Installing Shade Sails continued.....p3
Wall Plates
Caution should be used when attaching to cavity brick walls. If the structural integrity of the wall is in doubt, consult a building inspector first. It is recommend ed the sail size should not exce ed 15m2. The correct positioning of the wall plate is shown below.
Note: The wall plate is positioned in a way that every fixing hole is adjacent the centre of the brick, and at least 50mm away from edges and corners. It is not acceptable to anchor into the mortar between the bricks. Ensure a solid fixing is achieved in each hole with 12mm anchor bolts. The anchor bolts can also be set into the brick with a chemset.
Sail Track
The use of sail track is a very popular alternative that produces a snug sail edge along the wall. The sail track should be fix ed at 250-300mm intervals. Be sure that the fixing points on the ends of the track are
well fastened . Below is an illustration of a sail corner attached to a brick wall with sail track.
The shade sail has been stretched into position and a screw has been drill ed through the track and rope of the sail to lock the sail in position. A Saddle has been fixed at the end of the track to take the load of the wire.
Note: The sail track fixings are all well away from the ed ges of the bricks and are not fixed into the mortar!
Reinforcing Fascia
In all situations where the fascia is us ed as a fixing point, the strength of the fascia must be assess ed , and re info rc ed with a Metalcraft Fascia Bracket where necessary. Take a roof tile out near the desir ed position, and locate a roof truss. The Fascia Bracket is fix ed to the roof truss and fascia with 8-10 gauge screws. Below: the eyebolt is bolt ed to the rafter bracket through the Fascia.
Measuring a Shade Sail
When measuring a shade sail, it is important that you obtain as much information possible to give to the shade sail cutters. There are three types of measurements: Perimeter Diagonal and Height.
Installers must be careful to measure the Perimeter Measurements as close as possible, and they should measure to the fixing (posts, rafter brackets, wall plates, sail track) points after the hardware has been install ed .
The Diagonal Measurements, which also should be as accurate as possible, are the point to point measurements that are not representing shade sail edges, and are us ed to plot the corners and cross-reference the perimeter measurements.
The Height measurements are the actual or relative heights of the sail fixings. For Example, there may be three posts. They may be 3.04m, 3.55m and 3.78m respectively. So one might say that post 1 is level, post 2 is +500mm and post 3 is +700mm.
These measurements allow the shade sail cutter to take the difference in height of the posts into consideration when checking the measurements suppli ed by the installer. Height measurements need only be accurate within 100 - 150mm.
Fixings and their uses
Shade Australia uses and recommends Ramset products. Alternative brands are available. Refer to manufacturers specifications.
Dynabolts --- used to anchor to concrete and available in a range of sizes (6mm to 20mm) and lengths. Available in different materials such as galvanized and stainless steel. Not recommended for use to masonry.
Trubolts --- similar to dynabolts for anchoring to concrete. Larger sizes only.
Chemset --- us ed to anchor to concrete or certain types of masonry (core fill ed block). Available in a number of types. Ramset 101, 501 or 801. Refer to product specifications.
101 (polyester) will suffice for most applications with 501 and 801 (epoxy) being for specialist applications.
A manufacturers squeeze gun is ne ed ed for injecting the chemical into the hole where the bolt is to be insert ed . Be aware there is no universal gun type between manufacturers. For example, a Ramset gun will not fit a Hilti or Powers tube and visa versa.
Always take care to clean out the hole you have drill ed in the concrete thoroughly. Blowing out with air alone is usually not adequate. Ramset hole brushes (similar to a bottle brush) should be us ed if the product is to achieve its full potential.
Ultralong plugs --- used to anchor to concrete or masonry. Typically the best type of fixing for high strength masonry fixings. The plastic insert (plug) has the best bight of any fixing into clay bricks. If the countersunk drive screw is to be us ed a drill with sufficient power to drive it will be ne ed ed . Hex head coach screws should be us ed to fix items such as wall plates instead of the countersunk drive screw.
Shuredrive anchors --- us ed to anchor to concrete or masonry. A type of knock-in fixing for small hole type fixing. Useful for fixing sailtrack to masonry walls.
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