Should My Outdoor Blind Be Face Fit or Reveal Fit?

The short answer: a face fit outdoor blind mounts on the front of your posts, beam or wall and covers the opening with an overlap. A reveal fit blind sits inside the opening, between the posts or reveals. Face fit is the more forgiving, better-sealing choice for most alfresco areas, patios and balconies; reveal fit gives a neater, built-in look but demands square, plumb, flat surfaces. The right choice depends on your structure — and it changes how you measure and what you select in the configurator.

What is a face fit outdoor blind?

A face fit blind (also called an outside mount or face fix) is fixed to the face of the structure surrounding the opening — the front of the verandah posts, the fascia or beam above, or the wall around a window or door. The blind and its side tracks or channels sit proud of the opening and overlap it, so the fabric seals against the structure rather than into it.

Because nothing inside the opening gets in the way, face fit copes with downpipes, light fittings, uneven brickwork and posts that are slightly out of plumb. The trade-off is that the tracks, brackets or pelmet are visible on the face of the structure rather than tucked away inside the opening.

What is a reveal fit outdoor blind?

A reveal fit blind (also called a recess fit, inside mount or reveal fix) is installed inside the opening itself — between the two posts, or between the side reveals of a window or door. Fitted well, it sits flush with the structure for a clean, built-in look that keeps the posts and beam on show.

To slide into the opening the blind is made a few millimetres narrower than the space, so a reveal fit needs the opening to be square and the two mounting faces to be plumb, parallel and flat for the full height of the tracks. It also needs enough depth on the post or reveal to carry the track or channel without it standing proud.

Face fit vs reveal fit at a glance

	Face fit	Reveal fit
Where it mounts	On the front of the posts, beam or wall, over the opening	Inside the opening, between the posts or reveals
Weather and insect seal	Best — fabric and tracks overlap the structure	Good on a square opening; small clearance each side
Look	Tracks and pelmet visible on the face	Neat, flush, built-in
Needs	A flat strip of structure to fix to, each side and above	Square opening; plumb, parallel, flat post faces; enough depth
Out-of-square openings	Hidden by the overlap	Gaps taper and the eye catches it
How you measure	The total width and drop you want covered, overlap included	The exact opening — smallest of three widths

What are the advantages and disadvantages of face fit?

Face fit wins on coverage and forgiveness: because the blind overlaps the opening, it gives the best seal against wind, rain, glare and insects, and it works on almost any structure — including posts that are not perfectly plumb and openings that are not perfectly square.

Advantages:

• Better seal. With the tracks fixed to the face of the posts and the fabric overlapping the opening, far less weather and light creeps around the edges.
• Forgiving of imperfect structures. Australian pergolas and verandahs are rarely square; the overlap hides it. On track-guided blinds a face-fit angle can also take up small variations in the post face.
• Works around obstructions. Downpipes, brackets, lights and uneven brickwork inside the opening don't matter.
• Bigger blind, more coverage. Mounting above and beside the opening covers the structure as well as the gap.

Disadvantages:

• More visible hardware. Tracks, brackets or pelmet sit proud of the structure rather than disappearing into the opening.
• Needs a clear fixing strip. Each track needs a flat, solid face for its full height, and the head needs a solid beam or fascia — see our installation guides for what each product needs.
• Slightly more fabric. A wider blind can cost a little more than the same blind reveal fitted.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of reveal fit?

Reveal fit wins on looks: the blind tucks between the posts for a tailored, architectural finish, and the structure around it stays completely clear.

Advantages:

• Clean, built-in appearance. The blind reads as part of the structure, not an addition to it.
• Posts and beam stay on show. Ideal where the timber or steel is a feature.
• Nothing protrudes. No tracks on the outside face to catch a shoulder or a broom.

Disadvantages:

• Demands a true opening. The tracks must be plumb, parallel and flat for their full height — there is no overlap to absorb error. Track-guided blinds in particular need the two channels parallel to within a couple of millimetres over the whole drop.
• Needs depth. The post or reveal must be deep enough to carry the track or channel without it standing proud.
• Shows up wonky openings. If the opening isn't square, the gaps taper.
• Obstructions limit you. Anything inside the opening — a light, a downpipe, a bracket — can foul the tracks or fabric.

Which should I choose?

Choose face fit if you want the best weather and insect seal, if your posts or reveals are not perfectly plumb and parallel, if the opening is out of square, or if anything inside the opening would foul the blind. Choose reveal fit if the streamlined look matters most, the opening is square, the mounting faces are plumb, flat and deep enough, and a small clearance each side won't bother you.

There's no single right answer for a whole alfresco, either — plenty of homes run a reveal fit on a neat, square opening between two steel posts and a face fit on the adjacent bay where a downpipe is in the way.

How it plays out for each type of outdoor blind

Track-guided (Ziptrak®) blinds. Face fit is the most common choice: the side tracks land on the widest flat surface, and the blind seals against the structure rather than needing the opening to be perfectly true. In the configurator you choose Face Fit or Reveal Fit, and for face fit you can select a face-fit angle or channel on both sides or one side. A reveal fit between posts looks beautifully integrated, but the posts must be plumb, parallel and flat for the full height of each track. Either way, read our Ziptrak installation guide before you measure.

Fit is only the first thing a Ziptrak® order form asks. Head option, bottom rail, weatherstrip, centre lock and the rest all follow — Ziptrak options explained covers every one of them.

Cable guide and side retention blinds. These fix to the face of the structure by default, and the guide brackets or channels need solid masonry or framing beyond the opening on each side — the manufacturer's allowances are in our cable guide and side retention guide. Reveal fit is possible on a square masonry opening; the maker takes off a small clearance so the blind fits between the reveals.

Straight drop and pivot arm awnings. These are almost always face fixed above the opening — to the fascia, beam or wall — with the fabric overlapping the opening each side. Measure the total width and drop you want covered, and check the head fixing can carry the load. See the straight drop and pivot arm guides.

How do I measure for a face fit outdoor blind?

Measure the total area you want covered, in millimetres, with a steel tape:

• Width: measure from the outside edge of where one track (or the fabric) will sit to the outside edge of the other — that is the overall make size. If you are covering an opening between posts, measure the opening and add the overlap onto each post face; check that strip is flat, solid and clear of downpipes and lights for the full drop.
• Drop: measure from where the top of the blind will sit — the top of the pelmet or hood — down to where you want the bottom rail to stop (the floor, a rail, or a set height above the ground).
• Double-check: take the width at the top, middle and bottom. The configurator asks for the top width and the minimum width through the drop, so record both. Note anything the blind must clear.

How do I measure for a reveal fit outdoor blind?

Measure the exact opening size — and don't subtract anything:

• Width: measure between the two posts or reveals at the top, middle and bottom. Record the smallest of the three, and note the largest — if they differ by more than a few millimetres, the opening is out of square and a face fit will serve you better.
• Drop: measure from the underside of the beam or head to where the bottom rail will stop, at the left, centre and right. Record the smallest.
• Depth and plumb: check each mounting face is deep enough for the track or channel, flat for the full height, and plumb — a spirit level against each post tells you quickly.
• Leave the deductions to the maker. Quote the exact opening size and select Reveal Fit — the operating clearance is taken off in manufacture. If you deduct as well, the blind arrives undersized and the gaps double.

Five measuring mistakes we see all the time

• Using a fabric or plastic tape. They stretch and sag. A steel tape, in millimetres, is the only way.
• Measuring in centimetres. Made-to-measure means millimetres — 5 mm is the difference between flush and jammed. Write 3600 mm, never "360".
• Assuming the opening is square. One width measurement isn't enough; posts routinely lean 10 mm or more over a 2.4 m drop.
• Making your own deductions on a reveal fit. The maker already does — doubling up leaves gaps you can post a letter through.
• Forgetting what's in the way. Downpipes, lights, brackets and gutters have ruined more installs than bad measuring ever has.

Frequently asked questions

Can I face fit a blind if my post face isn't flat?

Usually. On track-guided blinds a face-fit angle takes up small variations, and a track can be packed out where a post is slightly out. If the face is badly uneven, fix a straight timber or aluminium packer first and mount the track to that. Awnly supplies only — the fixings and any packers are your responsibility.

My posts aren't plumb — can I still reveal fit?

Not well. A reveal fit has no overlap to absorb error, so tracks that are not plumb and parallel bind, gap or twist the fabric. Face fit the blind to the front of the posts instead; the overlap hides the lean and the angle or channel gives you some adjustment.

Which fit seals better against wind and insects?

Face fit, because the tracks and fabric overlap the structure. A reveal fit carries a small operating clearance down each side; on a square opening it seals well, but there is less margin. On any track-guided blind the zip or spline holds the fabric edge inside the track either way — the difference is at the track-to-structure junction.

Are outdoor blinds usually face fit or reveal fit?

Most outdoor blinds are face fitted to the front of the posts or beam, because the tracks get a wider flat surface to fix to and the blind seals against the structure. Reveal fitting between posts is possible when the posts are plumb, parallel and flat for the full track height.

Do I make deductions when I measure?

No. For a reveal fit, give the exact opening sizes and select Reveal Fit — the maker takes off the operating clearance. For a face fit, give the total size you want covered, overlap included. In both cases, what you enter should be a real measurement, not an adjusted one.

Can I mix face fit and reveal fit on the same alfresco?

Yes, and it often makes sense — a reveal fit on a square bay between two steel posts and a face fit on the bay beside it where a downpipe is in the way. Order each blind with its own fit; if a single blind needs a face fit on one side and a reveal fit on the other, select Face Fit and describe the arrangement in the notes at the bottom of the configurator. Keep the fabric and colour consistent and the mix reads as deliberate.

Still not sure? We'll tell you straight

Every Awnly blind is made to measure, so the face-or-reveal question comes up on every single order — and the honest answer sometimes depends on details a blog post can't see, like how plumb your posts are or where the downpipe runs. Send us your sizes and a photo through our free quote form and we'll recommend the right fit for each opening, read the installation guide for your product, or browse our range of awnings and blinds to get started.