To achieve that taut tensile fabric look, you need to start out with a sail that is properly made and installed correctly. Don't be fooled by catalogue sails that hang limp. The Shade Sails we stock are manufactured to hold the tension. Our new sails now use a higher rated UV blocking fabric, stronger corner rings, and a double row of locking stitch. 16 foot wide fabric means fewer or often no seams.

We now offer five sizes and six colors of ready made sails. These sails are made of excellent quality high-density polyethylene shade material, but instead of stainless sreel cable rigged into the perimeter, (as in our custom made sails) they have reinforcing webbing around the perimeter and a welded closed stainless steel "delta" ring at each corner. These sails are ideal for gardens, entryways, children's play areas, and pools. They can provide attractive protection over car parking spaces. Stretch them between trees, weel grounded posts or existing structures. Simple to follow installation instructions are included, and all materials are available from us.

Custom Shade Sails

Shade Sails are made of high density polyethylene shade cloth that is especially manufactured with tensioned fabric structures in mind. The knit is made using monofilament and tape filler. The fabric is treated with a UV stabilizer to give it long live in direct sunlight. Depending on color, the average shade rating is 90% and the UVR block is approximately 95%

Custom and commercial sails are manufactured with a stainless steel cable (wire rope) double locked stitched into its perimeter. This cable terminates at a stainless steel ring located at each corner. These rings are the used to fasten the sail by a shackle, turnbuckle or wire rope pendant to a hard point either on a post or existing structure. Each corner is further reinforced with extra layers of cloth and strapping to distribute forces. All stitching is performed using a locking stitch, outdoor "awning maker" thread is used throughout. The size of stainless cable and rings, as well as attachment hardware are engineered to be the appropriate size for each sail and application.

The perimeter of each sail has a catenary curve designed into it that controls the fabric tension in the center of the sail. Therefore, when tension is placed on the perimeter cable, the fabric will have uniform tension. They do not sag or flap in the wind.

Attachment hardware is all marine grade stainless steel and has locking mechanisms to assure that sails do not detach or come loose accidently. Generally ome turnbuckle is used per sail, and the remaining corners are attached using "D" or "Twist" shackles of the appropriate size for the expected corner loading.

Sails can be attached to excisting structures with a variety of common or custom made brackets and hardware. They can also be supported by there own columns made of either timber or steel pipe. We prefer to use schedule 40 galvanized steel pipe embedded in concrete footings. The dimensions of the pipe and the footings are engineered for each sail and its application depending on the size of the sail and the expected wind loading. the columns can be powder coated or painted to help protect them and provide the desired color. If timber posts are used, then we generally use temporary power poles with a preservative added to the wood.

Depending on local building codes and engineer's requirements we add either threaded rod or rebar to the footing or posts to tie the concrete and post together. In general, ther is very little gravitational load, but uplift is the concern, and footings can be quite deep.