Home › Retractable Awnings › Drop Arm Awnings
Drop Arm Awnings
It's 9pm, the blind's been shut since lunch, and the bedroom is still warm. The heat came through the glass before the blind came down.
Or call 09 441 9455. Mon to Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Drop arm awnings stop the sun outside the window, before it reaches the glass. Opening one can take 10 to 15 degrees off the room behind it. We measure and fit window awnings across Auckland, from the North Shore to the Hibiscus Coast.
Call 09 441 9455 to book your free measure and quote, or send us a message.
✓ Locally made in New Zealand
✓ Free measure and quote
✓ 2 year full warranty (no call-out fee)
✓ 260+ five-star Google reviews
✓ In business since 2010
Drop arm awnings: stop the sun before it reaches the glass
You probably have blinds on that window already. They help with glare, but by the time an internal blind is down, the heat is through the glass and warming the room.
A drop arm awning is an external window shade. The fabric hangs outside, so the sun stops there and the room stays cooler. Your floors and furniture fade less too.
Every awning review we have on Google is five stars. Drop down awnings are one kind among several, and you can see the rest of our awnings and retractable awnings.
How a drop arm awning works: 90 to 180 degrees
The fabric drops down in front of the window on two arms that swing out from 90 to 180 degrees. Straight down gives the most shade and privacy. As the sun moves through the afternoon, you angle the arms to choose how much sun you block and how much view you keep.
Our model is the Vertigo window awning. It suits one narrow kitchen window or a wide bank of glass, with drops up to 1.5 metres. We fix it to the wall face, or under the eaves with top-fix brackets, and make custom brackets where the wall needs them.
An awning has limits, and we'll tell you them at the measure:
✓ It's shade, not rain cover. Water pools on stretched fabric, so roll it up when it rains
✓ When the sun is very low, some late-afternoon light can still come in under it
Mesh or canvas
Worried how it'll look, or that it'll make the room dark? Choose the fabric to suit the room:
✓ Shadeview mesh keeps your view and softens the light, which suits a kitchen or living area
✓ Docril acrylic canvas, made in Spain, gives privacy and colour, which suits a bedroom. It comes in multiple plain and striped colours
We hold the swatches against your joinery or trim at the measure, so you can match the canvas to your house. The arms and front bar come in Warm White Pearl or Silver Pearl.
Which windows suit a drop arm awning
Any window that heats a room is worth a look:
✓ Kitchen and food-prep windows that take the afternoon sun
✓ Bedrooms that are too hot by bedtime
✓ Home offices where the sun hits the screen
A kitchen window awning keeps the afternoon sun off the bench and off whoever's cooking.
Got a window that heats the room every afternoon? Call 09 441 9455 and we'll bring the swatches to it.
Where an outside awning won't suit the window, ask about sunscreen blinds. For a deck, our other awnings give overhead shade and outdoor blinds close in the sides.
Manual or motorised drop arm awnings
It comes down to how you'll open and close it:
✓ Manual: a gearbox and crank handle, easy on a window you reach every day
✓ Motorised: a remote, with an optional wind, sun or motion sensor
Auckland wind causes most callbacks on awnings left out, so roll it in when the wind gets up. If the window is hard to reach, or you'd worry about it being out while you're at work, go motorised. Add a wind sensor and it retracts itself in extreme weather.
Measured by an owner, installed by our own team
David or Roman measures every awning, and Roman leads every install with our own team. We don't give prices from sizes, so the free measure covers:
✓ Which windows take the most heat, and when
✓ Swatches held against your joinery, in your own light
✓ A written quote that spells out exactly what you're getting
Our window awnings are made and powder-coated in New Zealand, with aluminium frames and 316 stainless steel fixings.
We've been in business since 2010, first as North Shore Blinds and Screens. Our showroom is by appointment, so we bring the samples to your windows.
How long does a drop arm awning take?
Tell us at the measure when you'd like it in.
✓ 5 to 6 weeks from deposit to install
✓ Longer before Christmas
Servicing and warranty
If something goes wrong, we come and fix it, with no call-out fee. Here's what's covered:
✓ The awning: 2 years full, parts and labour
✓ Docril fabric: backed by Docril for 10 years
✓ Motors: 3 to 5 years, depending on brand
Details are on our warranty page.
Fabric faded on an old awning? Where the frame is sound, we re-cover it in new Docril canvas, even if we didn't fit it.
Care is simple. Once a year, wipe the frame with mild detergent and warm water, never solvents, and call us if any bolts have loosened. Brush the Docril with a soft brush, rinse it, and let it dry fully before you roll it up.
What our customers say about their awnings
Both come down to the same thing: someone who comes to the house, gives straight advice and does the job properly.
Stefan, on his new awning:
"Fabulous to deal with. Got an awning installed which is great." (Stefan, January 2023)
Simon, who had replacement fabric measured and quoted for his old awning:
"David came and measured and quoted replacement fabric for our old awning ... Gave wise maintenance knowledge not just for the awning, but for the PVC pull-down blinds we also have on the property." (Simon, April 2022)
Drop arm awning questions
What is a drop arm awning?
A drop arm awning is a vertical awning for a window. The fabric drops down in front of the glass on two arms that swing out to set the shade.
Why is a drop arm awning the most effective way to stop sun coming into the house?
Because it stops the sun outside, before it reaches the glass. An internal blind only deals with the heat once it's in the room, and by then the room is warming up. You can also angle the arms as the sun moves.
How far do the arms move?
From 90 to 180 degrees. Straight down gives the most shade and privacy, and swung further out it lets in more light and view.
Can a drop arm awning shade a kitchen window or food prep area?
Yes. It stops the afternoon sun before it heats the bench and the person cooking, and Shadeview mesh keeps the view so you can still see out.
Manual or motorised?
Either. Manual uses a crank handle, which suits a window you can reach easily. Motorised runs on a remote, and a wind sensor can retract it for you when the weather turns.
How long does it take?
Usually 5 to 6 weeks from deposit to install, and longer before Christmas.
What warranty do you give?
Two years full, parts and labour, with no call-out fee. Docril backs the fabric for 10 years.
Book a free measure for drop arm awnings in Auckland
A bedroom that's cool enough to sleep in starts with one phone call.
Call 09 441 9455 to book your free measure and quote. We're open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
You don't need sizes. One of the owners comes to your windows with the swatches and leaves you a written quote, and you decide in your own time. No pressure to go ahead.
Rather write? Use our contact form.
Related pages
✓ Awnings and retractable awnings
✓ Warranty