Controlling outdoor blinds: hand, crank, spring, or motor?

Once you've chosen the material for your blinds, you then need to decide on how you will operate them.
Different controlling mechanisms suit different situations, so find out here how to decide which option will work best for your space.

Channel-It blinds are our most popular option. They have unmatched protection against the elements, perform better in windy environments than the other options, and do not sag due to the unique ability to tighten.

• They are operated by crank handle or awning stick (you may have seen these in cafe's and restaurants) which connects to a gearbox fitted inside the top bar.
• The sides of the blinds run down inside aluminium channels to block the gap between blind and post, stopping any rain or wind coming through.
• The specially extruded bottom bar has slide tongues that lock into the side channels which allows the blind to be tightened with a half-turn of the crank handle.

Crank rolled blinds are a simple, flexible and more economic version of the Channel-It blind system. 

• No side channels means no posts required on either side to attach to. 
• Clipped to the ground with a flat-hinged D ring to ensure there is no tripping hazard. 
• Operated with an awning stick, when rolled up, it's like they were never there. 

Hand-rolled outdoor blinds are the most economical option for outdoor blinds. They work best in areas where there’s not a lot of thoroughfare – so you don’t have to roll them up and down all the time.

• They have a fabric pocket at the bottom with a weighted aluminium tube to keep the fabric nice and tight, even when rolled up. 
• Connected at the bottom with clips, much like the Crank Rolled option. 
• Held up with Velcro ties, which can be customised to multiple heights.
• Also come with zips and guides on the sides, if you wish to have the gaps filled in between blind and post.