How to Install a Shade Sail
- Working Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 1 day
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $75 to $200
A shade sail is a practical way to add comfort to a sunny deck or patio. Best of all, you can skip the call to the handyman thanks to our step-by-step installation guide.
Shade sails come in a variety of colors and shapes and can even be ordered online with custom dimensions to suit your space perfectly. They're ideal for spots and situations where retractable awnings aren't practical and more permanent shade solutions simply aren't an option due to space, budget, or other factors. Upgrade your outdoor living space with our top tips for shade sail installation.
Before Getting Started
Before purchasing a shade sail, you must determine if it's right for your space. First and foremost, you must identify the possible connection points for the shade sail.
When installing a shade sail above a deck or patio, you'll likely need one or more connection points to fall on your home. This means you must be able to securely install strong hardware such as lag eyebolt into a structural material.
For most homes, strong structural elements are hidden behind veneers or siding, so the best option is to identify wall studs behind the fascia. One of the easiest spots to find a structural component is directly above a window, where you will likely find a wooden header.
If you are unsure of your home's ability to support hardware for a shade sail or you aren't confident in your ability to securely install said hardware, contact a professional before installing a shade sail.
Any corner of your shade sail not attached to your home must be connected to a post set firmly in the ground. You can purchase steel posts that are made specifically for mounting shade sails or simply opt for treated wooden posts available at the hardware store. While steel may last longer and offer a more modern aesthetic, wooden posts are easier on the wallet. No matter the material, plan on putting shade sail posts a minimum of 3 feet into the ground.
If you're lucky enough to have a strong tree nearby, you can attach your shade sail to it. To do so without damaging the tree, utilize a mounting strap rather than driving hardware into the tree itself.
How to Determine Shade Sail Size
To ensure you buy the right size shade sail, first, determine the shape you prefer. While many people like the look of triangle shade sails, they offer considerably less shade than square or rectangle sails. Once you determine the shade sail shape and have identified the mounting points, purchase a shade sail that's approximately 2 feet shorter than the space between your mounting points. This will offer plenty of room for tensioning to ensure the shade sail doesn't sag.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Stud finder
- Measuring tape
- Post hole digger or auger
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Post level
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Adjustable wrench
- Ladder
Materials
- 2 6x6 treated ground contact wooden posts
- Shade sail with mounting hardware kit
- Rope (optional)
- Quick-setting concrete
- Scrap boards
- Wood screws
- UV-rated wood sealant
Instructions
How to Install a Shade Sail
Use the following shade sail installation tips for a successful patio upgrade.
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Set Posts
Mark the positions of your posts on the ground and dig a 3-foot hole using a post hole digger or auger for each. Place a post into each hole and fill the void using quick-setting concrete. Check plumb using a post level. Attach two support legs to each post using scrap boards to hold it plumb while the concrete sets. Unless specified by your post's manufacturer, refrain from angling the posts for a shade sail.
To extend the life of your wooden posts, choose posts rated for ground contact, then apply a protective, UV-rated sealant after the wood has thoroughly dried.
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Attach Mounting Hardware
Attach the mounting hardware to the posts and structural material on your house. Pre-drill the holes using a drill bit slightly thinner than the lag bolt shaft, then tighten the lag bolt firmly in place.
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Prepare the Shade Sail Hardware
Attach the connecting hardware to each corner of the shade sail, loosening the turnbuckles completely.
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Mount the Shade Sail
Hook each corner of the shade sail to the mounting hardware using D-ring shackles to ensure the hardware doesn't slip during wind. If you find it hard to stretch one or more corners to the mounting points, use a piece of rope slipped through the eyebolts to pull the shade sail over.
Employ a friend to hold the ladder when attempting to stretch the sail shade to prevent falls.
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Tighten Turnbuckles
Tighten the turnbuckles at each corner until they are hard to turn. If present, tighten the locknuts on the turnbuckle to prevent future movement.
Tips for Installing and Maintaining a Shade Sail
Here are some of our top tips for shade sail installation so it performs exactly as intended for years on end.
- Stagger the height of each shade sail corner to create visual interest and encourage water shedding and higher wind resistance.
- Add supplemental steel wire to a corner to extend the reach of the connecting hardware.
- Increase the strength and tension of your shade sail by swapping the components of standard shade sail kits with stronger alternatives such as thicker stainless-steel D-ring shackles, beefier, locking turnbuckles, and steel wire.
- Stagger several smaller shade sails in complementary shades rather than opting for one large shade sail.
- Take your shade sail down during the winter to protect it from the elements, especially in areas where it snows.
- Check the tension on your shade sail regularly to ensure it doesn't begin to stretch and sag.
The article How to Install a Shade Sail originally appeared on bhg.com by Kamron Sanders.
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