Let’s be honest: New Zealand’s weather is basically a mood ring with a grudge. One minute you’re basking in a glorious Tasman sun, and the next, a horizontal southerly is trying to relocate your patio furniture to the next suburb. If you’ve been looking into outdoor living solutions, you’ve probably noticed two extremes. On one side, you have the "budget" kitsets that feel like they’re made of recycled soda cans. On the other, you have full architectural custom builds that cost more than a mid-sized European SUV.
Enter the Cerberus louvre systems.
These systems represent the "Goldilocks" zone of outdoor design. They offer the structural integrity and high-end aesthetics of a custom build but leverage the efficiency of standard manufacturing. It’s what we call semi-custom: you get the affordability of a kitset with the flexibility to actually make it fit your life: and your pizza oven.
That matters in New Zealand, where wood-fired pizza ovens and outdoor fireplaces are extremely common in modern outdoor living spaces. The Cerberus series is specifically designed to accommodate these features through semi-custom modifications, so the structure works with the way people actually use their outdoor area.
Most people think they have to choose between a "standard" size that doesn't quite fit their deck or a "made to measure" system that requires a second mortgage. The Cerberus series flips the script.
While these systems utilize standard components to keep costs down, they are made to measure to a point. This means you aren’t stuck with a 3x3m box if your patio is actually 3.2m. We can manufacture specific sizes to fit your footprint perfectly. This "semi-custom" approach means you aren't paying for bespoke engineering from scratch, but you’re also not settling for a gap at the end of your pergola where the rain gets in.
If you’re going to bolt a massive structure to your house, you want to know it’s not going to fold like a lawn chair in a gale. The secret sauce of the Cerberus series is the material: Aluminium Grade 6063-T5.
Now, unless you’re an engineer or a massive fan of periodic tables, that might just sound like a bunch of numbers. Here is why it actually matters for your backyard:
When you are looking at a custom louvre kitset, the metal grade is the first thing you should check. If it isn't 6063-T5, it’s probably a lower-grade domestic alloy that won’t stand the test of time in the Shaky Isles.
This is where things get interesting. In New Zealand, pizza ovens and outdoor fireplaces are extremely common in outdoor living spaces. We’ve seen it a hundred times: someone installs a beautiful new louvre system, only to realize they can’t use those features anymore because the smoke has nowhere to go (and the heat might melt the finish on the louvres).
The Cerberus series is designed specifically for that reality. Because these systems are semi-custom, we can allow for wood fired pizza oven chimneys or outdoor fireplace vents through planned structural modifications.
Instead of a solid bank of louvres, we can incorporate specific cut-outs or structural provisions. This allows a chimney to pass safely through the roofline without compromising the waterproof integrity of the rest of the system.
We don't just build for the sunny days; we build for the days when the dog won't even go outside. The Cerberus systems are engineered to handle the reality of New Zealand’s climate:
A made to measure louvre system should do more than just sit there. The Cerberus series comes with options that take it from a "structure" to a "living room."
The Cerberus series isn't just another pergola; it’s a functional upgrade to your home’s footprint. Here is why it stands out:
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building an outdoor space that actually works for your lifestyle, it’s time to look at a custom louvre kitset.
