The perfect outdoor blind fabric has the right balance between functionality and style. Yes, this statement might sound obvious, yet so many people opt for a cheap, low quality outdoor blind fabric only to realise that in their attempt to save money, they have invested in a product with an extremely limited lifespan.
Before you know it, you’re spending your precious time maintaining your outdoor blinds or heading back to the market, scouring for quality outdoor blind materials once again. The only way to control the elements and ensure your personal privacy is to invest in a high-quality outdoor blind fabric at the outset.
Here is the golden rule: it is vital to choose outdoor blinds and awnings produced from a credible, high-quality fabric. Using the right material, your outdoor blinds and awning can look great and remain in tip-top condition for years to come.
Team Ricky Richards presents a comprehensive guide to help you make the right choice when you’re choosing awning or outdoor blind fabric for your project or home.
What are the best outdoor blind fabrics and their uses?
The different awning materials and outdoor blind fabrics available in the market can help with:
- Light control
- Temperature control
- Protection against wind and rain
- Additional privacy
There are so many different types of awnings and outdoor blinds available; hence, choosing the one that will work best for you isn’t easy. Luckily, we’ve put together the most popular Ricky Richards outdoor blind and awning fabrics to help you choose the right one for you.
Canvas
For a long time, canvas has been used to make outdoor blinds and awnings due to its efficient heat refraction features. Canvas is still quite popular in extremely hot areas as it offers efficient temperature control and optimum UV protection. Here are some outdoor blind materials to consider investing in.
Barrington
The Barrington Collection brings style and modern flair to the forefront, while continuing to highlight traditional aesthetics at the core of its design. With over 40 colour and design options, this 100% Australian-made poly/cotton canvas spans three core ranges:
Acrylic
Acrylic outdoor blind fabrics are used to make breathable awnings and blinds. Significantly softer than canvas, they can be used in a variety of weather conditions.
Docril
Docril is one of the most premium acrylic canvas fabrics on the market. Crafted by Citel Performance Outdoor Fabrics, Docril is widely used for making outdoor blinds. This collection of fabrics is known internationally for optimum waterproofing and UV resistance properties.
All Docril fabrics come with a decade-long warranty making them perfect for sun control. The Teflon technology used during the finishing process creates a protective barrier to repel water and prevents dirt from settling on the fabric surface.
PVC
To achieve the perfect balance between temperature regulation and privacy, it’s important to choose the right fabric. If you want heat regulation without losing the uninterrupted views of the outside world, then PVC may be your best choice.
PVC fabrics are mostly used in patio blinds to keep rain and wind from wreaking havoc inside the house while getting uninterrupted views of the outside.
Bochini
Bochini is ideal for lightweight tensioned structures such as tents and marquees as it is a type 0 tensile fabric. The Bochini collection offers 11 myriad colour schemes out of which 4 shades were inspired by the Colorbond collection. All in all, there is something to everyone’s liking in this collection.
Key features:
- 11 colours – 4 colours inspired by Colorbond®
- Protection against the elements: Waterproof & UV stabilised
- Lightweight & low maintenance
- Weldable PVDF lacquer on both sides
- Fire retardant
- Anti-mildew & fungicide treated
Shadecloth
A shadecloth or shade sail is an affordable and easy way to shade the deck or patio while adding a splash of colour to the outdoor decor. Shadecloths are perfect for driveways, gardens, and backyards.
At Ricky Richards, we offer two of the highest quality shadecloths available on the market:
Solution dyed polyester made from recycled drink bottles
Polyester manufactured from recycled single-use consumer plastics such as drinking bottles has become a sustainable alternative for outdoor fabrics. The plastic polluting our environment is fished out, melted, and spun into polyester fibres to create these incredible outdoor fabrics. Solterior FR is a perfect example of a recycled polyester fabric and one of the most popular outdoor fabrics at Ricky Richards.
Key features of Solterior FR:
- Fire retardant
- RoHS compliant
- Protection from the elements: Waterproof & high UV resistance
- 100% recyclable and environment-friendly
- Printable
Mesh
Lastly, mesh competes with PVC for the crown of the most popular outdoor blinds and awning fabric. Similar to PVC, mesh fabrics also help maintain outside views without allowing the glare of direct sunlight to reach inside. Here are some of our top-selling mesh outdoor blinds fabrics:
Outlook fabrics
Ricky Richards is the exclusive supplier of the Outlook mesh collection. This reputable brand has been in business for more than two decades and offers outdoor blind fabrics of exceptional quality.
With 70 options, the vast collection of UV-treated mesh fabric reduces solar heat gain and allows optimum airflow.
Key features of Outlook products:
- UV treated or stabilised
- Greenguard Certified
- Lead-free
- Reduce solar heat gain
Conclusion
The best outdoor fabrics offer multiple benefits on top of protection from the wind, rain, and sunlight. From heat control to keeping the home interior cool, these fabrics allow you to spend quality time with your family and friends outdoors, no matter what the weather delivers!
In this blog, we have listed a number of outdoor blind fabric and awning fabric brands. We’re confident any one of these products will complement your home or office perfectly. However, if you’re still unsure about which one to pick, Ricky Richards is always here to help you make the right choice.
Contact us for expert consultation and get your hands on the right sun control textile for the job.
