Blinds & Curtains · External Awnings
External awnings, done with care. Year-round outdoor living.
What are external awnings?
External awnings are outdoor coverings designed to extend the time you spend outside — turning a windy patio into a quiet evening, a sun-blasted window into a comfortable room, an exposed alfresco into a year-round entertaining space.
There are three main types: track-guided systems like Ziptrak® and Zipscreen™ (which fully enclose a patio against wind, rain and insects), folding-arm awnings (which extend out from a wall to shade a patio area), and individual window awnings (which control sun, glare and weather on specific windows or doors).
We measure, supply and install all of them.
Ziptrak® awnings
The patented original. Track-guided zip system, sealed against wind, rain and insects. Centre lock release for one-touch raising. The most common premium specification for enclosing a patio or alfresco area.
Zipscreen™ awnings
Custom widths up to 5.8 metres, motorised, spring or crank operation. The competing track-guided system — same principle as Ziptrak, slightly different mechanism. Both are excellent; we specify whichever suits the job better.
Mesh fabric for visibility
Mesh fabrics cut glare and shield against the sun. Available in 85%, 95%, 99% and 100% closedness — choose how much you want to block, how much you want to see. Useful for alfresco areas where the view matters as much as the shade.
Clear-view full enclosure
Crystal-clear panels for total weather protection without losing the view. The right pick for windy or exposed patios where you want to use the space year-round, including through rain and cold.
Folding Arm Awnings
Fabric awnings that extend out from a wall to shade a patio or courtyard. Retract when not needed. The simplest answer for "I want shade over my dining table without enclosing the whole space."
Drop Arm and Pivot Arm Awnings
Window-mounted awnings that drop down or pivot out at an angle. Classic look, simple operation, real sun reduction on individual windows. Worth specifying on west-facing bedrooms and any window getting hammered by direct afternoon sun.
Motorisation
Voice control, remote, or smart-home integration. Built for wide installations and homes where convenience matters. Particularly worth specifying on Ziptrak/Zipscreen installs over 4 metres — manual operation across that span gets old quickly.
Built for the coast
UV-stabilised fabrics, salt-air compatible hardware, Australian-made. Designed to handle the conditions Port Stephens actually has — not what marketing copy claims. Worth specifying where every other awning fails within five years.
Like the look of external awnings?
Book a free in-home measure, or pop into the Shearwater Drive showroom.
Book a free measure