Exterior shading continues to grow in popularity as homeowners and businesses like restaurants look to create comfortable outdoor spaces without the cost of new construction. But the power of outdoor shading systems like the FlexShade ZIP and ZIP XL is in their ability to provide a sealed opening that keeps out insects, rain, and weather without gaps. However, one persistent challenge keeps showing up: uneven exterior surfaces. Patios, decks, and hardscapes rarely slope perfectly, yet shades still need to meet those surfaces with a clean, consistent appearance.
That’s exactly the problem the new Align Bar was created to solve.
The Align Bar is a floating, extruded aluminum bar that attaches directly to — and fully encapsulates — the standard FlexShade® ZIP hem bar. The “floating” design allows the bar to self‑adjust as it lowers, following angled or out‑of‑level surfaces while maintaining a sealed, finished look.
Designed for Real‑World Conditions
Outdoor environments are rarely perfect, and the Align Bar is built with that reality in mind. It can accommodate slope differences up to 4 inches across widths up to 16 feet, so you can confidently specify FlexShade ZIP systems even when the exterior grade isn’t perfectly level.
The Align Bar’s profile—5.17inches high × 1.31 inches deep — adds a substantial, architectural presence without overwhelming the design. Black brush liners along the bottom edge and endcaps help block light and reduce visible gaps, ensuring the system performs as well as it looks.
A Seamless, Integrated Finish
A key part of our design philosophy is visual integration. The Align Bar is finished to match the standard hem bar, headbox, and side channels, creating a cohesive aesthetic across the entire shade system. This attention to detail ensures the Align Bar doesn’t look like an add‑on — it looks like it was always meant to be there.
Making Installation Easier — and Results Better
For installers, the Align Bar removes the guesswork and frustration of dealing with uneven surfaces. For designers, it preserves clean lines and consistent shading performance. And for end users, it delivers a better‑sealed, more polished exterior shade.
The Align Bar is a simple idea executed with precision, and it brings FlexShade ZIP and ZIP XL performance to a wider range of real‑world applications.
If you’re designing or installing exterior shades where the ground isn’t perfectly level, the Align Bar may be the missing piece that brings everything together. The Align Bar can be ordered as part of a new FlexShade ZIP shade, or it can be retrofitted to existing ZIP installations!
Learn more at draperinc.com.
