To enjoy all the benefits a shade sail can provide, you must measure properly for it.

Location 

Start with your location. Find a suitable anchor point for each corner of the shade sail :

• strong beam 
• wall
• suitable tree
• Sun direction and path tracking.
• Round steel post with a minimum diameter of 90mm, or a 90x90mm square steel post.
• Wooden post at least 100mm diameter set in the ground.
• Location of barbecue grills, fire pits, and other high heat sources. ( Shade sails should not be used near an open flame. Do not use your barbecue under the shade structure. Discourage placing shade sails over or near heat sources like grills or fire pits. Beyond heat, you want to avoid allowing smoke from fires to gather under the sail or discolor it).

Measuring 

The distance between the fitments should match the size of your sail . Adjustments can be made to a certain degree with the type and amount of fitments and/rope you decide to use, but the closer you can get to the right size, the better. We will make necessary reductions for fixings and stretch. ( If you purchase a shade sail which is exactly the same size as the area you wish to cover, you will be unable to tension the shade correctly, which will lead to sagging, flapping and water pooling.)

• Before committing, always measure twice to make sure, and if possible, measure from opposite ends. If your measurements don’t match, start again!

Choose Color 

LIGHTER SHADES OF COLOUR : Lighter shades sails reflect more sunlight. Lighter and brighter shades do not absorb as much sunlight as darker and deeper tones. When light hits the lighter-colored shades, the higher reflective rate will cause the surface of the shade sail to appear brighter and will have more glare. Hence, you will not be able to see through lighter color shades in the sunlight and they can offer you an extra level of privacy. DARKER SHADES OF COLOUR: Darker colored shade sails will be more able to absorb the heat and light from the sun. This means that the area around the shade sail will have more shadow and better protection from UV rays. In addition, dark-colored materials do not easily retain heat and will quickly cool off when the air flows through the mesh.

Slope Your Shade Sail

This is to ensure that the sail does not trap water. Setting a minimum slope of 15 degrees is ideal. Two corners are required to be at high points and two corners at low points. (A triangular shaped Sail will require one higher fixing point, square or rectangular shaped Sail will require two higher and two lower fixing points).

Building permit requirements before installing a Shade Sail

Before installing anything on or around your home, check local building codes and see if you need a permit.

Shade Sail Accessories 

Anchors: 

• Pad Eye
• Eye Bolt

Links :

• Turnbuckle
• Snap hook
• D-shackle

Extensions:

• Chain
• Cable
• Non-stretching rope

Installation

Your shade sail needs to be anchored to stable and sturdy fixing points. Fixing points must be structurally sound and are strong enough to withstand the weight of the shade sail and take into account instances of high winds and poor weather. Your shade sail will be under considerable tension and fixing points need to be strong.

Examples of pre-existing fixing points: 

• Pergola
• Fence post
• Fascia or rafter
• Structurally sound brick walls

• Steel poles

100 x 100mm diameter, with a minimum thickness of 4mm are advised for larger sails, due to their strength. Posts are embedded in footings which are 900mm to 1800mm deep and 300mm to 500mm in diameter with one third of the total length of the posts embedded in the ground, with the remaining two thirds above the ground.

Once you have your fixing points, posts and fixtures all in place and secure, then its time to bring out the shade. Easiest way to install the shade sail is to start with the highest corners first. Attach one of the corner with a turnbuckle last, this will make it easier to apply final tensioning.