DIY Shade Sails - The complete how to diy guide
Shade Sails are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to Gazebos, Patio covers and Pergolas, offering up to 99% UV protection from harsh UV rays. Shade Sails are available in a large range of colours and fabrics and can be manufactur ed to any shape or size to suit your requirements. The key to the longevity of a shade sail is to maintain high tension between the sail attachment points. In light of this it is important that the Shade Sail structure is install ed correctly and properly from day one.
Before commencing your DIY Shade Sail project there are 2 different possibilities to consider. You can either purchase a pre-made shade sail , and install your posts/brackets to suit, or you can install your structural requirements, measure as required , and we will manufacture the sail exactly according to your requirements . As a general rule, it is easier to install the attachment points first and allow us to manufacture the sail to fit, however both options are discussed separately in this guide.
Custom made Shade Sail Structures
Four easy steps in creating your custom made shade sail structure:
1. Planning your structure
2. Installing your fixing points (posts/brackets etc.)
3. Measuring your area
4. Installing your shade sail
Step 1 - Planning Your Shade Sail Structure
The most important consideration for your DIY Shade Structure is proper planning. Proper planning will ensure that your sail structure performs in the way it was intend ed .
There will be a number points you can attach your sail. There may be opportunities for creating attachments on areas of existing structures, or you may ne ed to install steel posts to create a totally free standing structure. To follow are many points you must consider during the planning phase:
a) Movement of the Sun
The sun rises daily in the east and sets to the west. As the seasons progress, it also moves from low in the sky during the cooler months to high in the sky during summer. Your shade structure should be planned to provide maximum shade protection during the height of summer, as this is when it will be needed most.
b) Sail Design & Architectural Twist
Shade sails work best when they are design ed to have a "twist". This is where the fixing points, being steel posts, eye nuts or brackets, are creat ed at different heights. A flat sail is harder to tension correctly, and does not have the same visual effect. We recommend you install your fixing points with diagonally opposite high and low points such as the following:
c) Shade Sail Size
You may have notic ed from the pictures above that the sail is actually smaller than the area between the columns. In order to fully tension the shade sail, we require a space between the sail and fixing points for rigging tensioners, and catenary curves in the sides of the sail. For larger shade sails, these tension gaps and catenary curves ne ed to be quite large, to ensure maximum tension and thus maximum longevity of the sail. Please take this into account when measuring for your sail. As a general rule, your sail will begin at about 300mm away from the fixing point, although this varies depending on the size of your sail.
d) Fixing to Existing Structures
Caution must be taken when fixing to existing structures, such as your house. In instances of poor weather and strong winds, the loads plac ed on fixings by the sail are enormous, and should not be underestimated . To ensure that your existing structure is adequate to handle such loads, you may ne ed to consult a local engineer or qualified builder.
e) Steel vs. Timber
We recommend you use steel posts, and not timber posts, for your sail structure. Steel is stronger, will not overly deflect (i.e. bend from the ground up), and will not rot. Rust factors can be compensat ed by using galvanised steel.
f) Post Footings
The maximum post height above the ground is 3.5 meters. Using an old conservative engineering principal (1 third in, 2 thirds out), footing size for this particular post should be 1.2 m deep. This is a very conservative way to measure footing depth, however we strongly recommend you consider this principal. Diameter should be at least 400mm and the post must be set with a lean of at least 5 degrees away from the centre of the sail.
Note, even a small movement of your footing will compromise the ability to tension the sail, thus reducing the likelihood of maximum longevity. If you are digging through land fill or raised garden beds, these depths should not be included in the overall depth of the footing. An ideal situation follows:
g) Underground Services
Ensure your area is clear of underground services, such as sewage and water plumbing, or electrical cabling prior to digging holes for your footings. Damages to services can be dangerous, and expensive to correct.
h) Local Authorities
You should also check with your local authorities as to relevant building regulations that may be a factor in your development of a shade sail structure.
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