Adjustable louvre awnings in Johannesburg

One roof, photographed both ways: our Morningside louvre over a timber deck.

Is a louvre awning waterproof?

Nearly, and we would rather be exact. With the blades closed, our louvre roof is 95% watertight in Highveld storms. The full all-round gutter runs around the whole frame, and that is what sets it apart from traditional louvre systems.

It is still a roof of moving blades. Our warranty says adjustable systems are not designed to be 100% waterproof, and in wind-driven rain a little can get through the blade line. For a sealed roof, a fixed IBR roof or an insulated patio ceiling is guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms, with the gutters kept clean.

• Downpipe positions are agreed on site to suit your paving and stormwater; on our Muldersdrift balcony it runs down the brickwork.
• Don’t let a higher roof drain onto the louvres. Our warranty warns that it can overload the water management system.

More in how we build awnings for Highveld storms.

Manual or motorised louvres: which should you choose?

It is the same roof either way; only what drives the gearbox changes. A manual gearbox is turned by hand and has nothing to power. When we motorise a louvre, we fit a Somfy motor. It earns its place on a wide span, where cranking by hand becomes a chore and the roof stops being adjusted.

Our motorised job on this site is at Dainfern Estate, cantilevered off the house with the drive and its linkage along the beam.

• Decide before manufacture. A motor is simple to plan in and awkward to add later, and it costs more than a manual gearbox.
• The Somfy motor is covered by Somfy’s warranty. Our 15-year guarantee covers the aluminium.
• Worried about power cuts? Raise it when we quote. It is a fair argument for manual on a holiday home or a rental.

Compare the two in motorised vs manual louvre awnings.

What colours do louvre awnings come in?

Four standard powder-coat colours: Black, Charcoal, Bronze and Traffic White. The frame and blades are chosen separately, so the frame can suit the house and the blades can suit the room behind the patio.

• Charcoal frame, white blades: one of our most requested mixes (Randpark Ridge). White blades bounce daylight indoors.
• Bronze frame, white blades: warmer against face brick (Constantia Kloof).
• Charcoal throughout: the cleanest outside look (Muldersdrift), though dark blades darken the room behind.
• White throughout: for walled spaces lit from above (Woodmead).

More in our awning colour guide.

What can you add to a louvre roof?

Two add-ons show up clearly on our jobs. In Benoni, downlights are recessed into the beam line, wired before the roof was closed. In Midrand, an aluminium slat screen matching the frame closes off the exposed end, blocking the neighbour’s roof line while air still moves through. Plan both at quote stage.

What does the guarantee cover, and what care does the roof need?

The louvre carriers, support posts and louvre blades carry a 15-year guarantee against rust, paint chipping and corrosion. Installation by our own team is guaranteed for 1.5 years, and on a motorised roof the Somfy motor carries Somfy’s warranty. The guarantee applies once the job is paid in full and isn’t transferable. Keeping it valid takes simple care:

• Clean the roof regularly, especially the valleys in the blades.
• Keep the gutters and downpipe outlets clear.
• No solvents or cleaners containing ammonia or hydrocarbons, and pressure-wash only on a very low setting.

Aluminium, not pre-painted steel

Our louvre carriers, support posts and louvre blades are powder-coated aluminium, and those are the parts the 15-year guarantee covers.

Some Gauteng suppliers offer awnings in pre-painted steel, so check what you are being quoted. Our guide sets out how aluminium compares with pre-painted steel.

How does a louvre awning quote work?

Each roof is made to measure. Prices start from R3 200 per m², supplied and installed, and your own price depends on your roof. To get it, send a photo of the patio and three rough measurements in millimetres, as our measurement guide (PDF) shows:

• Width: along the wall, horizontally, to the width you want covered.
• Projection: straight out from the house.
• Height: the highest point, measured vertically against the wall.

We come back with options and a quote, then confirm every measurement on site before anything is made. A photo of where the new roof would meet the house, and a note on where your downpipes and stormwater run, answer most of our questions early.

The price moves with the size and span, a manual gearbox or a Somfy motor, how the roof is carried, the gutter routing, the colour and finish, access on site and extras such as downlights or screens. The pricing page and our louvre cost guide explain each one.

See fixed IBR awnings, patio ceilings, all three on patio roofs, or patio ceiling vs louvre roof.

More in our case studies and the project gallery.