How To Set Up A Sun Shade Sail

Acquire how to install a shade canvass. A DIY Shade Sail installation is a upkeep-friendly way to add shade over your deck or patio.

If a standard patio umbrella isn't cutting it, upgrade to a shade canvas (also chosen a sun shade). These affordable sails are a beginner-friendly DIY projection that you can complete in a few hours.

Our deck gets hours of hot lord's day in the afternoons. This makes it both:

• unenjoyable during the summer and
• hard to grow whatever plants.

Disclosure: This folio includes chapter links.

Shade Sails vs. Awnings, Umbrellas and Pergolas

We have a big patio umbrella, but information technology just covers a pocket-sized portion of our deck with shade. Originally, nosotros planned to add together another umbrella.

However, at ~$75 for the umbrella and ~$75 for a sturdy base, it's more expensive to add together an umbrella than to install a shade canvass (and provides less shade than a sail).

Not to mention, the umbrella bases have upwardly valuable floor space.

Another choice is to install an canopy. However, with an canopy, the house would go much less natural light since information technology would exist over the kitchen windows.

A shade sail allows us to cover the deck away from the firm – leaving the windows with access to plenty of natural sunlight.

A pergola would be lovely, but we nixed that idea due to cost and weight. A pergola is more expensive and would put more weight onto our deck supports and frame.

Selecting a Sun Shade Sail

In guild to select a shade sail, yous'll demand to choose a shape in the correct size and in a color complementary to your domicile'south exterior.

Permit'due south discuss selecting the shape, size, and colour for a shade sail.

SHAPE | How to Cull the Right Shape

Nearly shade sails are available in 1 of iii shapes:

• Triangle (equilateral and correct angle)
• Foursquare
• Rectangle

Choose the all-time shape based on the area which you are trying to cover (and the area you don't desire to comprehend). What practise I mean by that?

For example, our deck is foursquare (18.5'x18.5'). Therefore, it may seem the obvious selection would a square shade sail.

However, we wanted to leave the portion of the deck nearest the house uncovered. Why? Sunlight through the patio door and kitchen window is a priority. Therefore, nosotros wanted the sun shade to hang out away from the house.

This led u.s.a. to choose a right angle triangle shade that covers half of the deck.

Note: Sun shades are non perfectly triangle, foursquare, or rectangle. In that location are concave curves on each side of the shape which help make the shade sail taut.

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SIZE | How to Measure for a Shade Sail

To make up one's mind the correct shade sail size, you must first determine where it will exist mounted. Even if y'all don't yet take the mounts installed, you'll demand to know where the mounts will be located.

Measure out the altitude from each mounting point to the adjacent mounting bespeak. In that location are several ways to do this:

• For a skilful approximate, utilize measuring tape stretched from point to indicate.
• For an verbal measurement, string twine from betoken to point. Marking the endpoints in the twine. Take the twine down, and measure the string length.

We used measuring tape initially, and then used twine for a visual and to confirm our plans earlier purchasing the shade sail.

Twine strung between posts to measure for a shade canvas.

Once measured, buy a shade canvass that is smaller than the overall dimensions. For example, our dimensions were 17'x17'x22.5′ and we purchased a 15'x15'x21′ shade.

You lot'll also demand to business relationship for at least viii-12″ allowance between the mounting bespeak and the canvass. This may differ by shade sail, and so make sure to ostend this distance before purchasing.

Therefore, the best size will follow this formula:

Altitude between Mounting Posts – Allowance = Size of Sail

Example (using our post altitude of 17'x17'x22.v′):

1. 17′ between posts – 12″ assart on each side = 15′
2. 22.5′ between posts – 9″ allowance on each side = 21′

Color | Shade Sail Ideas

The all-time color shade sail will exist based on personal preference. For our home, we choose a light grey-brown similar to our milkshake siding.

Nosotros weren't looking to add dissimilarity, so a muted tone fabricated sense for our deck.

However, if we wanted it to be a focal indicate we could choose something like a clay red shade.

If the shade sail is roofing a pool or poolside patio, you lot might cull a teal or aqua colour.

Calculation shade over a playground? Consider an energetic, playful colour like orangish.

Want your shade to blend into the natural environment? Endeavour a forest green.

You don't even have to stick to solids, there are prints, as well! This striped blue and white would exist perfect for a littoral abode.

DIY Shade Canvass Installation

Installing a shade canvass occurs in two phases: mounting the posts and hanging the sheet. Let's hash out how to complete each process.

How to Mount a Shade Sheet

Shade sails can be mounted to several materials:

• wood posts
• steel posts
• exterior of a home

If you cull to mountain it to the exterior of your home, be sure to mountain information technology to a strong location (such equally concrete, brick, etc.). The mounting point must withstand the forcefulness of potent winds without damaging your home.

We chose not to mount the shade sail to our business firm considering we didn't want to risk damaging our siding.

Mount to Wood Posts

Wood posts are the most affordable method for mounting shade sails. The wood posts can exist:

• integrated into a deck or fence, or
• cemented into the ground.

We chose iv×four treated wood posts and installed them while renovating our deck. If we had not been rebuilding the deck, we could have fastened wood posts to the exterior of the deck frame.

If y'all are using woods posts, buy a steel hardware kit like this (make sure to select either triangle or foursquare/rectangle, depending on your shade sail).

Important Annotation: These sets just come with 2 turnbuckles. There are carabiners for the other corner(s). Nosotros chose to get buy an extra turnbuckle for the 3rd corner. This isn't necessary, but we felt information technology gave usa more precise control to tighten the canvas.

Mount to Steel Posts

Of form, in that location are disadvantages to wood posts (such as maintenance) which may lead y'all to select steel posts to mount a shade sheet.

Similar to wood, metal posts can be:

• attached to deck or argue posts, or
• cemented into the ground.

Make sure to purchase posts that are durable and sturdy, such as galvanized steel.

Depending on the post size, you will need round connector clamps similar this to adhere the sails.

And, finally, like the woods hardware kit, you will yet need the turnbuckles and carabiners.

Important Note: These sets only come with 2 turnbuckles. There are carabiners for the other corner(s). We chose to get buy an extra turnbuckle for the tertiary corner. This isn't necessary, but nosotros felt it gave us more precise command to tighten the sail.

How to Install a Shade Sail

In the printable card, yous'll detect the directions for how to install a shade sheet. After the card, review the FAQs and tips and tricks for additional info.

Tools

• Drill
• Drill Bits
• Bungee Cords
• Pencil
• Measuring Record
• Screwdriver

Instructions

Sail (Wood Posts)

1. First, determine which direction pelting should run off the shade sheet.
2. In that management, the shade sail hardware must be mounted 2"-3" lower than the other mounting locations.
3. Apply a pencil to mark all of the mounting locations.
4. Once marked, drill pilot holes into the wood posts.
5. Attach the mounting hardware to the posts with a screwdriver.
6. Next, apply bungee cords to hang the sail temporarily. This simple pull a fast one on will assistance you "hang" and middle the sail rapidly, taking some weight off the sail while y'all attach the turnbuckles, carabiners, rope, or chain. Remove the bungee cords as yous permanently install each corner.
7. At present, attach the sail in the highest one (if triangle) or two (if square/rectangle) corners with carabiners.
8. Add rope if or chain if boosted length is needed.
9. Next, adhere the sail at the other ii points, with turnbuckles.
10. Tighten the turnbuckles until each side is taut. Do Non overtighten or the shade's fabric may weaken quicker.
    

Sail (Steel Posts)

1. Commencement, make up one's mind which direction rain should run off the shade sail.
2. In that management, the shade canvass hardware must be mounted 2"-3" lower than the other mounting locations.
3. Once the locations are defined, attach the circular clamps to the steel posts at those points.
4. From this signal, the installation is identical to steps 6-10, above.

Posts

1. If the mounting construction does not already exist (i.e. deck, exterior, fence), install forest or metal posts.
2. If mounting forest or metal posts in the ground, fill the pigsty with the cement during installation.
3. If mounting woods or metallic posts to another structure (i.e. deck or fence), using sturdy hardware, such as lag bolts, to attach the posts.
   

Notes

Important Notation: The hardware sets only come with 2 turnbuckles. There are carabiners for the other corner(southward). We chose to go purchase an extra turnbuckle for the 3rd corner. This isn't necessary, but we felt information technology gave us more precise command to tighten the canvass.

FAQs

Q: How do I intendance for a Shade Sail?

A: While residential shade sails are designed for exterior use – including high air current gusts – they are not necessarily designed to hold weight. Therefore, since nosotros live in an area that gets snow and ice, we remove the shade during the wintertime.

Q: Can I mount a Shade Canvass to the exterior of a home?

A: It depends. Shade sails can be mounted to the outside of a habitation, but it is dependent on the fabric and construction. The mounting point must exist sturdy plenty to handle forces from wind without damaging your home.

Therefore, materials such as gutters, siding, and stucco are NOT suitable for mounting shade sails. Materials such every bit brick, concrete, and cement blocks are suitable for mounting shade sails.

Q: How tall should the posts exist to mount a shade sail?

A: The posts for a shade sail should be 8 ft alpine or higher. Since the hardware is slightly lower than the superlative of the mail service and the sail dips slightly in the centre, the true sheet tiptop is 4-6″ below the mail service pinnacle.

Therefore, if the posts are 8.v to 9 anxiety tall, the sail will actually exist over 8 ft in the eye. If the posts are 8 feet, the sail will be closer to 7.5 anxiety in the center.

Tips and Tricks

1. When planning for a sun shade, use twine or cord to mensurate for the canvass. Non only will it provide an accurate measurement, but it volition also give you a visual of the shade earlier installation.
2. Use bungee cords to temporarily hang the shade canvas and go it centered. This will give you a visual for the top of the sail and have some of the weight off the canvas during installation.
3. While hardware kits only include 2 turnbuckles, we plant that 3 turnbuckles (for a triangle sail) allowed us to more than precisely tighten the shade sail.

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Source: https://craftivitydesigns.com/shade-sail-installation/

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