External roller screens lowered around a patio

Outdoor Living

External Screens

External screens stop the heat before it reaches the glass. They're fabric blinds fitted outside a window, door or patio, cutting glare and heat from the sun while keeping your view out — and they can add privacy to outdoor spaces too. We cover Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool and the surrounding area.

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Shading on the outside of the glass

Internal blinds are great for privacy and light control, but once sunshine has passed through the glass, some of its heat is already in the room. An external screen catches it outside instead, which is why screens work so well on conservatories, glass extensions and rooms that overheat in summer.

Keep the view

Solar-screen fabrics are woven with small openings, so you can still see out from inside while glare and heat are reduced. If keeping the view matters most, a more open weave is the one to choose; if you'd like more privacy, a denser fabric is the better fit.

Outdoor privacy and shelter

Screens also work around patios and pergolas, creating a sheltered, private space to sit. Zip screens keep the fabric held in the side channels, so they're more stable in a breeze.

Things to consider

  • Most external screens are motorised, so they need power — we'll plan the power supply with you.
  • Wind ratings vary from system to system, and sensors can retract screens automatically when it gets windy.
  • The surface we fix to and the window reveal (the sides of the opening around the window) affect which system suits. We'll check both when we measure.

For complete light control, you can combine screens with conservatory blinds inside, or see our heat and glare solutions.

Styles & options

Types of external screen

  • Zip screens

    The fabric is held in the side channels by a zip edge, so it stays taut when it's windy.

  • Window screens

    Compact screens for individual windows and roof lights.

  • Patio screens

    Large screens that enclose the sides of a patio or pergola.

  • Privacy screens

    Denser fabrics that shield your seating area from neighbours.

  • Solar shading

    Mesh fabrics that cut heat and glare while you keep your view.

  • Commercial screens

    For offices, schools and glazed facades.

Best for

Where external screens work well

  • Conservatories

    Keeps the heat out before it builds up inside.

  • South and west-facing rooms

    Cuts the glare from the afternoon sun.

  • Patios & pergolas

    Side screens add shelter and privacy.

  • Bi-fold doors

    Shade on the outside of large areas of glass.

  • Home offices

    Helps reduce glare on your computer screen.

  • Commercial buildings

    Solar control for glazed facades.

Features & options

Options to consider

  • MotorisedMost screens are motor operated, with a remote control.
  • Sun and wind sensorsAvailable on some systems — we'll let you know what's possible.
  • Choice of fabric opennessFrom see-through mesh to fabrics that are nearly opaque.
  • Concealed cassetteA neat housing that hides the screen when it's raised.
  • Frame coloursChosen to match your windows and doors.
  • Insect protectionSome screens also act as a barrier to insects.

Motorised & smart control

Motorisation options

Because they sit outside the glass, external screens are usually motorised. We use Somfy motors and controls, so on many systems you can choose a remote, wall switch or timer, or use the Somfy TaHoma app and voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Sun and wind sensors can be added too, so the screens rise automatically in high wind.

Explore motorised options

Why Premier

Why choose Premier Blinds

  • Free Home VisitsExpert advice at your home
  • Made to Measurefor a precise fit
  • Professional InstallationBy our experienced team
  • Manual & MotorisedOptions Available
  • Local Showroomin Stockton-on-Tees

Gallery

Ideas for external screens at home

  • Zip screen held taut in side channels
  • External zip screen on a large window
  • Side screens fitted to a pergola
  • Roller screen shading a glazed facade

Questions & answers

Your questions about external screens

Why fit a screen outside rather than a blind inside?

An external screen stops the sun's heat before it passes through the glass, so it's generally better at keeping a room cool than an internal blind on its own.

Can I still see out?

Yes. Mesh solar-screen fabrics reduce glare and heat while still letting you see out during the day. We'll show you samples so you can compare how open each one is.

What is a zip screen?

It's a screen where the edges of the fabric are held in the side channels by a zip-type edge. This keeps the fabric taut, so it's more stable when it's windy.

Can external screens be left down in strong wind?

Every system has a wind rating, which is the limit it's designed to cope with. Sensors can raise the screens automatically, and we'll explain the limits of the system you choose so you know what to expect.

Keep exploring

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Advice & guides

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More about external screens

Premier Blinds supplies and installs external roller screens and zip screens for homes and businesses across Stockton-on-Tees and Teesside, reducing solar heat and glare on windows, conservatories, bi-fold doors, patios and pergolas.