A guide to Patio Shade (and what to avoid)

June 6th, 2017 · Published to Shade Sails

Patios are incredibly popular in Australia, which should come as no surprise, given how much we love the outdoors. If you’re looking to add a patio to your home then there are certain things to be aware of before you start– like how your patio will stay cool and protected.

In my line of work, creating a patio that offers adequate shade is of utmost importance. But what should you look for when choosing patio shade? Don’t worry – I’ll help you out.

Continue reading this post as I explain what to do and what to avoid when buying and installing shade sails to create patio shade. Hopefully, after you’ve read through, you’ll be able to take a more informed decision when choosing your patio shade.

What to do with patio shade

The first and most important thing to do before purchasing a shade sail for your patio is to measure the area you want to shade. You must realise that shade sails, do not have straight edges. This means that the shaded area will be curved. So, make sure that your sail is large enough to cover your desired area. Take time to make proper measurements before making a purchase.

Also, make sure you have adequate anchor points before purchasing a shade sail. Unlike tents, which can be setup anywhere, shade sails need sturdy anchor points. They also need to be stretched tight across these points, so they must be structurally stable. If you don’t have trees around your patio, you’ll need to setup support posts to attach your anchor points to.

As I mentioned, shade sails are stretched tight, remember to keep an allowance in your measurements to ensure proper tension. 

Finally, the colour of your patio shade sail will affect the shade it offers. For the best protection, choose a darker colour. Dark colours are better at blocking out the sun’s UV rays as compared to lighter colours. At Global Shade, we make use of high quality shade fabrics that offer up to 99% UVR protection. When it comes to patio shade, you won’t find better shade solutions than our range of solutions.

What to avoid with patio shade

Just as important as what to-do when buying a patio shade solution is what to avoid when buying a patio shade solution. First of all, understand that not all shade sails are waterproof. Shade sails are designed to block out the sun primarily and not to offer rain protection.  For a waterproof solution you need to specify that you want your shade sails made from a waterproof material.

At Global Shade, we offer waterproof shade sails, which are manufactured using a special fabric called DRiZ. This fabric allows our shade sails to offer all-weather protection, including great UVR protection.

Another thing to avoid is under-stretching your shade sail. An under-stretched shade sail will sag and lose its shape over time. Moreover, such a shade sail won’t be able to withstand strong winds.

While you mustn’t under-stretch shade sails, you must also never overstretch them. Sure, you should ensure that your shade sail is taut, smooth and free from wrinkles. However, if you apply more than 100lbs of tension, the fabric will wear and tear faster than it otherwise would have.

Conclusion:

When it comes to patio shade, shade sails are idea. However, there are several do’s and don’ts that you need to follow before making a purchase. Do measure your patio area and take proper measurements for fixing the shade sail, do find anchor points and make sure they are structurally stable and do choose the colour of a shade sail wisely. Also, don’t expect shade sails to be completely waterproof and don’t overstretch or under-stretch your shade sail. Provided you follow these, you’ll have a high utility patio shade sail that’ll last you many years.

And for the best quality patio shade sails, look no further than Global Shade. Get in touch with us to discuss your shade sail requirements today!