It’s finally getting warm enough to shrug off woollen coats, but that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows – or actually, it is, but only because New Zealand’s spring is an unpredictable mix of rain and shine! What we mean to say is it’s not time to start neglecting protection from the weather. Spring is a deceiving time because we often forget to protect ourselves from the sun, as we tend to associate sunburn with heat, and we leave umbrellas at home, connecting rain with grey skies.

Changing Seasons

Spring has arrived and the blooming season has begun, making it the perfect time to install an outdoor screen. Outdoor screens can protect you from harmful UV rays and ultraviolet radiation, rain, glare and dust. They also block heat and energy from the sun, keeping both you and your house cool, which in turn helps you keep those power bills low.

The sun may not be on full heat yet, but spring is the time when UV radiation increases rapidly, so skin that’s been covered up until now can get a shock from the sudden exposure. Investing in an outdoor screen is the smartest way to protect more in one go. The best thing is, you don’t have to sacrifice the view for protection from the elements. With a clear outdoor screen, no one will even know it’s there!

Ziptrak® Outdoor Screens

Ziptrak® screens are the popular choice for clear outdoor screens, as they create outdoor screens that are easy to use and aesthetically pleasing.

Its clear mesh screen is fitted on their award-winning track-guided system, and they can also be motorised and operated with a remote control, making Ziptrak® outdoor screens the convenient choice.

A clear outdoor screen is compatible with any architecture. Ziptrak®’s clear outdoor screens embrace minimalism without compromising on efficiency and durability. Its robust structure makes it able to withstand the harshest weather conditions, making it a must for New Zealand’s wild forecasts.

Ziptrak® also provides a quick-exit safety feature that allows people to slip out with ease in case of emergencies. If you have any queries about Ziptrak® screens, get in touch with us.

Looking for a custom Outdoor Screen solution to enhance your property?

Spring is much more enjoyable when our bodies are happy, so add a multi-purpose outdoor screen for versatile shelter. Now that the temperature allows for cider drinking, sandal wearing and late night laughing, let’s make the most of it! And soon, when summer rolls around, you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t have an outdoor screen to keep you cool.

Our team of local experts are here to help you create an amazing space.

Keep the wind and rain out this winter with our custom made Ziptrak® outdoor blinds.

Your Sunshade consultant will help you come up with the perfect solution to transform your outdoor area into a room you can use daily, no matter the weather!

Are you considering a shade sail for your outdoor space?

We just love the days when we can bask in the hot summer air, beer and book in hand, under the shade of a sail. Can you picture it? It’s the holidays, the sky is blue and the grass is green. No timetables or obligations, just pure bliss to be enjoyed at your leisure.

We love the sun, but we also need shade. Especially here in New Zealand, it’s absolutely necessary to seek shelter from the strong UV rays, to avoid sunburn and heat stroke. Investing in a shade sail can enhance your summer experience while adding a modern look to your home, business or school.

Here are five benefits of a shade sail:

1. Shade Sails Offer Sun Protection

Have you ever felt fatigued after spending too many hours in the sun? Shade sails offer a place to cool down and re-energize with a glass of ice water. While the sun does so many good things for our bodies, it also emits harmful UV rays that can lead to sunburn and skin cancers. Balance is power, so protect yourself (and your family, employees, customers or students) this summer with a quality shade sail.

Shade sails also offer shelter during those sporadic summer storms. We live in a temperamental climate, but that doesn’t mean we have to cut our fun short when the rain starts to fall. Stay dry under a sturdy canopy.

2. Shade Sails Look Fantastic in Any Situation

Our shade sails are designed, manufactured and certified to the highest standards. We use 3D software and provide a range of fabrics for you to choose from, to bring you a customized, high quality product.
We can make shade sails in all shapes, sizes and colours, so you won’t have to worry about how it will fit in with your existing look and feel. Whether you’re looking for a sail for shade over your patio, courtyard or veranda, we have options for both residential and commercial spaces. A high quality shade sail can add value to your property for a lower cost than other shade systems.

3. Shade Sails Provide Ventilation for Extra Cooling

Our shade sails are made from a breathable fabric and are designed to maximize breeze flow and ventilation. You can keep the BBQ running and your guests won’t complain about the heat!

4. Shade Sails are Cost-Effective

Shade sails are made to last, as long as you opt for quality. They are also a durable, aesthetically pleasing solution to efficient sun protection. At Sunshade our shade sails are flexible, customisable and much more affordable than timber, aluminium or steel shade structures.

5. Shade Sails are Easy to Professionally Install

There’s no need to make permanent changes to the structure of your home or building. Shade sails are easy to have professionally installed and just as easy to remove should you ever wish to.

Contact our experienced team to enquire about a shade structure to suit your needs. For all sunshade requirements, talk to our experts today.

Don’t just assume that when the weather changes in autumn it’s time to store away your outdoor furniture and BBQ. If you aren’t able to regularly enjoy your outdoor areas, we have the ideal solution for you!

Enclose your deck, veranda, balcony or patio with Ziptrak® outdoor screens to create a versatile outdoor space you can use all year round. In cooler months, outdoor screens effectively add another room to your home where the kids can play and you can entertain, protected from New Zealand’s variable weather conditions.

Ziptrak®  is an award-winning, track-guided system, with components that guide your screen down a robust track and hold it in place whatever the weather. This eliminates billowing and draughts in windy conditions and helps you control the temperature, keeping you warm and dry in winter, and cool in summer.

You can choose a clear screen to protect your view or a mesh screen that improves privacy from passers-by and neighbours while still allowing you to see out.

Ziptrak® operates without zips, pulleys or bungees and can also be motorised and operated with a convenient remote control. Its easy-open system also has a quick-exit safety feature that allows you to leave the area rapidly in case of emergency.

Keep the wind and rain out this winter with our custom made Ziptrak® outdoor blinds.

Your Sunshade consultant will help you come up with the perfect solution to transform your outdoor area into a room you can use daily, no matter the weather!

Shade cloths can be used for a multitude of purposes, from protecting the garden from birds to adding shelter on the patio. Likewise, there are many different options when it comes to choosing the material and colour of a shade cloth. Canvas or PVC, light or dark? Not only will these choices determine the appearance of your shade sail, but your decisions will affect how the sunshade works.

First things first. There are two main types of canvas shade cloths: knitted and woven.

Knitted

Knitted shade cloths are made from knitted polyethylene and have an expected lifespan of 10-15 years. Knitted cloth offers good UV protection even though the fabric can stretch, and will still serve as an effective barrier between you and harmful rays. It’s a cheaper, lighter choice that won’t unravel even if a hole appears. Despite its light weight, knitted shade cloths are strong enough to endure torrential rain and strong winds if shade sails are expertly fabricated.

Woven

Woven shade cloths are made from woven polypropylene and have an expected lifespan of 10-12 years. For optimum UV protection, woven shade cloths are the ideal choice as the closely woven material absorbs and blocks more harmful rays. Woven shade cloths are more expensive than knitted shade cloths and are heavier and more durable. The downside of a woven shade cloth sail is that if it gets a hole, the whole thing will unravel.

And if you don’t like canvas? Don’t worry, there’s another option.

PVC

Another shade sail fabric that is gaining popularity is PVC. PVC shade sails are more expensive, but they are also waterproof, so you can enjoy the outdoors no matter the weather or season. In a climate like Auckland’s temperamental one, a PVC shade cloth can be extremely handy. The correct PVC is also a more stable fabric and won’t go out of shape. It’s the most durable solution and has a 10-15 year life expectancy.

Choosing Your Sunshade

When it comes to heat absorption, the basic rule is the lighter the colour of the fabric, the cooler you will be beneath it. Lighter coloured shade sails are a popular choice as they reflect the sun’s radiation. However, the darker the colour of the fabric, the more UV protection you will receive.
If you’re not sure what kind of tensioned canopy is best for your needs, talk to one of our knowledgeable team members. At Sunshade, we offer a range of fabrics with varying UV protection, rain protection and strength features. We specialise in designing, manufacturing and certifying shade sails, so we’ll be able to guide you in the right direction.

This Mt Eden customer experiences a wind funnel through his backyard. The Ziptrak® screens were a perfect solution for his family to be able to enjoy their backyard on those windy days.

We used the heavy-duty Ziptrak® system as the screens are both 5m long. The frames have been powder coated appliance white to blend in with his pergola.

The screens blend in with the house making it aesthetically pleasing.

Many of you know 0800 Sunshade as quality and reliable suppliers of shade sails.  While shade sails are a large and important part of our business it’s not all we do well. We have a huge range of products that offer superior weather protection for all seasons.  They include:

Ziptrak® Clear or Mesh Outdoor Screens

Suitable for all seasons and excellent at ensuring you can use more of your outdoor space, whatever the weather! Ziptrak® screens are an award-winning track-guided blind system that ensure the safe and seamless operation of your clear or mesh screen.

Retractable and Fixed Frame Awnings

Offer New Zealand homes outstanding sun and rain protection over entrances, walkways and verandas. Not to mention providing exceptional ‘stand out’ street appeal in a wide range of bright or subdued colours or when branded.

Shade Structures

Hugely effective for larger areas that require more permanent shade or rain protection. Great for playgrounds, walkways, seating areas and grandstand coverage.

Moveable and Fixed Arm Umbrellas

Perfect for deflecting the sun at any time of the day off your veranda, outdoor furniture, sandpit, pool area etc. Instant shade when and where you need it. Our sun umbrellas range in size from 1.9m to 5m square. We only stock Shade7 Umbrellas, New Zealand’s finest quality outdoor umbrella that is built to last even in New Zealand’s harsh sun and wind.

Sandpit Covers

Early childhood regulations state that all sandpits, bark pits, and similar facilities are covered after the last session each day, or, if covering is impracticable, are raked, before the first session each day and inspected for animal droppings and dangerous objects. Let us make it easy for you. Get a custom made sandpit cover that is easy to remove, store and place.

As an innovator and manufacturer in outdoor fabric and weather protection products we can also custom-design and build to your unique requirements. We are the weather protection solutions people!

About Sunshade

Sunshade have built a reputation as one of the leading providers of weather protection products in New Zealand and to Pacific Islands.

We’ve spent over 20 years making our customers happy, and we’ve used our experience to focus on being the best at what we do.

That’s why we invest time in finding the right combination of materials, designs and structure to meet your weather protection needs. By designing and manufacturing solutions that recognize your environment, we can be sure that our weather protection solutions do the job well and are made to last.

2017 OFPANZ Award for Excellence – Domestic Shade Sail.

Every year the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ) holds a conference where members can enter recent projects into the Awards for Excellence. This year there were more than 80 entries across 16 categories. Sunshade is excited to announce that our Auckland licensee, Seaton Meredith of Custom Shade and Screens, won the Award for Excellence in the Domestic Shade Sail category.

“Initially the client wanted a small shade sail to provide privacy for their backyard and pool area as well as the second floor living area of their home. After the first shade was installed the client liked the effect so much he called to ask for another shade to cover the patio area of the pool,” Meredith said.

The project was made more complex by the differing requirements of the client of visual privacy from neighbours as well as provision of shade. Access, the pool and placement of poles limited options of location and shape of sails. The well-established garden had to be totally protected from all workings.

For the second sail the client insisted on using the existing poles from our first installation thus having the correct angle for one shade to provide privacy and then create enough space between the first and second shade to avoid any rubbing.

Using CAD system to create the correct shape and present visual options to the client gave us the ability to make sure that the project would meet his very specific requirements.

The shapes and the Mocha Z16 shade fabric blended in well to exceed the customer’s expectations.

About OFPANZ

OFPANZ was established in 1988 with fewer than 20 members. Nowadays, the association has more than 50 members committed to excellence and awarded in New Zealand and abroad for their innovation and ingenuity. The association represents enterprises engaged in anything from canvas fabrication, sailmaking, vehicle trimming and upholstery, to medium and very large structures covered in PVC and similar materials, as well as suppliers of materials and associated components.

OFPANZ, its Executive and its members are dedicated to promoting, developing and protecting the interests of the manufacture, trading and marketing of all outdoor fabric products with exceptional quality and to recognised standards, both nationally and internationally.

The association seeks to provide fabricators and suppliers of outdoor products and materials with a forum for increasing their industry knowledge, developing new skills, legislation and technology, sharing experiences and the association helps provide a platform to network with other like-minded companies worldwide.

Says Mike König of Sunshade “The value of this industry association lies in the establishment of networks and contacts in the industry. Although we all compete fiercely with each other, if a project is outside of our capability or region then we know a trusted company we can refer it to.  And if we need help on a particular issue we know whom to ask.”

Mike Konig accepting award at 2017 OFPANZ Queenstown Conference

OFPANZ is affiliated to the Specialised Textiles Association (STA) of Australia and became a country chapter of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), based in the United States, in 2008.

About Sunshade
Sunshade have built a reputation as one of the leading providers of weather protection products in New Zealand and to Pacific Islands.

We’ve spent over 20 years making our customers happy, and we’ve used our experience to focus on being the best at what we do.

That’s why we invest time in finding the right combination of materials, designs and structure to meet your weather protection needs. By designing and manufacturing solutions that recognize your environment, we can be sure that our weather protection solutions do the job well and are made to last.