If you have an outdoor dining area at home, chances are you can’t always use it as often as you’d like. This can be due to weather, insects, or temperatures making alfresco dining uncomfortable, but did you know there’s an outdoor blind that can help with this–all while still allowing you to enjoy the beautiful views of your garden?
Out of all the outdoor window blinds Melbourne homes seem to have, PVC ones have got to be one of the most popular. Standing for polyvinyl chloride, blinds made from this material are used frequently in hospitality settings, but are just as at home on residential properties. But you’ll also see many mesh sunscreen varieties of blind available–so which one is best out of the two?
Here are five of the many reasons to install PVC outdoor blinds over mesh blinds in your home’s outdoor entertaining area.
The clarity of PVC blinds is unmatched by other blind materials, like mesh. Crystal-clear PVC allows you to dine, socialise, and relax while enjoying full views of your backyard–especially important if you are showing off your garden to guests!
Whether you have an impressive mountain view or a particularly colourful flower patch you’re proud of, PVC outdoor blinds will allow you to enjoy the view at all times. On the other hand, mesh will give you a partially-obstructed view, like looking through a flyscreen.
PVC is a smooth, shiny material that is loved in outdoor dining areas for its ability to repel moisture. This means more than just rain–it can also repel grease, juices, wine, beer, fats, and other liquids that can often find themselves flying around during animated dining sessions and parties.
As a synthetic material, PVC outdoor blinds won’t absorb moisture and stains, staying crystal clear after the moisture is wiped off–which you can do with nothing more than warm water and a little liquid soap if needed.
PVC is also resistant to UV rays and chemicals, meaning you won’t need to worry about it yellowing over time.
Mesh can be harder to clean, as liquids and greases can travel through the mesh and cling to the other side. However, you should still be able to wipe off any stains using the same solution as for PVC.
Worried that fierce winds and hail, flying toys, or overly exuberant pets may damage your outdoor blinds? Don’t be! PVC is not only resistant to water, but it’s also resistant to damage. The smooth, durable surface will cause sharp and rough hazards to simply slide off, whereas other materials like mesh, due to the many small holes in it, can catch and be punctured, torn or fully ripped.
For extra protection, PVC can be used to make Ziptrack blinds, which anchor to the ground. This prevents them from flapping in the wind and potentially catching on other belongings you have nearby.
PVC is also heat and fire-retardant, making it a great choice for areas that have BBQs and other outdoor cooking appliances.
Source: Alfresco Blinds Café Blinds
As a clear material, PVC lets in sunlight quite easily. This can help your outdoor dining area get warm and stay warm, especially important on cooler autumn or spring afternoons when it’s still light enough to dine outside. This ‘glass house’ effect can make dining a little trickier in summer, but most Australian outdoor areas are equipped to handle heat already, with fans or even outdoor HVAC units commonplace under many back decks and verandas.
Did you know that, while clear is the most common colour for PVC blinds, you can also get them in various tints? If you really want to lessen the impact of hot sun on your outdoor dining area, you can choose to have a tinted PVC blind installed that can cut UV rays and warmth coming through, while also offering a measure of privacy.
Keep in mind that a tinted blind will also affect how clear your view outside is.
Mesh can actually help with warmer weather, as it allows cool breezes to pass through it from outside to reach you! On the flip side, any warmth or cool air you create inside your dining area will also leak out of a mesh screen, meaning you’ll need to keep your HVAC system or fan constantly running.
Do you have an outdoor dining set, couch, or even a bit of decor that you’re worried about leaving outside? Without protection, wind, dust, rain and insects can ravage your belongings, causing them to fade, weaken and even break if you’re very unlucky.
PVC blinds can stop all of these dangers in their tracks! Their damage and weather-resistant capabilities mean your furniture stays safe and ready to use at all times. Never again will you have to dust off your outdoor tables and chairs, making sure that there aren’t any critters or stains that could impede your enjoyment–now you can entertain in style at the drop of a hat!
Mesh provides a measure of protection from larger objects and insects, but keep in mind water, dust and other small particles can still penetrate it to reach your outdoor furniture.
You can learn more about the different materials outdoor blinds can be made from in our blog, ‘Mesh vs. PVC Outdoor Blinds’.
Here at Alfresco Blinds, we use high-quality PVC in the making of quite a few of our outdoor blinds in Melbourne. You’ll have plenty of options to suit your home’s decor, your practical needs, and your budget. Keep in mind that all of the following products can also come in mesh if needed.
As we mentioned before, Ziptrack blinds have a unique feature where they lock into tracks that keep them in place, even during strong winds and rain. They are super easy to operate, with no dangerous chains, cranks, cords or wires to contend with.
Our Ziptrack blinds in Melbourne can be treated in widths up to 6 metres and heights of 3.5 metres, and they can also be motorised for the ultimate convenience. For the installation, choose from a pelmet for heightened protection, exposed cast brackets (that leave the retracted blind visible), or a cast bracket with backflushing, which will hide the blind from the external side.
Bring a touch of hospitality lifestyle to your home with stylish PVC café blinds! Easy to open and close in seconds, our outdoor café blinds in Melbourne can be operated on either a hand-rolled system or a rope-and-pulley system.
Our café blinds are available in many differing widths up to 4300 mm, and drops up to 3200mm, making them a versatile choice for alfresco areas of any size. Choose from 1mm or 0.75mm for the PVC thickness.
What sets eZip blinds apart from other varieties is their unique side-welded zips that lock and secure the fabric into the track system channel. No matter what level they are left at, these blinds remain tensioned at all times, and their heavy-duty teardrop base rail offers them the highest level of strength and support.
Like our other PVC blinds, you can choose to have your eZip blinds automated or operated using a crank or spring lock system. You can also choose to integrate the PVC material with sunscreen mesh, meaning you can enjoy shade and light at the same time.
Our Zipscreen blinds are ideal for larger residential properties needing wide areas covered from the elements. Standard Zipscreen blinds can cover areas up to 5 metres wide, while the Zipscreen Extreme range can reach up to 7 metres!
The zips of these blinds are hidden within the channels for a neat, clean-looking finish and can be motorised if you don’t want the presence of cranks or pulleys, either. Most importantly, the hidden z-LOCK function means there are no gaps between the fabric screen and side channels, giving you complete protection and guided movement that won’t blow out in the wind.
For more information on the types of PVC blinds in our range suitable for use outside, please browse the collection in our External Blinds page.
So, will you choose PVC or mesh sunscreen for your outdoor blinds? Mesh can offer a greater element of privacy and UV protection, but overall, PVC’s ability to offer incredible views, protection (and more with tinting over clear), plus its ease of cleaning and resistance to damage make it a fantastic choice for anyone.
Want to buy motorised outdoor blinds for your home? Read our guide, ‘How Much Do Motorised Blinds Cost? A Guide to Pricing and Options’, to find out the details.
Source: Alfresco Blinds Ziptrack Blinds
No matter what style, use or size of mesh or PVC outdoor blinds you want, the professionals at Alfresco Blinds are here to help. Our premium-quality manual and motorised outdoor blinds are made locally in Melbourne, and all come with a helpful 5-year warranty on materials, parts, and labour. Simply give us a call if you have any issues within this period, and our skilled team will be able to assist you!
Order your outdoor blinds in Melbourne today by requesting an online quote or calling us on 1300 735 077. Once you have your quote, you’ll need to pay a 50% deposit to get started. You are welcome to email us at info@alfrescoblindsco.com.au if you have any questions.
