Why Pergola and Awning Companies Add Zip Screens

A pergola or a glass balcony creates a usable outdoor room. Once customers start using that room, the same requests come back: the afternoon sun is too strong, the wind blows through the side, insects come in during the evening, or the neighbours can see in. A zip screen answers all of these with one product that fits the opening the customer already has.

For a pergola, awning or glass-balcony company, adding zip screens means the customer does not need to look for a second supplier after installation. It turns a single sale into a complete outdoor-living package and gives your sales team a reason to return to past customers. This guide explains what to know before you add zip screens to your range, and how to work with a manufacturer who makes them to measure.

What a Zip Screen Is

A zip screen is a vertical outdoor roller blind whose fabric edges are locked into side channels. A zip-like strip is attached along both edges of the fabric, and that strip runs inside the guide rails on each side of the opening. Because the fabric is held along its full height, rather than only at the top and bottom, it stays taut and does not flap or pull out of the rails in windy conditions the way a free-hanging blind can.

The main parts are:

Cassette or headbox: houses the fabric roll and the operating mechanism at the top of the opening.
Side channels: the guide rails that hold the zipped edges of the fabric.
Fabric: usually a screen fabric for sun and glare control, or a more closed fabric for privacy and shade.
Bottom bar: keeps the fabric straight and closes the opening at floor level.
Operation: manual or motorised.

The closed side channels also mean there is no gap along the edges, which is why zip screens keep insects out far better than a standard outdoor blind. Our zip screen systems page covers the system in more detail.

Why Customers Ask for Zip Screens

When you add zip screens to your proposals, these are the benefits customers usually respond to:

Sun and glare control: the terrace stays usable in the strongest part of the day, and a screen fabric keeps a view outwards.
Wind resistance: the zipped edges keep the fabric in place where ordinary outdoor blinds would have to be raised.
Insect protection: closed edges make the space more comfortable in the evening.
Privacy: a lowered screen hides the terrace from neighbours or the street.
A cleaner look: the cassette and side channels can be coordinated with the pergola frame so the screens look part of the original design.
Seasonal use: the outdoor room can be used earlier in spring and later in autumn.

Restaurants, cafés, hotel terraces and beach clubs value the same benefits, often across many openings at once.

Measuring and Specifying Openings

Zip screens are made to measure, so the quality of the finished installation depends on the measurement information you send. The exact rules depend on the system and are confirmed with your manufacturer for each project, but the general approach is the same. For more detail on readings, diagonals and uneven openings, see how to measure an opening for a zip screen.

Step 1: Decide the mounting position

A zip screen can be fitted in different ways, and each changes what you measure:

Inside the opening: between pergola posts or inside a wall reveal; you measure the clear opening.
Face fixed: on the front of the posts, beam or wall; you measure the area to be covered plus any overlap you want.
Integrated into the pergola: where the pergola profile is designed to receive the screen; follow the pergola system's own instructions.

Step 2: Measure width and height at several points

Openings are rarely perfectly square. Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom, and the height at the left, centre and right. Write all the readings down rather than only the smallest or largest; your manufacturer can then decide which value to use for the specific system.

Step 3: Check the fixing surfaces

Side channels need a straight, solid surface along their full length. Note what each side is made of (aluminium profile, wood, masonry, glass-balcony frame) and whether the posts are plumb. Note anything that projects into the opening, such as gutters, lights, heaters or handrails.

Step 4: Check the floor or bottom line

The bottom bar needs a reasonably level surface to close against. Note slopes, steps, drainage channels or tiles at different levels across the width.

Step 5: Plan the motor and power side

For motorised screens, mark which side the motor should be on and where power will come from. This is best agreed with the electrician before the pergola is finished, so cables can be hidden in the structure.

Step 6: Record each opening with a reference

Give each opening a code (for example T1, T2, T3) and add a simple sketch or a photo with the reference written on it. On larger projects, a short schedule listing each opening's code, size, mounting, fabric and operation avoids most errors.

If you are unsure about a particular opening, send photos and your readings before ordering. It is easier to resolve a question at that stage than after production.

Manual or Motorised

Both versions have a place in a pergola company's range.

Manual zip screens are operated with a crank or a similar mechanism. They suit smaller openings, single screens and customers who prefer not to add electrical work.

Motorised zip screens are operated by remote, wall switch or a home automation system. They are usually the better choice when:

Openings are large: larger screens are easier to operate with a motor.
There are several screens: one control can operate a group, for example all sides of a pergola at once.
The pergola is already motorised: customers with motorised louvres or roofs usually expect the screens to match.
The site is commercial: restaurants and hotels often want staff to close all screens quickly.

At LuxiVeil, zip screens can be supplied manual or motorised, and every product category we produce can be motorised. The control method and any integration with other systems are agreed per project; our page on motorised blinds and curtains explains the general options.

Choosing Fabrics

Zip screen fabrics fall into two broad groups:

Screen fabrics: an open weave that cuts sun and glare while keeping a view through; the most common choice for terraces and restaurants. Our guide to the zip screen fabric openness factor explains how to choose between them.
More closed or blackout-type fabrics: used where privacy or shade matters more than the view.

Colour affects both appearance and view. Darker screen fabrics generally make it easier to see out, while lighter colours reflect more light and look brighter from outside. Always order physical fabric samples and look at them outdoors, in daylight, before confirming a colour with your customer. Coordinate the cassette, side channels and bottom bar colour with the pergola frame.

Working with a Made-to-Measure Manufacturer

For most pergola and awning companies, it makes sense to source zip screens from a manufacturer who makes them to order, and to concentrate your own team on sales, survey and installation. A good working relationship usually includes:

Samples before production: fabric and colour samples sent for approval, so you and your customer agree the look before anything is made. At LuxiVeil, samples are sent for approval before production starts.
Per-project quotes: each quotation built from your opening schedule, so you can price your own installation and margin accurately.
No fixed minimum order: from a single villa terrace to a full restaurant or hotel. We have no fixed MOQ, and dealers can combine zip screens with other blind types in one order.
Phased delivery: on larger projects, deliveries can be split in phases to follow the installation programme.
Clear delivery terms: quotes can include delivery to your warehouse or the site, with freight shown separately so the product price is easy to compare.

Lead times for zip screens are confirmed per project, based on quantities, fabrics and operation. Ask for the expected timeline with every quotation so you can plan installation dates with your customer.

Our wholesale blinds dealer programme explains how we work with trade partners, and our zip screen blinds page shows the product.

Questions to Ask a Zip Screen Supplier

Before you commit to a supplier, ask:

How are the screens made? Are fabric and profiles cut to order, assembled and checked in their own workshop?
What measurement information do they need? Ask for their measuring guide and the information they expect per opening.
Which mounting options are possible? Inside the opening, face fixed, and integration with your pergola profiles.
Which fabrics and profile colours are available? Ask for a sample set you can show to customers.
What are the manual and motorised options? Including how screens can be controlled together.
How are samples and approvals handled? And who signs off before production.
Can deliveries be phased? And how are orders packed and labelled by opening?
What spare parts and after-sales support are available? For example replacement fabrics or components.
What documentation can they provide? Ask what applies to the specific fabrics and components offered for your project.

Supplier and Project Checklist

Before you place a zip screen order, check that you have:

Agreed the mounting position for every opening
Measured widths and heights at several points and recorded all readings
Noted fixing surfaces, obstructions and floor conditions
Given every opening a reference code, with a sketch or photo
Confirmed manual or motorised operation, motor side and power position
Chosen fabric and profile colours from physical samples
Received and approved samples with your customer
Received a per-project quote with freight shown separately
Agreed the delivery address, delivery phases and the expected timeline
Shared the installation and care instructions with your installation team

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a zip screen and an ordinary outdoor roller blind?

An ordinary outdoor blind hangs freely or runs on cables, so it can flap or lift in the wind and leaves gaps at the edges. A zip screen locks both fabric edges into side channels, so it stays taut, keeps insects out and closes the opening more neatly. Our zip screen vs outdoor roller blind comparison covers the differences in detail.

Can zip screens be fitted to an existing pergola?

Often yes, as long as there is a straight, solid surface for the side channels and space for the cassette. Send photos and measurements of the openings so the manufacturer can confirm the right mounting option.

Should we offer manual or motorised zip screens?

Most pergola companies offer both. Manual screens suit smaller single openings; motorised screens suit large openings, groups of screens, commercial sites and pergolas that already have motorised roofs.

Do you supply zip screens to pergola and awning companies?

Yes. We make zip screens to measure for trade partners, with samples before production, per-project quotes, no fixed minimum order and the option of phased deliveries. Send your opening schedule through our RFQ form.

Which other blinds do pergola and glass-balcony customers ask for?

Glass-balcony customers often ask for pleated blinds for the inside of the glazing, and homeowners in sunny regions often ask for indoor blinds as well. Our guide to blinds for Mediterranean and Gulf climates covers these choices, and our zebra vs roller blinds comparison helps with indoor rooms.

Adding Zip Screens to Your Pergola and Awning Offer: A Supplier Guide