insights
insights
Pleated fabric bonded into hexagonal cells. Each cell holds a pocket of still air against the glass, and still air resists both conduction and convection, the same principle as double glazing.
Percentages, not rand, because the rand depends on your house.
46% less winter heat loss, 78% less summer heat absorption, for a tightly fitted cellular blind, in line with US Department of Energy research.
Cellular shades saved up to 20% on heating energy and up to 15% on total energy compared with no shades; Lawrence Berkeley modelling found cellular shades outperform every other shading device.
A peer-reviewed field study measured heating energy savings as high as 24% against generic venetian blinds.
Single-glazed windows, extreme UV, and a Highveld that drops below zero at night and passes 35 degrees by afternoon.
For homeowners and specifiers.
| Performance | Blockout honeycomb | Light-filtering honeycomb |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Cellular polyester, aluminium-backed, single 20mm cell | Cellular polyester, semi-opaque, single 20mm cell |
| Summer heat reduction | Up to 78% | Up to 25% |
| Winter heat retention | Up to 46% | Up to 20% |
| UV block | Up to 99% | Up to 80% |
| Sound absorption | Up to 60% | Up to 40% |
| Light through | Lowest of any blind | 15 to 40%, diffused |
| Rooms | Dry areas; cord, cordless or motorised | Dry areas; cord, cordless or motorised |
Dots show the stronger performer on that row. Word-only rows carry the specification.
05 Getting the most from it
A loose fit leaves an air path around the edges and gives up most of the benefit, which is why measurement matters more on this product than on any other blind. Blockout fabric for rooms you also want dark; light-filtering where you want daylight with the insulation. Close north and west windows through the hottest hours in summer and before sunset in winter; a Somfy motor can do it on a schedule.
Double glazing?Same principle, trapped air. Double glazing is permanent and more effective, at R5,000 to R15,000 and more a window. Honeycomb gives meaningful insulation at a fraction of that, without structural work.
Buy online:
Yes. Tightly fitted, they cut winter heat loss by 46% and summer heat absorption by 78% in Coulisse testing, and the US Department of Energy measured up to 20% heating savings from cellular shades. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies them nationwide with free delivery.
It depends on your tariff, the number and orientation of windows and how long the blinds stay closed; savings are largest in bedrooms and on north- and west-facing glass, and they compound every year as tariffs rise.
Double glazing is more effective and permanent, at far higher cost. Honeycomb delivers meaningful insulation without structural work.
Fabric matters more than colour: blockout, with its aluminium backing, resists more heat than light-filtering. Lighter faces reflect a little more sun.
Yes, made to measure at shop.customblinds.co.za with free delivery to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and everywhere between.
Their biggest environmental contribution is the electricity they stop you using, every day, with no running cost.
Content reviewed by the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team. Visit the online shop for current pricing.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings | South Africa’s trusted blinds, shutters and awnings specialists since 2010.