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As the dog days of summer rapidly approach, we found ourselves looking for ways to keep our family outdoors while keeping them cool. The perennial favorite here is the tried-and-true umbrella, but that only keeps a very small area cool… and if your kids are anything like mine, they can’t stay in one place any more than an ant on the third day of the carnival.
The answer to shading larger spaces is a shade sail that is purpose-built to bath wide swaths of ground in glorious solar relief. A shade sail is a device based on the same basic technology as a ship’s sail. Start with a tensioned membrane (the “sail”) tensioned between several anchor points and add in some brilliant colors and UV blocking technology to complete the look.
Although you may be just hearing about shade sails for the first time, Ancient Egyptians and later Greeks and Romans used large pieces of stretched fabric to provide shade. In fact, the Colosseum in Rome was shaded with oversized canvas “sails” pulled into place by Roman sailors. In more modern times, the early 1900’s brought the invention of an inexpensive and far more durable fabric called, “shade cloth.”
Today modern shade sails don’t only block the sun – they’re fortified against it. Modern manufacturers infuse Ultraviolet (UV) light inhibitors into their woven fabrics (in fact, many come with multi-year UV degradation warranties). When shopping for shade sails, pay attention to the shade factor (this is a percentage of the invisible radiation (UV light) blocked, with 100% being a complete blockage). Today’s shade sails take advantage of their stretched fabric to create three-dimensional shapes, adding a little style to highly functional outdoor comfort champion.
Okay, we get it… “Hey, it’s a piece of cloth tied to a tree.” Not quite. Selecting a shade sale requires weighting a few different factors to get just the right one. Which material (grades of shade cloth) is best in my situation? What’s the UV resistance of the shade sail? Which color is most effective?
That depends on your intent. When you’re trying to keep the kiddo’s cool, darker colors absorb and reflect the UV radiation the best. If you’re looking to keep the sun off but allow some of the UV’s look for a medium color pallet (medium blue or orange).
Absolutely. Lighter colors allow more UV to come through (and are better for plants under the shade sail) than darker ones, and the darkest ones (think navy or black) keep out almost all of the harmful UV rays.
Commercial 95 340
Commercial Dualshade
Polytex
SolaMesh
Sunbrella Contour
Weathermax
Finally, when looking at your shade sail material, you should consider the amount of water that may be let through by the weave and construction of the material. Most standard fabrics have a runoff rate of about 88% (meaning about 12% of the water is allowed through the mesh of the fabric), but fully waterproof shade sails are available at a slightly higher cost.
Finally, when looking at your shade sail material, you should consider the amount of water that may be let through by the weave and construction of the material. Most standard fabrics have a runoff rate of about 88% (meaning about 12% of the water is allowed through the mesh of the fabric), but fully waterproof shade sails are available at a slightly higher cost.
As we’ve touched on previously, the UV resistance of a shade sail refers to the amount of invisible UV light (both UVA and UVB) that is reflected by the shade sale, stopping the potential rays from harming your loved ones under its care. The ratings you’ll find are the percentage of UV light that is blocked… so a 98% shade sail blocks 98% of the UV light. Bigger is better, but you shouldn’t fret about every single percentage – anything in the mid nineties or higher is appropriate.
Absolutely. Not only does the color matter from an aesthetic reason, but different colored shades also protect from UV rays differently. Generally, darker colors block more harmful rays than lighter ones (one brand, for instance, shows a 96% rating for a black sail and a 57% rating for a white one). When considering color, some shade sails offer multiple colors (meaning a darker shade of orange on top and a lighter shade on the bottom) so that you get a more diverse and interesting effect.
Another little item on color…. The lighter the shade sail, the more Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is allowed through. PAR is the stuff that lets plants do their photosynthesis thing… and if you’re planning on housing various plants under the shade of your sail you’ll need to make sure they get that life-giving radiation that they need so badly.
Although most shade sails are attached “permanently,” in this case meaning that they’re not taken down year-after-year, it isn’t hard to put up a shade sale for a temporary purpose (like an outdoor wedding or other gathering). Shade sails make use of a stainless-steel turnbuckle, or a pulley system affixed to each corner of the sail (for permanent installations, a turnbuckle is preferred since it generally allows more tension to be applied). Temporary installations typically use the pulley systems, as they can be set up or taken down in just a few minutes.
When installing a shade sail at home, it’s recommended to install a quick-release “snap hook” at each corner. When high wind conditions are looming (think “Auntie Em…”) this allows the shade to be quickly taken down to avoid a potential shade sail catastrophe. Because of the basic nature of shade sails, the mounting points at the corners must be substantial to withstand the considerable tension that needs to be applied to create a strong, solid shade sale that doesn’t wave or flap in the wind.
We’re lucking to have the very best patio living experts in the business right here at Patio Heat and Shade… and we frequently ask them their opinions on the best patio gear around. Today we’ve asked them to review our shade sail offerings, and give us their recommendations for the top 3 shade sails; let’s take a look:
Available in five vibrant colors, the Coolaroo Triangle Party Sail 118" Triangle Party Sail provides up to 90% UV block while allowing cover to breath. Grommeted corners and included tape and installation ropes make this equilateral triangle (9’10” on each side) shade sail perfect for your home patio space.
Shading a larger area requires a larger sail, and the premium quality of the Custom Shade Sails CSS12SQ-CDG premium shade sails will not disappoint. Available in either Polytex or the outstanding WeatherMax materials, you’ll find this premium 12’x12’ square commercial grade shade sail transforms your simple outdoor setting into a dynamic, eye-catching oasis.
Whether you select the outstanding performance of the Polytex material or step up to the unbeaten WeatherMax on the Custom Shade Sails’ CSS12-16REC-SS commercial grade shade sail, the color selection is sure to create a focal point your guests can’t miss. Made in the USA, the porous material (water will pass through rather than puddle) blocks up to 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Shade sails are inexpensive semi-permanent ways to block the harmful rays of the sun from your family and guests, and work perfectly over areas an umbrella wouldn’t. We love using shade sails over a swing set/play space for the kids, over the shallow end of the pool, or even over where we park our beater so the black leather doesn’t brand us when we hop in.
Rely on Patio Heat and Shade to help you select the right product (we’ve got a vast selection) at the right price (lowest on the Internet)… all backed by the smartest patio experts on the planet. Not sure if the shade sail you want is exactly right? Give us a call, we promise to treat you like family.