Sun Shade Sails: The Ultimate Guide (With 5 Best Designs)

Sun shade sails (also called ‘shade sails’ or ‘sun sails’) have become increasingly popular over the last several years, and for good reason. Not only do they look great, but they are one of the most effective and affordable solutions for bringing shade to an outdoor space - big or small, permanently or temporarily.

With global temperatures progressively rising, the need for shade structures is more important than ever. Not only do they make outdoor spaces more comfortable, but they also protect you from the damaging effects of excessive UV exposure.

Despite their importance and growing popularity, there’s few quality resources designed to comprehensively educate people about this exciting option. That’s why we at ShopAmgo decided to produce this guide to put everything you need to know about shade sails in one place. Let’s get started by discovering the unique advantages they have to offer.

Shade sails have a unique set of attributes that makes them particularly advantageous for shading an outdoor area. As opposed to other shading structures (like pergolas, umbrellas, and covered porches), shade sails are made out of a breathable material that allows hot air to escape while still blocking up to 98% of harmful UV rays. Because of this, shade sails can make an area up to 25% cooler than solid shade structures, and reduce the ambient temperature by at least 10°.

But the shade sail’s cooling power doesn’t stop at the outdoors - they can also help you stay cool inside. By inhibiting solar radiation, the solar heat gain that would otherwise contribute to higher indoor temperatures is reduced . This makes you less reliant on air conditioning on those hot summer days, which can save you money on electricity.

Aside from their functional attributes, shade sails are also:

• Attractive:  Shade sails can create an aesthetically unique vocal point to your outdoor living space. With so many creative arrangements and styling options to choose from, shade sails provide a look that can’t be matched by any other shade structure.
• Versatile:  They can be used to cover a customized area with a huge amount of creative license. As we’ll see later, there is a variety of possible arrangements you can use to cover any space you could imagine.
• Easy to install:  Shade sails are easy to install, move, and remove by yourself which makes experimenting with different locations and arrangements possible. They can also be used to provide temporary shade for an outdoor event (like a party) to be easily taken down afterward.
• Affordable : Shade sails are a fraction of the cost of other shade structures that provide comparable shade coverage. This makes their value truly unmatched.

We know that shade sails are resilient against the sun, but what about water? The waterproof rating will largely depend on the type and thickness of the material it’s made out of. Some standard shade sails are made out of regular shade cloth that provides little, if any, protection against the rain.

On the other hand, the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) that some shade sails are made from acts like a thin water-resistant membrane. Waterproof sun shades are made from thicker HDPE material with an additional waterproofing treatment that doesn’t compromise its porous, heat seeping characteristics.

As long as your sail is made with HDPE fabric, installing your shade sail at an angle or with a twist will also help water run off your sail, even if it’s not rated as “waterproof”. Ensuring your shade sail is installed with the proper tension (with no sagging or wrinkles) will also help prevent water from pooling in the center of the fabric.

If you’re looking to shade a large outdoor area,  square or rectangular sails  might be your best bet. Just be aware that because of their larger size, they may require sturdier support structures than their triangular counter-parts. You can also increase the strength of these sails by creating a three-dimensional effect like in a hypar design (see below) or by attaching one corner significantly higher than the other corners. Not only does this make the sail stronger, but it provides a distinct and stunning look. Just like with triangular sails, you can also install squares at a slight vertical incline to prevent moisture accumulation and sagging.

The parabolic hypar design using a single square or rectangular shade sail is incredibly popular since it combines all the best shade sail elements: it looks great, it provides excellent shade coverage, and it’s more resistant to wind and rain than a flat, 2-dimensional layout. To accomplish this effect, you simply need to have two opposing corners secured at a low point the same distance off the ground, and the other two opposing corners secured at a higher point the same distance off the ground.

Combining multiple square or rectangular shade sails is a great way to shade a large area. To do so, you can either install the two shade sails side-by-side, or with a slight overlap. Overlapping the shade sails has the benefit of avoiding gaps in shade coverage that would otherwise exist with a side-by-side installation. When overlapping, it’s recommended to maintain at least a 12 inch distance between the sails to avoid damaging contact chafing between the fabrics.

Another attractive option is the slanted triangle. The angle provides aesthetic appeal while also allowing moisture run-off. It’s generally recommended to have a slope of at least 15 degrees to allow for the best run-off.

Combining squares and triangles creates a distinct appearance that can shade large, customized areas.

• You can create a pentagon shape by installing a triangular sail atop a square
• You can hide the seam of two side-by-side squares with an overlapping triangle in the center
• Or anything else your imagination comes up with.

Now that you’ve seen the various ways shade sails can be used to create gorgeous outdoor coverings, let’s take a look at how to install them. As we’ve seen, one of the advantages of shade sails is how easy they are to set up. While that’s true, there are still specific steps that need to be performed, and installations can vary in complexity depending on the size of your sails and your desired design layout.

It’s also important to look into your area’s building codes or HOA requirements before installing your sail. It may also be wise to check with a building engineer to determine the specific requirements for the supports you use to withstand certain weather conditions.

There are several options you can use in securing your shade sail to your desired anchor points, such as:

• Chain
• Wire
• Rope
• Steel Cables
• Turnbuckles
• Snap hooks
• Shackles
• Pad eyes
• Eye bolts and screws

You can either purchase these items independently, or can buy kits specifically made for triangular or square/rectangular shade sails. Whatever route you choose, be sure that the hardware is rated to withstand any adverse weather conditions specific to your area. Again, contacting an engineer for this information may be a wise choice.

Establishing proper tension at the anchor points is key in preventing damage caused by wind or rain. With hardware in hand, securely fasten them to your chosen anchor points facing towards the center of the sail. Next, connect one corner of the shade sail directly to one of the anchor points. For the remaining corners, manually stretch them out as taught as possible by hand, with a rope, or with the aid of a ratchet strap.

The last corner is the trickiest since all other corners will be tensioned. You can either recruit someone to help you, or you can use a heavy-duty ratchet strap. In any case, pull it as close to the anchor point as possible and secure it to the last piece of hardware.

Ensure that all the corners are equally and properly tensioned, with no sags or wrinkles in the fabric. If you’re using turnbuckles as part of your hardware package, fine-tuning the tension will be easy.

Congratulations! You’re successfully installed your very own sun shade sail that will provide comfort, protection, and satisfaction for many years to come.

Sun shade sails are an attractive, affordable, and easy-to-install way to transform any outdoor living space into a relaxing oasis. They offer an excellent alternative to pergolas, covered porches, awnings, and umbrellas; often looking and working better than any other shade structure. With several design layouts to choose from, you can easily customize your shade sail to accommodate your specific needs and tastes.

If you want a shade sail made of the highest quality materials that will bring you joy and comfort for several years to come, check out ShopAmgo's wide selection of premium quality shade sails today.