They are available in ready-made and custom-built versions and are widely used in commercial as well as residential settings. They are widely available in triangular or square forms. When selecting a shade sail, one of the most important considerations is the ability of the fabric to stop harmful UV light; good models will block over 90% of UV-A and UV-B light. Although most shade sails are not designed to be waterproof, rather water-resistant, there are some which are made from waterproof fabrics. This type needs to be installed with quite a large pitch to ensure that the water rolls off and doesn’t pool on the sail.
Ideally, you should look for shade sails which use stainless steel fixings for strength and long life. The perimiter of the sail should be reinforced with nylon strapping, steel cable, etc., as should all the anchor points.
Shade Sail Installation Tips
Installing a shade sail is quite easy. Make sure that whatever you’re attaching the sail to is sufficiently robust, strong winds will exert extreme forces on it. Also, make sure you use the correct type of fixing for the application. If you are fixing the sail to posts, then bury at least a quarter, preferably a third, of the post underground and concrete them in.
To make sure the sail doesn’t lie flat, you want the fixing points to be at different heights. This helps rainwater to run off and looks more attractive. If you are using a square sail, then twisting it by having two high and two low fixings diagonally opposite each other, makes for a particularly stylish result.
It’s very important to ensure an even tension across the surface of the sail. This is accomplished by tightening each fixing a small amount and moving on to the next one, continuing until the desired tension is achieved.