinds-online-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/quality-blinds-online-south-africa/ Made to measure or standard sizes, a named fabric maker or an anonymous import, metal or plastic brackets, a real fit guarantee or a vague promise. Five checks before you buy blinds online, and what Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings does on each. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/reddit-and-quora-questions-answered/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/reddit-and-quora-questions-answered/ Real questions from public Reddit threads and Quora posts on outdoor blinds in wind, no-drill blinds for rentals, shutters, retractable awnings, blinds versus curtains, cleaning and installation, answered by Duncan Kane with 20+ years of experience. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/roller-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/roller-blinds/ Blockout for darkness, sheer for the view, chain, no-drill or motorised: the roller blind by room, by fabric and by coast, made to measure by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings from R671 with free delivery nationwide and installation on the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/roller-blinds-sheer-or-blockout/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/roller-blinds-sheer-or-blockout/ Sheer filters glare and keeps the view with daytime privacy; blockout gives darkness and privacy round the clock; a duo-roller puts both on one bracket. Which rooms need which, how colour affects heat, and prices from the online shop. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/rust-resistant-baboon-proof-screens-garden-route/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/rust-resistant-baboon-proof-screens-garden-route/ Stainless steel mesh in powder-coated aluminium frames, clamped and locked, for homes that border bush from Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay. What baboons do to a standard fly screen, what stops them, and how to keep the screens clean in salt air. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/security-shutters-vs-burglar-bars/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/security-shutters-vs-burglar-bars/ Aluminium security shutters lock with a 4-pin key system, tilt for light and air, do not rust in salt air and carry a warranty of up to 7 years. Steel burglar bars cost less and rust. When each is the right call on the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/shade-ports-george-knysna-and-plettenberg-bay-comparison/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/shade-ports-george-knysna-and-plettenberg-bay-comparison/ Galvanised steel frame, knitted HDPE shade cloth blocking 80 to 98% of UV, a 5-year warranty and an 8 to 10 year working life. Cantilever or post-and-beam, what it costs, town by town on the Garden Route, and how to get an estimate. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/sheer-roller-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/sheer-roller-blinds-south-africa/ Sheer roller blinds filter glare, cut UV and keep the view, with daytime privacy that reverses at night. 3% or 5% openness, which rooms suit them, the duo-roller for both, and ordering online with free delivery from Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/sheerweave-blinds-for-south-african-patios/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/sheerweave-blinds-for-south-african-patios/ Sheerweave and Sunworker screen mesh keeps the view and lets air through while cutting wind and UV. Openness factors, coastal side channels, combining mesh with clear PVC, care, and ordering online with free delivery or Garden Route installation. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/shutters-vs-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/shutters-vs-blinds-south-africa/ A shutter is part of the window; a blind hangs in front of it. Lifespan, cost, coastal performance, light control, insulation, security and motorisation compared, and why most South African homes end up with both. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-every-south-african-home-needs-windows-outdoor/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-every-south-african-home-needs-windows-outdoor/ Shade, privacy, security and weather protection: the four jobs a home's windows and outdoor spaces have to do, which products do each, and why one consultation with Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings covers all four. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-for-kitchen-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-blinds-for-kitchen-south-africa/ Steam, grease and hard sun. The kitchen blinds that last in South Africa, the ones to avoid, the right choice by window orientation, and shop prices at three sizes. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/the-complete-guide-to-insect-screens/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/the-complete-guide-to-insect-screens/ Why a standard fly screen fails in salt air, the Corner Star mesh and frame options that last, how to choose room by room, and how to keep screens clean on the Garden Route coast. Supplied and installed from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/window-treatments-and-wellbeing/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/window-treatments-and-wellbeing/ Morning light lifts a room; harsh glare and a bedroom that never goes dark wear on everyone in it. How to shape light with sheers, blockout, honeycomb, shutters and automation so each room feels the way it should. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/energy-efficient-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/energy-efficient-blinds-south-africa/ Honeycomb cellular blinds cut summer heat gain by up to 78% and winter loss by 46% in Coulisse testing. Every blind type ranked for South African summers with shop prices, the room-by-room plan, and the three things that decide your real saving. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/thesen-island-blinds-shutters-awnings/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/thesen-island-blinds-shutters-awnings/ Salt air off the lagoon, morning glare off the canals, wind across the decks. Which shutters, blinds and awnings suit Thesen Island homes, and how Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings, minutes away in Knysna, specifies for them. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/top-guest-complaints-solved-by-custom-blinds-shutters-awnings/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/top-guest-complaints-solved-by-custom-blinds-shutters-awnings/ Early light, no privacy, hot rooms, broken blinds, unusable patios: the review-killers a guesthouse or Airbnb can fix at the window. Blockout rollers, sheers, shutters, honeycomb, awnings and outdoor blinds, supplied nationally and fitted on the Garden Route. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/uv-resistant-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/uv-resistant-blinds/ Blockout stops UV at the fabric; a 5% screen cuts about 95% while keeping the view; honeycomb blocks and insulates; aluminium venetians reflect; outdoor blinds and awnings stop it before the glass. Which to fit on the windows that fade your floors. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/venetian-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/venetian-blinds-south-africa/ Five venetian slat materials, one decision: where the blind can go and how long it lasts. Aluminium and plaswood for wet rooms and the coast, aluwood for the timber look anywhere, real basswood for dry rooms, bamboo for warmth. Prices from R545 online. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/duo-roller-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/duo-roller-blinds-south-africa/ A duo roller mounts a sheer and a blockout on one bracket, each on its own chain or motor. Not a zebra blind. How it works, the naming confusion, the 90mm recess rule, and where it belongs. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-honeycomb-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-are-honeycomb-blinds/ Honeycomb (cellular) blinds trap still air in rows of hollow cells between the glass and the room: less heat in summer, less loss in winter, quieter rooms, the smallest light gap of any blind. Single-cell, duotone or blockout, cordless or motorised, from R1,050 online. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-do-i-use-for-sliding-or-patio-doors/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-do-i-use-for-sliding-or-patio-doors/ Vertical blinds stack clear of a sliding door and tilt for light and privacy; bypass shutters slide as panels; rollers work as a pair; Vertishades layer sheer and blockout in one. Which suits a patio door, how to measure, and ordering online with free delivery. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-blinds-shutters-or-awnings-will-last-at-the-coast/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/what-blinds-shutters-or-awnings-will-last-at-the-coast/ Salt air, south-easters and relentless UV. What fails first at the coast (fasteners, then finish, then fabric), what Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings specifies against it, and which shutters, blinds and awnings suit Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/when-not-to-use-certain-blinds-what-most-guides-dont-tell-you/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/when-not-to-use-certain-blinds-what-most-guides-dont-tell-you/ Every blind has a breaking point. Rollers on very wide spans, wood venetians in steam, honeycomb in a greasy kitchen, sheers alone in a bedroom, loose outdoor blinds in wind, timber shutters at the coast. Where each fails, and what to fit instead. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-place-to-buy-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/best-place-to-buy-blinds-south-africa/ Ready made from a retailer if your windows are standard sizes; made to measure from a blinds specialist if they are not. How to tell a specialist apart, and why online is not the second choice. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-awning-type-garden-route/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-awning-type-garden-route/ Folding-arm for shade on demand, fall-arm for windows and balconies, louvre for permanent overhead cover that handles rain, patio shade for fixed canvas cover. How each works, what suits which patio, and why Duncan visits every Garden Route site before recommending. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-save-electricity-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/blinds-save-electricity-south-africa/ Honeycomb is the most effective insulating blind, blockout rollers the most affordable, duo rollers the best balance. Ranked by insulation, with the Coulisse and US Department of Energy figures, and how the fit decides the result. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-blinds-are-best/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-blinds-are-best/ There is no single best blind. Rollers suit most rooms, aluminium or plaswood venetians handle steam and salt, honeycomb insulates, verticals cover sliding doors. Chosen by room and climate, with from-prices from the online shop. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-of-our-products-will-work-in-the-south-african-climate/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-of-our-products-will-work-in-the-south-african-climate/ South Africa has more than one climate. What suits a humid coast, the Highveld, the hot dry interior and the Cape winter: aluminium and PVC where it is wet, honeycomb where the swings are wide, outdoor shade where the sun is the problem. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-way-to-tilt-blinds-for-privacy/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/which-way-to-tilt-blinds-for-privacy/ Tilt up at night, tilt down by day. The rule for venetian and vertical blinds, how to check it from the street, what slat width changes, and which venetian material suits which South African room. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/coastal-wind-sensor-research-garden-route/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/coastal-wind-sensor-research-garden-route/ A Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings estimate: about 80% of Garden Route sites visited have wind exposure that calls for a sensor on a retractable awning. Local gust ranges, Somfy Eolis and Ziptrak specifications, the Beaufort framework, and the May 2026 storm. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/independent-blinds-specialist-vs-franchise/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/independent-blinds-specialist-vs-franchise/ An independent specialist chooses products on performance, answers the phone in year three, and carries local knowledge a standardised process cannot. When a chain is fine, and when the independent is the better choice. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-choose-custom-made-blinds-sa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-choose-custom-made-blinds-sa/ South African windows are rarely a standard size. A blind made to your millimetres fits the opening, works properly and lasts; a ready-made one leaves gaps or needs cutting. What custom-made means, the types, what they cost, and the Custom Fit Guarantee. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/repair-or-replace-old-blinds/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/repair-or-replace-old-blinds/ Blind parts are brand- and production-run-specific, materials go brittle in the sun, and a renovated opening rarely accepts an old blind. Who to go back to first, and when replacement is the better spend. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-do-we-not-have-a-showroom/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-do-we-not-have-a-showroom/ Light, colour, heat, humidity and wind are different in every house, and a showroom cannot show you any of them. Why Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings consults in the home on the Garden Route, sends swatches nationally, and prices everything online. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-we-love-vertical-blinds-and-you-should-too/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/why-we-love-vertical-blinds-and-you-should-too/ Vertical blinds are back: textured fabrics, blockout weaves and slimline headrails have turned a written-off product into the smart choice for sliding doors, wide windows and full-height glass. 127mm vanes, from R512, free delivery nationwide. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/new-home-blinds-shutters-guide/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/new-home-blinds-shutters-guide/ Every window needs a decision at once. Room by room, the five concerns that run through every space, what ships nationally from the online shop and what needs a Garden Route consultation with Duncan. https://customblinds.co.za/insights/zebra-blinds-vs-duo-roller-blinds-south-africa/ https://customblinds.co.za/insights/zebra-blinds-vs-duo-roller-blinds-south-africa/ A zebra blind is one roller with a striped sheer-and-opaque fabric; a duo roller is two blinds, a sheer and a blockout, on one bracket. Retailers use 'double roller' for both. Which gives real darkness, which is the sleeker unit, and which suits each room.