What a shadeport is — and what it protects
A shadeport is a tensioned shade-cloth roof, usually 80–95% knitted HDPE net, stretched over a galvanised steel frame. It blocks most of the coast's fierce UV that fades dashboards and cracks trim, drops the cabin temperature on a humid Durban day, and catches leaves and bird mess. It is the cheapest way to get a car under cover — roughly a third less than a steel carport — which is why shadeports are common across the South Coast and on second-vehicle bays. The frame is still galvanised, because salt air rusts a bare one just as fast under a net as under a roof.
| Shadeport | Size | Price band |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 3m × 6m | R4,500 – R9,000 |
| Double | 6m × 6m | R8,000 – R16,000 |
| Triple | 9m × 6m | R13,000 – R22,000 |
Shade net and Durban rain — the honest answer
Shade cloth stops sun but not rain — a Durban downpour passes straight through the net onto the car below. If keeping the car dry is the reason for the cover, a galvanised steel carport with an IBR roof is the right buy, not a shadeport. The full comparison is in carport vs shadeport. A shadeport is the right call when UV, cabin heat and budget are the priorities and a dry car is not — a common choice for a second vehicle or a shaded bay.
Shadeport or steel carport?
Choose a shadeport for a shaded, cooler car at the lowest price; choose a galvanised steel carport when the car must stay dry through the summer rain. Many coastal households fit a steel carport over the daily car and a shadeport over the second. See both on the carport prices in Durban page.
Common questions
How much is a shade net carport in Durban?
A shade net carport (shadeport) in Durban costs from R4,500 for a single, R8,000–R16,000 for a double and R13,000–R22,000 for a triple, supplied and installed — roughly a third less than an equivalent steel carport.
Does a shadeport keep the rain off in Durban?
No. A shadeport's shade-cloth roof blocks UV and heat but lets Durban's heavy rain pass straight through onto the car. For a dry car, a galvanised steel carport with an IBR roof is the right cover; a shadeport is for shade and budget.
What is the difference between a shadeport and a carport?
A shadeport has a tensioned shade-cloth roof for UV and heat at a low price; a carport has a solid steel, aluminium or timber roof that also keeps off the rain. The carport-vs-shadeport guide sets out which suits your need.