Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about blinds and awnings in Melbourne? Find answers about A1 Blinds’ indoor blinds, outdoor blinds, awnings, shutters, measuring, installation, pricing and warranty. Our Clayton-based team has been supplying and manufacturing window furnishings since 1958.
A1 Blinds Melbourne: Local & General
A1 Blinds is located at 1 Olive Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168. Our Melbourne showroom and local manufacturing facility are both at this address.
Yes. A1 Blinds offers free in-home measures and quotes across our Melbourne service area, with no obligation to proceed.
A1 Blinds services Melbourne’s Bayside, South-East, Eastern and Inner North-East suburbs, as well as the Mornington Peninsula, Cardinia and parts of West Gippsland. We do not currently service Melbourne’s CBD or western suburbs. Check our service-area map or contact us to confirm your suburb.
Yes and we encourage it. Visit the A1 Blinds showroom in Clayton to see our indoor blinds, outdoor awnings, shutters, curtains, fabrics and operating options in person. Our customer service team can help you compare products before you book a free measure and quote.
Yes. Our consultants offer in-home appointments and can arrange selected after-hours times where available. After-hours appointments are limited, so choosing the first available daytime booking may get your quote underway sooner.
A1 Blinds has operated in Melbourne since 1958. We began in neighbouring Westall as a Venetian blind manufacturer and have grown into a Clayton-based manufacturer and retailer of indoor blinds, outdoor blinds and awnings.
Yes. A1 Blinds manufactures more than 15,000 roller blinds, Sunblinds, vertical and folding arm awnings are made and assembled at our Clayton factory each year. The remainder of our products come from local wholesalers. Our only imported product is our Plantation Shutter which comes from our supplier MYT in China.
Blinds & Window Coverings
A1 Blinds offers chain-operated and spring-operated roller blinds, sunscreen and blockout roller blinds, dual roller blinds, motorised roller blinds, Roman blinds, vertical blinds, aluminium, PVC and composite timber-look Venetian blinds, plantation shutters, S-fold curtains and pelmet options. We can help match the product to your room, privacy, light-control and style needs.
Our outdoor range includes canvas sunblind awnings, fixed-guide awnings, motorised and crank-operated awnings, folding-arm awnings, eZip track-guided outdoor blinds, polycarbonate awnings and patio covers, motorised aluminium roller shutters, Kingston awnings and traditional aluminium awnings.
Roller blinds are the most popular choice for many Melbourne homes because they are affordable, versatile and easy to match with different interiors. They are available in blockout, light-filtering and sunscreen fabrics, plus chain-operated and motorised options.
A standard roller blind describes the blind system, while a sunscreen roller blind uses an open-weave mesh fabric. Sunscreen blinds reduce glare and daytime visibility into the home while retaining some outside view; blockout roller blinds provide greater privacy and light control.
Yes. Dual roller blinds combine two fabrics- usually a sunscreen blind for daytime glare and privacy, plus a blockout blind for night-time privacy and light control. They can share a dual bracket or be installed separately inside and outside the window recess, making them suitable for modern and traditional Melbourne homes.
Yes. Plantation shutters suit both contemporary Melbourne homes and traditional Victorian-style properties. Their clean lines, adjustable louvres and made-to-measure finish provide flexible light control, privacy and a timeless look.
Convenience is the biggest benefit of motorised blinds. You can raise or lower blinds and awnings by remote control, wall switch or scheduled automation. Compatible Acmeda systems can also connect through a Pulse 2 Hub for voice control with supported Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices.
S-fold curtains are a strong choice for large windows and sliding doors because their soft, continuous folds complement wide openings and help create a sense of height and space.
Linked roller blinds are another practical option for wide windows, allowing multiple blinds to operate from fewer controls and helping keep chains or other controls clear of walkways. The best solution depends on the opening width, access and desired finish.
For west-facing windows, we usually recommend an external window covering first. A canvas sunblind awning shades the glass before direct afternoon sun reaches it, helping reduce glare and summer heat entering the home.
Motorised roller shutters are another effective option, providing strong shading, privacy and an additional barrier between the window and outdoor conditions.
Sunscreen or mesh roller blinds are usually best for reducing glare in a home office while retaining an outside view. A 5% openness fabric, such as Aventus 5%, filters much of the sunlight and UV while avoiding the enclosed feel of a full blockout blind. Choose blockout fabric when maximum light control matters more than the view.
Yes. A1 Blinds supplies and installs motorised aluminium roller shutters across our Melbourne service area. Our shutters are assembled in our Clayton factory using components sourced from Melbourne suppliers and are available in 12 contemporary colours for new and established homes.
We specialise in motorised roller shutters because they offer convenient operation and a reliable, streamlined installation.
A1 Blinds is one of Melbourne’s long-established canvas sunblind awning manufacturers. We manufacture more than 10 sunblind awning styles at our Clayton factory, alongside fixed awnings and traditional Dutch hood awnings.
Our exclusive canvas collection includes patterns developed for A1 Blinds, and we retain access to selected older or discontinued designs. Where a suitable match is available, this can help customers replace one awning without changing every awning on the home.
Energy Efficiency
Yes. External blinds and awnings can help keep a Melbourne home cooler by shading the glass before direct summer sun reaches it. This reduces solar heat gain through the window and can support air conditioning and other cooling measures.
Yes. External awnings are designed to shade windows and reduce direct solar heat gain. Canvas sunblinds are particularly well suited to Melbourne conditions because they stop much of the sun before it reaches the glass. Internal blinds still help with glare, privacy and heat control, but external shading tackles the heat earlier.
Generally, yes. Outdoor blinds and awnings are often more effective for summer shading because they intercept direct sunlight before it heats the window. Indoor blinds can still improve comfort and glare control, especially where an external product cannot be installed.
Yes. Well-chosen window coverings can improve home energy efficiency by managing summer heat gain and winter heat loss. External awnings shade sun-exposed glass, while well-fitted internal blinds, shutters and curtains add an insulating layer. Results vary with the product, fabric, fit, glazing and window direction.
Yes. By shading sun-exposed windows, external awnings can reduce heat entering the home and may delay or reduce the need for air conditioning. The actual benefit depends on the home, glazing, window orientation, weather and how the covering is used.
Yes. In summer, external awnings help stop direct sun reaching the glass. In winter, well-fitted internal blinds, shutters or curtains can create an extra insulating layer between the room and a cold window, helping reduce heat loss. The best year-round option depends on the window, fabric and fit.
Yes. Window direction affects the amount and timing of direct sun. West-facing windows often receive intense afternoon sun, while north- and east-facing windows have different shading needs throughout the day and year. A1 Blinds can recommend the right indoor or outdoor covering after assessing the window orientation and exposure.
Measuring, Installation & Ordering
Start by calling A1 Blinds or submitting an online enquiry. We enter your details into our quoting system and arrange a free in-home measure and consultation. In many cases, your consultant can prepare and send a digital quote during the appointment; more detailed quotes are sent once product choices and site requirements are confirmed.
Lead times depend on the product, fabric availability and season. Roller blinds and canvas sunblinds in stock fabrics can often be ready in around three weeks; non-stock fabrics and other indoor or outdoor products may take longer. Imported plantation shutters have the longest lead time. We will confirm the current estimate when you order, as lead times can change.
Yes. When installing a replacement blind, our installers can take the existing blind down. Removal and disposal from your property is available for an additional charge and can be discussed when the representative is quoting for you.
Yes. A1 Blinds measures and installs blinds in apartments and townhouses across our service area. Please tell us about parking, lift access, owners-corporation rules or restricted installation times when booking so we can plan the visit properly.
Yes. A1 Blinds supplies and installs window coverings for new homes, townhouses, schools, businesses and established homes. For a new build, we recommend arranging the measure once window frames, floors and other relevant finishes are complete and accessible.
After you approve the quote and place your order, it is checked and scheduled for manufacturing or supply. Our office team contacts you to arrange installation as the order approaches completion. If a fabric, component or site issue affects the order, we will contact you to discuss the available options.
Pricing & Warranty
Blind prices in Melbourne vary according to the product, window size, fabric, controls, installation requirements and any motorisation. Because A1 Blinds manufactures many products in Clayton, we can offer strong value while controlling quality. Book a free measure and quote for accurate, made-to-measure pricing.
A1 Blinds provides a lifetime workmanship warranty to the original purchaser while they continue to own and live in the home. It covers defects in parts, manufacturing and installation, subject to our warranty terms. Normal wear, fading, misuse, poor care, storm, water, fire, power outage or surge damage are excluded. Motor damage caused by water or power surges is also excluded, and customers are responsible for setting up and maintaining third-party devices such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Please refer to the current A1 Blinds care guide and written warranty for full conditions.
