Outdoor Blinds: Ziptrak, Motorised, Café & Patio
Custom outdoor blinds that turn a hot, windy or rain-soaked patio into a room you can use all year. We measure, supply and install track-guided Ziptrak®, Zipscreen® and eZIP® blinds, motorised blinds and clear PVC café blinds across Noosa, the northern beaches and the hinterland.
Outdoor roller blinds & exterior blinds explained
“Outdoor blinds”, “exterior blinds” and “outside blinds” all describe the same thing: a roller blind fixed to the outside of the house that drops down to close off a patio, deck, balcony or window. The fabric rolls into a headbox at the top, and on a good system the edges run inside side channels so the blind stays put when the breeze picks up.
Fitting shade outside the glass is what makes the difference. External window blinds stop the sun before it hits the window, so far less heat gets into the room than with an internal blind. On a west-facing Noosa living room that can be the gap between running the air-conditioner all afternoon and not needing it. Outdoor window blinds also protect floors and furniture from fading.
The main choices are the system (how the blind is guided and locked), the fabric (mesh for sun, PVC for weather) and whether it's manual or motorised. We cover each below.
Patio & alfresco blinds
The most common job we do is enclosing a patio, deck or alfresco area so it can be used in any weather. A typical set-up is two or three blinds around the open sides of a covered entertaining area: mesh on the side that gets the afternoon sun, and clear PVC on the side the weather usually comes from.
Before quoting we check what the blinds will fix to (timber posts, steel, a rendered pillar or a unit balcony), whether the floor is level, and how exposed the site is. A sheltered deck in Noosaville behaves very differently from a first-floor balcony facing the ocean at Sunshine Beach, and the system and fixings should reflect that.
Motorised & automatic outdoor blinds
Most of our blinds can be fitted with a Somfy or Automate motor and run from a remote, a wall switch, a phone app or a voice assistant. Adding a wind sensor means electric blinds retract themselves when gusts pick up, and a sun sensor can lower them when the afternoon sun hits. Read our full guide to motorised outdoor blinds for motor types, power options and pricing.
Café & clear PVC blinds
If you want to keep the wind and rain out but still see the view, clear or tinted PVC is the answer. Café blinds are popular on decks, pool pavilions and balconies, as well as in restaurants and cafés. See our page on café and clear PVC blinds for the options, care and costs.
Ziptrak vs Zipscreen vs eZIP
| Ziptrak® | Zipscreen® | eZIP® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it's guided | Fabric edges run in a track | Zip edge locks into the channel | Zip edge in an enclosed channel |
| Operation | Spring-balanced by hand, or motorised | Usually motorised | Manual or motorised |
| Best suited to | Everyday patios and decks | Wide, exposed openings | Holding tension part-way down |
All three are good track-guided systems; the right one depends on the size of the opening, how exposed it is and whether you want motors. More detail: Ziptrak® outdoor blinds, Zipscreen® outdoor blinds and eZIP® outdoor blinds.
What outdoor blinds cost in Noosa
Every blind is made to measure, so pricing is per opening. As a guide, a manual track-guided blind for a typical opening is roughly $800–$1,400 installed. Motorising adds about $400–$700 per blind depending on the motor and control, and large motorised blinds with premium fabric can run from $1,500 to $2,500 or more. Sensors, a smart hub, custom powder-coating and any electrical work are extra.
For a fuller breakdown read our outdoor blinds buyer's guide. For an exact figure, we'll give you a written price at the free measure and quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are exterior blinds worth it?
For most Noosa homes, yes. Exterior blinds stop heat and glare before they reach the glass or the deck, which makes an outdoor area usable on summer afternoons and in wet or windy weather. They typically turn a patio you avoid for half the year into a room you use every day, and good track-guided systems last many years with basic care.
What's the difference between outside blinds and awnings?
Outside blinds drop vertically to close off the side of a patio, deck or window, so they block low sun, wind and rain. Awnings project outwards to create overhead shade — a folding arm awning over a deck, for example — and leave the sides open. Many homes use both: an awning for midday shade and blinds for late-afternoon sun and weather.
Can outdoor blinds handle Noosa wind?
Track-guided blinds hold the fabric inside aluminium side channels, so they handle coastal breezes far better than strap-down or loose roller blinds. Mesh lets some wind through; clear PVC takes more load. In strong or gusty conditions, and before any severe storm, raise the blinds — or fit a motor with a wind sensor so it happens automatically.
Can I motorise my outdoor blinds later?
Often, yes, but it costs more than ordering the blind motorised in the first place, because a manual spring-balanced barrel usually has to be replaced. If you think you'll want motors, ask for them up front, or at least have an electrician run power to the headbox positions while it's easy.
Do you install in Coolum, Tewantin and Cooroy?
Yes. We measure and install across Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Tewantin, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Peregian Beach, Coolum Beach, Doonan, Cooroy and the Noosa hinterland. The measure and quote is free anywhere in that area.
How long does installation take?
Blinds are made to measure, so allow roughly 3–4 weeks from order to installation. On the day, most homes take half a day to a full day depending on the number of blinds and whether motors are involved.
Related pages
Ready to enclose your patio?
We'll measure every opening, bring mesh and PVC samples and give you a written quote. Call 0474 768 344 or send us your details.