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For those of you saying, “What the heck is a sun shade sail?” I’m here to help. I too had no idea what a shade sail was until a few months ago, and once I found out about them, I have to say they’re pretty neat.
Shade sails are devices that create outdoor shade in active areas by using basic textile technology (aka “cloth”) that can be found in a ship’s sail. Start with anchor points (either to installed poles or to existing structures) and stretch an appropriate sail-type material between the anchors, creating a tight “sail.”
This technique has been used for literally thousands of years (in fact, the Colosseum in Rome was shaded with large canvas “sails” that the Roman Sailors pulled into place), and for good reason. It’s inexpensive, can be quite pretty, and super effective at cooling people off beneath its spreading arms.
What we love about shade sails is that they work like umbrellas – but without that pesky pole in the way. They can be WAY bigger than normal umbrellas at a fraction of the cost, and we love the bright colors we can use to decorate our outdoor oasis.
You should know by now that our patio experts are the best in the business… and we asked them for their favorite shade sail installation ideas and boy did they deliver. Take a look at their 11 favorites:
Create the perfect outdoor reading nook by hanging a Coolaroo Coolhaven 473-TR112 shade sail in the corner of a secluded section of your patio. Utilizing AF230 fabric to provide a 95% UV block, and with a seven-year warranty against UV degradation, the Coolhaven features slightly curved sides for better tension ability.
If you’re not sure which shade sail, or fabric, would be right for you, you’re in luck. Here at Patio Heat and Shade we’ve got the best patio experts in the business, just waiting for your call. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you every step of the way.
Adding shade sails to your home creates outdoor interest points immediately, and adding multiple shade sails in overlapping patterns and contrasting colors just adds the “Wow!” to your outdoor recreational space. The Custom Shade Sails CSS10RT-TST commercial grade shade sail uses WeatherMax material and marine grade stainless steel corner rings, here overlapping with other shade sails, to provide even more UV protection than a single shade sail.
The beauty of shade sails is that they are inexpensive, flexible, come in a ton of different sizes and shapes, and provide amazing shade and rain protection. We love the Custom Shade Sails CSS10-12REC-RD commercial grade shade sail for using the highest quality materials with double rows of locking stitches to create a robust shade that remains taut and eliminates sagging or flapping in the wind.
Keep your partial-sunlight plants happier by installing a Custom Shade Sails CSS12SQ-CDG premium square commercial grade shade sail over their heads. The 99% reduction in harmful UV rays will keep your plants healthy during the most brutal of summer days, and you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that your shade sail is made in America.
The cool thing about shade sails (see what we did there?) is that they give you the same function of an umbrella, with a larger area and no poles in the way. Adding the Coolaroo 34489 triangle party shade sail over a well-used play area like this sandbox is a fantastic way to add whimsical color to their space while keeping them protected from the damaging effects of the sun.
Install a high-quality shade sail, like the Custom Shade Sails CSS12RT-SS right triangle commercial grade shade sail over the corner of your pool to create a sun-safe zone as a respite on hot summer days. Architectural features, like the waterfall in this sun shade idea, are more fun to play in and around when your skin is protected.
To ensure that your family and guests are as protected as they can be, cover your entire pool with a mammoth 12’ x 18’ Custom Shade Sails CSS12-18REC-RB large rectangular commercial grade shade sail. Surprisingly affordable for such a large premium quality sail, it’s the best way to keep your family covered while they do their best “Flipper” impression. Just don’t feed them the live fish.
Lunch in the great outdoors isn’t quite the same when you’ve been searing burgers over an open flame then finally sit down with the family to enjoy your meal, when you realize you’re hotter in your (wrought iron) dining furniture then you were in front of the grill! Custom Shade Sails CSS12-14REC-RD rectangular commercial grade shade sail to the rescue – just adding this shade sail over your dining area would save you from being branded by your dining furniture.
Adding a pergola to your home is a fantastic way to block some of the sun’s harmful effects… but to block out almost all of the harmful UV rays you can add a Coolaroo Coolhaven 473822 square shade sail underneath your pergola. Not only will it give you shade when it is badly needed, but it will keep you free from light rain as well.
If you have the ability, string a large shade sail across your entire deck or dining area to make sure everyone is covered… literally. The Coolaroo Coolhaven 473-SQ12 square shade sail will keep out 95% of the harmful rays, and that pop of color will look amazing over your next outdoor dinner party.
Just like potato chips, sometimes with shade sails you can’t stop at one. String together multiple Custom Shade Sails CSS12SQ-CDG commercial grade shade sails to create a vibrant canopy overhead in a large outdoor space.
As you can see, there are almost no end of uses where shade wouldn’t be welcome. Let’s toss in another idea – a parked car in your driveway would be a perfect location for a shade sail, keeping it cool in the summer, so you don’t have that whole legs melting into the leather thing when you get in.
Versatile, colorful and inexpensive, shade sails will come in hand in multiple areas around your home, and when you can get the best quality shade sails at the lowest price on the Internet, it’s just a win-win!