Outdoor Products
Your car bakes in the driveway. The paint fades. The steering wheel burns. A shadeport fixes all of it, quietly, permanently and for a fraction of what a garage costs.
Custom Blinds installs a range of shadeport configurations on the Garden Route, each designed around the specific site. Over 70% of residential installations are double-bay 4-post structures, which cover two vehicles side by side under a single shade cloth span.
The most common configuration for residential driveways
Four galvanised steel columns concreted into the ground, supporting a tensioned shade cloth canopy.
Tight access, single-side column placement
Two columns on one side only, with the canopy extending outward.
Driveways alongside a building wall
One side of the shade structure bolts to an existing building wall, reducing the number of freestanding columns.
Custom Blinds stocks shade cloth in 80% to 98% UV block grades, all of it knitted from UV-stabilised high-density polyethylene. Knitted construction does not fray when cut, resists tearing at fixing points and allows the controlled airflow that prevents the sail effect that damages woven fabrics in high wind.
Choose an installer who builds for coastal corrosion, not just for shade. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has been established since 2010 and builds shadeports on galvanised steel frames, with a rigid steel perimeter and no cables, fitted by our own installation team across the Garden Route and backed by a 5-year warranty.
Custom Blinds supplies and installs shadeports across Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness and Mossel Bay. Every structure is designed and specified to the exact requirements of the site.
You pull into the driveway and the car is cool. The leather is not scalding. The dashboard is not cracking. The paint is not fading month by month. A shadeport does one thing and it does it every single day without you thinking about it.
“A shadeport is the most cost-effective outdoor structure you can install. It protects paint, interiors and resale value every day and you never have to operate it, maintain it, or think about it.”
Garden Route UV exposure regularly exceeds index 10 between October and March. Direct sun on a parked car raises interior temperatures above 65°C within 30 minutes. Over 12 months, that cycle fades paint, cracks dashboards, degrades leather and shortens the life of rubber seals and wiper blades. Insurance assessors on the Garden Route report that UV damage accounts for a significant portion of cosmetic claims on vehicles parked outdoors.
A shade cloth shadeport blocks 80 to 98% of that UV, dropping interior temperatures by up to 20°C and reducing the cumulative damage that turns a five year old car into a ten year old car. The shade cloth also catches bird droppings, tree sap and pollen before they reach the paint surface. On Thesen Islands and Leisure Isle in Knysna, where properties sit under indigenous trees and near the lagoon, this is not a nice-to-have. It is basic asset protection.
Beyond vehicles, shadeports protect boats, caravans, jet skis, trailers and outdoor furniture. Holiday homes and Airbnb properties benefit most: the structure protects continuously whether anyone is home or not. No moving parts, no maintenance, no daily operation.
Custom Blinds installs a range of shadeport configurations on the Garden Route, each designed around the specific site. Over 70% of residential installations are double-bay 4-post structures, which cover two vehicles side by side under a single shade cloth span.
4-post shadeport: Four galvanised steel columns concreted into the ground, supporting a tensioned shade cloth canopy. The most common configuration for residential driveways. Available in single bay (one vehicle), double bay (two vehicles), or multi-bay for larger properties and commercial parking areas.
Cantilever shadeport: Two columns on one side only, with the canopy extending outward. Suited to properties where driveway access or wall proximity prevents columns on both sides. Cantilever structures require heavier-gauge steel and deeper concrete footings to handle the asymmetric load.
Wall-mounted shadeport: One side of the shade structure bolts to an existing building wall, reducing the number of freestanding columns. This works where the driveway runs alongside the house and the wall substrate (brick or concrete) can support the lateral load.
Custom Blinds does not install solid carports (polycarbonate, IBR sheeting, or aluminium roofing). Solid roofs trap heat underneath, require council approval in most Garden Route municipalities and cost significantly more. For vehicle protection, shade cloth provides the best balance of UV block, airflow and value. For a detailed comparison, see our shadeports vs carports guide.
| Feature | 4-Post | Cantilever | Wall-Mounted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open driveways, double or multi-bay coverage | Tight access, single-side column placement | Driveways alongside a building wall |
| Vehicle capacity | 1 to 4+ (multi-bay) | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Column count | 4 or more | 2 (one side only) | 2 + wall brackets |
| Structural requirement | Standard concrete footings | Deep footings, heavier steel | Solid brick/concrete wall |
| Cost indicator | Most cost-effective per bay | Higher (asymmetric engineering) | Mid-range (fewer columns) |
| Wind resistance | ✓ Excellent | Good (requires wind bracing) | ✓ Excellent (wall anchored) |
Custom Blinds stocks shade cloth in 80% to 98% UV block grades. For most Garden Route properties, 90% UV block provides the best balance of sun protection and airflow. Properties with heavy bird activity or direct lagoon exposure (Thesen Islands, Leisure Isle, The Heads) benefit from 98% UV block, which is denser and catches more debris.
All shade cloth is knitted from UV-stabilised high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Knitted construction is critical: it does not fray when cut, resists tearing at fixing points and allows controlled airflow that prevents the sail effect that damages woven fabrics in high wind. Every Custom Blinds shadeport carries a 5-year warranty.
Shade cloth is available in a range of colours. Charcoal and dark green are the most popular on the Garden Route because they blend with indigenous vegetation and absorb less reflected light than lighter colours. Custom Blinds can colour-match to estate guidelines where required.
Every shadeport project starts with your dimensions. WhatsApp Duncan a photo of your driveway with the approximate width and depth for a complimentary estimate. If you are happy to proceed, Duncan visits the property, takes final measurements, assesses the ground conditions, checks for underground services, notes prevailing wind direction and discusses exactly what needs to be covered.
After the final measurements, you receive a written quotation with dimensions, materials, colour options and the installation timeline. Once approved, the process follows a consistent sequence: column positions are marked and concrete footings are poured, steel columns are erected and levelled, the crossbeam framework is welded or bolted in place and the shade cloth is tensioned and securedRigid steel perimeter, no cables. Total installation time is typically two to three days depending on size and ground conditions.
Each shadeport is designed and specified to the site before anything is ordered. The installation team handles any on-site adaptations as they arise.
A cantilever shadeport going up in Plettenberg Bay, 11:47 to 13:21. Filmed by the installation team.
Shadeports are not limited to cars. Custom Blinds has installed shade structures over boat trailers on Thesen Islands, caravan storage bays in Sedgefield, jet ski trailers in Plettenberg Bay and multi-bay commercial parking in George. The commercial shadeport programme includes projects for body corporates, shopping centres and hospitality properties across the Garden Route.
For boats and caravans, shadeport dimensions are custom-built to the hull or body size plus clearance for access. Shade cloth catches bird droppings, tree sap and salt residue before they reach boat covers and hulls, extending the life of both the vessel and its protective covers.
Residential driveways, poolside parking, boat and trailer cover, and multi bay commercial and complex parking.
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A properly installed shadeport frame lasts 8 to 10 years. Galvanised steel resists corrosion in Garden Route coastal conditions. Every Custom Blinds shadeport carries a 5-year warranty. Replacement of shade cloth on an existing frame is straightforward and costs significantly less than a new installation.
Maintenance is minimal. Hose down the shade cloth once or twice a year to remove accumulated dust and pollen. Inspect fixing points annually for tension. Check column bases for any signs of movement after heavy rain. In coastal areas (Knysna, Plett, Wilderness), rinse salt residue from the steel framework every few months. No painting, no moving parts, no mechanisms to service.
Choose an installer who builds for coastal corrosion, not just for shade. Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings has been established since 2010 and builds shadeports on galvanised steel framesRigid steel perimeter, no cables, fitted by our own installation team across the Garden Route and backed by a 5-year warranty.
Shadeport pricing depends on size, frame material, shade cloth grade and site conditions. Estimates are complimentary: WhatsApp your dimensions and a photo to Duncan on 079 523 5407 and he will prepare your estimate. If you are happy to proceed, final measurements on site confirm the written quotation.
Shade cloth structures generally do not require building plan approval on the Garden Route because they are not classified as permanent roofed structures. However, estate rules and body corporate regulations may apply. Duncan checks these requirements during the design consultation and advises accordingly.
Shade cloth reduces hail impact by absorbing and dispersing energy before stones reach the vehicle surface. Denser cloth (98% UV block) provides better hail mitigation than lighter grades. For severe hail protection, a solid carport is more effective, but shade cloth handles most Garden Route hail events well.
A shadeport uses a tensioned shade cloth canopy on a steel frame. A carport uses a solid roof (polycarbonate, IBR sheeting, or aluminium). Shadeports allow airflow, cost less and generally do not require council approval. Carports provide full rain protection but trap heat underneath. For a detailed comparison, see our shadeport guide.
Yes. Custom Blinds builds custom-dimensioned shadeports for boats, caravans, jet skis and trailers across the Garden Route. Dimensions are built to hull or body size plus clearance for access. Shade cloth catches bird droppings, sap and salt residue before they reach covers and hulls.
Custom Blinds services the full Garden Route from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay, including George, Wilderness, Sedgefield and surrounding areas. See shadeports Knysna, shadeports Plettenberg Bay, shadeports George, shadeports Mossel Bay and shadeports Sedgefield for location-specific information.
On the coast, wind and salt decide it. A shadeport handles coastal wind better because the knitted cloth lets gusts pass through rather than lifting the structure, and it costs less and generally needs no council approval. A solid carport gives full rain cover but takes the full exposure and traps heat. Custom Blinds installs shade net shadeports across the Garden Route, with every frame galvanised steel, with a rigid steel perimeter and no cables.
Salt air attacks untreated steel, which is why Custom Blinds uses galvanised steel frames andRigid steel perimeter, no cables. In coastal areas such as Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness, rinse salt residue off the framework every few months. The knitted HDPE shade cloth does not corrode.
Yes, when it is specified for the site. Shade cloth’s open weave lets wind pass through instead of acting like a sail, and Duncan assesses prevailing wind direction during the design consultation before the structure is finalised. See our independent case studies covering performance in real Garden Route conditions, where Beaufort 7 winds are part of a normal year.
A typical residential shadeport (single or double bay) takes two to three days from footing to completion. Larger commercial installations may take longer depending on the number of bays and site access. Duncan provides a timeline with every quotation.
No. Estimates and consultations are complimentary. Send through your dimensions and a few photos on WhatsApp and we will prepare your estimate, or share your building plans for larger projects. If you are happy to proceed, we come out and do the final measurements on the Garden Route. Larger projects include a design consultation with Duncan Kane, on site anywhere on the Garden Route.
20 years of expertise, built on exceptional products, trusted partnerships and projects we’re proud to put our name to.
Custom Blinds® is a Garden Route window covering and outdoor shading specialist established in 2010, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay and surrounding areas. We supply and install shadeports, installs Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ and outdoor blinds in Knysna, and fit security systems locally. Indoor blinds, honeycomb blinds, venetian blinds and no-drill blinds are available nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za.
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.
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