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Fabrics for Shade Sails: Our top 6 picks
November 16th, 2022 · Published to Shade Sails
Shade sails shade your home and its occupants from the sun’s hot rays. However, shade sails are not made of just any fabric – they’re usually made from shade cloth fabric, which comprises UV-resistant qualities.
The most common fabric for shade sails is woven polyester because it offers excellent UV protection, resilience to damage due to wind or hail, and resistance against water.
If you’re in the market for shade sails, it pays to know which fabrics offer quality to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. After all, the most important factor of a shade sail is how much heat and sun protection they offer. If you choose a sub-par fabric, then chances are, they won’t offer anywhere near the UV resistance of the fabrics covered in this article.
We’ve compiled our list of the top 6 best shade cloth materials below – to help you choose the best fabric for your new shade sails.
Rainbow Z16
It’s easy to see why Rainbow Z16 is so popular as a shade cloth in Australia and among Global Shade clients.
Z16 is known for its remarkable durability, UV-R protection, and overall performance and quality, and the advantages are innumerable. Its ability to offer up to 99 per cent UV-R protection is at the top of the list of advantages. Its other amazing advantages include safe, filtered light transmission, lightweight (200 GSM) composition, unique constructions with excellent cover factor, high tensile strength, proven durability and endurance, easy care and maintenance requirements, and a magnificent 24-designer colour selection.
The remarkable UV and shade performance of the Rainbow Z16 allows you to enjoy the outdoors even when the sun is at its most dangerous since it reduces the heat, glare, and UV radiation in any outdoor area.
Extreme 32
A knitted HDPE shade cloth, Extreme 32, is known for its durability and protection. Thus, large-scale shade sail and structure installations necessitating a high degree of strength and stability can benefit greatly from its use.
A wide range of advantages can be derived from this shade sail fabric. The most noteworthy advantages are its incredible strength and excellent UV-R protection, which, as previously said, has increased by 95.8%. These include remarkable heat and glare reduction qualities, simple care and maintenance requirements, long-lasting durability & longevity, resistance to dimensional stability, fire rating and gorgeous 14 designer colour variation.
Extreme 32 is constructed to withstand the extremes of Australia’s climate and environment using only the finest raw materials. There is a 10-year UV breakdown warranty on this fabric because it has been rigorously tested against the sun and the weather. Because of its durability, you may rest assured that the cloth will last for many years.
Polyfab Parasol
Parasol is a high-quality, multipurpose, and trustworthy shade cloth made of a knitted fabric.
The Parasol is made in Australia to exacting standards of quality and craftsmanship. High-density monofilament and tape are used in the fabric’s construction, resulting in greater UV protection and a lower risk of sunburn and cancer of the skin.
This shade cloth fabric is one of Australia’s best and one of the most popular options for Global Shade customers because of its versatility. However, it’s not just its adaptability that makes it a worthwhile investment. Its UV stabilised qualities and strong UV-R protection, as previously stated, are Parasol’s most important features. Abrasion resistance, great strength, a fire rating, and a distinctive palette of 15 colours round out the impressive list of benefits.
The Parasol is built to withstand the harsh conditions of Australia. Because of this, the fabric comes with a 10-year warranty against strength loss and a 2-year warranty against colour change. It’s safe to say that Parasol will last for a long time.
Commercial 95
Commercial 95 is a commercial shade cloth that is designed for architectural purposes. The knitted lock-stitch composition of the 340GSM fabric ensures that it will not fray or tear.
Polyethylene terephthalate (HDPE) resin, monofilament, and tape are used to build Commercial 95, which is UV-stabilized. Strong, flexible, and versatile: Commercial 95 That said, these aren’t the only positive aspects of the product. UV-R protection ranges from 91.1% to 95.5%, making Commercial 95 an excellent choice for outdoor use. Its UV-stabilized, shrink-resistant, moisture-absorbent capabilities and the large selection of 22 colours it offers are also notable.
Commercial 95 is built to resist the harsh conditions of Australia’s harsh environment. The company’s quality assurance for highly tensioned shade structures is ensured by a 10-year warranty against fabric damage due to UV light.
Monotec 370 Series
Australia-made Monotec 370 Series is engineered to withstand the harshest conditions, and it is built to last.
The Monotec 370 Series is the strongest shade cloth on the market today, and it meets AS4174-2018 standards for UV protection. To date, it is the only shading fabric that is manufactured with 100% round monofilament HDPE yarn and is backed by a 15-year warranty. Monotec 370 Series is produced from 100% round monofilament yarns, which ensures that it does not stretch and retains its shape in strong wind situations.
Australia’s strictest fire retardant testing are met by this fabric, which is certified to meet all of the world’s most demanding regulations.
Alnet Extrablock
Alnet Extrablock is a 325gsm HDPE shade cloth fabric with a high tensile strength, ideal for residential and commercial applications. However, for large-scale commercial applications, Extrablock is the best option.
Extrablock offers a UVR Blocking Factor of 94% to 98% and a Shade Factor of 88% to 98%, respectively. Its UV-stabilised qualities, exceptional strength and stunning 22 creative colour options are also significant advantages.
Extrablock is a premium shade cloth alternative that comes with a fantastic ten-year warranty. It has been thoroughly tested to withstand Australia’s harsh temperature and environmental conditions.
Tips for choosing a shade sail fabric
When choosing a shade sail fabric, there are a few things to consider. The first is the type of environment where the shade sail will be used. If it is exposed to harsh weather conditions, then you’ll need a fabric that is durable and has a high UV protection rating.
The second thing to consider is the colour of the fabric. Light-coloured shade cloth will reflect more sunlight than dark-coloured shade cloth, so it’s important to choose the colour wisely if you’re looking for maximum shade. Dark is always better.
Finally, consider the price and warranty offered by different brands. Some brands offer longer warranties than others, so be sure to compare warranties before making a purchase.
Conclusion
Shade sail fabrics are designed to protect people from the sun’s harmful UV rays, which is why choosing a shade sail made from a quality fabric is so important.
The six shade sail fabrics we’ve listed offer different benefits, such as strength, fire rating, and colour selection, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. All of these shade cloths meet Australian standards for UV protection and are made to withstand the harsh conditions of the country.
If you would like any further information on these materials or our selection of waterproof fabrics, which we’re yet to cover, please contact us. We are more than happy to discuss the pros and cons of each fabric and provide shade sails quotes using each of the six fabrics mentioned in this article.
