What are louvres?
At their core, louvres are slatted panels designed to let air or light pass through while blocking direct sun, rain or visibility. You've seen them on windows, vents, doors, fences and — the version we build — over patios and outdoor rooms, where the whole roof is made of blades that move.
The types of louvres
Fixed louvres
Permanently angled slats. Ideal where you want consistent airflow or light diffusion — vent systems, screens and decorative panels.
Adjustable louvres
Blades that open and close on demand. This is what we fit over patios: our adjustable louvre awnings open to 82° for full sun, angle for filtered light, and seal closed against the rain, driven by a stainless-and-brass gearbox that takes one and a half turns from open to shut.
Ventilation louvres
Built purely to move air — the workhorses inside HVAC systems and plant rooms.
Architectural louvres
Designed as much for the eye as the airflow — façade features that give a building rhythm and shadow lines.
Privacy louvres
Angled to block sightlines while keeping the breeze — common in balcony screens, fences and office partitions.
Materials: what lasts and what doesn't
- Aluminium — lightweight, rust-free and sleek. The right answer for South African patios, and non-negotiable at the coast. Ours is pre-painted and baked in 23 colours.
- Wood — warm and classic, but it wants regular maintenance and doesn't love rain.
- Steel — strong, suited to industrial and security uses; needs coating to resist weather.
- PVC and plastics — budget-friendly indoors, but they age fast in UV and heat.
Why install louvres at all?
Because they solve four problems with one structure. They ventilate naturally, cutting the need for fans and aircon. They give privacy without turning the space into a dungeon. They control heat gain, which shows up on the electricity bill. And they look deliberate — clean architectural lines rather than an add-on.
Choosing the right louvres
Start with function: do you need airflow, light control, privacy — or all three? Then match the material to your weather: near the ocean, rust-resistance decides everything; inland, hail-resistance matters more. Finally, make sure the style suits the building. If the answer is a louvre roof over a patio in Cape Town or Johannesburg, we'll measure and quote free — it's what we've specialised in since 1988.