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When the warm weather comes around it’s great to make the most of your backyard, but with our harsh sun sometimes you want a little extra shade and this is when a shade sail makes all the difference. They are also a great way to add on a whole extra living space to your property. Putting up a shade sail is a pretty straightforward job.
Lay out the sail, keep the fabric relaxed and don’t pull it too tight.
Calculate the space you need to leave between each corner of the relaxed sail and the structural fixing points (this is to allow for tensioning). You need to leave at least 10% of the sail length. For example, if the sail is 3m x 3m square at each corner you need to have a gap of at least 300mm.
Now mark out the points where you want to fix your sail to. Generally you’ll need fixing points on the side of your house and then away from your house as well. Start by attaching the fixing points on the side of your house first. Fixing points on your house need to go into the fascia (the fascia is the horizontal board the guttering is attached to).
For standalone posts mark out where you need to dig holes for them to go in. The centre of the hole should line up with the point of the sail corner. You could use treated timber posts (round posts use minimum 125mm diameter, or square posts 125mm x 125mm) or a galvanised steel post at least 4mm thick (round minimum 100mm diameter, or square 100mm x 100mm).
Once you’ve decided where you want the fixing points to be check they are structurally sound. When fixing into your fascia you want the hook to be aligned with your roof rafter. Nails are a sign of where your rafter is behind the fascia. If you can’t see the nails, you can tap the soffit as you should be able to hear where there is a rafter. You can drill through the fascia into the rafter and fix the hook in place. If you can’t find a rafter, or its not where you want to put your hook, you will need to go into the roof and attach a fascia support bracket to the rafter so you can then connect a pad eye to the front of the fascia, which allows the hook to be screwed in securely. If this is the case and, you’re not familiar with working within your roof its worthwhile consulting an expert for advice.
Be safe using a ladder. Ensure your ladder’s feet are flat on the ground and that the ground is level. Secure the ladder well and keep three points of contact with it at all times. Never over-reach sideways.
To install standalone posts, dig holes for them to go in. The depth of the hole will depend on the size of the shade sail. Dig an 800mm hole for a 3m shade sail and 1200mm hole for a 5m shade sail.
Remember before digging to make sure you check with your local council for any pipes and wires in the ground as you don’t’ want to hit those!
If you’re working with soft ground then you’ll need to put a 100mm layer of concrete into the hole first followed by a 100mm of base course, such as scoria, on top of it. If you’re on firm ground you’ll only need the 100mm of base course.
Place the post in the hole, if it is not going to be supported by a deck or anything else then tilt the post 5° away from the shade sail as this will provide additional support. (5° equates to 50mm per 1m).
Pour in concrete and pack down well. The top of the concrete surface should be sloping away from the posts to assist with water drainage. Brace the post and leave to set for 48 hours.
We recommend using concrete with a minimum of 20Mpa and not a quick set concrete. Always mix the concrete following the manufacturer’s instructions, these should be clearly labelled on the packet.
Now determine the fixing accessories that you’ll need to secure your shade sail.
There is an extensive range of fixing accessories available. It is important to note that your shade sail will require at least two of the accessories to be tensioning devices. If required, stainless steel or galvanised chain can be used to extend your shade sail corners to a fixing point.
Connect the shade sail to the fixing accessories; leave one of the tensioning fixing points for last.
Once all corners of the shade sail have been connected adjust the tension in the fixing accessories. A shade sail which has been mounted and tensioned correctly will have little to no creases. Stop tensioning when the shade sail is rigid with little creases. A ratchet tie down strap can be used temporarily to assist in tensioning the structure. Ensure that all accessories face towards the middle of the shade sail and are secure.
You may find that after seven days, the sail has settled and a little more tensioning is required. Tensioning may also be required from time to time. Your shade sail should be firm and tight to reduce wind flap. Shade sail fabric which is loose can cause the fabric to deteriorate. Never over tension, tension only by hand, and only tight enough to remove creases. Over tensioning can also cause damage to your shade sail.
