Vertical vs horizontal louvres is the first decision for any louvre privacy screen. Blade direction decides what your neighbours can see, how the air moves, how the sun and rain are handled, and how the screen looks on your home. Eco Awnings custom-makes both orientations in our Sydney workshop — here is the honest comparison.
- How vertical and horizontal blades change sightlines and privacy.
- Which orientation handles sun, wind-driven rain and coastal weather better.
- How 85mm and 160mm blades compare.
- Answers to the questions Sydney homeowners ask most.
THE BASICS
What Is a Privacy Screen?
On approvals, NSW describes a privacy screen (for exempt development in some cases) as a screen with no individual opening more than 30mm wide and total openings no more than 30% of the screen area. Use that as a reality check while you plan blade spacing and gaps.
THE COMPARISON
Vertical vs Horizontal Louvres: Side by Side
Choose the orientation that solves your actual problem first — then tune blade spacing and angle for light and airflow.
Vertical blades — stop side-on views
Vertical 160mm sliding + adjustable louvres — BBQ with an ocean outlook.
Vertical louvres suit boundary walkways, narrow balconies and tall openings, because they interrupt sideways and angled views — the classic problem when a neighbour’s window looks across at yours. In the install pictured, vertical 160mm blades on sliding panels screen a barbecue area without giving up the ocean view.
Vertical 85mm adjustable louvres in Monument.
Vertical blades also draw the eye upward, making a narrow space feel taller — and adjustable vertical blades give you directional control: angle them away from the neighbour, keep your own outlook. The Monument-coloured 85mm screen here does exactly that behind a balcony barbecue and sink.
Horizontal blades — cover wide spans and overhead views
Horizontal 160mm adjustable louvres — with an 85mm fixed screen on the side.
Horizontal louvres suit wide openings and long balustrade runs, spreading shade across a larger span with a long, clean architectural line. The 160mm screen pictured runs behind a barbecue, paired with an 85mm fixed screen on the side return — two blade sizes working together in one outdoor room.
Horizontal 85mm adjustable louvres in white — three bays behind an outdoor kitchen.
Horizontal blades are also the answer when the overlooking comes from above — a two-storey neighbour or an elevated deck — and their blade angle naturally sheds rain away from the opening. The white three-bay screen here spreads shade and privacy right across an outdoor kitchen.
GETTING IT RIGHT
The Airflow Factor
Airflow remains the make-or-break factor. Tight spacing can feel private but trap heat and cooking smells; wider gaps breathe better but demand smarter sightline control through blade depth and angle. Adjustable blades solve the trade-off — open to roughly 90 degrees for a full breeze and a clear view, close down when the neighbours are out on their deck.
Sun, Rain and Weather
Horizontal blades are superior against high midday sun and wind-driven rain. Vertical blades handle low morning and afternoon sun better on east and west faces, where the light comes in at an angle. In Sydney’s coastal suburbs, salt air punishes mild steel and thin coatings fast — exterior screens need marine-grade powder coating over architectural-grade aluminium.
85mm or 160mm Blades?
Blade size changes the character of the screen. 85mm blades give a finer, tighter screen with smaller gaps — ideal close to a window or on a narrow walkway. 160mm blades make a bolder architectural statement, span larger openings with fewer blades, and open up a wider view when the blades are turned. Eco Awnings custom-makes both, fixed or adjustable — see the 160mm aluminium louvres range for the large-blade option.
The Material Quality Question
This is where build quality matters: architectural-grade aluminium, marine-grade powder coating and stainless steel components keep blades aligned so gaps stay consistent year after year.
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you choose vertical louvres instead of horizontal?
When the overlooking comes from the side or on an angle — boundary walkways, narrow balconies and tall openings. Vertical blades cut sideways sightlines while keeping your straight-ahead view. Horizontal blades are the better choice for wide spans and views from above.
Which direction should privacy screen louvres face?
Point the blades at what you want to block. Stand where you normally sit, map the main overlook direction from neighbouring windows, and choose the orientation that interrupts that line. Adjustable blades let you fine-tune the angle through the day.
Do louvre privacy screens still let air through?
Yes — that is their main advantage over solid panels. Blade spacing and angle control the balance between privacy and airflow, and adjustable louvres open to around 90 degrees for a full breeze and a clear outlook.
Are there any disadvantages to louvre screens?
Fixed blades block the view in one direction only, so orientation has to be right the first time — and cheap mild-steel screens rust quickly in Sydney’s coastal air. Custom-made aluminium louvres with marine-grade powder coating avoid both problems.
EXPLORE THE RANGE
Our Custom Louvre Screens
Not sure which louvre suits your space? Compare the full range of aluminium louvres we custom-make in Sydney — or get a quote and we’ll recommend the right blade and orientation.
NEXT STEPS
Your Next Steps
Eco Awnings custom-makes aluminium privacy screen louvres in Sydney — vertical or horizontal, fixed, adjustable or sliding, in 85mm and 160mm blades, powder coated in your colour and supplied complete, ready to install. See real installs in our privacy screen gallery, or tell us what you need to block and we will recommend the right orientation and blade for your space.