insights
insights
“The most common mistake I see is people treating north-facing windows the way they would a south-facing room back in the UK. They fit a light sheer and wonder why the room is still hot and the floor is fading. In South Africa, north is your biggest sun exposure. Treat it accordingly: honeycomb or a quality sheer with a proper UV rating.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings
A north-facing Johannesburg lounge heats up from mid-morning on a clear July day. The glass loads the room with UV all year. Light filtering is not enough; the window needs heat and UV management.
| Performance | Honeycomb | Sheer sunscreen roller | Aluminium venetian | Blockout roller | Outdoor shade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | Cells cut transfer | Reflects much of it | Tilt to deflect | Stops it, room goes dark | Stops it before the glass |
| UV | Blockout fabric | Most, by fabric | When closed | All, when down | All, outside |
| Daylight kept | Diffused | Yes, with the view | Adjustable | No | Shade, not dark |
| Where | Bedrooms, studies, lounges | Living rooms, dining | Kitchens, offices | Bedrooms, with a sheer | Large glazing, Garden Route |
Three dots best on that row. The last row is words only.
Hexagonal cells trap a layer of still air between the glass and the room. A blockout honeycomb noticeably cuts heat through the glass and blocks UV; light-filtering cells still cut UV sharply.
North-facing bedroomsWhere the darkest room and heat control are both needed, blockout honeycomb is the closest you can get. Single-cell, from Hunter Douglas on the Garden Route and Coulisse nationally.
Most people do not want to shut a north-facing room. They want the light, the warmth, the garden, without glare on the television or a faded sofa.
Light
White or cream, tight weave
Dark
Charcoal, open weave
Stop it before the glass
A retractable or louvre awning, or an outdoor blind, stops solar heat before it reaches the window. On the Garden Route, Duncan measures, we manufacture to spec and our installation team fits; with Somfy wind-sensor automation the awning retracts automatically when the wind rises.
Pair themOutdoor shade for the heat, a sheer inside for the glare and privacy.
Buy online:
Honeycomb for heat and UV, or a sheer sunscreen roller to keep the light and view; outdoor shade on large glazing. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies both blinds nationwide with free delivery.
Yes. The sun arcs through the northern sky, so north-facing glass carries the most sustained sun of any orientation, the reverse of the northern hemisphere.
Blockout honeycomb: heat control and the darkest room in one. A double roller with sheer and blockout is the lighter-budget alternative.
For heat, yes: it stops the sun before the glass. Indoor blinds still handle glare, UV and privacy.
A UV-rated sunscreen or blockout fabric blocks most of it. A plain light sheer does far less.
Yes, tilted to deflect the direct beam, especially in kitchens and offices. For insulation, honeycomb does more.
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.