Do-It-Yourself Shade Sail Installation Tips
With
basic preparation, anyone with basic home repair skills can
succesfully install a beautiful and functional sail-shaded area. Follow
these guidelines to sucessfully install your new Shade Sails:
-
Place your order in our online store. In a few short weeks, your Shade Sails arrive. -
Lay the Shade Sail on the ground where you intend the Shade Sail to go. -
Determine how you are going to support the Shade Sail.
Can you attach to an existing structure, or will you install poles for support?
If
you are going to attach to an existing structure (i.e. tree or
building), make sure to check that the fixing points are good and
strong.
Always
allow at least 14 inches (350mm) diagonally from each corner of the
sail to your fixing points. This applies whether it’s a building, tree
or a pole.
If you are installing a pole for your Shade Sail to attach to, it should be should be at least 4” in diameter.
In
general when installing a pole, 1/3rd of the pole's height should
be concreted into the ground. We recommend metal posts for
semi-permanent structures, but a good 5” to 6” wooden post will safely
secure a ready-made Shade Sail.
A
good sized hole, the bigger the better, should be dug for the posts
being installed to support your Shade Sail. Fill your hole with
premixed concrete. This will provide a strong foundation for your Shade
Sails.
The hardware required to install your Shade Sails will be determined by what you are attaching the Shade Sails to.
Florida
Shade Company sells the hardware needed for installation, and can
provide guidance on what you need for your installation. When
attaching your shade sails to poles, it is common to use threaded rods.
When attaching to an existing structure it is common to use a pad eye
firmly in place. Whatever method you use, this hardware will enable you
to attach your Sail Shade with a turnbuckle. Turnbuckles provide the
ability to get required tension to make the sail rigid. Shade
Sails should always be tensioned as this prevents the sails from
flapping and reducing the life of the product. Additionally,
turnbuckles can be loosened to make for easy Shade Sail removal.
By changing the heights of the
fastenings on the fixing point, you can easily obtain a really cool
shape with your sail. Contorting the shade sail will also help deflect
and spill the wind, reducing the pressure on the fixing points.
If you have any doubts about your shade in very wet and windy weather, always bring the shade down and store it safely.
Now enjoy the summer, cool and relaxed knowing you and your loved ones are protected from the sun!
Commercial InstallationsInstalling a Shade Sail solution requires planning experience and know how. Florida Shade Company has got you covered:
Sails can be attached to existing
structures with a variety of common or custom made brackets and
hardware. They can also be supported by their own columns made of
either timber or steel pipe. We prefer to use schedule 40 galvanized
steel pipe embedded in concrete footings. The dimensions of the pipe
and the footings are engineered for each sail and its application
depending on the size of the sail and the expected wind loading. The
columns can then be powder coated or painted to help protect them and
provide the desired color. If timber posts are used, then we generally
use temporary power poles with a preservative added to the wood.
Depending on local building codes and engineer's requirements we
add either threaded rod or rebar to the footings or posts to tie the
concrete and post together. In general, there is very little
gravitational load, but uplift is the concern, and footings can be
quite deep
We manage
commercial installations to minimize disruption to your business and
customers and get the job done fast and effectively. Our services cover:
- Excavation
- Installation of steel poles
- Concrete pumping and pouring
- Shade Sail rigging and installatioin
|
