Shade Sails - Installation

The shade sails perform best under the following scenarios:

• When there is adequate tension to provide the necessary curvature
• When the shade sail is not on a level plane
• When the shade sail has been twisted to improve its stability

One of the essential criteria which needs to be considered for ensuring that there is a good amount of water shedding is the slope at which the fabric has been installed.

While installing the shade sail it has to be pulled taut and if possible, twisted in such a way that one of its axis becomes concave and the other becomes convex.

The shade sails featuring a higher corner and one lower corner provide a more aesthetic appeal and they also give out a structurally dramatic look.

1. Shade Area Measurement

• After making a decision about the space where the shade is required, the sides and the diagonals of this area need to be measured.
• Consider the sun’s direction and height during the summer season.
• Make the size considerations of the shade sail to avoid any kind of adverse effect or chafe to it due to the nearby trees or structures.
• For the ease of pre-visualization of the sail, make use of a string by stretching it along the points of attachment to make necessary measurements.
• The representation of the entire area which needs to be shaded through a scale drawing can be very useful.
• Get an idea of the layout of the shade area by rotating the scale drawing.
• A few straight lines which are drawn through the corners and centers can give the point of fixing.
• Concave or curved edges are seen commonly in the tensioned shade sails. This curve is about 7% to 10% from the end on the outer region of the shade sail.
• When considering fixing points and the curvature mentioned above, it would mean that the shade sail would cover a smaller area.

2. Sail Curvature Allowance

When the fabric is pulled taut and twisted slightly, it gains sufficient curvature and this curvature is very essential for maintaining the stability of the shade sail.

• Along with this curvature, when the shade sail is not on a leveled plane, the stability of the structure improves largely.
• A flat shade sail should not be installed as this would hold water and potentially collapse. The diagonally opposite corners should be installed at separate heights.

3. Points of Fixture

It is very important to make sure that the points of fixtures where the shade sails are installed should be strong to withstand any kind of wind conditions unique to that area. If you are still unsure, you must contact a local engineer for this.

4. Methods of Fixing

• Buildings & Houses

Make sure that the buildings and houses can support the load of the shade sail fixture even during poor weather conditions. When there are heavy winds, the shade sail can strain the existing structures. To verify this a qualified local engineer must be contacted.

• Posts

Galvanized steel is preferred over the wooden posts as they would be rust free and offer a better solution. Wooden posts can warp and rot over time and this can cause misalignment of the shade sail.

• Foundations

All posts should be embedded in concrete footings. Measure out the centers of the footing positions. Dig the holes to the required size for your posts height. For a 3M size shade sail dig footing holes 400mm square and 800mm deep. For 5M or larger shade sails dig footing holes 400mm square and 1200mm deep.

If installing your shade post into soft ground firstly pour a 100mm depth of concrete and let it set completely. Add a gravel bed, 100mm in depth. Position post and add the required amount of concrete. Position the post at a 5 degree angle, sloping away from the centre of the shade sails position.

Q1- Are shade sails easy to install?

Answer- Installation is as easy. Making sure you have strong supports such as the side of the building or a post. This also allows a lot of tension to get them to stretch tight enough.

Q2- How tight should I tension the sail?

Answer- When installing your shade sail it should be firm and tight to reduce wind flap, but do not over tension because this may cause damage to your shade sail.

Q3- What is the best color for shade sails?

Answer- If you are looking for maximum UV protection a dark-colored shade will be the best option. Lighter colours reflect the suns rays, this makes the area underneath the share cooler.

Q4- How long do your heavy duty shade sails last?

Answer- A shade sail can last up to 5 to 8 years depending on the size of the sail, the conditions they are exposed to and whether the sail has been correctly installed.

Q5- What are the methods of fixing or mounting?

Answer- Mounting and fixing:

1.  Walls
2. Posts
3. Fascias