ziptrak blinds
Authorised Ziptrak® Retailer · Garden Route
Custom Blinds is the authorised Ziptrak® retailer for the Garden Route. Genuine track-guided outdoor blinds, professionally measured and installed across Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, and Sedgefield.
Garden Route homes: WhatsApp Duncan for a Ziptrak® design consultation
The patio blind that does not flap, does not rattle, does not gap.
The system Australia engineered for weather like ours.
“Ziptrak® was the system I always wanted to offer. Becoming the authorised retailer means our customers now get the genuine product, the patented track, and the warranty backed by Ziptrak® Australia.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings
Ziptrak® is the original track-guided blind system, designed and manufactured in Adelaide by a family-run Australian engineering company that has spent more than 25 years refining a single product. The patented mechanism is deceptively simple. Each blind has a flexible polymer spline running down both vertical edges of the fabric. That spline grips inside an extruded aluminium track on each side of the opening, sealing the blind to the structure as it moves up or down.
The result is what every other outdoor blind tries to be. No flapping in the wind. No gaps where dust and insects get in. No ropes, chains, or pulleys to operate. The spring-balanced track allows the blind to be left at any height, locked in position by a quiet, intuitive mechanism. For larger or hard-to-reach blinds, Somfy motorisation integrates seamlessly with the same track system.
Genuine Ziptrak® products are only available through the authorised retailer network. The brand operates a strict approval process for fabricators and installers because the engineering only works when every component is correct. The spline is matched to the track. The track is matched to the cassette. The bottom bar locks into the track using purpose-designed locking pins. Substitute any one component with a generic equivalent and the wind seal fails.
Every Ziptrak® component supplied by Custom Blinds carries the manufacturer warranty backed by Ziptrak® Australia. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings handles any warranty claim with Ziptrak® Australia on your behalf.
Authorised retailers use only Ziptrak®-approved fabrication processes and Ziptrak®-recommended fixings, spaced and specified for the structure type and the local wind exposure. The Ziptrak® logo on the spline, handle, bottom bar, or pelmet ends confirms authenticity.
The Ziptrak® product range continues to evolve. Authorised retailers have current access to the Streamline pelmet with integrated Insect Control System, the Centre Lock Release mechanism, the latest Somfy motorisation options, and ongoing improvements to fabric, fixings, and finishes.
Ziptrak® outdoor blinds are engineered for serious weather. Ziptrak®’s own Blind Strength Project, tested on a standard 2.5 by 2.5 metre blind, recorded resistance beyond 140 km/h with the standard recommended fixing method, extending to 160 km/h with Ziptrak®’s windy-area fixing procedure.
Sunscreen mesh lets some wind pass through the fabric, which is part of how it performs in gusts. Clear PVC and blockout fabrics seal more fully but carry more load, so Duncan matches the fabric and fixings to each site’s exposure. In genuinely severe wind the track can grip the blind skin under pressure, holding it in place rather than letting it flap. This eases once conditions calm or with light hand pressure on the fabric, and it is the system working as designed, not a fault.
That matters here. Knysna southerlies, Plettenberg Bay easterlies, and George winter fronts test outdoor blinds in ways that mild inland sites never do. A blind that flaps, gaps, or rattles in 40 km/h gusts is not actually working. Ziptrak® was designed for exactly the conditions the Garden Route delivers most weeks of the year.
As with any outdoor blind, Ziptrak® recommends fully raising it ahead of a storm or severe weather event. The wider trade rule of thumb, used across the outdoor blind industry, is to retract when general wind speed may exceed around 50 km/h. See Ziptrak®’s own published test data.
Coastal note: Wind ratings apply to standard sizes installed into a solid structure with correct fixings. Larger blinds or installations into timber structures require specification adjustment. Custom Blinds assesses every site individually and specifies fixings and component sizing to match.
Ziptrak® offers four installation systems, allowing the blind to be specified to the architecture of the home rather than forcing a single look on every site.
The simplest mounting option. Cast brackets fix the roller tube directly to the soffit or beam, with the retracted blind visible above. Quick to install, cost-effective, and ideal for rear patios where appearance is secondary to function.
An aluminium back flashing conceals the retracted blind from outside view, giving a cleaner look from the garden or street while keeping the cost-effective mounting structure of an open bracket.
A full aluminium pelmet hides the rolled-up blind entirely, creating a flush architectural finish. Suited to higher-spec homes and contemporary builds where the blind needs to disappear when not in use.
The premium option. A slimmer, more architectural pelmet profile with an integrated Insect Control System that seals the gap between blind and pelmet, stopping mosquitoes and flies from entering even when the blind is partly raised. Ideal for entertainment areas where evening insects are a problem.
Ziptrak® outdoor blinds are available in three fabric categories, each suited to a different priority. For a South African-made alternative, see the Custom Blinds sidetrack outdoor blind.
The default specification for most Garden Route installations. Mesh fabric at 5% openness blocks the majority of UV and direct sun while preserving the view through the blind and allowing breeze through. Ideal for daytime patio use, glare reduction, and partial privacy.
Full weather sealing. Clear PVC keeps the view entirely while completely blocking wind, rain, and cold air. The right choice for restaurant patios, exposed balconies, and any space that needs to remain functional through coastal winter weather.
Solid fabric for full privacy and shade. Suited to entertainment areas where the blind doubles as a wall, and for west-facing patios where afternoon glare is the primary problem to solve.
The standard Ziptrak® spring-balanced operation works smoothly on blinds up to the maximum 6 metre width. For higher installations, multiple-blind installations, or smart home integration, Somfy motorisation is the recommended specification. Motors are sized to the blind dimensions, weight, and cycle frequency. Smart home integration with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home is available through Somfy’s TaHoma hub.
Ziptrak® is widely specified for commercial outdoor spaces because it solves the same problems hospitality operators face every season: outdoor seating that becomes unusable in wind, terraces that need to be enclosed at short notice, branded fabric panels that double as architectural identity. Custom Blinds installs Ziptrak® in restaurants, hotels, lodges, and event venues across the Garden Route.
Operational features that suit commercial sites include silent spring-balanced operation, motorisation with timer control for opening and closing routines, and the Streamline pelmet with Insect Control System for restaurants where evening insects are a service risk. Custom Blinds carries the Ziptrak® warranty into commercial installations and provides ongoing service support.
Ziptrak®’s own Blind Strength Project tested a standard 2.5 by 2.5 metre blind and recorded resistance beyond 140 km/h with the standard fixing method, extending to 160 km/h with the windy-area fixing procedure. As with any outdoor blind, Ziptrak® recommends fully raising it ahead of a storm, and the wider trade rule of thumb is to retract when wind may exceed around 50 km/h. Larger blinds or installs into timber structures require specification adjustment. Custom Blinds assesses every Garden Route site individually. Ziptrak®’s published test data.
Three fabric categories. Sunscreen mesh at 5% openness is the default for most Garden Route installs, blocking the majority of UV while preserving the view and breeze. Clear PVC seals out wind and rain entirely, ideal for restaurant patios and exposed balconies. Acrylic canvas is solid fabric for full privacy and shade, suited to entertainment areas and west-facing patios.
Ziptrak® blinds are available up to 6 metres wide and 3.5 metres tall. Stronger components are automatically specified for larger blinds. The standard spring-balanced manual operation works on blinds up to the maximum 6 metre width. For higher installations, multiple-blind setups, or smart home integration, Somfy motorisation is the recommended specification.
Yes. Somfy motorisation integrates seamlessly with the Ziptrak® track system. Motors are sized to the blind dimensions, weight, and cycle frequency. Smart home integration with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home is available through Somfy’s TaHoma hub. Custom Blinds specifies the correct Somfy motor and configures the system on installation. See our Somfy automation guide for more.
Genuine Ziptrak® products are only available through the authorised retailer network. The brand operates a strict approval process because the engineering only works when every component is correct: the spline matched to the track, the track matched to the cassette, the bottom bar locking into purpose-designed pins. Substitute any one component with a generic equivalent and the wind seal fails.
Duncan visits your home with fabric samples and the four installation options. Site assessment across Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, and Sedgefield.
Custom Blinds® is the authorised Ziptrak® retailer for the Garden Route, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, George, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. Custom Blinds® was founded in 2010 and operates from Knysna under the trading entity Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. Genuine Ziptrak® outdoor blinds are supplied with the Ziptrak® Australia manufacturer warranty only. Ziptrak® is a registered trademark of Ziptrak Pty Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia.
Send rough sizes, a photo or two of the opening and anything you already know. We come back on fabric, system and pricing, usually within one working day.
We have what we need to start on your assessment. Expect a reply on the number you gave, usually within one working day.
The online shop carries the made-to-measure range with nationwide delivery. Enter your own sizes, choose the fabric and order it yourself.