What to Consider Before Buying a Shade Sail

About This Video

This video is not created by us. It is freely available on YouTube and we have simply included it here as we believe it is an interesting video in relation to some areas relating to shade sails. The fact it is on our site does not imply that we necessarily agree with the information, ideas and advice given, nor do we necessarily endorse the products or methods used. None of these videos shows our products. Please bear in mind that these videos may be from other countries with different climates where the design, fixing and use of shade sail will differ.

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Video Transcription

We often get asked what size and shape of shade sails should I consider. We obviously have triangles, squares and rectangles.

The one thing to consider with triangles is a square or a four-point sail is going to give you a lot more coverage than a triangle or even multiple triangles, because of the gaps you get between the sails. You can take a four-point sail and create a look of a few triangles by twisting the fabric, something to consider when you’re buying a Shade Sail.

We often get asked about hardware and hardware kits, and what we offer and if it’s needed. Shade Sails Canada will provide you with 316 stainless steel hardware. It will include, in most shade sail kits it will include your D shackle, which connects to the corner of your sail. Your turnbuckle I’m sorry, which is the tensioning device, your final tensioning after you put up your shade sail, and then your quick clip to your post-attachment. We can also provide the post attachments if you give us that information length and what is required.

The stainless steel we use is paramount for safety and longevity. You can use other systems but however this is the easiest way to do it and the safest.

Stainless steel cable is using the perimeter of your sail and also can be ordered for links or connections that are further away from your post, to a building or from your sail corner to a building or a post.

316 stainless steel, again safety first.

Corner quality is paramount for the life of a shade sail. Shade Sails Canada uses double-stitching triple-layered fabric in order to give it strength and longevity. It’s paramount to your life of your shade sail.

Shade Sails Canada prides itself on doing quality work, double-stitching in the corner with UV-rated thread, so the thread won’t deteriorate with the sunshine. It’s very important for the quality of the sail, I’m sorry longevity of the sail and safety.

Shade sail fabric is obviously a consideration when buying a shade sail. You want to consider the weight of the fabric, the UV rating and obviously that would determine the quality. Some fabrics have a very loose mesh, so you are going to get a lot of sunshine through that and not so much UV rating, and they’ll also stretch a lot if there’s a lot of tape in it.

We often get asked about the difference between the fabrics and the quality. Monotech for example is made of all monofilament, so it’s all monofilament and no tape.

Most other shade fabric is made of tape and monofilament. Tape is really a filler and allows to gives you the UV rating but it’s not as strong as monofilament. Full monofilament cloth is certainly the premium cloth, however tape and monofilament combinations can still give you a 10 year UV rating and do, as monotech gives you a 15.

Often get asked is shade sails allow water through. They do, most of the water runs off but in a heavy rain you’re going to get a mist through shade cloth. We do offer a waterproof fabric that allows the water to run completely off, so ask us about that we can guide you in the right direction.

We often get asked for the difference between blue nose and premium shade sails. A good question. Bluenose shade sails are a lighter grey material with a belt perimeter.

Premium shade sails are a heavier grade material with a cable in the perimeter. The cable allows the sail to be stronger and not stretch as much. It also allows it to fly a little better, it gives it rigidity. Bluenose sails are still good but they’re not as good at a quality, especially for large spans or looking for that optimum quality of the shade sail, the premium is the one you want to choose.

So I want to point out the difference between Bluenose or belted perimeter and cable perimeter sails. So this is your belt, the standard Bluenose sail.

The premium step up is your stainless steel cable in the perimeter of the sail. This is what we spoke about before, allows for a better flying sail and less stretch in your shade sail. This would all go all the way around the perimeter of the sail and may as well be used for links, if you want to go to a distance, as opposed to being attached right at the post.

We often get asked do we make custom shape sails? We certainly do and in fact custom shade sails are a little easy to work with because you can place your posts where you want and we will cut the sail to fit, to a maximum of six points. A pre-cut sail is a little harder to use in that you have to get the sail first and then place your posts, but we can certainly do either for you.

The benefit of custom shade sails as well is it allows you to be a little more creative. You can have a 6-point shade sail with varying heights, which will make it look like multiple shade sails, however it’s only maybe one custom. It allows you to be a little more creative in your design.

I want to touch a little more on the custom shade sail. It’s a more expensive product because we actually have to take your specific measurements, lay it out and cut it specifically for you. A little bit different than a pre-cut where we work off a template.

A lot of the other things we get asked is do we install shade sails at residences? We don’t generally do that, unless it’s a very large project, a large detailed project.

We have affiliates that we can relay you to, or we can work with local contractor and help him or her through the installation of your shade sail.