How to Install Sail Shades

Autumn is finally here, which means we can spend more time outdoors. Sail shades provide the perfect place to relax and entertain without worrying about the sun, rain, or other elements. But how do you install sail shades? Read on for tips on how to hang your new shade sail, along with more information on these beautiful structures.

What Is a Shade Sail?

Shade sails, or sail shades, as they’re popularly called, are triangular weatherproof shelters designed to resemble the sails of boats. These increasingly popular structures are placed outside of homes, hotels, and restaurants to provide protection from the sun and other elements. Most shade sails consist of a fabric or canvas sail which is tensioned between a series of poles. This creates an umbrella-like structure that can be opened and closed as needed. Unlike traditional umbrellas, sail shades are larger and can provide much more coverage.

What Are the Benefits of Sail Shades?

Higher quality sail shades are made from durable, weather-resistant materials such as Dacron fabric.

Not only do these shades protect against the rain, but they also offer shelter from the bright sun while keeping out harmful UV rays. Because of the shade and air circulation they provide, they can reduce temperatures by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in direct sunlight. As a bonus, the aesthetic appeal of a sail shade makes it a great addition to any outdoor living space.

Residential sail shades can be used in a variety of areas, such as decks, patios, backyards, pools, and gardens. Commercial sail shades are ideal for hotels, restaurants, cafes, beaches, and community pools.

These versatile structures are also available in many options, so you can customize your shade to your outdoor space. At Shelter Outdoor, we offer our sail shades in a variety of sizes, and shapes to best accommodate your property. Both our wall-mounted Velart sail shade or free-standing Velora sail shade are beautiful, durable, and easy to install.

How to Install a Sail Shade with Ease

Installing a sail shade is relatively easy. Depending on the type of installation needed a general contractor can help pour footings for any ground anchor needs. To install a sail shade by use of ballast; a plate with stakes and heavy ballast will be used to weigh the system down by each post.

1. Choose a location

When selecting the location for your sail shade, consider how much clearance you will need and if the shade will obstruct any doors, trees or paths when opened. Additionally, try to position the shade sail in an area that gets a lot of sunlight so you can get the most use out of it.

2. Measure and mark

Measure and mark where the posts will be placed on your chosen location. Work with your general contractor to help facilitate any ground anchor installation. This will ensure that the post are properly secured to the poured footings or installed in to an existing concrete slab.

3. Install posts

Install either wall-mounted or free-standing/ballasted posts according to your desired configuration.

If using wall-mounting kits ensure that the wall and the kit will meet at a 90 degree angle.

Shelter Outdoor’s Velart sail shade features a frame that can be easily anchored to an existing building. This model features a spring-assisted rewinding system for easy manual opening and closing. This system is best known for wall mounting a singular triangular sail shade with the option of a post or additional wall mount kit.

For ballasting, utilize the ground stakes and ballast to help weigh down the system. The two post on either side of the tensioning system will require two ballast each; while the other two post that keep the sail shade tensioned open will only require one ballast each.

Shelter Outdoors’s Velora sail shade is the same triangular system of the Velart sail shade but double. While this system utilizes a four post system to help support its structure a post can be replaced by a wall mount kit.

4. Attach the tensioned rewind system

Follow the instructions for the best way to install this system to the two center post. This piece houses the sail shade. Depending on which series you went with you will have one or two triangle sail shades that can be retracted from this system. These retracted shade sails will be secured to the opposite side post. Once secured this system is completely installed.

Where to Buy a Sail Shade

Shelter Outdoor offers high quality sail shades that are not only easy to install, but also competitively priced. Our sail shade canopies are hypoallergenic, mildew-resistant, and non-absorbent. Plus, they’re easy to install and clean. Whether you choose our wall-mounted Velart or free-standing Velora model, you’ll get a highly durable sail shade with aluminum  posts, a Dacron PVC sail, and stainless steel feet. Each shade also comes equipped with a spring-assisted rewinding system for easy manual opening and closing.

Now that you know how to install a sail shade quickly and hassle-free, head over to our Sail Shades page and pick out the one that works best for your project.

Contact us here or call us at 855-768-4450 – let us help you customize the perfect sail shade for your property.