insights
insights
Wind ends more outdoor meals than rain does. Sun is second, rain third. Each fabric answers a different one.
| Performance | Screen mesh | Clear PVC | Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind | Reduced | Sealed | Sealed |
| Rain | Spray only | Sealed | Light rain |
| View | Kept | Kept | Blocked |
| Braai smoke | Vents through | Trapped unless raised | Trapped unless raised |
| Where | Most dining areas | Rain-facing side, winter, restaurants | Privacy and full shade |
All three ship nationally from the online shop. Sidetrack, Ziptrak and motorised installed systems are Garden Route projects.
Restaurants, lodges and guest houses: a patio that closes for winter reopens year-round with mesh on the wind side and clear PVC on the rain side. Seated covers, not just comfort.
02 Side channels and wind
A standard drop-down blind hangs from its headbox and swings in a gust; fine in a sheltered courtyard, hard on the fabric and brackets on an exposed patio. Side channels run the fabric inside aluminium tracks bolted to each side of the opening, so wind load passes into the structure instead of pulling the blind loose.
ZiptrakCustom Blinds Shutters & Awnings is the sole Garden Route agency for Ziptrak, the world’s best-known track-guided outdoor blind: a spring-balanced blind that stops at any height, with no cords, clips or cranks. Installed on the Garden Route only.
Openness is the share of the weave that is open. Lower blocks more wind and UV; higher sees and breathes more.
3%
The dining-area standard
5%
Sheltered, more airflow
Price follows the size of each opening, the fabric, the channel system and manual or motorised operation. Every Garden Route installation is quoted after an expert consultation; online orders are priced instantly on your own measurements.
Duncan measures on site and specifies the openings, fabrics, channels and motors. The blinds are made in Knysna and the installation team fits them.
Mesh, clear PVC and canvas blinds ship free anywhere in South Africa, made in about 5 to 7 working days plus courier transit, for self-installation. How to measure outdoor blinds
Pair the sides with a louvre or folding-arm awning above for a fully protected outdoor room on the Garden Route.
Buy online:
Screen mesh at 3% to 5% openness. It blocks wind and UV while braai smoke vents through the weave. Sheerweave and Sunworker are the fabrics Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings specifies most for braai areas.
Yes, with side channels: the fabric runs inside aluminium tracks on both sides and cannot billow. Add Somfy motorisation and a wind sensor and the blind raises itself. Loose drop-down blinds are for sheltered positions only.
Clear PVC blinds seal rain out when closed. Mesh reduces spray but does not seal against a downpour. Most dining enclosures use PVC on the rain-facing side and mesh elsewhere.
It depends on opening size, fabric, channels and motorisation. Garden Route installations are quoted after Duncan’s site visit; national buyers see an instant price on the online shop from their own measurements.
Yes. The standard mesh, clear PVC and canvas range ships nationally with measuring and fitting guides. Sidetrack, Ziptrak and motorised systems are fitted by the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team on the Garden Route.
Blinds close the vertical sides against wind, low sun and driven rain; awnings shade from above. The best dining enclosures use both. See the outdoor blinds versus awnings comparison below.
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.