How to Design Your Shade Sail

So you have started the journey and maybe even already have an idea where you want to put the sail. Let's walk through the fundamental principles of shape, tension, and anchor placement to ensure a secure, architecturally sound installation.

Things to take into account as you design

  1. What hours of the day will it get most use?
  2. What direction and angle is the sun position during these hours?
  3. Where and on what will you fix the sail? These fixing points will determine the shape.
  4. Shade sails are not waterproof but rain will "sheet" off them running to the lowest point. There needs to be a minimum 20% fall.
  5. Consider high points and low points to create structural tension.
  6. Do you want a twist (Hypar) in the sail?
  7. Will it be permanent or taken down in bad weather / winter?

If you are not sure about the look you want to achieve, browse our Facebook albums page for inspiration.

Possible Mounting Points

Do not forget you are dealing with sails! They exert a lot of load as part of the need for them to be tensioned, and this load can increase significantly with strong winds.

Properly installed, this is not a problem. You can connect a shade sail to:

  1. Poles (Steel or Wood)
  2. Solid Walls (Brick, Cement, Stone)
  3. Fascia Boards
  4. Wall Sidings
  5. Trees
  6. Columns on a patio or deck
Poles size graph

Connecting to Poles

Ideally, poles should be round and made from steel. If raw steel, they should either be galvanised or powder-coated. Stainless steel is also excellent (ensure it is 304 or 316 marine grade). The pole diameter is based on the area of the shade sail and wind conditions. Wall thickness is critical; it should not be less than 0.25 inch (6.35mm).

If using an Eye Bolt, weld it to the pole at both ends, though we recommend a lug welded onto the pole. We do not favor aluminum poles as the underground portion will corrode too quickly.

For wooden poles, Oak is highly recommended as it is naturally rot and insect resistant. Square poles are better than round and should be twice the thickness of the specified diameter for steel poles.

Connecting to Solid Walls

The best way to connect a shade sail to a wall of brick, cement, or stone is by using anchor bolts or expansion anchors:

  1. Determine the location and height.
  2. Locate solid areas of the wall where you can securely attach the fixings.
  3. Mark positions (ensure they are level and evenly spaced).
  4. Drill pilot holes using a masonry drill bit matching your anchor size.
  5. Insert anchor bolts flush with the wall surface.
  6. Attach a mounting bracket or eye bolt.
  7. Securely tighten to ensure they are firmly attached.

Connecting to Fascia Boards

  1. Determine the location and height.
  2. Locate the rafters behind the fascia board using a stud finder.
  3. Drill pilot holes into the marked positions, making sure to hit the solid rafters.
  4. Attach the mounting brackets or eye bolts securely to the rafters.
  5. If the fascia board is lightweight, reinforce the attachment points with a backing plate (plywood or metal) behind the fascia.

Note: Ensure your fascia board is structurally capable of supporting the weight and tension before proceeding.

Connecting to Sidings

  1. Determine the location and height.
  2. Locate the structural studs behind the sidings.
  3. Drill pilot holes into the marked positions, making sure to hit the studs.
  4. Attach the mounting brackets securely to the studs.
  5. For vinyl or lightweight sidings, reinforce the area behind the sidings with a solid backing plate attached directly to the studs.

Connecting to Trees

  1. Choose a strong, wide palm strap with buckles at each end.
  2. Ensure the tree is sturdy enough to support the severe tension load.
  3. Wrap the palm strap around the trunk twice for added stability.
  4. Adjust the buckles to ensure they are aligned at the same height.
  5. Connect the two buckles together using a heavy-duty D shackle to form your mounting point.

Connecting to Patio Columns

  1. Inspect the columns to ensure they are structurally sound.
  2. Determine the circumference of the column at your desired height.
  3. Purchase column brackets or mounting hardware specifically designed for attaching heavy tension loads to columns.
  4. Install the brackets following the manufacturer's instructions.
  5. Connect the shade sail using appropriate hardware, such as carabiners or D shackles.
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