Shade sails may be easy to install and maintain, but there are still certain care guidelines to follow. Do you leave them up all year round? They came with all the hardware to hang, though you can buy an extra hardware kit if you need it.
Nothing else is covered, and if your shade falls apart in a year, there will be no UV stability to measure! Published or featured in numerous national publications, including: This allowance, together with the curved edges of the sail means that the shaded area will be a little less than might be expected. These triangle shade sails were used over a patio space next to a pool. Again this was a great post, thank you.
Eventually, the attachment points will come loose, and this could cause lasting damage to whatever it is attached to.
To find a suitable location, check the sun direction and measure the area where you would like to enjoy shade in your garden or patio area.
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1. Consider the size of the shade sail, sun direction, strength of existing structures, the right attachment point and fixing point, and more.. Clean your shade sail once a year or so.
Slacken the screw tensioners until they are at their longest settings. Any questions? To ensure that your existing structure is appropriate to support these loads, it may be necessary to consult a qualified builder.
Make sure when you measure the length of your extension wire, the turnbuckle is adjusted at its most open position.
Its durable material makes it ideal for raw, natural conditions, and helps your campsite stay dry and out of the sun. Tip: Leave your wire rope loose until all of your corners of the shade sail are attached.
If I didnt have Steve to think through the triangle thing, I would have gone with a rectangle. Popular in Europe for quite awhile, they are catching on in the US quickly because of their ease of installation, ability to adjust them to each lighting situation, and lets face it they are just plain awesome.
The recommended final tension varies with sail size but is typically 30-50Kg at each corner for sails up to 25m2.
However, this has two disadvantages: A more visually attractive solution will have varying heights for the attachment points and a slope to allow heavy rain to run off. Now you want to really tighten the turnbuckles. Your email address will not be published.
Add a minimum of 20 cm to each post position to compensate for the awning attachment set and tightening. Installing the shade sails is as easy as making sure you have strong supports, such as the side of a building, or a post. The snow, cold, and frost are not particularly good for the contraption, and can rust the hardware too.
The choice of the type and disposition of the sails is driven by the area to be shaded and the attachment points available. Then we laid out the shade sails on the ground in the manner in which we wanted to hang them, then measured how much we would need to extend each end to reach the posts.
Easy to install, and cheap to buy, shade sails are the modern-day answer to protection from harmful UV rays from the sun in the outdoor areas of our homes and gardens. Balcony vs Porch vs Patio vs Deck vs Veranda Explained They are strong when put in cement at the correct angle. It was in the industrial revolution when shade structures were able to grow in size and substantially so due to new industrial machines and techniques.
(see image below). If the area to be shaded is completely sheltered from the wind, or indoors, the sail can simply be tensioned sufficiently to remove the slack.
We stuck a screwdriver throughout the open body of the turnbuckle, and used it to turn the buckle when it got tight, to tighten it even further. This will avoid you having to replace them every so often. 
They were made out of flax (linen), hemp, cotton, and canvas. Tip: Your shade sail will arrive nicely folded (hopefully). After a week of use, we recommend retensioning to allow for any settling of the sail.
This will ensure stability and stress in the post. If youre heading into the wilderness to get back in touch with nature, dont forget to pack your shade sail!
Tip: Large shade sails need bigger, sturdier hardware. There are many brands, shapes and sizes.
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Once a week or so will do.
Voir Image : Shade Sail installation advice. Midway through the 20th century, the concept of tensile architecture for shade to large outdoor areas was put to the test when it was employed at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne in 1959.
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You can tighten your wire once all corners are securely linked to their attachment points. We ordered them off Amazon be sure to order a good quality brand, like Coolaroo or something similar otherwise they wont last m ore than one season, Your email address will not be published. Precaution is required when considering attaching to existing structures, such as your home. 2022 WOODARD BATES MEDIA LLC All Rights Reserved Site by SB, April 14, 2021 at 4:13 pm, March 15, 2020 at 6:35 pm, August 1, 2019 at 6:54 pm, March 13, 2021 at 12:53 am, November 19, 2018 at 9:47 am, April 10, 2017 at 6:16 am, April 17, 2017 at 12:19 pm, June 21, 2016 at 12:01 pm, July 13, 2015 at 11:14 pm, July 14, 2015 at 12:03 pm, March 7, 2015 at 12:55 pm, March 12, 2015 at 12:17 pm, October 23, 2014 at 7:50 am, October 31, 2014 at 6:43 am.
Former home decorating expert for Lifetime TV, Galtime and Country Woman Magazine. Larger sails and windy locations will require higher tension. Kathy Bates' previous writing credits include: In addition it is advisable to recheck the sail tension after it has been exposed to windy conditions.
Select a heavy duty high-quality shade sail thats best for your needs and desires. Metal posts can be supplied for embedding in a concrete foundation or with a mounting plate for bolting to the floor.
Shade Sails are an awesome idea.
For instance 4x4x12 would need a 4 deep hole and therefore leave 8 above ground. See photo, below. In order to fully tighten the shade sail it is necessary to leave a gap between the sail and the fixing points for the adjusting tensioners and to allow for the stretch of the sail under tension.
There is nothing you can do, of course, if the distance is too short.
Thanks for sharing Kathy! Why?
Very good article.. ive always loved these shade sails.
Voir Image : Architectural torsion - shade sail hypar effect. Bear in mind that steel posts are hollow and have a relatively thin wall diameter of only a few mm, so what may appear to be a very substantial metal post will not necessarily be as resistant as a wooden post of the same diameter.
Square shade sails are popular the world over for providing a large amount of shaded area.
Among the many great uses for shade sails is their use in providing shade for cars, which can otherwise sizzle under the sun. All you need to do is add water and follow the instructions on the packaging. Also note that if two sails are installed side by side, there will be an unshaded area between the two due to the curved edges. You should have mounting brackets and turnbuckles, which tighten to adjust. Many shade sails come with a 10-year warranty, but be warned that this is for the UV stability of the fabric.
We bought aCoolaroo shade sail from Wayfair. Before you commence installation it is very important that you consider the most suitable location for your shade sail(s) taking into account the following: If you were interested in more information on our range of shade sails, click here to view all related Coolaroo products. Voir Image : Post diameter and resistance to wind forces. Need help getting your shade sail up? Doesnt come undone.
Tip: If you want to be able to put your shade sail up and take it down quickly and easily, properly installed pulleys are the answer. This can be the wall of your house, large trees (trunk only), carport etc.
Your hole should be a minimum of 30 cm in diameter by 50 cm deep. The diameter of the hole would typically be 350mm, but this is less important than the overall depth of the hole.
Not good for our skin, or our relaxation! We have been manufacturing shade sails for years and your installation was on point. The size of the shade sail determines how useful it is. Taking each corner in turn, fasten the fully extended tensioners to the selected mounting point at each corner of the sail.
Make sure to level off your anchor post stainless steel hooks and make sure the corner in which you want the water to run off is slightly lower than the other points. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the afternoon the sun can be almost vertically overhead but in the evening it may still be very hot but with the sun much lower in the sky. Learn how your comment data is processed. For more general guidelines, visit this article on installing both square and triangle sail shades. If youre using timber, use a bitumen paint on the part of the timber that will be submerged in the cement, together with deck stain or varnish on the remaining part of the wood. We really didnt want these to be a short lived solution. You can always use chain or galvanised wire to extend the sun shade from your anchor posts if the distance is too great. Rectangular backyard shade sails keep an outdoor dining space cool. Youre just looking to ensure nothing has come loose or rusted, that the tension is still strong enough on your fabric, and that your shade sail is generally still in good condition.
Perhaps you could get permission? Here are the hardware sets that came with our Coolaroo shade sails.
I believe we used 10 foot posts, and buried them 2 feet down for good support. After you have selected the right fixing point and attachment point, and determined the location for your shade sail, the deeper you dig your holes, the sturdier your shade sail post will be. The waterproof shade sails can be purchased as either triangles, squares, or shapes with five, six, and more points. You will also need two pieces of timber per anchor post to help keep the post upright and in position while your cement goes off. To stop a pole from coming loose and potentially hurting someone, dig your hole extra deep, and use concrete to set it.
Spread the sail out on the ground and attach the fasteners at each corner.
It doesnt have to be a perfect measurement because the turnbuckle tightens down. If you dont have enough fixing points or mounting points, then you will need to erect some using wood, stainless steel or even bamboo. For particularly big shade sails, use commercial brackets. . 
What Is a Veranda? In the form of umbrellas, waterproof sails, or shaded arched canopies, they can be installed over poolside loungers, jacuzzis, and other poolside structures. Attach your shade sail to your house wherever possible, since this is the strongest structure on your land (usually).
And Ive been using sails for 6 years and for three i messed with the turnbuckle. Again, make sure to either use some chain or galvanized wire on each corner to help with tightening the shade sail. Which brings us to the oh-so-popular triangle shade sail. Choose the right location for your shade sail. Shade screens are a shade product that are related to shade sails but have some key differences.
The screw tensioners allow a large amount of force to be easily and evenly applied to the sail and the carabiner allow the sail to be quickly demounted if strong winds are forecast. Always check your shade sail and its hardware after a storm to check if anything has come loose. Personally I prefer the wooden 44. We preferred to layer several triangle shade sails, but if you prefer, they come in squares and rectangles too.
Measure the length to the turnbuckle for the opposite fastener, and create another loop at that end.
This last photo, below, gives you a picture of one of our issues with the wooden posts we used as supports. Here are some super handy ways you can put your shade sail to good use: A shade sail in the garden can not only shelter (partially, at least) your outdoor furniture from the elements, but it provides shade and protection for you and your guests, so you can enjoy the garden any time of day. Could I use a tree as an anchor point and second floor deck? Connected to steel posts and rafters, shade umbrellas are probably the most well-known type of tensile shade construction though its not generally thought of as a shade sail. Keep a nylon broom near your shade sail, and use it to scrape away dirt, animal droppings, and leaves from your shade sail on a weekly basis. Do not use your barbecue under your shade structure. I dont use turnbuckle anymore because with the wind the next thing you know you have the screw out and you are running around trying to reconnect it 
Among several types of shade sails; rectangle and triangle shade sail are top shade sails design that people loves to see and use for covering their outdoor open space. Selecting the position of your shade sail is the key first step before you commence installation. Of course, the strength of the sail depends upon the durability and toughness of the fabric and techniques employed. This shade sail installation guide will walk you through everything you need to know on how to install a shade sail. Failure to do this can actually cause damage to your house if its attached to it at any point. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Make sure you attach them to a stud on a building, a sturdy metal pole, or learn how to make a wooden post work, as we did. Using a carabiner (snap hook) at each mounting point will allow a shade sail to be taken down in less than 5 minutes. The Best Hot Tub Enclosures for Your Backyard Oasis, What Is a Veranda?
This 10 minute video provides a simple overview to installing a 3.6 x 3.6 Coolaroo Triangle Shade Sail in your garden. When selecting a location for your shade sail, check that you have mounting points around the area in which you would like to have your sail. Synthetic materials like PVC have led to the creation of the modern quality shade sail that we know today. Photo from Terry Designs. In the event of bad weather and strong winds, the loads applied to the fastenings by the sail can be enormous and should not be underestimated.
Top of the PageDownload the installation guide in pdf formatGuide d'installation en franais / Installation guide in French, Architectural torsion - shade sail hypar effect, Fittings required for a safe shade sail installation, Post diameter and resistance to wind forces, Download the installation guide in pdf format, Guide d'installation en franais / Installation guide in French, Are designed to be installed under tension, Are designed for attachment to an existing structure, In heavy rain the water will form a pocket in the sail - although the sails are breathable and the water will eventually drip through, A flat, horizontal installation is not the most aesthetically pleasing, Screw Tensioner - to easily apply adequate tension to the sail, Pad-Eye or Eye Bolt to provide an attachment point on a wall or post. Membrane structures were used for Saudi Arabias Tuwaiq Palace, and the roof of Munichs Olympic stadium, both in the 70s. Her book spent time at #1 on Amazon's Home & Garden Topseller List in 2002.
Have the fixing points cover an area at least 1 foot larger than your shade sail. Fabric is typically tightened between four corners of a rectangle frame, and connected all around, and the structure is then often connected to two, three, four, or more similar frames with the same fabric tensioned in the middle. The following table provides a guideline to selecting metal posts, depending on the sail size and wind conditions. (More on that below!)
For us, a few corners ended up being right above the middle of the lawn or the middle of the patio.
In a typical outdoor installation of a sail with a surface area of up to 25m2, a tension of 30-60Kg will be required at each corner. Incorrectly installed shade sails can cause physical harm to those around it. Check the strength of existing structures intended to be your mounting points.
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My landlord will probably whine about my attaching ropes to his house or fence.
Now youre ready to dig your holes for anchor post positioning and installation. Heres the best of the bunch: Properly securing your shade sail is one of the most important steps you can take when you install shade sails. Most shade is likely to be required during the summer season, particularly during the afternoon and early evening. So long as there are trees to attach your carabiners to, you can hang up a temporary shade sail for an afternoon picnic. Pick up an awning attachment kit to help string up your shade sail correctly, too, as most of the less expensive types dont come with this kit. We installed these posts ourselves for the purpose of mounting the shade sails. Voir Image : Insecure shade sail mounting.
Creative gardening tips, ideas, & DIY projects. I tie very neatly to an eyebolt and it works. I know, sounds like a lot But it turned out to be awesome!
That way, you have room to tighten it down.
The loser your shade sail is, the more prone it will be to moving in the wind, which puts strain on the attachment points. An allowance of 300mm would be suitable for sails of up to 30m2 - this being the distance between the fixing ring of the untensioned sail and the attachment point. Its generally possible to make out vague outlines of objects and people behind a privacy screen shade sail. The sail that comes to mind first for most people is the waterproof shade sail. Just dont get too close or hose it too aggressively.
Since the timber frame of our house didnt offer enough solid anchor points for the way we wanted to position it, we had to erect two of our own anchor posts using 3 x 3 inch timber. The right attachment point or fixing point is a key installation check.. Want to see more shade sails used to make amazing outdoor spaces?
Waterproof sails protect from harsh elements like heavy rain and the blazing sun. If your shade sail is installed quite high, ensure the broom has a handle long enough to reach the top.
Voir Image : Shade Sails as tensioned structures, Voir Image : Shade Screens for existinmg structures. For an above ground height of 2m, a total post length of 3m will be required, with 1m embedded in concrete. Check your shade sail and its hardware regularly. Steve and I were looking for an outdoor patio cover that was a little different, and that didnt require major construction either.
Has anyone found a source for large metal poles to support the sail shades?
Tip: Buy or borrow a come along from your local DIY store. The ancient Greeks and Romans did the same taking advantage of the technology to provide shade to their spectators at the Colosseum in Rome (it was pulled into place by sailors, of course!). Look for a shade sail with high UV protection. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases.
It can take around 3 to 4 hours to properly clean a shade sail (and thats with a helper, too!). How to Repel Mosquitos, DIY Planter Bench & Planter Coffee Table Ideas & Projects.
Attach your shade sail to poles with care. Ours are 16x16x16, but make sure you measure where you want shade, and from where you are going to be attaching them, and take into consideration that the ropes or cables to attach give you some extra length too Good luck, and thx!
In planning the layout of a shade structure the movement of the sun must be considered to take account of the position of the sun at different times of day and during different months of the year. Keep your stainless steel turnbuckles properly lubricated. This is quite normal and not an indication that the shade sail is too small. Buy your sun shade sails to cover the area you intend.
We got some metal cable and crimps from home depot.
The metal cable goes through one end of the crimp, loops through the buckle on the shade sail, then back through the other side of the crimp.
Providing shade for the little ones while they frolic in their play area is another excellent use for a shade sail. So this is what we did. Required fields are marked *. Weve had the Amazon sails up for 3 years now, with no sign of wear Make sure to get the ones with Sunbrella fabric though!
Apply tension evenly at each corner of the sail - do not fully tension one corner before applying tension to the remaining mounting points.
But if you decide to go with our brilliant plan, we found a fix.
Again, notice the very substantial poles they used to anchor the sails we cant emphasize that enough!
Also check where you would like to barbecue. This was a great post and your results were amazing.
Wooden posts can provide an economical solution but must be of at least 125mm diameter and be pressure treated against rot. 19 Types of Sheds for Storage and Projects We researched this a lot and bought Coolaroo because they have the best quality UV resistant fabric.
Sometimes, even in the cool water of a pool, the sun can be really intense.
Sounds simpler, but not as cool!
I still need to install the posts myself. Here are some of the most common types you should know about.
Photo by Tenshon.
Make sure the Tree is very sturdy!
Spray on a flat, clean surface, and clean the shade sail in sections. Here is our handy installation guide, complete with easy-to-follow photos. Since the fabric doesnt shrink, the shrinking of the wire can cause the shade sail to sag.
The result of this is that the privacy screen provides just enough cover, but usually not full.
They used the metal fence poles to anchor the sails. Installing your shade sail is a pretty simple job, so long as you ensure you make several key steps. 7 Different Gate Latch Types Before you commence installation it is very important that you consider the most suitable location for your shade sail(s) taking into account the factors below. Even though it is not load-bearing, it will have to withstand a certain amount of tension when the wind picks up in your garden.
One of the drawbacks of their square shape, though, is that they tend to belly up in the center due to water build up.
Do not use a hose or power sprayer on your shade sail if its made from vinyl, which could damage it over time. Way back in ancient Egypt, they used pieces of quality fabric to create shade. With their more fashionable look, these types of shade sails are often found layered one on top of the other to provide maximum shade coverage to the area in which theyre installed. That is what we mean when we say a lot of tension! We installed 44 posts (we should have used metal poles) where we wanted the sails to attach to. Allow your shade sail to fully dry once its cleaned particularly if its before storing it away for the winter, when it can grow mold spores if still damp. Tighten until all the creases disappear out of the sun shade sail and your are happy with the shade it is producing.
Clean the area where the shade sail is to be installed. Watch out for rocks! As a tensioned shade structure is designed to remain in place there will often be a compromise in terms of optimum afternoon and evening shade.
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Then we mounted the brackets at each corresponding attachment point with a drill and screws. Faced with this requirement, the mounting points must be very carefully selected - an existing structure such as the wall of a house would be suitable whereas a small tree or wooden fence post may not be sufficiently robust.
In addition the diameter of the pole and the prevailing ground conditions will influence the diameter of the hole required.