Outdoor Blinds – Enhance & Protect Your Alfresco Area
Outdoor blinds are a great way to maximise the use of your alfresco area. They'll not only allow you to control the level of light and UV rays that enter, you'll also be able to prevent those pesky insects from spoiling your relaxation or entertainment plans.
Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world – in fact, UV radiation is strong enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes on a fine summer day.
Benefits of Outdoor Blinds
Outdoor blinds allow you to connect your indoor area to your alfresco area and create one harmonious space where you can entertain guests and relax all year round.
Although most areas of Australia are blessed with beautiful weather for most of the year, there are undoubtably times when you’ll want some protection from the wind, heat, sun and/or insects.
Protection from Wind
Most brands and styles of outdoor blinds will provide protection from the wind during moderately windy days. However, if you live in a windy location, particularly in coastal areas, it’s important to do your research. Some blinds should be left down or fully retracted in windy conditions, as half way is generally the most susceptible position. In extreme weather conditions with high winds, most manufacturers will recommend that the blinds are fully retracted to avoid damaging them.
Protection from Sun
Depending on the size and position of your alfresco area, you may or may not want protection from the sun. If the afternoon sun is a factor, retractable blinds allow you to position the blinds at the perfect height to combat the sunlight. You’ll also want to ensure that you select a fabric option that offers maximum UV protection. Most blind manufacturers offer different fabric options that offer varying levels of privacy, external visibility, UV, heat and rain protection – so make sure you select a fabric that is ideal for your individual requirements.
Protection from Rain
If you love spending time outdoors even during the cold and rainy Winter months, protection from the rain should be a consideration. Again, make sure you take the time to select a brand, style and fabric that offers maximum protection from the rain.
Protection from Insects
Flies are a big problem in most areas of Australia, particularly during our hot Summer months. The market leading brands of patio blinds will typically have some sort of sealed system around the edges to protect your alfresco from flies, mosquitoes and other insects. This will help to ensure that you don’t spend your precious downtime swatting away insects or using poisonous sprays.
Ziptrak® Outdoor Blinds
After researching several different manufacturers of outdoor blinds, I found that Ziptrak® continually stood out from the crowd. They are a 100% Australian owned and operated company and a member of the Blind Manufacturers Association of Australia. With over 40 years of experience, Ziptrak® have forged a solid reputation for manufacturing premium quality patio blinds that are built to withstand the harsh Australian climate.
This impressive range of outdoor blinds include an insect barrier and patented track guided system. Using a one of a kind spring balanced system, Ziptrak® blinds are extremely easy to operate. Without the needs for any ropes, pullies or chains, the blinds quickly and easily glide up and down, and can be stopped in any position with ease.
They offer a huge range of features and optional extras including remote control, pelmets and brackets. Furthermore, they are available in a good range of colours, so you should be able to find a solution that matches your home.
Check out the video below which shows the comparison between Ziptrak® outdoor blinds and traditional crack-style blinds.
Outdoor Blinds Installers
With a countless number of installers to choose from, you’ll firstly want to make sure you select an authorised installer. Each of the major blind manufacturers will have a selection of authorised installers in every state of Australia. These installers have undergone training to ensure they know how to install the genuine products correctly. This will provide some peace of mind that you’re not dealing with a cowboy, of which there are surely plenty around town.
I personally prefer to work with small family owned and operated businesses. This is for 2 reasons –
- They typically have far less overheads than larger companies, so they can provide the same or better service at a more affordable price.
- In most cases, they will provide a more personalised service and you won’t be dealing with several different people during each phase of the project, including a pushy salesperson.
Within Perth, I suggest using Alfresco Blinds Perth who are an authorised installer of Ziptrak®. They offer a combination of fantastic customer service along with highly competitive prices. Make sure you give James a call if you’re looking for a great deal and high level of workmanship.
(Images courtesy of Ziptrak®)
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